With dessert of warm apple crisp and ice cream finished, the group from Dallas decides it is time to head back into the field. Their gunless guide, Adam Seigfried, the youngest of the Ringneck Ranch guides, checks with the other guides before deciding where to go. In this case they will be heading to the east draw.
Final preparations are made before the hunters load up on the four door 4-wheel drive truck that will take them to their spot. Arriving at the first destination, Adam checks with the hunters to see who would like to be the "blocker." After Adam gives final instructions, Keith leads the blocker to his location and explains the method of the hunt.
"The hunters are using a drive and block method," he said, "the guys working the field along with the dogs, will drive the pheasants towards the blocker at the other end. The pheasant will run towards the blocker before eventually taking flight."
Keith said that location is very important. More important than your own location is knowing were everyone else is. Safety is a big issue for Keith.
Keith said that hunters are given a safety briefing before heading into the field. All the hunters must wear bright orange hats, protective eyewear, and correct hunter clothing to insure total safety.
With nothing flushing in the first area, Keith repositions the blocker as the party continues down the trail. The three dogs work endlessly smelling for the birds when finally one of the Brittany’s goes on hard point.
"Watch, there is going to be some action here," said Keith.
The other two dogs immediately come back and join the pointer and begin looking in an overgrown area. All the hunters appear puzzled but are confident the dogs know their jobs. Suddenly a rooster flies out of cover and makes a mad flight for safety. Three shots ring out from the hunting party before the bird goes down in a puff of feathers. Without much prompting from the guide, the dogs have the bird and bring it back to Adam.
With one down, Adam leads the group further down the trail. Eventually a pheasant is flushed by the dogs and a hail of shotgun pellets follow it. So it goes the rest of the day. Adam works the dogs until a bird is finally flushed out and the hunters fire away. Not every bird is taken though. Some flush without any prompting from the dogs and make it away from the hunters.
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