Lucky sonsabitches!

[tod osier]

By the smiles on his face in the photo with the banded Brant and while running the boat, that boy is 100% hooked for life! Congrats on a couple of awesome hunts!

Do you decoy many Black Ducks into those rocky areas?

Thanks! On the bottom half of the outgoing you can decoy blacks to a shore like that, but they never decoy to a boat blind. Ditching the boat works well.

 

[tod osier]

Looks like Captain Gus has everything under control out there.

What a great write up, How old is that dog of yours? Got a little frost on the nose.

Keep at em, Enjoy every minute with your son.

Thanks Todd, Skeet just turned 9. Hopefully he has another limited season in him. I think next fall or the following spring for a pup. He was pretty gimped up after Monday, but did great yesterday even with some pain.

 

[Dani]

Tod, what do you do for Skeet for pain?

 

[tod osier]

Tod, what do you do for Skeet for pain?

This was his first bout if age related stiffness, so he isn't on anything officially. I'll get him something next vet visit. Pete was on Deramaxx and that worked well... . So did Metacam, but that is expired...

 

[MLBob Furia]

[size 4] Smile says it all!

 

[Brad Bortner]

yep you are right, you are some lucky SOBs. Looks like a great time. Always enjoy hunting with my sons even though both are grown men now. My grandson will be joining me soon. Wish I could get some of these Pacific Black brant to decoy to a set up like that.

 

[Dani]

This was his first bout if age related stiffness, so he isn't on anything officially. I'll get him something next vet visit. Pete was on Deramaxx and that worked well... . So did Metacam, but that is expired...

If you wanna try something and avoid constant use of the NSAIDs for doggies, you might consider looking into CBD oil. I know it is a huge rage right now, but the difference in both of my boys (particularly Kenz, my oldest and most affected with arthritis) was amazing. Granted, it was given to them in addition to Metacam....but you might be able to get away with less NSAIDs. Not that you asked I know but the difference in both boys was incredible and I wish that I had known about it and started it earlier with them. Might be worth looking into for Skeet

 

[Craig F]

Very cool pictures and experience with your son! I believe the colored bands are part of a new study they are doing. Our brant season is closed until tomorrow so they've been getting a break lately.

NJ fish and game link with some info: https://njfishandwildlife.com/...019/brantstudy19.htm

Thanks Craig, I'll do some digging there. The color band is black with a "K", which seems like a poor color for a brant as far as visibility. I wonder if there was another color band on the other leg that I shot off (thinking of your post about shooting the band).

The few I've seen taken with the plastic bands locally have been tripled banded, two plastics and a metal band... looking for a few of those myself!

 

[tod osier]

The few I've seen taken with the plastic bands locally have been tripled banded, two plastics and a metal band... looking for a few of those myself!

I looked at the bare leg and there was no sign that there had been a second color band, but it seems odd to stack metal and color on one leg and nothing on the other.

 

[tod osier]

This was his first bout if age related stiffness, so he isn't on anything officially. I'll get him something next vet visit. Pete was on Deramaxx and that worked well... . So did Metacam, but that is expired...

If you wanna try something and avoid constant use of the NSAIDs for doggies, you might consider looking into CBD oil. I know it is a huge rage right now, but the difference in both of my boys (particularly Kenz, my oldest and most affected with arthritis) was amazing. Granted, it was given to them in addition to Metacam....but you might be able to get away with less NSAIDs. Not that you asked I know but the difference in both boys was incredible and I wish that I had known about it and started it earlier with them. Might be worth looking into for Skeet

Interesting. He is still moving a little slow today. Old dog is tough to watch. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[tod osier]

yep you are right, you are some lucky SOBs. Looks like a great time. Always enjoy hunting with my sons even though both are grown men now. My grandson will be joining me soon. Wish I could get some of these Pacific Black brant to decoy to a set up like that.

If your birds are like what I?ve heard about further north of you, than I understand what you are saying. I?ve landed a hundred bird flocks a couple times with 3 dozen decoys. Seldom see flocks that big (especially in low cycles like now), but it is spectacular.

 

[Ed L.]

Todd, that boat blind looks great. I've been considering a Beavertail flip blind but they are expensive. I like the fact you made yours a high side/low side option. I have to consider picking up decoys in deeper water or where there is no solid bottom. I dont hunt with a dog so I have been considering ganging my decoys for easier deployment and pickup.