TiercelMan
09-12-2007, 11:42 AM
Saturday was the last day of the grouse for me 'cos of the bad weather forecast for monday, technically the last day. Saturday was bad enough owing to the bitter strong wind. Fortunately it was from the south east which suits the hill I was on.
My mate Gordon was with me with his excellent small falcon Eva and I had Emma, my average sized strong falcon. The scenting conditions weren't good and Kerry the pointer bumped the first three grouse. After realising the conditions she changed into ultra cautious mode and came on a solid point not wanting to move a muscle in case of premature flushing. Gordon's Eva was first to fly, mounting all the time 'til she was quite small. I'm no good at judging heights, but Eva's the natural type that doesn't stop climbing until the quarry is flushed.
I shouted Kerry to flush when Eva was perfectly placed, just upwind of the dog and directly over Gordon and I. She ran forward to where she thought the grouse was and suddenly froze on point again, looking behind her. The grouse obligingly flushed and it was obvious Kerry had ran past it or over it on the first command to flush. Because of Eva's commanding position the grouse had no alternative but to fly downwind.
Eva stooped and leveled out, closing the gap rapidly behind the grouse. Because of the terrain, all we could see was Eva throwing up to an emmense height and started to wait on again, gaining height all the time. She had either hit the grouse or it had dumped in front of her as is the usual case with these seasoned grouse.
After a few minutes Kerry came on point again roughly where we saw Eva throw up. Eva, now as high if not higher than before, was once again perfectly placed. On flushing the grouse, Eva seemed more determined than ever closing the gap with mini rapid clips of her shoulders. Both disappeared over a rise but this time no throw up. Walking in the direction we came on Eva with her grouse, obligingly by the hill track.
This is Eva's third grouse from my hill and all credit to Gordon who has made a cracking job of what is to my mind, one of these rare natural game hawks that just climbs irrespective of conditions.
It was Emmas turn now, and to cut a long story short, flew well enough in the now bitter strengthening wind. She is a very strong flier but uses the different method of climbing to Eva and that is outrunning into the wind some distance, turning back, and doing the same again. Her grouse was flushed perfectly but but twisted at the moment of impact.
I quickly lured her in and by this time my fingers were numb and turning white with the bitter wind. Gordon obligingly helped me attach the swivel to Emmas jesses as my fingers weren't operating.Back to the vehicle, We started to thaw out and discuss the last day,
Alistair
My mate Gordon was with me with his excellent small falcon Eva and I had Emma, my average sized strong falcon. The scenting conditions weren't good and Kerry the pointer bumped the first three grouse. After realising the conditions she changed into ultra cautious mode and came on a solid point not wanting to move a muscle in case of premature flushing. Gordon's Eva was first to fly, mounting all the time 'til she was quite small. I'm no good at judging heights, but Eva's the natural type that doesn't stop climbing until the quarry is flushed.
I shouted Kerry to flush when Eva was perfectly placed, just upwind of the dog and directly over Gordon and I. She ran forward to where she thought the grouse was and suddenly froze on point again, looking behind her. The grouse obligingly flushed and it was obvious Kerry had ran past it or over it on the first command to flush. Because of Eva's commanding position the grouse had no alternative but to fly downwind.
Eva stooped and leveled out, closing the gap rapidly behind the grouse. Because of the terrain, all we could see was Eva throwing up to an emmense height and started to wait on again, gaining height all the time. She had either hit the grouse or it had dumped in front of her as is the usual case with these seasoned grouse.
After a few minutes Kerry came on point again roughly where we saw Eva throw up. Eva, now as high if not higher than before, was once again perfectly placed. On flushing the grouse, Eva seemed more determined than ever closing the gap with mini rapid clips of her shoulders. Both disappeared over a rise but this time no throw up. Walking in the direction we came on Eva with her grouse, obligingly by the hill track.
This is Eva's third grouse from my hill and all credit to Gordon who has made a cracking job of what is to my mind, one of these rare natural game hawks that just climbs irrespective of conditions.
It was Emmas turn now, and to cut a long story short, flew well enough in the now bitter strengthening wind. She is a very strong flier but uses the different method of climbing to Eva and that is outrunning into the wind some distance, turning back, and doing the same again. Her grouse was flushed perfectly but but twisted at the moment of impact.
I quickly lured her in and by this time my fingers were numb and turning white with the bitter wind. Gordon obligingly helped me attach the swivel to Emmas jesses as my fingers weren't operating.Back to the vehicle, We started to thaw out and discuss the last day,
Alistair