Duck hunting

[newf]

A quick morning hunt. Piper the three year old springer and Jed the nine year old lab insisted on posing. That’s what we’re at presently but as soon as the leaves drop we will go for the grouse...my true interest. I hunt wooded areas and not open ground.


https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ygV0-f ... IfarB6xr2Q

[Judy]

Love the Lab's expression - "why, just why, am I sitting here holding this?".

[ips]

Great pics

[newf]

Love the Lab's expression - "why, just why, am I sitting here holding this?".

Jed was never photogenic... always looked away. Piper on the other hand is always keen for doing something and focused on the next request. Big difference between a show animal and a working one. It helps immensely when you know what you got and then how to work with the extreme differences in temperament and enthusiasm.

When I got Jed, it mattered little about working ability because I was in a long period of no interest in hunting. A matter of fact, I sent in the annual moose application to be kept open but out of the draw for nearly twenty years. Things have changed, recently entered the moose draw again because of a brother-in-laws urging and of course I’m once again chasing the birds.

[Tarimoor]

Depends on the show lines.

[newf]

Depends on the show lines.

True, but, if no emphases are placed upon intelligence and tractability then I believe it’s less than a crap shoot. Such qualities are revealed through practical gun dog training. Expanding on that, I wouldn’t give much for the majority of show breeders that are basically content if their breeding pair will slip into water and carry a ball when nothing else distracts them.

[CockerCanuck]

Sorry I did not see this sooner Newf. I guess active topics does not cover the photo section. Looks like a great day out. Having trouble identifying the species of ducks from the photos are those Ring Necks? In any case congratulations on a great day with the dogs.

[newf]

Sorry I did not see this sooner Newf. I guess active topics does not cover the photo section. Looks like a great day out. Having trouble identifying the species of ducks from the photos are those Ring Necks? In any case congratulations on a great day with the dogs.

Hi CC! Yes you’re right. One of a few early morning hunts that was enjoyable and successful. Have to say, as the pics indicate, it is all about the dogs for me. Hunting for ducks or grouse in itself is secondary, working with the dogs is still the fascination that keeps me happy.

[kajeko]

Absolutely, The best shooting is usually in the first three hours of the morning. After that, we don't get much action."
I bit my lip and kept quiet, but I wanted to say, "You might be missing some of the best shooting of the day."
Sometimes the midday period offers spectacular action. During the full moon, ducks tend to feed at night and the birds will rest during the mornings. This tends to produce slow mornings; therefore Johnson prefers to hunt the afternoon during the full moon, as duck activity will pick up as the evening shadows grow.