Greys on Autumn Winds

She made the perfect retrieve but I fumbled the catch! The Grey made the most of it and was off like a shot.

Greys on Autumn Winds 

The sun broke over my shoulder as we worked our way up the coulee with wild rose tugging at gaiters while angling along the hillside.  Ken traversed the ridge 50 yards above casting a long shadow that rippled over the native grass and knee-high shrub in front. I could see my older dog working the bottom of the draw but had lost sight of Pip. She had been out front and looked birdie but had disappeared into a deep patch of saskatoon. I quickened pace to close the gap and raised a hand while stirring a finger in the air to signify potential birds for Ken to take note. A glimpse of twirling golden tail drew my eye just as 8-9 greys burst from the offside streaking downhill 40 yards out front. I stepped forward and down to position my lead foot and began rotating in one motion as the birds flicked through the tall shadows cast from shrubs on the ridge-line above.

I rushed the first barrel taking the shot before narrowing my attention to something smaller than the vague awareness of one bird within the whole, and a slight hesitation saw the squad stream beyond range a moment later. This was the first covey of the season and I had just flubbed it while falling prey to an easy mistake made year after year. But just as a colourful notion rose to my lips, Pip boosted two more birds a few yards further downhill. With my attention now more acute the second barrel matched the speed of the bird as my focus narrowed on a rusty crown.  Everything slowed as the background blurred. The forward bird collapsed, and Chili returned a minute later with a plump reward picked from across the draw.

Grey partridge, or Huns to many, are wonderful game birds to pursue with dogs. A persistent dog with a keen nose is very helpful for recovering greys, who have a remarkable ability to disappear like fog if not anchored well at the shot.

The united burst of a covey of greys comes first as a blur and never fails to challenge my composure. Their eager spontaneity is a humbling reminder that missing is all part of the hunt, and deepens the welcome memory of a good day in the field.

Introduced southeast of Calgary in 1908, Alberta is the epicentre for the modern-day distribution of grey partridge (Huns) throughout North America.  At that time the prairie was a sea of native grass and shrub with rectangular patches of crop spreading year to year. The key to finding good partridge habitat within the current landscape is seeking areas with enough moisture and non-tilled soil to provide three essential features - taller shrubs, moist zones with abundant forbs, and enough residual cover to conceal nests come spring.

Coulees are a life-line for partridge in cropped areas. These riparian zones are too steep or moist to cultivate, while shrubs commonly grow in the folds of slopes providing the vertical structure that newly formed pairs seek in spring. Pairs are more vulnerable to predation once they leave the security that larger coveys provide through winter, particularly from birds of prey migrating north.  Taller shrubs enhance security from avian predators and often anchor a pair until the following winter.

Greys typically move off the stubble in the morning and can often be found loafing within coulee draws next to fields.

The hunting season runs from Sept 1 through Jan 15 although most of my attention on partridge occurs in the first two months.  A good year will see 6-10 movements over a morning with 8-12 birds per covey, although there are many years when covey densities are half this. We’ll occasional work a covey twice on a day, but generally take no more than 20-30% out of a single group through a season. In poor years and with smaller groups of six or fewer birds it seems more prudent to enjoy the dog work and let them fly off without pursuit.    

Typical hunts involve an early drive to a chosen farm in the cool of the day as the sun breaks. Arrangements with landowners are made weeks or even months in advance with relationships developed over many years for coveted locations. Unlike many jurisdictions, it’s illegal to compensate a landowner for hunting access, so permissions are highly valued and fostered through trust and relationship alone.

Running dogs through the heat of September can be tricky since it’s rare to hunt in areas that have adequate water to cool the dogs, and any non-moving catchments are likely stagnant and need to be avoided. We’ll normally walk 8-12 km over a morning with the dogs working three or more times that distance. Temperature generally determines the length of time that the dogs can run without overheating but we’ll always break before noon for a rest and a tailgate lunch. These are impromptu affairs with cold cuts, cheese, nuts, and pickle, each regular staples that are slung together while retelling notable dog work and mishaps along the way.

I prefer to hunt hilly areas with deeper coulees and work the slopes where coveys commonly hold through the day after a night in the stubble. Wind factors into the approach with a crosswind favoured over anything else. This allows the dogs to work the cover up and down the slope in front while moving along the direction of the coulee.

Like some of my close hunting friends I’ve moved away from working dogs with a whistle, and instead rely exclusively on a quiet tone signal emanating from the dog’s collar. This may be heresy to the British ear, but through many years of working these systems I’ve found silence to be vital. These wild birds are touchy and readily flush well out of range to the sound of a human voice or to those whistling up their dogs. I much prefer to turn a dog with the beep on their collar, which they know means to hook back left or right depending on the direction I’m moving. While I’d prefer my field-goldens to remain within 50 yards they’ll push the limit to 60 or more, which in a cross or headwind isn’t as mad as it may sound.

Working coulees with flushing dogs often produces eruptive bursts in loose synchrony, with birds careening at right angles across the valley. In broad systems the flush is typically downward while using the crosswind to their advantage. This is challenging gun work with first shots rarely within 30 yards and second barrels beyond 40 the norm. If often takes a flush or two to get into the swing of things, even for a seasoned gun. If one isn’t familiar with flushing dogs, a sudden rise can seem completely random with roughly two seconds to sort things out before the birds are well beyond 60.
Some may pursue partridge with a handful of 7.5s while considering their delicate size. I much prefer 6s or even 5s for these presentations where pellet energy becomes more necessary, especially for the second barrel. I can’t be bothered to mix and match loads and frankly find this more confusing than it’s worth. One or the other is fine but lean toward 30 grams of 6s for a day exclusively on partridge. If queried, I’ll suggest that companions bring the gun they’ll shoot best after hefting it around for a few hours. Most bring a 20 or 12, with the occasional 28 or 16 in the mix.
Autumn brings many options for the keen wing shooter who by this time is ready to move on from inanimate clay to more noble quarry. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in honing my skills in the off months, but once the winds of September come around, I find it far more enriching to pursue feathered game. Greys are a part of this and help make early fall a glorious time in this wing shooter’s calendar!

Sometimes you get a bit lucky and find a single from an earlier flush, and it launches without a single obstruction to block your view, providing all the time in the world. Unfortunately I missed, plain and simple.