Photo courtesy of Oklahoma DWC
Once again we visit the vast fields and high plains that is the Oklahoma Panhandle. This year rather than camping at the Optima WMA we set up camp at the Optima NWR which is only a couple of miles SE sitting much higher than the surrounding countryside. Also FREE CAMPING. Although still Federal Land, this area has been abandoned due to lack of funding for 25+ years now. The paved camping areas are still there, but a bit overgrown in places. Due to the dryness this time of year there are no open fires allowed.
We watered up at the Balko Truckstop enroute and set up the portable solar panels as well as jumpered to the battery bank while in camp. Generator was gassed up should we need a battery bank top off at night. We also had the 5.56mm Coyote Deterrent in case we got uninvited company. There had also been reports of large bobcats in the area lately. Boondocking 5 days for bird hunting........PERFECT!
This put us in range of our hunting the fields around Hooker, Adams, Hardesty, and Guymon. The nearest propane fill is Guymon, 20 miles to the west, although diesel was available 5 miles away at Hardesty at a fair $2.55. Much like last year we planned on hunting with our friend, Darryl. We were in for a surprise as Darryl and his wife had been transferred by Phillips Conoco Petroleum to Carlsbad, NM. We did meet his son, Seth and he was very happy to once again show us around. They really appreciated our Thank You card from last year and the Christmas cards, but LOVED the Reindeer Sausage we sent the family. His primary focus was on deer, but there were plenty of pheasant to be had as well, and if the quail population is anything like last year.........WOW. Hoping for similar results for all of us this year. This year we were treated to downright balmy weather with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s.
Really Roux, this is where you give the bird to Daddy
Once again Barb played 'handler' for Roux keeping a leash handy if she tried to chase birds. I had my trusty Browning Citori O/U outfitted with modified over full chokes and loaded with #6 for ringnecks. We decided to hunt ONLY pheasant this trip so quail would not be a factor. Most days we hunted just early mornings and late afternoons. The birds were always enroute to or from feeding then.
The first two days resulted in a single bird. We did see about 33 birds, but Roux wasn't scenting them and the distant flushes didn't help. Roux was so very much better on Day 2. I think the bird I shot on Day 1 really clued her nose in finally. She worked hard and found the birds twice, but was unable to get 'locked up' due to them flushing at 30+ yards. That didn't stop me from shooting anyways. Over the first 2 days I was a sad 1 for 5. But, Roux was showing improvement. Day 3 turned the tables for us. We had talked to a few local farmers and the game biologist on Day 2 and they said the bird population was slim due to heavy spring storms and hail damage. Still, we had been finding enough to try and shoot. We had been finding birds in cover fields and fence rows of thick tumbleweeds next to cut Milo fields. We also had been lucky enough to be able to work a section of CRP land relatively undisturbed by other hunters. It was a pretty windy day and Roux did her job and even though we still get a solid point, the birds held better. I think I finally got somewhat dialed in. We picked up 3 birds in the morning and decided to take the afternoon off. I was 2 for 5 on day 3. On day 4 Roux worked very well again and I managed to pick up one more bird close to camp in the morning. Our afternoon was spent refilling propane and a Wal Mart run in Guymon. Seth now returns to finish the packing of the house prior to his and grandma's departure to SE New Mexico. I made sure to get their new address as we plan on visiting them again one day. Good folks.
Day 3 was our best day with Seth and I nearly limiting out
We hunted hard for 4 days to fill our freezer with possession limits before heading out. Possession limits are the amount of birds you are allowed to have in your possession (even in the freezer) which is twice the daily limit. That equates to 4 pheasant or 20 quail total. My shooting hasn't improved, but I managed to carry my part of the load given time. We had no unwelcome coyote or bobcat visitors in camp.
It was another wonderful experience and good time spent with friends. Unlike other types of hunting, bird hunting is more about comradery, the performance and loyalty of the dog, and the satisfaction of a job well done regardless. Enjoying some warm camping in good weather ain't bad either. We dined on a couple days of ham n bean soup and a couple more on clam chowder.
We had plenty of sun for solar use, but keeping the bank topped off proved more difficult than usual. I made sure the cells were filled and ran the generator our entire last night in order to top them off. The suitcase panels worked just fine with the RV onboard battery.
Once again we'll be dining on some fine game later this winter and spring. We point the compass South now, heading to Texas' version of the Grand Canyon, Palo Duro. Cuddle up and get some rest, Roux. You've earned it.
"A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be"
Fred Bear
WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi
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