Recent content by Dcup

This is good for this year, but a lot of young birds will be harvested. Overall cock numbers are up, but the bulk of the numbers are based on hens and chicks driving up total population. Like others have said, we need 2-3 more years just like this. Look out though - Farmer's Almanac...

Love stories like this. I hunt with a guy that I work with whom we have become very good friends over the last two years. I think that we enjoy each other's company while hunting because we're not out there to "kill". Twice this year both of us could have limited out, but decided not to. I...

I have had tons of luck in the central part of the state on public land this year. I Shot two more ringnecks and my friend shot one on Sunday during the snowstorm. Don't know how to share pics on here or else I would share from my last two excursions. My dog has really turned the corner this...

I also hunted on Saturday in sub freezing temperatures. We were excited on such a cold day that we would be the only hunters out - that was not the case. It seems that everyone had the same idea that we did. That being said, we hunted until noon as both my partner and me had to be home at a...

I agree that there is more at play than weather and CRP going away is a major factor, but honestly farming practices in general are more of a burden then CRP loss. I'm not a farmer and don't know much ado about farming, but I do know what I've seen over the last 15 years that I've been hunting...

What kind of load did you use?

How did you hunt them? Did you have decoys? Were you sitting in a tree line. A friend from work and I have been contemplating going out when the excessive heat goes away.

Not really. Look at the numbers again - you can't expect a full rebound after one good winter and one good spring. Look specifically at 1990 - that year we had approximately 1.4 million roosters harvested with 4.6 million habitat acres recorded. That equates to .3 birds per acre. Look at...

I went out yesterday and didn't see a thing. Went out today and saw three hens that the dog kicked out of the cattails. They weren't together but rather spread out by 30 yards or so. Had they been roosters they would've been in the bag. Also been scouting some areas for muzzleloader, but man...

KBell I'll be checking on the birds tomorrow morning, depending on how far I can make it. The area I want to go to is about 50 miles away so that might be a stretch. Friday will be an afternoon spent in the tree stand with the muzzleloader waiting to see if any 'ol wily whitetail will come out...

Thought you guys would enjoy a few photos from a very successful duck hunt on 12/11. Started at Red Rock and migrated to Saylorville. 9 birds in the bag (hard to tell from the photo) and several tens of thousands of birds seen. Had the best large group finish I've ever seen at Red Rock...

What I think I will do is finish out the season and see how things are progressing. Like I said before I don't need a superhuman hunting dog, rather just a companion in the field as well as at home. But in the same breath I also want her to do it right so I can hunt with others and not have...

Maybe I need to work with a professional, but how many professional trainers want to take on a 2.5 year old dog? I also feel like I need to start all over.

Not going to multi-quote everyone in here, but here's a rundown and I enjoy the insight. By no means am I a trainer or proclaim to be and this is my first hunting dog (I am 29). I think I have a great dog with great drive and instinct but I get the feeling she is missing the point (no pun...

2.5 year old GSP getting too far out and flushing birds out of range (then looks at me in wonder as to why I'm not shooting). This is her second year afield and last year we didn't see squat for birds so of course she is still learning. She did well opening weekend, but this past Friday I...