As I drove back to Crockett, I thought about the probability of anyone actually calling me to go bird hunting.  Well, October 23^rd, I got the call.

The hunt was scheduled for November 4^th, opening day of whitetail rifle season.  Since I am not a big fan of Opening Day of anything, whether it is a hunting season, the big summer blockbuster movie, or a new shopping mall; because there are usually too many humans involved, I thought going upland game bird hunting was a great idea.

I called Mr. Lenderman to tell him the good news.  Let’s just say he doesn’t agree with my theory on Opening Day.  He explained that if he is not in his deer stand Opening Day, then someone else will shoot the buck he has been scouting as it walks from the National Forest, across his land, to his neighbor’s land.  So, my guest was Roy Bechtol, son of Hub Bechtol (UT Football Legend), father of Hub Bechtol (Wildlife Biologist and a new player on the Bass fishing circuit). Roy is a character worth getting to know.  In his own right, if you are a golfer and live in Texas, you have probably played on a course that he designed and constructed with Bechtol Russell Golf Course Architects.

First things first, we met to talk about safety, location, rules, and introductions.  Allen introduced his team and then his other guests, the well known columnist for the Dallas Morning News, Ray Sasser and his wife Emilie.

Allen Morehouse and Team

Emilie and Ray Sasser

And then the Quail Walking Hunt began.  We walked, talked, and watched the bird dogs do their job.  It was a pleasure to see Allen Morehouse in his element.  It was equally an honor to watch how someone like Ray Sasser takes in the “situation”, why and when he takes a photo, and of course, reading the article he wrote from our day with H.O.T. Guided Hunts which he named “Planting Quail.”