You have to take your time with pheasants

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January 6, 2012

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Fri Jan 06, 2012, 02:24 AM EST

We've all heard the saying, "Practice makes perfect."

Well, I experienced the true meaning of that statement last week.

A friend of mine, Tim, raises pheasants. He has a large enclosure with plenty of small pine trees for cover. My son and a couple of Tim's friends use the birds to train their dogs and keep their Labs in top hunting shape.

One thing led to another _ busy lives and all that _ so many of the birds didn't get released this fall. During the holiday break, they decided to release the birds on my hill, letting a cage full loose on three different days.

Within a couple of days, the colorful ringnecks had scattered across the hillside, meadows and swamps.

My son, Randy, showed up one morning and said, "Come on. We're going hunting."

I was a little reluctant because I didn't have anything ready. My shotgun was safely locked away, the shells were in the closet, etc.

He reached into the back of his truck and handed me a fancy Browning over and under and a box of shells.

"Let's go!"

By the time we got up to the pond, Tim showed up. They released the dogs and an excitement filled the air. The dogs knew what was going to happen.

We crossed a little creek and approached a small group of pines and thick brush. Copper and Sonny worked the area with a canine intensity that I hadn't seen in years. Suddenly, there was a loud cackle and a flutter of wings. A colorful ringneck rooster had taken to the air. As the cock bird passed through an opening in the dark green branches, I pulled up and shot. It was a clean miss as I shot right behind him.

I grew up hunting mostly partridge and woodcock. When they flush, you snap-shoot them right up close.

It's a different game with pheasants. These larger birds flush in more open spaces and usually fly away straight as an arrow. You've got to take your time, get your sights on the bird and follow through after you pull the trigger. With these birds, it's not instinct, it's skill.

Within a matter of minutes, the dogs were on another bird. Their tails circled tightly as the smell of the pheasants filled their sensitive noses. Two birds noisily exited the thick cover. Tim pulled up and shot one going directly away. Within seconds, his black Lab had the bird in its mouth and was carrying it back to him.

I shot and missed another, but Randy's aim was perfect. Copper quickly retrieved it and gently presented it to him.

After a couple more misses, I found my groove.

A fancy rooster came up out of some alders and was heading to my left. I carefully pulled on the bird and followed through. As the 12-gauge roared, the wings folded and Copper was right on him. Proudly, the yellow dog carried the pheasant to his master.

We got five birds that morning. I dressed them, and they were delicious.

Using Tim's cooking method, my wife, Pat, and I had some of the breasts for dinner. His secret? Pound the breasts thin on a board, roll them in flour and quickly pan fry them with garlic and seasonings. And don't overcook them.

It was truly a meal fit for a king.

Rick Brockway writes a weekly outdoors column for The Daily Star. Email him at robrockway@hotmail.com.