THE BLACK LABRADOR and THE GERMAN WIREHAIR or THE BEAUTY and the BEAST

ADVENTURES INTO CANADIAN WOLF COUNTRY

The vast skies give way to the Park lands as we pull stake and headed northeast. The hunters wanted a taste of ruffed grouse, huge Canadian geese and to then hear wolves howl at night. We found a great camping area next to a seclude lake far from crowds. The birch fires burned well into the night and the sky was ablaze with the early fall constellations. There are moose, elk and deer every where and the grouse are holding tight a joy for Fe.

At day break we walk the cut trials. I am letting my lab and German wirehair range a little further in to the bush to point and then flush these outstanding birds the can put a birch tree i n your way faster than a banker would give you a toxic loan. I am using a 1876 English double 12 bore hammer gun probably the finest example of British gun making. This W&C. Scott and Sons is # 2 of a pair I found in New Zealand and acquired from a Holland and Holland gunmaker .

Deep in to the forest a shot cracked and usually within minutes the dogs were being followed by curious wolves hoping to find a wounded grouse. I often let the young wolves have a meal or two by not letting Belle or Fe retrieve the wounded bird. I could hear the foot prints on the fallen leaves sometimes several pairs. This fall I had to use e-collars as my favorite Belle was in season and sometimes that condition brought the precocious males in to close. A quick nick with the tritronic and my pardner were at heel within minutes.

After a morning walk with a quick brace in hand for supper it was time to let the dogs loose for a hot walk. I was very close to town thinking we were safe. Fe stayed close but Belle loved to explore and within minutes she yelped run across the road with two wolves in pursuit. A quick blast from the hammer gun broke the chase and a sharp blast of the Gonia whistle brougth Belle back withe tail between her legs.

THE SASKATCHEAN HUNtTING TRAILS

The southwest land is sparely inhabited. This is cattle country with fields pumping out gas hidden below in then old shell fields almost pre Cambrian. There are not hotels but small town are out of a CM Russel portrait or a Louie Lam ore novel.. Here white fronted and the small Arctic Ross geese stage before heading g down to Kalamuth Lakes. There are many pot holes here but for several YEARS IT IS dry and so the birds concentrate. The Prairie grouse population are way up this season so the dogs will get a great workout.

Our first hunt is a pass shoot at cranes. There are four of us and we have our limit by mid morning. These are primitive birds and have little fear of human untill the reach New Mexico and Arizona. Sharptail are plentiful and by evening we have reach our season limit. Birds are cleaned , frozen and fillets prepared for the next several day. These crane are excellent table fare eith broiled of in a gravy stew. THE DOGS ALSO FEAST ON boiled goose breast and thighs. Nothing is left to waste except our minds watching the sun set over the grain fields