With a truckload of kenneled bird dogs waiting patiently for their turn at a series of brilliantly hued coverts, we turned our eyes skyward and waited for the blazing sun that was sure to turn our leisurely hike into yet another early October steam bath.

The dogs, of course, couldn’t have cared less.

Katie and Annie and Sadie, along with 14-year-old Mike, the weathered, slightly gimpy, slightly deaf veteran of the bunch, were ready.

Ready to have a bell strapped around their necks. Ready to dart through thickets and under thornbushes, following well-tuned noses toward the prey we all hoped to find.

Ready to find that prey. A woodcock for sure, a grouse if we’re lucky. To point. To celebrate our successes with a prompt retrieval … or to tolerate our failures by bounding on, missed shots and lost birds nearly forgotten. Nearly.

The dogs – all English pointers belonging to guides Wiggie Robinson and his son, Jay – live for this time of year, when the trees turn red, and orange, and yellow, then, stubbornly, finally, drop their leaves entirely.

Stop at a covert, drop the tailgate, and four sets of eyes meet your gaze. Four dogs stand up. Pick me, pick me, those eyes say.

And one by one, we did just that.

Mike, bowlegged and lame, nearing the end of his hunting life, emerged gingerly from his kennel for a short stint afield.

The others are more limber, speedier, more agile and fit. But Mike has earned these trips into the woods with years of brilliant work. And he’ll gladly take it.

After a few minutes, Mike jogged. After a few more, he moved more fluidly and began to find his stride. His instincts remain good, his nose top-notch. It’s just the rest of him that is slowly giving out, piece by piece, year by year.

Just as it is for the rest of us, I suppose.

For hours we followed the dogs, listened for the telltale silence that bird hunters love. No bell was tolling. The dog was on point. A shot … if we’re lucky … would follow.

For hours we walked … talked … hunted … lived.

And at the end of the day, we promised to do it all again as soon as possible.

The dogs, I’m sure, can’t wait.

Youth deer day approaches

If you’ve been putting off your preseason scouting until the warm weather ends, you might want to rethink your plan.

Daytime temps are still in the high 70s. Frosty mornings are rare. And Youth Deer Day is coming … ready or not.

Hunters older than 10 and younger than 16 will head into the woods for their special day on Oct. 22 – the Saturday before the official opening of the firearms season on deer.

According to the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 599 young hunters bagged a deer on last year’s Youth Deer Day.

If you’ve never taken part in this immensely popular event, here are the particulars:

. Participants must possess a resident or nonresident junior hunting license.

. Hunters must be under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or qualified adult.

. The state defines “qualified adult” as one who holds a valid Maine hunting license or who has successfully completed a hunter safety course.

. The adult is not allowed to possess a firearm on Youth Deer Day.

. The junior hunter is allowed to shoot a deer of either sex, by firearm or bow and arrow, anywhere in the state that is open to hunting.

Over the past few years Maine’s Youth Deer Day has become increasingly popular as veteran hunters take advantage of the opportunity to show youngsters the ropes.

If you’ve yet to take a child afield on that special day, consider it. And if Youth Deer Day has already become a tradition in your family, have a great time.

MYFGA banquet tonight

Since its inception in 2001, the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association has proven popular with children and adults alike.

The adults appreciate the fact that their kids are being exposed to traditional outdoor activities. And the kids just have fun.

If you’re interested in doing something good for the organization, tonight’s your lucky night.

Everyone’s invited to the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association’s annual fundraising dinner, which will be held at the Old Town Elks Club at 5 p.m.

The MYFGA has a beautiful clubhouse on Pickerel Pond outside of Milford and hosts a variety of events throughout the year. The beneficiaries are the area’s sporting youth, as they get the opportunity to learn about fishing, hunting, wildlife management, and conservation.

The dinner is free, though attendees will be asked to make a donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 5-15.

A silent auction and regular auction are on tap, and plenty of door prizes will be awarded. Entertainment will also be provided.

Dave Georgia, the executive director of Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, is looking forward to this year’s event.

“Tell ’em to come down and have a good time,” Georgia said.

Sounds like too good an invitation to pass up, which is why I’ll be there as well.

I’m especially looking forward to meeting our next generation of hunters and anglers … and am hoping that a few of them may have a few tips I can use to have more success in the future.

Parker book popular

On Thursday, I told you about Gerry Parker’s latest book, “Men of the Autumn Woods, Non-Resident Big-Game Hunting in New Brunswick.”

It didn’t take long for readers (and one bookstore owner) to start calling, looking for help in finding the book.

Parker’s book, which tells the story of hunters heading north at the turn of the last century, is illustrated with more than 300 amazing photos that Maine hunters are sure to enjoy.

If you’re looking for a book, finding one should be pretty simple (unless, of course, a bunch of people beat you to the punch).

Just start driving.

Parker has delivered copies to most Irving Mainway stores across the state, and if you’ve spent much time traveling in Maine, you’ll realize that it’s nearly impossible to “get there from here” without stumbling across a Mainway or three.

Coming up …

On Monday I’ll head to Greenville to check out the goings-on at the start of the state’s second week of moose season.

Over the years Greenville has earned a reputation as the state’s top tagging station, not because of the number of critters actually tagged, but because of the festival atmosphere that reigns.

Food vendors and spectators flock to the Stobie hangar to look at moose and hear the tales.

This week 1,775 permit-holding hunters will head into the woods for six days in the second of two moose seasons in Maine.

While the first season was restricted to the extreme northern and eastern sections of the state, the rest of the state’s moose-hunting Wildlife Management Districts open for the second session.

On Tuesday I’ll tell you what I find out. And on Monday night, I’ll show you a bit more during our weekly “Going Outdoors” TV segment. “Going Outdoors” airs on ABC-7’s 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts and on the 10 p.m. FOX-22 news.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.