Finn from the Cascades, Season 1

[stillkickin]

Super looking pup, keep us posted on Finns progress!

 

[El Jason]

A new spot today. No birds were harmed today, but we did see a great bull and got to listen to quite the bugle display. Great day spent with a friend.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Loving the updates. Amazing you were close enough for long enough to that cat that you could snap a photo. You make it over to that Oregon spot yet?

 

[El Jason]

Loving the updates. Amazing you were close enough for long enough to that cat that you could snap a photo. You make it over to that Oregon spot yet?

Not yet. Hope to get down there in a couple of weeks. I don't think Oregon's chukar season opens until a week from Saturday, plus it's still on the warmish side. Keep you posted.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Not yet. Hope to get down there in a couple of weeks. I don't think Oregon's chukar season opens until a week from Saturday, plus it's still on the warmish side. Keep you posted.

Sounds good. Obviously I’m not an avid bird guy. Have fun out there!

 

[El Jason]

Finn and I had the privilege of meeting up with some Hunt Talkers. Ben Lamb, Schaaf, RobG, and mtmiller joined us for an adventure in the northern Missouri Breaks.

Good whiskey



#dogistooexpensiveforayeti #rtic #noipa



Copilot is restless



Where the blacktop ends



Ivan Doigesque.....



Finn working ranging out



Beer break #irishdeath



These bombers are a mouthful







Therapy for the soul.....





All epically fun adventures must end







Thanks to all for joining us.

 

[onpoint]

Yup....

 

[Tradewind]

Great pics JLS. :hump: Enjoyed the recap

 

[Hem]

Great pics Jason.
Sorry to have missed the hunt
In the spirit of things Sid and hunted out the door and chased Sharpies and Huns. Picked up one of each.Might chase some Blues this afternoon.

 

[Ben Lamb]

What a fun time. Watching Finn get on those sharpies and then the sagies was wonderful, and the camaraderie at camp was just as good as the hunting.

 

[El Jason]

I have to be honest about the dog work though. The first day on sage grouse, Finn was hunting like a rockstar if he was a black lab. Only at 100 yards. By late in the day he was actually trying to point birds, and was showing a great nose for working the wind. By the second day of hunting sage grouse he was finally starting to show some steadiness on point, and we finished the day with a beautiful point on a covey of birds at about 60 to 70 yards.

In terms of training accomplishments, my primary goals on this trip were to 1) let Finn range out at a greater distance in front of me, 2) get some repetitive contacts with wild birds in an open setting where he could scent them from a distance, and 3) start to develop some intensity and steadiness on point.

As a bonus, Finn got to retrieve a couple of great big sage grouse, hunt dead on birds in the sagebrush, and get exposure to other dogs and other hunters. The visible progression over the three day hunt was amazing to watch. I was thoroughly impressed by the rapid progression from Day to two day three, in particular on a bird he had never been around or seen before.

The even bigger bonus was the opportunity to hang out with some really cool conservation minded people, and drink some really good whiskey in a warm wall tent.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Sounds like a truly great time. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Irrelevant]

looks and sounds awesome

 

[El Jason]

Houston, we have a pointing dog

I introduced Finn to one of my favorite parts of the world. I found out I’m not in very good shape this year. Finn found out if he points birds they get shot (or shot at).

Standing at 23” and weighing in at 45 pounds...



The climb...



The cool rock scenery...



Pointed and retrieved...

 

[mtmiller]

Nice. That doesn't look very flat.

 

[El Jason]

Nice. That doesn't look very flat.

Haha, no green up on the benches yet so we had to hit the steep and nasty.

Far cry from Phillips County.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Atta boy Finn!

 

[El Jason]

Versatile day, time to hit the marsh. Unfortunately, a couple of hard freezes blew a lot of the teal out.

Sunrise



Frozen beards



Dead ducks



Dirty dogs



We topped it off with a short walk and a couple of Huns.

 

[El Jason]

Cast and blast

Big hills



Hurry up boss...



These



Equal these



Who can resist a copper spoon?



Monochromatic metal head



This is supposed to be a two piece rod



Scenery over beer





More big ones. Hills that is....









#flatline



New steelhead rod on the way for next week’s adventure.

 

[Sawtooth]

You are killing me with the chukar country photos. Add the pic of Finn on point and I almost had to stop reading your thread. Was Finn part of the rod mishap? I could see him figuring out that less cast could equal more blast. Couple of nice steelhead as well.