PUSHING INTO THE FORREST

To the Northwood’s.

I knew the forest grouse numbers were way up this year but the number were ridiclous and I often had to stop grouse shooting within the hour as not to exceed my limit of twenty. I enjoyed the quiet isolation of the deep forest impregnated with the scent of the black spruce and poplar trees. I could think of the French trappers and Jesuits who explore this land in the 16^th century and the vast numbers of fur animals that thrived in this lush place but mostly I dreamed of flushing ruffed grouse as they disappeared into the thick forest stands.

This habitat is where the German Wirehair Fe Rey thrives and excels. She can point or flush and will even point the tree the grouse lands in. She is an incredible dog after many years of hunting she is perfect for flushing and the retrieve of the ruffed.

I was up north of Flin Flon when the rain stopped. There were no hotels for a hundred miles and I was cozy in the Lance overlooking a lake filled with loons and song birds with the wolves howling at night. Within a minute or so I flushed a covey of ruffed. My new Holland and Holland Royal swung through the flush and the birds just continued to fly with it sortie. Not a good beginning but I would later learn to keep my head down on the Holland. Fe was off again into he bush and managed to flush to cock ruffed over me and the open bore Holland and Holland royal cut loose with a string of lead. She was on it quickly and brought it back to drop it at my feet. Fe would get and extra ration this evening.

Camping here is beyond explanation being alone in wild and pristine habitat where it could snow a foot over night. I knew I could handle anything except deep mud in the Ford Diesel with the extra weight of the Lance. The Lance was awesome totally self contained with dual batteries fuel by a new solar panel I installed. The queen size bed was perfect for a good night sleep and I could sleep comfortably even as the temp dipped below 0. I had my cabin the woods and the dogs as companions and I was experiencing the joys of the wild living off the harvest