Duckcessful---

Great stuff Al! Looks as though Habi is enjoying the first of many seasons.
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Thanks, Troy. I am hoping that there will be many lessons. I try my hardest to hunt Monday through Friday during the season.
Al
 
Al
Another great story with pictures but Al don't you get a little tired cleaning that mud off your dog? :)
wis boz
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Someone else on this site already talked about how amazing it is that by the time you get home the lab is so clean you wouldn't hesitate to let her back in the house. That is the way it is with Habi. Jim, that makes me really lucky.
Al
 
Al, What a great set of pictures and a wonderful story. I am glad that you take the time to chase down cripples like that. It is very rewarding to know you have not lost a bird.

Great dog work by Habi. Looks like she is a real winner.

__________
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I appreciated those comments. As for cripples, maybe it was my father who instilled within me the value of life---all life!
Habi is learning as she goes. Yesterday we sat there for 2 1/2 hours and never saw a duck close enough to shoot. She held to her spot very well.
Al
 
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Great story and pictures Al. The drop-off photo is hilarious - it's things like that that make me love hunting with a dog, can't help but smile every day I'm out with Kuma. And good on you for chasing that cripple down, I wish more folks would go to that kind of effort. Just goes to show how important a good dog is!
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Hey Nick,
I couldn't agree with you more about the value of a hunting dog. The dog is the one that makes a "complete package" when it comes to duck hunting.
Al
 
good on you for chasing that cripple down, I wish more folks would go to that kind of effort.
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Agreed! Nice going Al. Thanks for the pics and story.
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Thanks so much for those comments, Mike. As I have mentioned to others, I will go to extremes to get those cripples. It's important to me.
Al
 
Neat sequence of pictures, Al. Your set-up looked great - If I were a duck that's where I'd want to be.

Don't you love it when they come up with a retrieve on a bird that could've easily been lost? What a great lesson for a young dog!
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Thanks, Bob. I sent a slideshow of the shots to the kennel where we got Habi in Missouri. I happened to mention what a great sense of quartering she already has and said that I wished we had pheasants here for her to hunt. They responded by telling me that many of their labs are used for upland game hunting and mentioned something about Habi's great grandmother whose name is Ugo. Habi is a quick learner it seems and is packed with the basics. We'll see how this year goes for her.
Al
 
It looks like another great duck hunt in New Mexico. I always enjoy your pictures but your hunting pictures with your dogs working are extra special. I am glad you are having a good season.
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Thanks so much for those comments, Joel. Duck hunting is one of those things in my life that has really impacted me. When I sit in my blind, I am forever having a one way discussion with my hunting partner, Chili, Pepper and or Habi. Well I do get a response with a wag of the tail! As for the camera, it just helps me document what I am so proud of and that is my hunting dog.
Al
 
Nice. Those cranes must be quite a sight.
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Thanks, Wendell. Not only are they a beautiful sight each and every morning that I sit in my blind, but their calls that they use also make it extremely interesting. Sometimes you can hear them for miles it seems.
My good friend, TMitch calls them flying sirloins.
Al
 
Good stuff Al!

Man, I'd love to hunt that 'little hole'. Looks like a perfect set up.
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Thanks so much, Brian. You nailed it with that "little hole" description. Funny to think how long that river is but yet that is exactly what it seems to be. I have another spot a few miles away that I will be trying this year. We'll see how it goes.
Al
 
Great job on that first mallard Al...I wish my dog would at least go in the water. Habi looks less than pleased that you failed to mention that drop off to her. Great pictures and write up.

Steve
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Sure glad you liked the story and pics, Steve. Thanks for those comments. I happened to notice that look in her eye, also.
Al
 
Al,

Turn about is fair play. Wait until Habi neglects to inform you of a hole! On the plus side, great pictures and story. Glad your getting some birds.
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I guess you are right, Ed. I will just hope that the hole won't be too deep. I have already had a run in with one of those 6 foot deep holes and I didn't like the consequences at all.
Glad you liked the story and pictures. By the way, I have now hunted 5 days this season without getting a bird, but I don't care. I just love being there.
Al
 
Great story! Love the photos of Habi taking a dunk and the look she's giving you in the next shot... :)
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Thanks, Jon. I guess that camera angle on the shot sure did make it look like she was upset.
Al
 
Al You're not only a good shot with your camera, but pretty good with a shotgun too!
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Thanks so much, Jack. I appreciated that comment on the camera, however when it comes to the shotgun, I guess I am just lucky. My barrel is bent curving to the left so on all my left to right shots, I need to adjust on the lead. Then on the reverse side all birds coming from the right side don't get led as much. The gun isn't bad and in the 3 plus seasons now that I have used it I'm pleased with the results.
Al
 
Glad to see the water has made it your way. Beginning to feel like I am a NM resident with temps supposed to be in the mid 60's this weekend!
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Andrew, it was wonderful seeing it finally arrive down here. Not only am I grateful but the folks at Bosque del Apache NWR can now begin to fill the ponds for all the migrators that are showing up.
Al

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Good stuff Al. As always, photos and pics are perfect. I noticed your "preening" mallard decoy.....looks like it has seen a few hunts. I love having one of "those" decoys in the spread.

dc
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Thanks so much, Dave. That particular Herter's Model 72 mallard has seen over 700 hunts since I retired. Bev and I were in Cabela's at Owatonna, MN and I bought a half dozen of them. Funny you mentioned that. It was in that city that I did my practice teaching in a 6th grade classroom back in the fall of 1962 just before I graduated from Mankato State.
Al
 
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