Why I Take My Lab

[Johnch]

It had been below freezing for 2+ days

But I went duck hunting this morning
As I figured some of the shallow marsh areas would have iced up
But I hoped the 3' deep area close to my blind would be holding the ducks

Well they were there
But most left 10 - 15 min before shooting time

LOTS of wind made hunting tough

So I just got a drake mallard and a hen wood duck

So about 10 AM I quit duck hunting
As my lab and I walked back to my Escape
He REALLY Wanted to go into a strip of switch grass on the other side of the dike
But I made him heel

I signed out from duck hunting and signed back in as upland hunting
I changed into a blaze orange upland coat and hunting boots
We also do pheasant , chucker and Bob White quail releases for members
Last Sunday was a youth pheasant hunt
So I figured Brake had smelled a pheasant

I drove to a spot to park at the end of the dike I had been on before

Instead of steel shot
I had 1 1/4 oz loads of a mix #5 & #6 home made shot
Rem 11/87 with a Lite Mod choke tube
Cheddite Hulls , Cheddite primers , Rem. R12L wads and long shot powder
Listed as 1440 FPS , but when I checked
I was getting 1390 FPS

I told Drake to "Hunt" and he started to work the 20 yard wide strip of switch grass
Not 30 yards Drake spun around and sort of locked up , not a perfect point
But he almost stops and waits for you before he flushes the bird

No flush , as the pheasant decided to run and Drake lunged and had it

50 or so yards farther Drake went on point again
These time 2 pheasants flushed
One was the one Drake was pointing and another 50 feet away
I got the one Drake had pointed , the other one landed a little farther down the strip
We got to about where the pheasant had landed and it flushed again , I made a easy shot

We worked the rest of the switch grass strip and didn't see anything
So we headed back , walking on the dike as that was a lot quicker

1/2 way back Drake dove into some cattails along side of the dike and came out with a pheasant
But this one had a broken wing

Ended up with 3 hen pheasants , 1 Rooster pheasant 1 mallard and a wood duck
I can shoot hen pheasants as they are released
Besides they taste great

John

[thadfz]

Good deal right there!!

[dverna]

I really enjoy hunting over a good dog. You had a great day!

[Milky Duck]

Always trust the dog.

[hc18flyer]

Always trust the dog.

Yup, follow your dog! Good hunt!

[versa-06]

Sounds like the dog enjoyed the day as much as you did.

[Rapier]

Yes, good dog..... Had the Mitchell, SD experience in November, after they had done the combining, needed a greyhound racing dog to run down the pheasants. At least you had a nice day with your hunting buddy.

[Mk42gunner]

Always trust the dog.

This applies to more than just hunting too. A good dog will help you avoid trouble.

Robert

[Wag]

Great story.

--Wag--

[725]

It's a real joy to hunt with a good dog. You had a memorable day.