Ike and I were lucky enough to be invited to fill in a vacancy for another Continental Hunt at Hickory Grove in Wyanet IL. Thanks go to our friend Chuck who's Knights of Columbus group does this once a year and (most likely) due to the bad weather had an opening. Chuck called this morning early as I was making coffee and asked if we would be interested.. I said, "Let me see if Ike is up for it - or for that matter just up!" He was so we quickly loaded everything up grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out.
The Continental portion of the hunt was very good - beautiful sunny skies, lots of snow (yea, no kiddin'???) and good camaraderie. We did pretty good but as always, we needed to do some clean up afterwards. Ike was PHENOMENAL!! Chuck and I were sent with Shasta and Ike along with 5-6 other gentlemen to clean up the timber area - and clean up we did. Ike was a pointing fool and we didn't disappoint him either. Father Campbell went with us and perhaps we had some divine intervention (more on that later). Not to brag on Ike too much but I have to relate this one bird point. After we walked the timber we circled back around to head back to the house (and Lori's fabulous lunch) so we split up and recovered the milo and small tree line back towards the main area. We didn't think we would see much but right away Ike got birdy and popped one up, then another. We got them both. Then about 40 feet from the end of the treeline he just got birdy like crazy. The brush was so thick I couldn't get there so Father Campbell walked up and couldn't see anything. So I called Ike off - and after a few toots on the whistle and a "tone" on his collar he turned towards me. But right away he went back there and by his actions I said there must be a bird there- he would not act that way for a cold point. Well, as they say, upon further review there was one - buried at least a foot under the snow and was not budging. That is one good nose Ike has and he really performed well. As my buddy Harold says, "You just have to trust them." I did and was rewarded...
One final note I learned a lot today about St. Hubert - He is the Patron Saint of Hunters and Dogs. Here is a link to the story and some interesting information about St. Hubert and perhaps that was the divine intervention I mentioned earlier... What a great day and until the next time "Ike find that bird" (but whisper it tonight as he is snoring behind me in his chair)
http://www.thecross-photo.com/Hubert-Patron_Saint_of_Hunters-Written_by_Mitch_Ballard.htm
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