In the classic movie Love Story, the musical score echoes with passion, “Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a love can be?” Those of us that have shared days in the field with a bird dog and the added companionship at home have enjoyed the emotional privilege of those same sentiments.
Having shared 60 years in the field with pointing bird dogs and guns in pursuit of game birds, it was easy for me to relate to the stories for I have experienced most of them, along with several more ownership issues that are part of my bird dog journey.
I am very emotional when it comes to the loss of my bird dogs for whatever reason. The essays that alluded to and identified the last season were hard for me as I struggled through them filled with emotions while watching my 14-year old Shelby shut down as the end of her journey nears, and she prepares to enter the next journey in bird dog paradise where we will meet again.
God works in mysterious ways.
Your harvest of the two woodcock over Shelby last November was very special since they will be her last finds. How special it was that she was still alive during your visit to share a brief moment of her skills and tenacity with you and Tom?
In late fall of 2021, Shelby and I did what I thought would be her last hunt in the uplands. I have always tried to share a one-on-one last hunt with all my dogs as a way of saying thanks as we bring our journey together to an end.
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of The Upland Almanac.
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This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of The Upland Almanac.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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