|
 The
German shorthaired pointer stood statuesque on point with
every coiled muscle showing the definition of her bronze
sculptured body. On the voice command of her handler the
obedient canine
seemed to come to life as she busted into the tall grass
forcing the cock pheasant to go airborne in an effort to
escape the well-trained bird dog. The resplendent plumaged
bird pounded his large wings for lift. He only offered a
difficult crossing shot for the sixteen-year-old hunter who
lifted the over-and-under 12 gauge to his shoulder and
followed the erratic target with a hand-and-eye coordination
commensurate with the talent and ability of the dog he hunted
over.
At the shotgun’s bark the power-diving avian suddenly became
flightless and dropped in a deadfall into a thick grove of
pines. The experienced shorthair instinctively followed the
flight path, unerringly retrieved the downed bird and with an
aristocratic air returned to her master.
|
"At
the shotgun’s bark the power- diving avian suddenly
became flightless and dropped in a deadfall into a thick
grove of pines." |
My son, Justin, displayed the golden bird for all to see,
receiving comments about his shooting prowess by the others in
our group. I was as proud as a father could be as he rubbed in
the fact that I had already missed two easy birds going away.
This may sound like an exciting midwest pheasant hunt to most
readers whose upland bird hunting experience consists of
forest and apple orchard partridge. Not so, we were hunting in
Fort Fairfield, Aroostook County.
I received an invitation to hunt in a phone call one day from
John Hitchcock, who co-owns and manages the Greenridge
Pheasant Farm with his wife, Nadean. I was thoroughly
impressed with the appearance and maintenance of their
450-acre private hunting preserve that is without fences and
provides superior habitat not only for the pheasant, but
native wildlife as well. They have a log cabin lodge adjacent
to a trout pond that fits right in for that rustic and
aesthetic setting for break time between shoots or a lunch.
Nadean and John were more than guides on our hunt, they were
gracious hosts. Not having a dog of my own, they provided five
different bird dogs consisting of three different breeds. Each
sporting canine had a separate handler, so we shared in a
wealth of experience watching the various dogs with their own
individual and breed-specific traits interacting as a team
with some county bird dog aficionados. You can’t help but
come away impressed with the experience.
They offer very affordable packages that include a trained dog
if you don’t have your own. The possibilities are endless.
Nadean explained about a recent corporate hunt that a county
business set up
for visiting dignitaries from their headquarters. Eight
hunters scored on 60 pheasant that day over dogs. They can
custom make the hunts to fit age, experience or handicap.
Greenridge can accommodate wheelchair-bound sports in a
hunter-ready, 6-wheel ATV with a shooting platform that can
drive up next to a pointed bird in the stubble grass. One of
Greenridge’s repeat customers is an 85-year-old gentleman
who takes many a bird with John and Nadean’s considerate
transportation assistance.
Greenridge’s season runs from September 1st to November 1st.
They also offer spring and summer hunts if adult birds are
available, as they were in my case. Just call for
availability. Aroostook sportsmen now have a next-door
opportunity for a personalized hunt with no bag limits. Sunday
hunting is allowed on this 450 acres of prime fenceless
habitat reserved just for your hunting party, not to mention
the chance to hunt over a professional handler and dog in an
atmosphere right off of a cover picture of Gray’s Sporting
Journal. With all of this surprisingly affordable, it makes a
good gift idea for birthdays or Christmas.
Give John and Nadean a call at 472-1120 and make reservations
to enjoy a unique Aroostook County experience.
_______________
Wayne
Selfridge is a seasoned outdoorsman who has hunted and
fished throughout the world as a military veteran. He works
in law enforcement, is a member of the New England Outdoor
Writers Association and serves as the Journal’s Northern
Sales Manager.
© 2000 Northwoods Sporting Journal
 |
