A few season pictures

fred slyfield

fred slyfield

Well-known member
Haven't been around much lately, kind of switched gears this year and spent more time with my new upland dog I got last year, still managed to hunt ducks about 50 days this past season , shot way more mallards than divers this season as I get to hunt a lot at a private place that is very well managed for ducks, the boys and I did very well also on the public ground this year also as the puddle ducks arrived in force the first week of November. We did well on the divers this year but had to scout a bunch to get on birds.

I made two trips to Wyoming and North Dakota , for a combination of reasons, buying a new mule, upland hunting & scouting out some big game areas that hopefully I'll get drawn for soon!!

One of the great parts of the season was getting to hunt with Brad B and Pat Gregory down in Brads stomping grounds, As I've hunted with Brad in the past this was my first meeting Pat, what a great guy and a great decoy carver, we had a fun time on the hunt,

Our youngest son Spencer graduated from the University here in December so we were able to get out on a bunch of hunts after he got graduated, now he needs to find a job!!

Here are a few shots from the season


A windy day hunt on a basin lake,



A couple fat redheads



A pair of cans, I normally don't shoot hens but this one I have gifted to a good friend in North Dakota who has one of the most unbelievable house full of bird mounts, he needed a good hen can for a standing mount to go with a drake he shot with me about 7 years ago.



After a windy day hunt at a little pothole



4 nice bull cans Spencer and got one day



Zu Zu hauling in a good one!



Made a trip for sea ducks one week and had a great time with forum member D Hinton from Alabama, we shot some great birds on the trip.








Also got Zu Zu out on lots of chucker hunts this winter , she is a pointing machine, all total she had over 200 points this year on all our trips


Locked up on a single chucker



and on a rooster



Spencer with a mornings hunt in North Dakota mid December.





More Washington Chuckers

some more waterfowl hunts




Here are a couple shots of my new ride "BD" short for big dude, I got him in August from a friend in Wyoming and managed to put about 300 miles on him by the end of October, my buddy Larry and I took several long pack trips with my other mules and several hunting trips into the wilderness ares , but that's another story..








 
Fred - I too had a wonderful time with great people. And, the great news is, it's not the last time we'll hunt together. I think those long legs of Zu Zu's would work wonderfully in our marsh at the duck club. We could keep her busy chasing down green wings to help burn alittle of energy.
It was both a pleasure and a privilege to hunt with you and Brad. Take care and God bless! Pat
 
That looks like a great season! Any pics of antlered or horned beasts from your other adventures? Love to see them.
 
Tod I went straight "Ted Bundy" of the woods last season and shot a cow elk and three does between here and wyoming, I did get a deer in Montana ,,, but that was with the front of my pickup!!!

Packed in for deer in a couple spots but didn't find Mr big anywhere.

F
 
Awesome stuff! Way to represent the Ugly Dogs aficionados out there. Zu Zu looks great on point. Nothing like a dog that can retrieve ducks in the morning and point birds in the afternoon.

Tim
 
It looks as if retirement is fitting you to a "T". Good for you, Fred. Glad to see you were able to get out and do all the things you wanted to. What I was impressed with is your dream team. ZuZu retrieving your ducks and BD hauling them out!
Al
 
Tod I went straight "Ted Bundy" of the woods last season and shot a cow elk and three does between here and wyoming, I did get a deer in Montana ,,, but that was with the front of my pickup!!!

Packed in for deer in a couple spots but didn't find Mr big anywhere.

F
Click to expand...

Ouch! deer with the truck sucks. Horns or not, sounds like your freezer is full! My season was slow on every front, but the freezer is full.

Love the mules... Look at that load. Wish I knew more about stock. Thinking about gearing up for retirement.
 
Fred,
Great pictures. That rooster your son is holding has a some serious tail feathers! That one is a true trophy!
Tom
 
Thanks guys for the comments

Tod,, the whole mule thing is one of my favorite things to do in life, I have raised them, trained them and lived with them for over 40 years, one thing about it is you never quit learning about them , they have the most varied and distinct personalities you can imagine, bottom line is if you treat them right from day one they will take care of you forever, mistreat them and they will never forgive you!

There is a real misconception about mules that they are stubborn, nothing could be farther from the truth , they are just very cautious about things that are new to them, and very rarely will they do something that will get them hurt. You can not force things on them they learn at their pace.

There is nothing more satisfying in life than to pack your loads on a mule , having them balanced out just right so you don't have to mess with them and head into the mountains for a week or longer, no phones ,no computers , just you, your string and the mountains, that is where you realize that your a pretty insignificant part of the world and that mother nature and your stock in in charge of how well you do in the hills.

Enough of my philosophy's of life!! , I need to get back into my deep depression of duck season being over!!


Fred
 
Hi Fred..do I recognize those Scoter sleds? The fellow I left them with the first time wouldn't use them as he said the color was off and he thought they flared birds?? You have any problem with that?

Looks like you have found that there isn't enough time in the day when you retire....common problem for about 20 years....I'm finally finding I can set and do nothing and not feel guilty......20 years in the rocking chair..difficult to imagine it's been that long. BTW....I'm very envious of you and your boys!

I think it's called..living the dream!

Brad F
 
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