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THE LAND, OCTOBER 14, 2011
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10-year-old spaniel still has spring in his step For better or worse, the 2011 cions: a torn ACL. Minnesota pheasant hunting What’s more, the doc season begins on Oct. 15 at 9 said, the thickening of It was long after the seasons closed, on an icy sidea.m. the joint suggested that walk in March, where the final damage was done. at least a partial tear Results from the Minnesota Running around the corner of the garage, he cut hard probably had occurred Department of Natural earlier. and his left leg suddenly splayed on some ice. I Resources annual August roadremember thinking, ‘Ouch, that had to hurt.’ side wildlife surveys suggest it I thought back to our will be for worse — counts for opening day hunt. the grand old bird were down So it will likely be a in his left hind leg repaired late in Veterinarian Ken Ambrose was confiTHE OUTDOORS 62 percent from 2010 figures. season of lowered March. dent he could put Samson back in the expectations and a We can largely thank nature pink. He assured me that with six By John Cross I noticed he was favoring his leg longer time between for this. slightly after opening day last year but months to rehab the leg, odds were flushes than in recent seasons. excellent that come October the dog chalked it up to sore muscles after a The snowy, extended winter that once again would be nosing around in My expectations for the upcoming summer of inactivity. was tough on us was tough on pheaspheasant haunts. ant populations. That was followed by season further will be tempered by the He seemed to work through it and a cool, wet spring that then dampened fact that my springer spaniel is 10 He’ll hunt like a 10-year-old dog, he throughout the season — or at least nesting success and subsequent chick years old. When measured in dog years, until mid-November when heavy snow said. Not as hard but a lot smarter. which in popular lore are balanced production. effectively brought the pheasant seaNow, with the pheasant seasons seven-to-one against ours, he is 70 son to a premature end in much of The story was similar in South looming, he was spot on with his preyears old this fall — a nice round num- south central Minnesota — we hunted diction. Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa, often. where similar conditions conspired to ber. The dog is moving great. On evening What’s more, he is on the mend, havsignificantly knock down bird numThen heading south into Iowa, we walks in the cool air that now carries a ing had the anterior cruciate ligament continued to hunt until the heavy snow hint of wood smoke, there is even a bit bers. effectively brought that season to an of a spring in his step. early closure as well. And in mine as well. It was long after the seasons closed, After all, with the pheasant numbers on an icy sidewalk in March, where the out there this fall predicted to be down. final damage was done. Running The shooting may not be as a good as around the corner of the garage, he cut in recent years. hard and his left leg suddenly splayed But the hunting always is. on some ice. I remember thinking, “Ouch, that had to hurt.” ••• The next morning, he was favoring John Cross is a Mankato (Minn.) Free the leg. Press staff writer. Contact him at (507) 344A trip to the vet confirmed my suspi- 6376 or jcross@mankatofreepress.com. ‘06 Intl 9200I Series Day Cab Truck, ‘07 Intl 9200I Series Day Cab Truck, ‘72 Ford 700 tandem Farm Truck, Ford
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