by Tim Esse
Following our opening weekend success, where we managed to bag a single bird, I decided to make an afternoon return to the promising grounds near Albert Lea. The autumn day was unusually warm at 55 degrees, though a pleasant breeze and sunshine made for comfortable conditions.
The early action was dominated by hens, with eight points in quick succession. Though she later bumped a rooster at long range while working into a tailwind - a forgivable mistake given the challenging conditions.
As we continued our hunt, Val caught another scent trail while I was directing Tasha to join her. This lead turned out to be yet another hen, but our persistence would soon pay off. On our return loop toward the truck, Val locked up on point. This time, the rooster held tight until I could close the distance, and one clean shot brought down our first bird of the day.
The finale came as we approached the road, with both dogs working concentrated scent areas. Their effort flushed a magnificent rooster, and another single, well-placed shot completed our limit.
The afternoon proved to be a fine example of how a return trip to familiar territory, even in less-than-ideal temperatures, can yield excellent results.
