First fetch of the year!

[Dougfirtree]

My dog had a great afternoon chasing pheasants. I missed one and nailed this one, which the dog promptly fetched. No rustiness at all. I've always enjoyed bird hunting, but I'd estimate that it's about 785% more fun with my buddy here!

 

[MTLabrador]

Man I miss pheasants. Good looking buddy you have there.

 

[OntarioHunter]

I seem to recall from the other forum when you picked that dog up. Glad he has worked out so well for you. We're slowly getting back into it. I'm nursing an annoying hernia and have probably been doing more than I should. Shot a few geese already. Ellie brought four in from water yesterday but still will not pick up a honker on land. Fine with ducks and cackling geese but the big birds turn her off. We'll be headed to Montana in a couple of weeks. I will be isolating in the trailer this year and avoiding visiting friends.

 

[Dougfirtree]

I seem to recall from the other forum when you picked that dog up. Glad he has worked out so well for you. We're slowly getting back into it. I'm nursing an annoying hernia and have probably been doing more than I should. Shot a few geese already. Ellie brought four in from water yesterday but still will not pick up a honker on land. Fine with ducks and cackling geese but the big birds turn her off. We'll be headed to Montana in a couple of weeks. I will be isolating in the trailer this year and avoiding visiting friends.

Yes Ontario, he's a great example of what can happen when you don't have the best genes, but you put some work and love into it. He's just a lab/shephard (and about 6 other things) mix, who we rescued as a pup. But, I spent a bunch of time with him and got some guidance from a professional dog trainer and the end result is that he's not going to win any competitions, but he absolutely loves chasing birds, he knows how to work with me and stay close to me and he's a pretty good fetcher. Bird hunting is probably his favorite thing in the world, next to being fed... He's a good boy!

 

[fallfreak]

Oh man. Pheasant hunting. I'm headed to South Dakota in 2 weeks. I think I'm down to counting the hours till I leave.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Got my son out yesterday for his first time hunting upland birds. I've always thought it to be the most demanding type of hunting in terms of safety skills, but he's getting quite capable. I just walked behind him, giving advice and directing him and the dog. We flushed 3 and a woodcock. The kid got off a few shots and connected with this rooster (his first wing-shot).

 

[OntarioHunter]

Sometimes it's more rewarding figuring out a dog's nuances. Ellie doesn't work so well with the other dogs. Gotta keep an eye on her or she will bust Puppy's points. Always deferred to Opal for retreives when she was alive. Ellie was pretty much along for fun. Then by accident I discovered she is fabulous when hunted alone. Went from being almost a handicap to a dog worth thousands. She is a spectacular upland pointer and retreiver ... when worked alone.

 

[OntarioHunter]

Your boy hammered that bird! A great photo that will be a keepsake. I still have the B&W snapshot of brother and myself with our first ducks back in 1965. I will hopefully be hunting with him again in a few days ... provided his COVID test today comes back negative. He turns seventy in January. We'll see. The virus is running amok back in Montana right now.