With the 21st annual Yerington Lion’s Club Nevada Pheasant Hunt coming up this Saturday, we’re featuring last year’s pheasant hunt overview from NOU member Henry Bertuleit…….
“Old Dog, New Hunt”
20th annual Mason Valley Hunt Club / Yerington Lions Pheasant Hunt
by Henry Bertuleit
The sun had barely risen on Saturday, November 2nd, 2013, when I pulled up to the Lions club house in Yerington to sign in for their 20th annual pheasant hunt. But I was not alone in the brightening day. The club house had volunteers cheerfully helping hunters and guests fill out last minute paperwork while serving hot coffee and doughnuts. There were also hardworking Lions out planting pheasant on the beautiful private ranches in the Mason Valley.
Paperwork completed, I enjoyed the coffee and the friendly Lions and hunters that had gathered. About 8:30am, my name was called and I joined a group of fellow hunters and our gracious Lion host and Yerington Lions President, Elmer Bull.
We caravanned to a ranch four miles or so South of Yerington and were directed to the fields that were stocked with pheasants. Once we chose our field, we separated into groups to begin our hunt. My 12 year old yellow Labrador, Colby, and I worked a large field by ourselves and the others, Elmer and Stew, and Allen and his Daughter, Nicky, each hunted their own fields. It wasn’t long before I heard a couple of shotgun blasts and saw a lone rooster pheasant gain altitude and sail across the field that Allen and Nicky were hunting. It was an impressive feat of evasion on behalf of the pheasant.
I worked my field slowly and carefully for an hour or so and Colby got really birdy, went down into an irrigation ditch and plowed under a big pile of tumbleweeds. Out flew a magnificent rooster, which I down at about 20 yards with a single high base number 6 from my trusty 1187. Out comes old Colby from the ditch, and with a little gentle direction from me, went out and retrieved the bird. I snapped a couple of pictures and truly enjoyed the moment with my faithful companion. For a 12 year and two month old dog, he gets around pretty good. And I had always promised him a chance to hunt pheasants. Misson accomplished.
I worked my way down along the remainder of the ditch to the end of the field and failed to raise any more birds. I then carefully worked my way back towards the parked vehicles, walking each windbreak in the field. I kicked a lot of likely cover hoping to raise a reluctant bird. Colby wasn’t as thorough as he once was and I wanted to relive another frantic rise behind my dog.
When I got near the trucks, I noticed the other hunters were back. I had heard a lot of shooting from their fields so I was certain they had taken their four birds each. After carefully unloading my shotgun, I chatted with my companions. They had taken 15 birds total. Elmer offered to go back out with me, taking his awesome black lab, Pete, and work a couple of areas that I had not covered very well. I happily agreed, since Colby was running out of steam and having the other dog with him seemed to give him some extra energy.
We worked a tall brush line along and irrigation ditch and Elmer spotted a hen trying to sneak out the back door. I took off after her, walking fast along the windbreak she was darting through. I got to within 10 yards and Colby pounced at her. She made a glorious but ill-fated flight away and to my left, only to be brought down by the Hammer of Thor. Colby made a nice, unprompted retrieve, and we again savored the moment.
I quickly rejoined Elmer and Pete and we worked to ditch and it took a right angle. We walked a little further with both dogs working, and nothing. We doubled back and Pete kicked up a smaller her, which flew off with much protesting. I shot once and the Hammer of Thor missed. I shot again and put a golden #6 in her, letting just enough air out of her for Pete, who was in hot pursuit from the start, to almost catch her when she landed. She flew off again, this time crossing me, and I prepared to shoot again. But she came down and Pete quickly fetched her up and brought her to Elmer, as a good dog will do.
We worked another ditch down to the far end of the field and the walked the sagebrush adjacent to the field, but no luck. I felt quite happy with my three nice pheasants, and we rejoined the others and headed back to the Lions clubhouse for lunch. My trusty pedometer indicated I had already taken 15500 steps for the day and had covered over 6.5 miles. I guess I’m not a very efficient hunter. Delicious tri-tip sandwiches with all the fixings, followed up with tasty cookies. During lunch, volunteers would clean your birds for you.
This ended up being a perfect day. I got to take my old faithful Labrador out on a hunt that challenged us both with the wily birds provided by the Mason Valley Hunt Club, enjoyed the friendly and well organized hospitality of the Yerington Lions, had a delicious tri-tip lunch, and enjoyed the companionship of new and old friends, all in the serene and beautiful confines of the Mason Valley. I am already talking with friends to book a hunt with the Mason Valley Hunt Club for a similar experience in the near future.
Thanks to Henry for his overview of this great event, and thanks also to the Yerington Lions Club for the services they provide to our Nevada youth!
For more information on this year’s hunt on Saturday, November 1st –
Click Here: lions pheasant flyer 2014