Here I am trying to explain to Buddy why not finding any birds is okay, once in a while.
My Little League team lost every game one season. I know a bit about being skunked. So when not a single primer burns, no feather clouds drift with the breeze … well, that’s when you dig deep for something – anything – to justify your trip.
And that’s before the spouse greets you at the door with a snarky “You went all that way and didn’t shoot anything?”
That’s your cue to tote up the balance sheet, hoping for um, balance. Sometimes it’s easy. Other times, you gotta get creative, gin up a rationale out of the irrational.
Or do you?
I’m a firm believer in the “less is more” philosophy when there’s nothing in the ice chest. Maybe you too. We can focus on the other things, often as (or more) important than obtaining free-range protein.
Pro’s: the dog still got some exercise; it was a beautiful spot; I still got some exercise; the birds will be there “for seed;” I found an owl skull; time spent with new (or old) friends; no ammo was harmed in the making of the hunt (cha-ching!); it wasn’t raining; no birds to clean; I can cross that spot off the list; no gun to clean … well, you get the idea.
Con’s: no birds to clean.
Yep, it’s a pretty short “con” list. Or am I missing something?
When nothing flies, the adrenaline stays firmly in its glandular garage, and the game bag is empty, what do you put on your mental balance sheet?
Scott Linden Outdoors 
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Getting skunked is fairly common for me. It doesn’t disappoint me personally however if the dogs hunt and train hard, I feel obligated to reward them with birds. Regardless of whether or not I bag a bird, it’s all about enjoying time with them and the enjoyment of watching them do their job.
Just happened last Wednesday. Sometimes in the grouse woods there are no grouse. We have let the young forest mature and the birds just are not where we went looking. The dogs and I got some exercise in though and we were in the woods.
A “skunk” is not that unusual for me. I’ve talked at length to my dog about this condition, he doesn’t give a hoot, a romp in the field is all he asks. Well, a romp and me not missing is all he really asks.