Field Notes: Time in the field
Some of my favorite memories come from time spent in the field with family and friends.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to join my father-in-law and my wife for a day of pheasant hunting. The day went well, with a total of 19 birds taken. I got my share, but my favorite moments weren’t mine. They were watching my wife and father-in-law.
My wife and father-in-law walking a field with a guide and a member of the Oakland County Sportsman’s Club, working cover with dogs during an upland pheasant hunt.
Seeing the expression on their faces as a bird flushed and they stayed with it. Watching those quick moments play out. The rise. The shot. The pause after. Then watching those faithful dogs do their job, excited and proud as they brought birds back to the group.
Those moments mean more to me than anything I could take myself.
There’s an old idea that giving is better than receiving. For me, it’s the same in the field. Watching someone grow and gain confidence as a hunter is what I enjoy most.
Something changes after a first successful hunt. Food starts to carry more meaning. You understand where it came from. You understand what it took to get there. For some, that leads to a deeper appreciation for the resource and the responsibility that comes with it.
That’s what I try to pass on when I’m in the field with others.
The species we pursue is part of that experience too.
The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) isn’t native to Michigan. It originated in Central and eastern Asia. Over time it has found a place here. Like many introduced species, it has become part of the landscape and part of the tradition.
Ring-necked pheasant rooster (Phasianus colchicus).
Image by Nikola Tomašić @3kolone
Days like this are a reminder of why we spend time in the field in the first place.
Not just for the hunt, but for the people we share it with and the meals that follow.
Left to right: myself, my wife, and my father-in-law, alongside a fellow member of the Oakland County Sportsman’s Club, with part of the harvest.
Tip of the Spear Outdoors
Forged by Service, Dedicated to the Outdoors
