DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS SPECIAL TO THE PVT A dog is man's best friend, especially when out hunting. SPECIAL TO THE PVT A dog is man's best friend, especially when out hunting. Advertisement

Welcome back to Sportsman's Quest. As mentioned in the last column, we'll be here on the first Friday of each month, rather than weekly, for the next couple of months.

It's time for a bit of traveling and we'll be searching for new adventures to bring to you.

Early humans were hunters, gatherers and scavengers as was their rival, the ancestral dog. Some of us remain so today, as do modern wolves and other wild canine species.

We competed for food then, and in some societies that has not changed. What has changed over the past few thousand years is our partnering with our former canine rivals, forming a bond that benefits both of us.

Dogs have become "a hunter's best friend." They are always ready to go, don't back out of a planned trip, work for food and don't snore as loud as some of my current hunting pals. Some have even been trained to pack.

The hunter and his dog are alive and well. This is most often typified by hunting with a well trained bird dog, and is one of the great hunting experiences available today. This shared hunting goal was demonstrated on a pheasant hunt my friend Drew Calvert recently experienced.

Drew was joined by Terrance Berg, Tim Williams, 14-year-old Cory Williams and Drew's golden Labrador pal, Kula. Kula is just two years old but is working with Drew on dove, quail, duck and now pheasant hunting.

They hunted a private preserve and it was a first for Cory. He managed to get his limit, though, as did the others, and he brought home some good table fare, and some good stories to go along with it.

One story tells of a bird flying up with a thunderous wing beat at Terrance's feet. That certainly got his attention and adrenalin flowing. In his excitement he raised his 12-guage and firing from the hip, downed the bird.

The problem was that all the hunters and Kula could see were feathers flying from the shot at close range. Kula sniffed around, looked confused and then picked up a mouthful of feathers and retrieved it -- a new experience for Kula, too.

Then there was the experience most of us have witnessed first hand (I love these stories). Kula had worked hard finding, pointing and busting the bird from the bush. Drew fired at the fleeing bird and missed. The dog just turned and gave Drew the "look" only a wife or hunting dog can give you. That straight in the eye look which says, "What was that all about?" or it lets you know, they're really in control.

I've had several dogs take me hunting, and I know that look well. I've also seen them find quail, chukar and pheasant after I had walked past them.

I've experienced that focus and excitement as they scent hidden birds and show patience, as they shake and shiver with excitement, waiting for the hunter. Then on command they chase the bird from the bush, wait for the shot, and retrieve the bird with their tail wagging, knowing both they and the hunter have done well.

When birds are spread out, a good dog will course the area until it picks up scent, follows it and then "points" to let the hunter know it is on a bird. It is a thing of wonder and beauty to watch.

Whether it's a setter, Weimaraner, legendary Taltan bear dog or the ever the popular Labrador, all have retained instincts to search, chase and capture wild game. Like us, some do it better than others, and some have become legendary. They deserve to be recognized as a "hunter's best friend."

The tenacity of canine instincts, however, doesn't end with detecting, pointing or chasing prey. On an African hunt for giant kudu, a Jack Russell terrier, my favorite hunting dog, showed just how valuable this small breed can be, and why it's a fixture in many Safari camps. The Jack Russell has a natural instinct to follow a blood trail and it's often used to recover a wounded animal. It did this on a recent safari, but didn't stop there.

A client, while hunting kudu, hit the animal a little far back on the side, missing the vital organs. The kudu went into deep cover with little blood trail. The professional hunter guiding the hunt called in his Jack Russell who found the trail immediately.

The hunter and guide rushed in the direction of the barking dog as it followed the kudu's trail. The barking soon turned into a more excited sound as the dog confronted and held the large thousand-pound animal at bay.

When the hunters finally reached the commotion they found the dog had its jaws firmly closed onto the kudu's manhood (or is it kuduhood?).

The kudu was twisting and shaking as it tried to dislodge the small dog, which was being swung to the left and right, but didn't let go. The kudu wasn't paying much attention to the hunter, who quickly dispatched the great animal with a single shot.

Without the dog's help, the hunter may have lost his game and the kudu would have perhaps suffered a slow and painful end.

Again, a hunter's best friend.

For an experience of a lifetime, find the opportunity to hunt with a well-trained hunting dog. It may change your life or at least give you an interest in becoming more familiar with the "hunter's best friend."

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If you have a story or comment about this or other articles, contact me at dansimmons@usa.net or give me a call at 727-9777.

What's new

An excellent way to prolong the hunting season is a private property hunt at one of the many pheasant hunt clubs. It's also the ideal hunt for youth and first time hunters.

The guide will have well-trained dogs, ensure plenty of birds and often even provide a nice lunch or barbecue. At the end of the day they will clean and pack your game. This is a hunt the whole family can enjoy, and it's something anyone can afford.

For more information, go to: www.976HUNT.com, or give Terrance Berg a call at 1-562-352-0012.

Events

* The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Las Vegas banquet will be held April 25 at Texas Station Casino. For more information, call Allen Cothron at 702-433-3557.

Recipe of week

Drew is an excellent hunter and fisherman. He also makes outstanding sausage and smoked meats, but in the kitchen, Anna rules. Here is a quick and easy recipe that's as good at home as it is in the hunting camp.

Anna's Wild Pheasant

Four pheasant breasts; 2 cups wild rice; 2 cups chicken broth; 1 envelope dry onion soup mix; 2 cans cream of mushroom soup; 1/4 cup chopped white onion; 1/2 cup chopped celery; 1 cup sliced mushrooms; 1/4 cup butter; four strips of bacon.

Grease bottom and sides of baking dish with a little butter; wash wild rice until water runs clear; melt butter in small frying pan and sauté onion, celery, and mushrooms until onion is soft; mix together chicken broth, mushroom soup, and dry onion soup mix; place wild rice in baking dish; stir in most of soup mixture; wrap pheasant breasts with bacon, place pheasant on top of rice mixture; drizzle with remaining soup mixture; cover pan with foil bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes; uncover and bake until bacon crisps; serve with a nice salad.