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I really like Wisconsin in the winter. Sure beats cutting the grass.

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Nice pics rudy! I've never seen black pheasants before. Whats up with that? Whereabouts in Wisconsin were you hunting?

Matt

We were hunting at a hunt club in east-central WI near Berlin. The club owner has "black" and "golden" birds along with the standard Ringnecks. They sure add some nice color to the winter landscape.

rudyc

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

I've drove thru enough snow/ice/sleet in the last three weeks to last for awhile-got caught in the Ky. icestorm Shocked

Glad to see someone enjoy the winter weather Wink

Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 50 Location: CO

I guess by definition melanistic roosters are black - I've heard of them and seen one or two on the TV, though I haven't ventured across anyone who has actually shot one.

I understand they are a "mutant", as are the golden pheasant, of the standard Chinese ringneck but I haven't been able to gather much in the way of information about them. Can anyone here expand on them?

Nice pictures, rudyc. I had planned on doing some shooting this afternoon (clay birds), however we were treated to some sideways snow for most of the day.

Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 258 Location: Nordern MN

I believe the definition of melanistic is abnormally high quantities of the color pigment melanon (sp?) resulting in dark or black coloration. It's essentially the same, but opposite of albinism. Albinos have no melanon pigment and thus appear white.

NR

Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 443

Rudy,

It looks like a great time! What, no Bayard?

sv

Steve,

The fella that I hunted with sold me the Simson some time back. He asked if I would bring it so he could see it in action. The Bayard is going turkey hunting with me in April and May.

"So many guns, so little time" I only have a few guns and can't find enough time for them, don't know what I'd do with a safe full of them.

rudyc

Great way to spend the winter! I need to hit the preserve at least once more myself.

Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 258 Location: Nordern MN

Hey RudyC,
I'm wondering what conditions are like down there - I'm guessing you didn't need snowshoes?

I'll be headed down that way this weekend, and it sounds like we are doing a gamefarm. I don't know the name of it, but the owner's last name is Norton. Is that the place you hunted?

We'll be putting a 9month old AWS on it's first hunt, and taking my 4yo Black Lab.

And we'll be taking in the decoy show in Oshkosh. I think it's Oshkosh anyway.

So . . . how deep is the snow?

Thanks!
NR

NR,

The snow was plenty deep last week. If you went off the paths it was snowshoe deep, up to you hips in places, and the dog had a pretty rough time. We went out on Saturday March 1st. On Sunday it was in the 40's and it rained Sunday nite.
The snow level is down now quite a bit, however, early in the day there is a major crust on the snow as it's been melting most every afternoon. I have been taking my Water Spaniel out every day this week and she has been breaking through all day. Later on in mid-day and afternoon the snow is softer and easier on both dogs and people.

As of today, there are bare spots in all the fields and still some deeper snow where it drifted up along the fencerows. I'm thinking it won't be to bad this weekend.

We were at a place called "Rustling Meadows" about 25 miles west of Oshkosh

Have fun, your dogs will love it.

rudyc