They preceded ahead off lead, calm and under control. He heeled his Lab named Boone, son of the dog he ran in the championship, behind a regal young English setter named William (Willie). One cannot make this stuff up, which is why it’s so hard to believe he could see and do that much, all by the age of 27. Late into one evening, I had to pry out the details with a dollop of rum on how he’d qualified for the IGL Championship, and made it all the way to the final day. His dogs and his results, speak for themselves as he’s the only American born competitor to make up a novice field trial winner and a British field trial champion. We both become indignant at the thought of training one with the collar, another reason we meshed from the onset. Calm, quiet, patient souls, full of game finding ability and natural retrieve. His dogs embody what the British intended a Labrador to be. He hangs an acme 211.5 around his neck by a strand and keeps a makeshift slip lead out of a short piece of paracord in his minimalist leather game vest. Everything is built on a solid foundation. Noah’s approach to life is not what I call fancy. Unveiling his Browning BPS, checkering filled with dry mud and 28 inches of “blued” barrel, copper hued by surface rust, I nodded and found we were both smiling again. I own one myself that’s been beaten, ribs bent, forearm pump cracked, and not once has it been properly cleaned. While preparing the sinews of war, the first thing I noticed was his shotgun. Weather was favorable, with temps in the low 30s when the sun came up, upper 40s overhead. Time was limited in the coming days, so we hunted that afternoon. But no, not him, not after giving his word. With a long drive ahead of him from his kennel in the Flint Hills of Kansas to what I refer to as “north of the tension line,” Wisconsin, many would have just backed out. This guy is the posterchild “All-American kid.” From our phone conversation the day before, I knew he pulled an all-nighter, coming off what he thought was a bout with food poisoning. In fact, it’s contagious and I found myself mirroring the expression back. He has a “Top-Gun” mustache and wears an eternal grin that stretches ear to ear. Hats like that say a lot about the men who wear them: Salt of the earth and unafraid to do what they need in order to earn what they’re after. Parsons had on a dirty, sweat-stained baseball cap with “Salt Plains Outfitters” hardly legible across the front. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Moore) True To His Word In his words, “this kind of hunt has become a lost art.” It was a great hunt, shared with good friends and good dogs. Waited on ducks that never came, and trailed behind setters with our Labradors at heel. By the end of the conversation, Parsons and his dogs, progeny of fine British retrievers, had an invite to our camp. Focus on the gun Businesswoman pointing with hand gun at male colleague, isolated on white Young criminal pointing a gun while asking for money.What took me 20 years to realize I wanted in a Labrador, I learned in under an hour from this kids’ experience. Stylish serious man pointing with hand guns gesture Young man pointing a gun in hand on gray background Man pointing gun, isolated on white. A man pointing a gun with an angry look on his face. Selective focus of handsome man pointing with finger near kid and gun, post apocalyptic concept A man with the gun his head Young man pointing a gun in hand on gray background Young man pointing with gun against a white background Angry thief pointing gun at woman sitting in car at night Man pointing a gun. Action portrait of serious and attractive hitman or special agent man holding gun pointing the weapon direct to the camera isolated on dark background in secret service Hollywood style movie Businessman Pointing Hand Gun Robber pointing gun at woman covering face with hands A young man pointing a gun Handsome man pointing with gun against a street background Aggressive thief in black hoodie pointing gun at car window A man in his dress coat holding on to a weapon pointing the gun at the camera. Selectively focused on the front of the gun.
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