Some of the Birds and a Couple of 20s
There's a method to it. Three pointers surge and bound through the long grass ahead of you, followed by an equally bounding spaniel. They're excited to be on the hunt for birds and so are you, shotgun in hand.
First point. Two dogs stand stand stock still on either side of a patch of cover and the spaniel leaps forward. "Hunt 'em up!" urges the guide and that's just what the dog does, going into the grass after the bird which erupts into the air like a rocket. Shoot! And it's bird down, good shot, CB.
Bishop Exultant
This repeated itself for the rest of the morning, pheasant, partridge and quail rising bravely into the 20 gauge flak storm. I wasn't desperately impressed with my shooting but connected with the avian adversary well enough.
To be honest, I was wary of shooting a dog (!, some do...) and pretty rusty. CB did better and it goes to show the value of a good warm up on clays the day before. We probably should've shot twice the mixed bag we did but regardless, huge fun.
A Typical Scene at the Lodge. Note Keepers Tweed
Afterwards we fell back to the lodge which was all go with returning hunting parties, guides, ATVs, dogs and general magnificence. Then, on the heels of a short exeat in asset stripped Ranger, we went out again, for an exotic spot and stalk. Aoudad, Impala, Axis, Blackbuck, Gemsbok, Oryx and more; big fun and it gets the adrenaline up. Good training for the real thing.
The evening was spent around the fires of Greystone Castle and the talk was on Mazarin, Richelieu, the repellent Macron, but mostly 15thC Florentine power politics and hermeticism.
Hermetic
CB, who knows the arcana, tells me that Hermes Trismegistus is a Persian forgery as opposed to a translation from the Egyptian. If so, it still throws light on magic in antiquity at around the time of Christ, and it was burgeoning.
That in mind, Origen Contra Celsus makes the point that since Christ the magic doesn't work anymore. A common feature of Christian apologetic at the time and one which, as far as I know, wasn't disputed by the pagans. The demons were vanquished.
The Illuminati Demons Struck This Town
Will they return? St. John the Divine, the Apostle, and Jesus Himself seem to suggest they will and I'd argue we're beginning to see the resurgence. Time, of course, will tell.
The other hunters were intrigued by the conversation, har har, but became respectful when they discovered CB had shot a 193" buck the day before. Not shabby at all. I saved face, massively, by coming from Hillsboro, which is hardcore by anyone's standards.
Out in the Field
The next day dawned all too soon and it was time for me to head back to Hill County and then Dallas to fix lights on the tree, and CB to fly off to Connecticut and the world of Old Masters. And I have to say, what a lot of fun.
Outstanding enjoyment at every level and a cooler full of bird to boot; I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Big thanks to our guide, Hans, who was excellent, and most of all to CB for the invite. Great result.
Greystone Castle, in Texas
If you can, check out Greystone Castle. I tell you without reservation, you will enjoy it.
Hunt 'em up!
LSP
That sounds like a massive amount of fun leading up to the Advent. It was good of you to spare a few birds for other aspiring hunters of lesser ability. Very noble. Staying at the lodge, hunting during the day, deep conversation at night is the very marrow of life. Well done!
ReplyDeleteLL, it was TOTAL fun and a neat pre-Christmas present. And I have to say I learned the value of a 20. I'm an embarrassingly late convert.
ReplyDeleteHunting with dogs? Just the business. To say nothing of discussing Cosimo Medici and his witch mother around the fire pit in the evening! Whatev, I'd recommend the place and its guides to anyone.