Finn from the Cascades, Season 3

[Deleted member 20812]

The rattlers were......?

Non existent. I rarely ever see one in October.

Saw a muy grande bull elk. Go fill that tag so we can plan a get together.

 

[Durango Mike]

I had planned to run Finn through his final two day utility test this year. Alas, COVID, a family death, and a major house project entirely derailed training. I was able to spend a little time on blood tracking and of course obedience. However, we shelved the testing until next year.

We embarked on our first fall trip into the middle of Idaho, in search of ursus americanus. I know, this is feathers and wings, but versatile dogs don’t care.

Requisite supplies.

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Finn thinks 6.5s are cool.

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Ima walking in the moonlight...

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Midnight reservation for two please.

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We left tracks all over.

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Coffee break courtesy of Black Rifle Coffee Company

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Finn wanted to model a little bit.

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Our schedule will be pretty light on birds until October. 14 days for elk and bear coming soon. I have to say, Finn's developed into a wonderful all around hunting companion. He stays at heel, will immediately go into a down stay, and is decidedly low in the pain in the ass metric.

The next two weeks are crazy with work stuff, but I plan to put out 2-3 blood tracks before we leave.

Super dog! Had one for a decade before I went back to Brittanys, dumb I know but the gal I had felt like one of those once in a lifetime and replacing her would have made it tough on the new one to live up to her.

 

[Irrelevant]

Did way better than i

 

[Mule man]

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Great job,I do like the looks of that stuff

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Multi activity day today.

 

[Mule man]

Great pic's ,nice dog. When are you going again? I will be up......LOL What vest is that ,looks nice

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Great pic's ,nice dog. When are you going again? I will be up......LOL What vest is that ,looks nice

Wing works vest. Deer hunting next week....

 

[Irrelevant]

Multi activity day today.

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Is that a gd steelhead?

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Is that a gd steelhead?

Yes. Rarer than a unicorn. Lost a bruiser yesterday because I can’t adjust a drag properly.

 

[Lige]

Cool thread, enjoying it

 

[Irrelevant]

Yes. Rarer than a unicorn. Lost a bruiser yesterday because I can’t adjust a drag properly.

You lucky sumabich... now I'm really jealous I have hooked into a metal head in years. Not since the Wenatchee was open.

 

[Deleted member 20812]

You lucky sumabich... now I'm really jealous I have hooked into a metal head in years. Not since the Wenatchee was open.

Come join me. I spent an hour yesterday tearing my reel apart. I think I can squeak the rest of the season out of it. I'd have it rebuilt, but it's old enough parts are becoming an issue.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Lost a bruiser yesterday because I can’t adjust a drag properly.

I was down the Colombia bobber fishing for them with a 6# floro leader. There's no sweat spot on the drag with a #6 leader!

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Today the bearded fool and the un-bearded fool took turns acting like idiots. We’re still working into our groove. There were times Finn charged in on birds and I wanted to kick him in the ass, and there were times when I put lots of holes in the sky and I’m sure Finn wanted to bite me in my ass.

Somewhere in the basalt rocks.


Union break.


Ima looking at you.


Dinner.


Full house.

 

[Deleted member 20812]

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

That country and geology on Finn's last chukar hunt sure look familiar. Oregon?

 

[1_pointer]

Finn is making Hank (and ME!) jealous. Well done.

 

[Deleted member 20812]

I’m a little underwhelmed with the pheasant numbers we found. Finn worked his hiney off for this one.

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Post election road trip check in. Shitty roads, Goodyear Duratracs for the win.



A PBR slushy with dinner.



A chilly night in the Copper Spur Inn. Time to get a zero degree bag.




Decent numbers of pheasants, but no shots offered.



First retrieve In the Cowboy State.



More to come....

 

[Deleted member 20812]

After a chilly night, @MTLabrador brought the Hilton.



I spotlighted a nice dead snag and we had heat. Muy bien. Unfortunately, the next day when we got back from hunting, the tent had collapsed under the high winds. After trying to resurrect it, we raised the white flag. My air pad and cook stove bag are sacrificed to the prairie.

The One Eyed Buffalo was an outstanding place to console ourselves and regroup. We had dinner and took a growler to the roach coach.



Round two today.









What an outstanding day. It’s a heck of a lot of fun to hunt a familiar quarry in a completely new landscape.