jode hillman
Well-known member
Doug, thanks. I don't think you can get over losing such a good companion, but you learn to deal with it. Now that a few weeks have past I am remembering many of the great moments we had in the field.
One of my favorites was in the marshes not far from where you used to live. It was late December and the weather was changing from a 50 degree day to a 20 degree one. We were set up in a large shallow salt lagoon. The wind was 20 + from the northwest and I knew our time was running short due to an expected blowout tide. Teal were sweeping low over the decoys than gaing elevation and distance quickly when they saw the guns come up.
Still my partner and I managed to drop several. Suddenly a big drake black duck flies the same route, I swung and missed on my first shot as the drake beat his retreat I shot and broke his wing on the second. Still he landed 60 yards out. I sent Belle hoping she would be able to work her magic and corral the cripple quickly. Unfortunately the black duck was old and Wiley , he began swimming hard the moment he hit the water. By the time Belle reached him they were 100 yards out. The duck dove as she reached out to grab him. It would pop up, circle and dive again. Frustrating for me and belle I am sure.
I fully expected him to do the death grip of some submerged vegetation and soon it seemed he did. It did not surface for a minute and belle continued to swim in a tight circle over one spot. Unexpectedly belle the completely submerged and stayed under for about 5 seconds. She located the duck , dove under and plucked it off the bottom! My buddy and I stood up hooting and hollering and giving high fives. He asked how I trained her to do that, and of course my reply was " I didn't ". It was just pure heart. She was 8 at the time. It is,still one of the best retrieves I have ever had the privilege to witness!
One of my favorites was in the marshes not far from where you used to live. It was late December and the weather was changing from a 50 degree day to a 20 degree one. We were set up in a large shallow salt lagoon. The wind was 20 + from the northwest and I knew our time was running short due to an expected blowout tide. Teal were sweeping low over the decoys than gaing elevation and distance quickly when they saw the guns come up.
Still my partner and I managed to drop several. Suddenly a big drake black duck flies the same route, I swung and missed on my first shot as the drake beat his retreat I shot and broke his wing on the second. Still he landed 60 yards out. I sent Belle hoping she would be able to work her magic and corral the cripple quickly. Unfortunately the black duck was old and Wiley , he began swimming hard the moment he hit the water. By the time Belle reached him they were 100 yards out. The duck dove as she reached out to grab him. It would pop up, circle and dive again. Frustrating for me and belle I am sure.
I fully expected him to do the death grip of some submerged vegetation and soon it seemed he did. It did not surface for a minute and belle continued to swim in a tight circle over one spot. Unexpectedly belle the completely submerged and stayed under for about 5 seconds. She located the duck , dove under and plucked it off the bottom! My buddy and I stood up hooting and hollering and giving high fives. He asked how I trained her to do that, and of course my reply was " I didn't ". It was just pure heart. She was 8 at the time. It is,still one of the best retrieves I have ever had the privilege to witness!
