Well it's easier to just add to a thread than continue to make new ones..so here goes!

Oct 13th
Well we got a late start to the morning bc of a buddy sleeping in (his first and last warning that we will leave him behind next time!) but overall it was still a great day, esp for the bluebird day it turned into.

The morning started out awesome as the boys took a double out of a group of buffleheads. One bird hit shore dead and the other landed in the water cripple but quickly dove and out of sluicing range. So I sent Pocket for the cripple, but this bird was tough and kept diving and swimming quite far away from her, finally it popped up in the dekes after about 10 mins, I gave Pocket a whistle and she tread water while our buddy sluiced it, then released her. What a tough bird...freakin thing was still alive! Now Pocket can do nice spread out quick doubles, but this was going to be tough. I lined her up and sent her on 'back' she took the line nicely but didn't want to leave the water...uggh pissing match time. Finally got her to shore and she found it, but it was ugly (we'll be working on that today). Next flock of buffles see's Dustin knock one onto the other shore, she went nicely up the hill after checking the water's edge first. For the next little while it was nice singles dropping into the dekes. Our buddy Ryan decided to walk a little ways up river and sure enough shoots a low flyer around the bend out of sight. He calls to us and I send Pocket to go see Ryan. She goes to a heel beside him and he sends her 'back' and she nails it, Ryan's impressed and thinks the dog is cool. We knock a few more down with one that decides to fight back! Pocket has a little war wound on her face from a gadwell but decided she's hold it's head in her mouth and carry it like a goof in order to prevent it from continuing to bite her. It was hilarious.

Just as we're about to pack up some gw teal buzz by us. I shoot a little late and just as I'm about to say crap for missing, it goes down...about 150yrd away and up to the right and behind us on land. After I shot Pocket moved to shore about 10yrd from me and I was mad bc I thought she broke, but then the bird went down and I realized she knew it was shot and was trying to see the fall! Holy crap..dogs are amazing! So I sent her but can't see her bc it's up a hill and tall grass so we follow her up to see her work. We all thought the bird was probably still alive and bunkered down in the grass. Pocket runs pretty much right to where we though it fell and we could tell she was getting a nose full of scent, but this was a test bc we haven't done many trails with her at all. There is a lot of ground to cover but she did it very well and was a very happy dog while doing it. Finally after about 5mins and 300yrds of trailing ( I really didn't hit this bird well at all ) we see the teal start making it's way to shore, with Pocket right on it's tail (her head was down though and it was hilarious to watch bc if she just looked up it would have been quicker) finally she snorts, looks up and BAM jumps on the teal and brings me back a pretty alive bird with her tail going about a million miles an hour!! It was the coolest thing I've ever seen...esp bc we haven't trained for it..it was so natural for her!

Home we go, and hose her off, give her water and let Dozer out to play and chew on some bones.

5pm back out we go for an evening hunt. We built a stand for the dogs out in the water bc she was shivering so much the last time and couldn't mark the falls very well. She wasn't sure of it, but a 'load up' and she did as she was told anyways. Ugh bluebird day with +12...not very good for bird movement. It wasn't until sunset they started flying. We spread out about 75yrd away from each other and it was nice bc we all got some pretty good chances. I knocked down a nice bird right into the dekes after they buzzed me from behind and overhead. Pocket launched into the water and nailed it! Gave me the bird and loaded up again with a little help. Then Ryan knocked down a bird but the bugger was running on water after being shot, and it was a long swim for Pocket. Dustin was really close to the bird and Pocket so she stayed with him as there were only a few minutes left and he was only in ankle deep water and making his way back to me. As she's coming in Ryan knocks down one last bird, but Pocket has one in her mouth...ugh confusion as this has never happened to her. I give her a come in whistle and take the bird, she's looking in the dir of the fall so I send her...nice line and then...she veers left..wtf! Ryan doesn't think she saw it so he decides to go get it himself and call her off bc he thinks it's over left more...I could have killed him, but I don't want to confuse the dog more so I see how it'll pan out....Ryan picks up a clump of weeds. I blow the whistle give her a right over and she picks up the bird and brings it back. Not the best ending to the night but she still did very well for a young dog (just turned 2). Ryan was given #$@! about not giving my dog commands, and given a bit of humility when his mark was off.

Total for the day was 15

Totally awesome story and sounds like Pocket earned herself a burger! (or two! )

here's to continued success in the field and Congrats on the awesome dog work - Won't say nothin' about the shooting...except it was probably better than mine! ')

Juli

Went out for a quick evening hunt and brought along my brother for his first ever duck hunt! It was pretty cool to have him there and show him the ropes and what good dog work is! He was very impressed what Pocket was capable of and though it was neat to see her run a blind. Bird movement was slow and mostly too high bc of the nice weather. We ended up with a duck each and it was a very nice time.

the boys and dog walking with the gear





Pocket with my mallard drake...ugly duck but a drake!

Dustin and Pocket displaying the camoed truck!

Well we woke up to snow and a cold day with high hopes. Unfortunately it wasn't such a good day as anticipated. Didn't see too much move and those that did were high, also locals were spooky. However I did manage to knock down a bufflehead that put the landing gear down into the dekes. Hopefully we'll have more luck in the next little while!

Nov 10

A buddy came down from up North and we headed out to knock some birds down with friends. It's still not really cold enough here and there is too much open water. We managed to get 4 mallard drakes so it wasn't all for not, but we've had much better days. Come on snow and cold!

Pocket

Pocket and I hiding from the incoming birds

Pocket and Dustin with some very nice northern drakes

Dec 1

So we went out and braved the arctic air (high of -21) on Sat morning with 2 other buds and Pocket. The birds were moving a little late, but nice and low and decoyed well. It's a good thing we had other shooters out bc I couldn't hit water if I fell out of a freakin canoe! Either way though it was a great day with Pocket having to cross the river and chase a runner down. That was so cool! Also we had to send her on 3 blinds and well was I ever proud as she took amazing casts from Dustin and got all three blinds like a pro! One guy with us hunted last yr and he commented on how wicked it is to have her handle and not have to bust out the waders anymore to get those birds....I'm still smiling and feel great that the training is paying off and she's applying it to hunting! Here are some pics.

Packing up the gear and heading home, check out the ice on her and the dekes and grass


Chessie with some extra weight (check out her tail), but it didn't slow her down at all!


Family pic minus Dozer

Dec 8
We headed out again with a buddy to hunt the river, with the forcast projecting 0. Well that wasn't the case until 1pmish and we were bundled up again hunting in -27 again! The ducks were flying and we were having a blast! It was really chilly though and we only stayed for 2.5hrs, we got 6 mallards (5 Drakes). Pocket chased down a wicked cripple that tried to fly away and was caught about 3 feet off the ground, tracked down a runner and handled very nicely on one blind. My camera crapped out in the cold and went dead so I took pics back at home. Overall a great day!