Shawk
Member
Well, my season ended on Saturday with a final hunt/training day with my pooch. I wanted to get her out for another day in hopes to work her on a few more birds at the end of a mediocre season at best. Pheasant season is closed which was fine and quail was still open with the slight chance we'd come across a decent covey. She's 6 1/2 and she just spent her first "real" season in the field. It was fun to get back out this year and watch the light kick on more and more with each hunt. We had our best trip of the year no question with bird work. Though keep in mind we walked out hineys off for most of a day to see what we did. We would have bagged our 3 bird limit for the first time this year and she was able to work several hens as well. The coolest thing is she realized these crazy running birds can be circled and headed off. BINGO, all worth my tired achy legs now. I've almost forgotten just how much fun it is watching a dog work a field. I was looking forward to getting out next season again thinking it'll get a little better, but now the season won't be here soon enough! By the end of the day we had several solid points, still several false points (runners!), but by the end she was trying to head off a few of these very late season birds. THIS is hunting is all about... it's not about shooting everything that moves, getting a limit, ect, ect.... it's about getting out for a walk and if you have a dog, teaching, watching and in the end learning how to hunt from them. 
As a bonus, the absolute best point of the day was on a covey of quail I didn't expect to find where we were at... Though I've only read about quail, never hunted areas with them before. I took one (out of about 12-13) on the rise and dropped him over some thick nasty switchgrass. I thought I had marked the fall and my dog was about 10-15 yards from where I thought I dropped it... I left her be as she looked like she was busy working (even though I'm thinking what in the world is she over there for)... then before I knew it she's picked up the dead bird and brought it over to me. My marking skills have gotten rusty apparently! The kicker is I know she didn't see me drop this one. My immediate thought after shooting it was, "crap, I should have left it go" thinking I'd lose it in this stuff with an inexperienced pooch. So, fun and productive final day of the season... Tired and achy dog today... we'll both be ready for next season.
Eagles, hawks and more hawks...
I'm absolutely amazed how many bald eagles, golden eagles and hawks I've seen this year. It used to be EXTREMELY rare to see a bald or golden more than once or twice a year. The red tails have been around for years but their numbers are up as well. I must have seen at least 7-8 bald eagles, 5-6 goldens and who knows how many red tail hawks on just this one day. I don't think I had a day in the field this year that I didn't see at least an eagle or two. It makes me wonder how in the world anything on the ground can survive with these things sitting on every pole and tree out there. I came across the little of what was left of a turkey in a fairly open area next to a tree line... a couple feet, bones and feathers... I'm assuming it was a good meal for an eagle or two where I found it. Didn't see any pheasants in this particular area... no wonder why.
Started early... trying to make the most of our final day.
Cruddy pic from my phone... small rack on a pretty big body deer that checked us out for a while.
Point on a hen
Long day... tuckered out pooch but the magic word "peanut butter cup" got her attention.
As a bonus, the absolute best point of the day was on a covey of quail I didn't expect to find where we were at... Though I've only read about quail, never hunted areas with them before. I took one (out of about 12-13) on the rise and dropped him over some thick nasty switchgrass. I thought I had marked the fall and my dog was about 10-15 yards from where I thought I dropped it... I left her be as she looked like she was busy working (even though I'm thinking what in the world is she over there for)... then before I knew it she's picked up the dead bird and brought it over to me. My marking skills have gotten rusty apparently! The kicker is I know she didn't see me drop this one. My immediate thought after shooting it was, "crap, I should have left it go" thinking I'd lose it in this stuff with an inexperienced pooch. So, fun and productive final day of the season... Tired and achy dog today... we'll both be ready for next season. Eagles, hawks and more hawks...
I'm absolutely amazed how many bald eagles, golden eagles and hawks I've seen this year. It used to be EXTREMELY rare to see a bald or golden more than once or twice a year. The red tails have been around for years but their numbers are up as well. I must have seen at least 7-8 bald eagles, 5-6 goldens and who knows how many red tail hawks on just this one day. I don't think I had a day in the field this year that I didn't see at least an eagle or two. It makes me wonder how in the world anything on the ground can survive with these things sitting on every pole and tree out there. I came across the little of what was left of a turkey in a fairly open area next to a tree line... a couple feet, bones and feathers... I'm assuming it was a good meal for an eagle or two where I found it. Didn't see any pheasants in this particular area... no wonder why.
Started early... trying to make the most of our final day.
Cruddy pic from my phone... small rack on a pretty big body deer that checked us out for a while.
Point on a hen
Long day... tuckered out pooch but the magic word "peanut butter cup" got her attention.
