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Not only does Russell shed all over my carpet and pee on my sewing box, he coaxes my husband into the deep woods in search of ptarmigan and grouse leaving Baby Bunting and I in the cabin, praying he didn't need that bear spray he left with this morning. Hopefully, he's late because he found a large flock of those ever elusive grouse.
Back home, I was always grateful after Chuck shot his first few ducks of the season. As soon as he could start adding ducks in his mental counter, we could all rest easier knowing the obsession was dialed back a few notches. So, a couple of days ago, when he arrived with 4 ptarmigan, I was almost as happy as he was.
Neither My Friend nor Baby Bunting were participants in aforementioned hunt. In fact, Baby Bunting is featured here trying to balance her jungle girl side with her afraid of everything biological side, all because of a drop of blood that just fell out of one of those birds onto her shirtsleeve. This was a deeply emotional moment for her. In the end, the jungle girl side won out as she decided she could handle it, though at this time, the lasting emotional toll is not known.
The day Russell pointed at and delivered all 4 of those ptarmigans within five feet of him, Chuck began to believe his dreams owning a true blue bird hunting dog were being realized.
A Lesson on Ptarmigans
In the winter their feathers turn completely white.
Since we'd never eaten ptarmigan, Chuck elected to cook the meat without any type of seasoning. And it was good! I enjoyed it more than duck and hey, bonus!...I didn't bite into any shotgun shell bee bees! (Yes, I know they are really called shot. Daddy didn't raise no fool.)
Good job Chuck. Thanks again for the post Hayley. I love them so much. Your dear old mom misses and loves you so.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting lesson on ptarmigan. I am not familiar with that species. I can see that Chuck is in hunting and fishing heaven. Uncle Charlie enjoyed this blog and the camping ones.(He enjoys all the blogs, but these have special interest.) He says hello. Thanks for sharing. Hayley, that was real sweet of you to pray for a dog for Chuck. Love y'all,Janice
ReplyDeleteI am getting mom-sick and other family-sick mom!!
ReplyDeleteBoo-hoo.
Thanks Janice. What do you mean you are not familiar? I gave you a lesson! Remember they are freaky and turn white in the winter. I might as well be a bird scientist. Tell Charlie I said hello too. Love ya'll too.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in the southern midwest before moving northeast, I should be more familar with hunting. But I'm not. :( Hahahaha. I'll admit the birds faces scared me. Y'all are braver then I.
ReplyDeleteKatie, Birds are not the thing we worry about running into around here. :)
ReplyDeleteI think ya'll may have murdered a couple of members of a super endangered breed of the most ancient species on earth... Dinosaurs. Birds are the only living thing that are truly dinosaurs. The only other thing that comes close (but not AS close) is the komodo dragon, sooooooo...
ReplyDeleteI actually don't know if they are endangered. I was jus kiddin bout that part. The other parts were real life. Also, did. it. taste. like. chikin.
No they are definitely not endangered so don't be calling the law on us and no they did NOT taste like chicken. They tasted more like duck.
ReplyDelete