" Hunting Czechoslovakia "

While hunting in Czechoslovakia
we had bird boys and girls
who would pick up the birds we had shot.
They were teenagers looking to learn
and earn alittle money.
One of the girls who was fetching birds
for John and I was having alittle trouble
picking up the birds if they weren't quite dead.
I decided to help her and showed her
how to put her foot over the live birds head
and press it firmly to the ground.
Do what damage you can do
and then reach down and pick it up
and wring its neck. Hence, a bird for the
cooking pot, back at the lodge.
Often they were our evening meal.
After the days hunt there was a service
honoring all the birds
that were shot that day.
They were laid out on the ground
near a large fire started in their honor.
The hunters formed a line in front of them
and were part of the service to honor the birds.
Good sportsmanship and respect for the game
were always part of our hunting.