Hurd State Park lies on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River roughly between the city of Middletown and the small town of Haddam. The state of CT swears they will stock pheasants in this area. Cooper, the gun pup, and
Bella, the old gun dog rescue, visited this spot together prior to bird season. A trial run after which I thought it best to hunt them individually. Bella won the Nutro biscuit toss up. Late in the afternoon we walked the mile down hill to the meadow, known as
Higganum Meadows, following powerlines and over a seasonal stream wet from recent rain. The land falls quickly and lower and lower you climb passing through hardwoods bright with fall color until you are on the flat meadow that abuts the river. If I was a farmer I would think corn or hay. The state cuts a maze through grass as tall as the average man. I had been told that Bella was a good hunter but my expectations were low. The previous owner was about to drop her off at a shelter before we took her in and he said Bella was quick on birds. He had also tried to give her away to members of his hunt club, but there were no takers for this 7-year-old. Today she worked close and kept an eye out for me. She, as well as Cooper, have learned to change direction on command.
“Whup!” She shifted direction, ignoring other dogs and hunters, honoring another dog’s point. I did not expect much action from the put-and-take pheasant this late in the day either. That was probably a good thing since the
Ruger Red Label in the crook of my arm was new. I have held the company of Rugers in chopped corn fields and on skeet fields and sporting clays courses well before they sported choke tubes so this was a reintroduction of sorts, like meeting up with an old acquaintance. Still I shouldered it a few times making sure the recoil pad cleared my vest. Bella was suspicious of the small wave of water coming toward shore but she was thirsty. Reassured when I stood in the swallow water, she felt safe to drink though still suspicious of the rolling ripples. Back up the river bank we made the loop around the back half of the meadow, working the fringe then hunting the soft ground around the marsh hoping for a wayward woodcock. The other hunters had left and Bella was quick to find the remains of downed birds, she looked me in the eyes.
"Yes, girl, we are a little late." On the walk back, I cracked the Ruger and carried it over my shoulder. It was stiff like all new over-and-unders so I opened and closed the action on empty chambers and held two shells in my hand as we climbed the hill to the truck in case we flushed a straggler. I thought I would be the one waiting for her to catch up, but she stopped looking back for me. At home I brushed her out and she looked into my eyes.
“Yes it was a good day after all.” And then the gun pup pushed his nose between us. He wanted to be brushed, too.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted a new plan for wild and state-propagated ring-necked pheasants for the next decade. The plan incorporates information gathered by DEC biologists and input from sportsmen with the goal of fostering and continuing the tradition of pheasant hunting in NY for years to come. NY's wild pheasant population has declined by more than 90% since peaks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Numerous factors contributed to the decline, but the main causes are loss of fallow grasslands for nesting and brood-rearing, a decline in grain farming, and expanding commercial and residential development. Most of the pheasants hunted in NY come from the state’s pheasant programs. More than 100,000 pheasants are hatched for fall stocking. The new plan includes:
Who would have thought that a rooster pheasnt would create such an impression. I read John Annoni's book, "From the Hood to the Woods," while on the train traveling from NYC to CT. If you take Metro North from Grand Central Station, the train stops at 125th Street in Harlem, and then off to points in CT. At the Harlem stop, which has become re-gentrified since I first lived in NYC, reminded me of the importance of Annoni's work, which he outlines in his book. It was as if I had sat down with him at a diner and over a cup of coffee he explained his awful childhood. He ran away from his worries to the woods outside the apartment complex where his mom lived. It was there that nature helped him endure his lot and where he found a love for hunting and fishing. I won't tell his whole story but the important part you should know is the work he does with inner city kids. He created a program for kids that uses fishing and hunting to help build responsibility and self esteem. And it gets many kids out in open spaces. His program is a registered non-profit operating out of PA. Go to 
With all the wet weather we had this spring and early summer the PA Game Commission expects ruffed grouse hunting to be somewhat below average. The weather conditions impacted nesting and brooding success, according to the state. As you know grouse populations vary from area to area, so I am sure there will be spots with good numbers of birds. Last year, grouse flushing rates increased in five of the state’s six geographic regions, with the only decline recorded in the South central Region. The statewide long-term average is 1.42 grouse flushed per hour.
I’m sure you have heard that PA designated the Pennsylvania rifle as the official firearm of the Commonwealth in May of this year. The 
To this day, PA continues to create great rifles in small lots by craftsman who know a thing or two about rifles. The E.R. Shaw barrel company has been making rifle barrels for over 95 years. They actually make barrels for some rifle manufactures as well as make barrels for custom builds. Their barrels are renowned for their accuracy. Something new out the PA factory is custom built rifles—the 
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Bragging rights will be determined between more than 40 of the country's best young turkey callers in Nashville later next month. The NWTF is sponsoring the event Feb. 19 through 22. Contestants have one minute to mimic various sounds of a wild turkey with the winner determined by a panel of judges. The event also offers a lot more than imitation clucks and purrs.
Have you heard that 
If your 401K fell like a rock this past year, then know some things do increase. Take for instance this year FL’s dove season, which now has an increased bag limit from 12 to 15 birds. The daily bag limit is a combined limit of both mourning doves and white-winged doves. The state’s dove season runs in three-phases over 72 days—Oct. 4-27; Nov. 15-30; and Dec. 13 - Jan. 11, 2009. According FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the state is collecting data on the dove population to it remains unhindered by the increase in bag limit. The state has banding about 6,000 doves since 2003, so if you kill a banded you will find information on the band that will tell you where to report the band information. If bird number take a nose dive in the future for any reason, there are built-in triggers in the data-collection system to alert the state and federal wildlife managers.
It is also most that time of year again—for some of us the season has already started (see: Upland Hunting Season Openers). With out trying to sound like a broken record or corrupted MP3, remember safety in the field is always our first priority. The 
The Beretta Group of companies, which includes Beretta USA, Benelli USA, and Burris has pledged to give the NRA $1 million over the next five years. This gift will benefit the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action and their Civil Rights Defense Fund’s litigation activities to further expand the scope of Second Amendment protections. This is especially important in the wake of the recent US Supreme Court ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller. Beretta USA is part of the Beretta Holding Group, which is controlled by the Beretta family. The family has been in the gun business for 15 generations and dates back to 1526. They also own, among the manufacturers mentioned previously, Franchi, Uberti, Sako and Tikka. The last two are in Finland. They must be doing something right.
Up here is the northeast the leaves have turned a scarlet red or brillant yellow. The orange color isn't too bad either. Bella and Cooper walk to the edge of the porch and raise their noses to the breeze. They smell fall as much as we see it. Many states have already started their grouse and pheasant seasons and this might come as old news to some, but for those of us who need to “call in sick,” make sure you coordinate properly.
About three weeks ago I received a few pieces of mail from hunting guides and outfitters in Maine. I didn't think much of until I read them closely. Every piece of correspondence congratulated me on winning the Maine moose lottery. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you may be aware that I have had an ongoing relationship with the state of 
NH Fish and Game Department finalized their 2008 hunting season dates and bag limits for woodcock. The season will run from October 6 thru November 4, bag limit is 3 birds per day.
Preliminary spring turkey harvest numbers from MassWildlife's five district offices total 2,612 birds. This breaks 2007’s total of 2,481 birds. Want to know here the hot spots are? Here are harvest numbers by district:
The spring turkey hunting season is over in my neck of the woods and again this year Meleagris gallopavo was not convinced I was a lovely hen waiting for an amorous liaison. I did get the attention of a squirrel and it, too, was not impressed and in no uncertain terms chattered that I should leave his patch of hardwoods. I did get a few gobbles and I did a little running-and-gunning but no luck. The next morning when I let Coop out to relieve himself the tom, leaving his roost, gave a few gobbles, which I figure roughly tranlates to "see you next season, sweetheart."
Every year 
The 
We all have fond memories of an early fall morning following behind grandpa through a cut corn field to the sound of dog’s collar bell. At some point in our lives we were smitten with the outdoors. Many area rod and clubs here in the northeast offer youth hunts, which are great ways to introduce the next generation as well as pass along your hunting knowledge and woods lore. Many clubs and friends and acquaintances that have passed along events happening at their clubs and I have been remiss in getting the word out. These events not only include youth specific activities, but include field trials and shoots. There is still time to get involved before the year closes. The Pomfret Rod and Gun Club in Pomfret, CT, regularly holds fun trials. For a fee you get breakfast and a bird plus the opportunity to see dogs and their owners in action. The 
We received an email from 
The Heartland Region Chapter of Pheasants Forever in SD is hosting its first ever Annual Dakota Women of the Outdoors Pheasant Hunt on November 3. The event is limited to 30 spots and is open to women age 12 and older with a valid small game license. This a great opportunity to get your wife, girlfriend, daughter, and/or significant other involved in upland hunting. Some of my fondest waterfowl hunting memories include a lady with two feisty labs in upsate NY. She could cuss like she worked in shipyard and could call mallards all day long. She was darn good hunting whitetals, too. You can register for the hunt at JT Elite Auto in Huron, SD, or call (605) 352-2649.
Today—finally—CT’s small game hunting season opened. The third Saturday at 7:00 a.m. is a yearly ritual for many bird hunters who take to the fields and woodlots for pheasant and grouse, perhaps even a bobwhite. This year it has been a long wait and hearing about other state season openers just increases the anticipation even more. Now CT is not what you would call a pheasant-hunting purist’s destination. But it does offer the locals a chance at pen-raised pheasant. This year the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) purchased 15,857 adult pheasants.
This year’s Vintage Cup or the 11th Annual Side-by-Side Championships and Exhibition will be held September 27 thru 30 at 
The 36th annual 
Since 1906 the Cape’s sea shore has been stocked with pheasant and hunting was been allowed since 1914, making it was one of the oldest hunting programs in the US. But in 2002 a federal suit filed by anti-hunting groups brought the hunting to a stop. The fate of the land and how it would be used for recreational purposes was in limbo.
The 
By the sound of all the crowing, the wild pheasant population in central Wisconsin seems the highest it has been in 10 years, even with habitat loss and the increased urbanization of the rural landscape. To get a handle on the pheasant numbers, 
If you are a Parker-phile you know the legend of the Czar’s Parker. The "Czar Parker gun," as it is known, was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. As the story goes, an officer in the Czar’s army ordered the Parker. Whether it was a gift for the Czar or special ordered at the request of the Czar no one knows for sure. And since the Communists’ cancelled the Czar’s and his family’s subscription, that bit of information is lost to history. The dimensions of the gun were clearly designed to fit a man of the Czar’s short stature. The Parker was on its way to Russia, on the dock of New York harbor, when Germany declared war on Russia and World War I rumbled to life. The gun was returned to Meriden, Connecticut—Mecca for all Parker-philes—and Parker Brothers ended up selling the shotgun to Henry Sanford, a New York banker. It remained in Sanford’s family until March 13, when it was auctioned for $250,000 in Fairfield, Maine. The auction set a world record for a Parker shotgun at auction. Similar condition Parkers typically sell in the $50,000 to $75,000 range.
Sanford had the shotgun refitted with a stock made to his dimensions. If he had left the gun as is, it would have probably fetched another $100,000. If the Czar had actually touched the Parker, add another $100,000. I think Sanford did what most Parker-holics would do, use the shotgun as Parker Brothers intended. Of course he should have kept the original stock.
The buyer, Jack Puglisi, of the 
Have you shared hunting, fishing, and shooting with someone who has never had the experience? Well now is the time to take a friend or a family member to STEP OUTSIDE and tell 
STEP OUTSIDE is a mentoring program offered through the NSSF that helps greenhorns spent some time with old timers out in the field or on the water. I’d say it’s a great way to spend quality time and enjoy lasting memories with family and friends, but that would be sappy if not true.
Got to the 
There are those among us who strive for tradition by walking in the footsteps of their fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers. The