Just take a look at the cover of the Sept./Oct. Shooting Sportsman for a great picture of one of the most excieting hunting expierences. A flushing rooster with an English Springer in the air. I have been hunting and field trialing springers for almost 15 years. They are one of the most thrilling dogs you can hunt over.
Just imagine that it is a cold and windy November morning in South Dakota. You and your dog have just trailed that rooster 100 yards down a hedge row. You had to hup him down two or three times along the way. Then finally at the end of the hedge row you see the grass moving like a tornado and all of a sudden you hear the cackaling of a rooster the pounding of wings and then silence. Your heart is pounding and time seems to stand still. When your dog finally lands back on the ground he sits steady as you snap your gun to your shoulder. Your heart starts to race faster and faster as if it is trying to catch up with that rooster. The silence is broken by the crack of the shot. As you swing thru the bird you see the puff of feathers in the corner of your eye as the rooster tumbles to the ground. Your springer is rock steady but trembling, waiting for the command to retreive the bird. You break open the gun as you give the command and the smell of gun powder fills your nose. Your dog and a beautiful rooster are quickly on their way back. The dog sits proudly in front of you and places the rooster in your hand. You and your dog look at each other with that mutual look of praise. You both know that you have just lived one of the most excieting hunting expierences. You will play this moment over in you head for the rest of you life.
I wish the season was starting tomorrow.
Bill G.
