B2 THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022
OUTDOORS & REC
Grouse
Continued from B1
I doubled back on our track
and swung wide to the side of
the firs where the grouse had
come down. As I approached,
the grouse darted from beneath
the tree and into the channel. I
was prepared for the flush, but
again, its trajectory would take
the bird through impenetrable
cover with no shot opportunity.
Then Yuba suddenly appeared,
on the other side of the channel,
spotted the bird on the move,
and pulled a trick out of her
pheasant hunting playbook.
Swinging wide and turning
on the heat, Yuba dashed ahead
of the bird to cut it off, caus-
ing a 180-degree switch in the
ruff’s direction. As if waiting
in the wings for her cue, Finn
darted through the middle of
the channel, stopping the ruff’s
escape and forcing it airborne.
As it lifted off, I shouldered
my side-by-side with hopes of
a crossing shot, but to my sur-
prise, the bird flew directly at
me. A glancing blow from the
cylinder-choked bore deposited
the flawless gray grouse into the
grass beside my right boot as if
the dogs had willed a retrieved
to hand. A moment of pure ser-
endipity.
Reaching into the grasses,
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Snowberry thickets often coincide with good grouse cover.
I gently wrapped my fingers
around the warm body of the
marvelous bird. The girls gath-
ered around for a sniff and we
drank in the moment. The sun
peeking through the trees cast
a beautiful backlight on cara-
mel-tipped breast feathers and
I admired the intricate designs
and steely shades across the
bird’s cape.
The girls sat at my feet and
Yuba whined to be released.
We were just warming up and
barely 15 minutes into the hunt.
Still, I kept her at heel as I pon-
dered the previous few minutes
and the teamwork that led to
our success. Those cherished
seconds passed quickly. I had to
commit the details to memory.
Call it what you will. Divine
intervention, telepathy, or dumb
luck. The appearance of both
dogs out of nowhere and their
stealthy work are what led to a
bird in the bag. I’ve experienced
this sixth sense phenomenon
consistently with these two set-
ters in a variety of covers and
it never ceases to amaze me.
These dogs are “my why” be-
hind bird hunting.
By late morning, a dozen
grouse had gone up, many of
which flew just a few yards be-
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Drawing a bead on a bird in cover this thick can be challenging, making every ruffed grouse that comes to
hand a blessing.
fore disappearing into the brush
and running to safety as I bat-
tled through briars and service-
berry thickets. But a good day’s
gunning is measured not by a
bird count in the game pouch.
It’s the splendor of an October
morning with grouse abound,
and your best dogs working
them with gusto. The fleeting
glimpse of the sun streaming
through a broadly-fanned tail
as the bird climbs against a
backdrop of the autumn pal-
ette. It’s the sight of a staunch
dog and the feel of an heirloom
scattergun rising to shoulder. A
fleeting moment worth living
a thousand lifetimes to experi-
ence just once more.
█
Brad Trumbo is a fish and wildlife
biologist and outdoor writer in
Waitsburg, Washington. For tips
and tales of outdoor pursuits and
conservation, visit www.bradtrumbo.
com.
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by Stella Wilder
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you are never too cautious or
sheepish to explore that which is considered
to be, in the main, unconventional or even
unacceptable -- and it’s likely that such explo-
ration will lead to some kind of immersion
into that which has newly struck your fancy.
Indeed, you follow such likes and attractions
where they will lead you, come what may, to
the extent that much of what you do, you do
on your own because others, even your clos-
est friends, are afraid to accompany you.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- The closer
you look at details today, the closer you’ll be
to the truth, though you must at some point
step back to take in the big picture.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- A
serious challenge may appear ahead of you
today. The quicker your response, the better.
Don’t lose time arguing with yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- It’s
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today, or you’re likely to give it up even before
you’ve won it. Stay focused.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Your cre-
ativity will be put to the test today by some-
one who is simply having a little fun with you.
Don’t take this too seriously.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Someone is
watching you and expecting you to make an
error at precisely the wrong time -- but you’re
likely to avoid any such carelessness.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- What you
say today must be precisely what you mean,
or someone may misinterpret and react in a
way that overcomplicates almost everything.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ve
made clear your intentions and now it’s time
to get to work -- even if there are still those
who don’t know what you’re up to.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- The more
you share with another today, the more you’ll
have at your disposal when you need it. Your
own generosity can save the day.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Don’t dis-
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the more unsophisticated, the better, espe-
cially when you are dealing with new team-
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Self-examination
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past where paths diverged.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept 22) -- You’re not
afraid of asking questions, surely, but today
one or two answers may throw a wrench into
the works and slow you down for a while.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Your expecta-
tions may at first be dashed today, but later
on, you’ll realize that this was a necessary step
in your evolution.
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