This women’s pheasant hunt had been many months in the planning and the day was finally here. I had the car loaded down with food, clothes and lots of shotgun shells. I started picking up the girls one by one, on our journey out to Summer Lake. Lake In The Dunes was our final destination, and I was definetly ready to try out my new over and under shotgun.
Julie and Tracy hanging out after we arrived
After we arrived at Lake In The Dunes, we unloaded and talked with the owners Russell and Tonimarie Scott. They are a great couple and they explained all the fun we were going to be having that weekend. They had started by setting up the 13 station clay course. We made out way out there and tried different scenerios. Some were easier than others, and some I just couldn’t hit to save my life. I think the girls really enjoyed themselves at this, and we were able to get a feel for our guns. Most of us had new guns, usually I use an old Mossberg pump, but for this trip, my sister-in-law and I got treated to our new Stoger’s.
Gail taking a shot
Tracy's up
Julie Taking Aim
Heather Taking A Crack At It
The cold and wind started to set in, so we headed back to the cabin to warm up and make some dinner. We tried to make sure we got an early nights sleep that night, we had a long day ahead of us on Saturday.
Saturday brought with it overcast skies, but not to cold out. We could not have asked for better weather, unless we could ask for summer to be here. So, we started off with Russ and Mike going over the days hunt, and then we headed out into the field with Lexi and Hagen. With six girls there, we tried to split up into two groups. When the birds started to fly, shotgun shells filled the air. We all got a crack at the birds and each got to bring some home.
Russell, Mike, Heather and the dogs
Becki and the others ready for the hunt
Becki, Julie Heather, Tracy, Gail, and Toni
Becki and Gail with their birds
Julie and her bird
Me loving my bird
Tracy hamming it up with her bird
After hunting for the morning, we made out way to the ponds for some fly fishing. Russell raises his fish there at the preserve and stocks the ponds with some nice size fish. We all tried our hardest to land one, but it was sure hard. They were jumping all around us, and I finally got one on, and just before we were able to net it, it broke my line and got away. Not more than a few minutes later, Toni hooked a really nice one and she was able to get it in the net. It was pretty exciting to see how happy it made her, and she was the only one to net one. Good job Toni.
Toni, Russell and "The Fish"
All of us trying to hook a fish
We were all hungry after the days events and made out way to the Cowboy Dinner Tree. Those folks cook up a wonderful down home meal. It is out of Siver Lake and is well worth the drive. You will never be able to eat everything, and you will take home enough food to make another 2 meals. We had a group of us there enjoying the food, fun and friends.
The next morning we finished out our hunt with a few more birds down. We packed up and headed out. We had such a fantastic time and can’t wait to return next year. Thanks to SHE Safari for the hats that each girl got to take home and to Jeremy from Pursue The Outdoors for the donation of the Bone Collector knife that Becki won.