As The Beeper Tolls

Seldom in the outdoor world are you seriously surprised…on the verge of being shocked; but with five pheasants already in the bag in less than an hour…myself, Frank Terkhorn and Charlie Warthan were once again listening to only the shrill beep of a pair of collars worn by our German Shorthairs. In slightly over an hour the three of us, along with three shorthairs, had traversed the outer edge and one side of the Triplett Wildlife Management Area in northern Indiana; to say we had been efficient would have been an understatement. The dogs had worked closely pointing and re-pointing bird after bird…a good many of which were hens, which in itself was a very positive factor.

I started things off by downing a big rooster directly in front of my pair of shorthairs; Royale and Macy. Frank then followed it up a second or two later by taking his first ever rooster pheasant by making a nice crossing shot on a bird trying to flee towards the corn field on the far side of the property. Charlie then evened the score by dropping a raucous rooster that his shorthair Quincy had pointed…30 minutes in and each of us had a hefty weight in our game bags!

The beeping of Royale and Quincy’s collars were the only sounds to be heard. We were a long ways from nothing; actually just a few miles southwest of Morocco, Indiana and just ¾ of a mile from Illinois. The piercing sound of the two collars gave me time to think…to look over at Charlie and reminisce about how good our morning had been. “Hey Charlie…are we really in Indiana? I think I just got the name of my next column; as the beeper tolls”! I moved around and in front of the three stationary bird dogs…took a few photos then sharply kicked at a big clump of bluestem. Right on cue a big, red rooster boiled out, leveled off and was just getting ready to turn on the afterburners when I heard the boom from Charlie’s over/under and watched as the bird tumbled back down to earth. Bird number six was now on its way back to us as Quincy was proudly retrieving a long-tailed rooster. What a morning; two-birds each, great dog work, awesome cover…and most importantly-good friends. It would be tough to ask for anymore.

Here is where I back the bus up a bit. I have to move back to November 8^th as Charlie and I were yet again in northern Indiana chasing the wily rooster pheasant. We started just south of Boswell and for the next 6 to 7 hours walked, drove and plodded along from spot to spot; places that in the past had been good for me. During the entire day we didn’t move, or even see one single pheasant. As we drove home the two of us (who have hunted together for pheasants for 30 years) were completely disillusioned by what we had experienced. We knew the reports were bad…but had no idea that it could actually be this bad.

To get a chance to hunt one of the Indiana managed properties you must go online early in the year (by August) and apply for a chance to be chosen…to win the lottery! Over the past 25 years both of us had applied many times; this year was no different. I had received a phone call from another hunter I knew asking if I wanted to go with him on his draw date and while I couldn’t because of a school activity…it led me to check my own application and like usual I was unsuccessful. I quickly called Charlie and asked if he had checked, with my computer open I used his info and hit the button. There it was, finally we had hit the Hoosier pheasant lottery; Charlie had indeed drawn for the Triplett property on November 12^th. And the rest as they say…is history.

In my 30 year pheasant hunting career I have had a number of banner days. Days that will forever be etched into my memory bank. In fact it is these days that make it so much fun to get together with someone like Charlie as we poke and gouge each other about various blown chances and days when old and foregone dogs stole the show. It was for this reason that I wanted to invite Frank along. I knew he had done a lot of quail and grouse hunting but had never had the chance to harvest a rooster pheasant. I also knew that he was someone who would completely enjoy the experience…be it good or bad. It was Charlie’s draw and I was pleased he wanted to have Frank along (you can legally have three hunters on the property on the day you have drawn).

This hunt will for sure leave long-lasting memories and truthfully has once again given me hope that with quality habitat like we experienced at Triplett…good pheasant hunting can be had here in Indiana. I will forever remember yelling rooster at Frank and then watching as his very first shot at a pheasant resulted in a true personal trophy. Watching as Royale and Macy combed the grass and went from point to point, each time honoring the dog that had initially pointed-will also have a place in my heart. The sight of Quincy plowing through the dense tan grass with a brightly decorated rooster…on his way back to his master; all these things and many more will make this simple day in November one that I will always cherish as three friends worked together while Enjoying the Great Outdoors.