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Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 370 Location: Amarillo, Texas

Joe and I went pheasant hunting NorthWest of Dalhart in the Panhandle of Texas right after the big storm earlier this week. We left Amarillo at 8:00AM and drove a for a couple of hours. We visited with Joe's friend Michael for a few minutes. We hunted Michael's family farms. It was in low 20s and the wind was light and variable. Here is a picture of the landscape that day: (if you doubleclick the pictures they get bigger)

That is me and Brie and Dubya walking back to the truck after taking a rooster at an old homestead. The rooster stuck like glue, then ran out the end and took off flying when I spotted him running. I was about to ground swat him when he took off flying. I have a maxim - act like a blue quail and I'll treat you like one.

Here is a picture of my house so you can get an idea of the ice - much of it already melted off of the trees:

Here is Joe with Brie and Dubya and the beautiful pheasants. Joe is the mangey looking one in the middle:

Joe is holding his beautiful 12 gauge Damascus Lefever - G Grade. It is very well made and in excellent condition. He shoots it very well:

Here is my VHE 16ga with the birds:

We hunted corners and shelter belts mostly. Joe watched one rooster dig out of his igloo and then go airborne - Joe promptly grounded him and the rascal Brittany Dubya attempted to field dress the rooster.

Until this season my dogs hunted quail almost exclusively. This trip they didn't do anything to brag about - just a couple of points on hens and making sure we didn't walk over many birds.

We were done hunting by about 3:00PM. Here is a shot of the iced mesquite we drove past on the way back to Amarillo. You can see Amarillo sticking up on the horizon:

Joe took all these great pictures and gave them to me on a CD. Thanks Joe.

Here is a link to my photobucket - you are welcom to browse:

http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l274/AmarilloMike/PheasantDec21%2006%20N%20Dalhart/

Thanks!

Mike

Mike!

Great Pics! What an interesting bird hunt...blue quail rules or not! Thanks for sharing what I am sure was a most enjoyable day!

OSL

OK let's get this straight - ice & snow in Texas, warm and rainy in Massachusetts...

Are you SURE it's December?

thanks for posting

Nice pics Mike! It is great to see those old classic American doubles at work. Very Happy

It appears that Amarillo got a little of what we got here in Colorado. I will post some pics of our Christmas blizzard in separate post.

Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 370 Location: Amarillo, Texas

OSL - thanks but I have to give Joe credit for all the pictures - and your are welcome.

Sprocket Amarillo is at 3600 feet elevation and Dalhart is about 4100. We get lots of cold weather and usually get a couple of snows a year. I take it Massachusetts is normally snowy and cold? Maybe this global warming deal is helping you all out!

Thanks HC - I like seeing them out doing what they were meant to do. That one is "just" a shooter but it is one of my three favorites.

Mike

Guest

Outstanding Mike! Nice birds and damn, I miss that snow!

Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 370 Location: Amarillo, Texas

Thanks Birdswatter. Where do you live now?

Mike

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Looks like a good hunt----I am glad that snow missed us by 90 or so miles

Guest

Southern California.....land of no snow, lots of heat, too many people, at least 50% of which are.............well, don't get me started, it's Christmas!

Merry Christmas