Cap and I just returned from chasing blue quail at Black Gap WMA. What an amazing trip, with epic scenery and history! It was Cap's first wild bird hunt, since we don't have any bobs in Shackelford Country anymore it seems. I didn't think he'd be ready for such a trip at 8 months old, but he's done so great in traiing we went. He did amazing! Climbed those rough, rocky, cactus strewn mountains like they were nothing, never quit, never lost his puppy enthusiasm. He's got some tough feet and skin for a city boy! Never needed boots. After jumping a few coveys and singles, he figured it out, and as we circled around an old dry tank with an ancient, fallen down net wire fence, he hit the cross wind, turned ninety degrees and started up the mountain with intensity and 50 yards later locked up. I walked in, gun ready, not knowing if this pup knows his game yet, and up went 20 blues, his first covey find and point! And to all amazement, I swung and dropped one!

He couldn't resist and followed the birds up the mountain. We climbed and again he got birdy and locked up. I walked in, hopeful that this pup is this good already and sure enough, a single blasted out, and again, this one dropped at the shot. He wasn't quite dead and I though Cap pounced on him, but when I got up the hill, he didn't have the bird. After a quick search, we marked the spot and went p the hill after the now calling singles. Since we had our trophy birds, my first blues too, I practiced conservation shooting (i.e. missing them just for the fun of shooting and to wild them birds up a little to help them survive) on the singles that Cap again found and pointed. Do you believe that conservation shooting bull?!

We went back to the prickly pear patch I was sure that last hit bird was, Cap got birdy but as I looked and poked in the pear he wandered off. After a minute or two, I looked up to call him back in and he was standing there with the dead bird in his mouth. Folks, I think I'm gonna have a bird dog!

We drove all over Black Gap's 100,000 acres, saw a monster mule deer buck, and just relished in this treasure. Oh, and I binged listened to a new podcast I LOVE, Mountain and Prairie, check it out. Sorry for the long, but this trip was inspirational!

PS The last evening, in the tent, a covey of quail apparently had surrounded us and flushed. The next morning as the sun rose, after the season had ended, they were calling their "chip chew" gathering whistle. It was a great ending to a blessed trip.

Great pictures. Thanks a bunch for sharing.

Sounds like a great trip....

Great story thank you for sharing

very cool dog ! very cool trip! thanks for sharing

GREAT PICS
Great looking pup. Hard to beat a good Brittany

Thanks! I need another one! Seriously, I'd like to get a female, preferably between 1 year old down to a puppy. If anyone knows of one, let me know.

Great looking pup and the adventure has begun. Thanks for sharing

Great story and pictures! Makes me wish I was still able to wear out a pair of boots in a season. Enjoy it while you can!

Very cool! Thanks for sharing

That was an awesome trip! Congrats on the dog!

Thanks for sharing. We went there in December, it was a neat trip but completely different country than we are used to bird hunting in. We messed the pads up on a couple of our fast moving pointers that usually have tough feet within the first 1.5 hours of hunting them. Our slower moving dogs didnt have any trouble with it.

My wife thought I went down there. I have the same tent and a Brittany also.

I wanted to do that trip this past season but ran out of time to do it. My phone says it's about an 11hr drive from dallas, wish it was a little closer and it would be a bit easier to do.

Awesome trip, thanks for posting

Ended up being about a 9 hour drive for me from Denton/Frisco area. The drive wasn't too bad, podcasts, looking at the country, talking to myself, passed pretty quick.

That's funny fishingpunk, I love that tent, how about you? Its like my own mini western wall tent or safari style set up. To be able to stand up to dress, set in my chair inside with a bird dog and a glass of wine, sooooo sophisticated! Glad to hear from a fellow brit man.

Echo 80, yeah I bet those pointers of yours, going hard and ranging far did tear up feet. I imagine they cover exponentially more country that my brit pup.

Very nice