Opening Day Report-Late

[Bob B]

One of Scouts good photos

Hobbs Sleeping in the Canoe

One of Lou T's Black Ducks Ashley painted when she was probably 11. She graduates college in May.

A few calls and the wet Beretta waiting for some action. MLBob might recognize one of them. Its a Favorite.

Hobbs making memories.

What a first hunt.

 

[Bob B]

After a brutal loss.
Two months ago on September 19th when Scout made his last run I wasn't sure if I would even use my CT waterfowl lic. this Fall. But I had a quick back and forth with Eric over a post he made on Instagram and realized how much Duck Hunting and the People I hunt with mean to me.
When I checked with my long time hunting partner he was in a bind at work on Friday and said he would text me if he could finish. I did a quick scouting loop and saw enough to send him some encouragement. Its a 2 hour drive for him so I was understanding his hesitation. I grabbed my long bow and headed for the deer woods to catch the sunset. About 35 minutes before it was over the Text came through..... "See you at 3:15am." I put my arrow in the quiver and headed for home to pack the gear.
I was glad to be going back to a place we have hunted since the early 90's. And to put some distance between the real hart ache of loosing a 14 1/2 year old dog that hunted with all his might for almost all of those years.
When my pal sent word he was bringing his 4 month old pup my hart rose. I would gladly put my gun aside to help with the new pup at the boat or swamp edge.
I got out of my car ready to enjoy a puppy and the healing only they can provide when a great one moves on.
Hobbs lived up to his early billing in every way. He proved to be calm for a pup and yet warm in his disposition. His manners were excellent.
Our job was to get him through his "Firsts". If you work you know that hunting dogs have to experience some of these on game day. We needed to create a place where he could succeed.
When he fell asleep on some burlap in the front of the canoe after we put out our decoys, I felt we were on the right track.
When the sunrise opened with cloud cover we blew a chance at some woodies that passed with afterburners on in the morning gray. Later another set got to hear the guns but none fell.
A set of mallards made a pass low left but no shots were fired from that sides gun.
I was beginning to worry about the mid morning slow down and being able to get some hot duck dander on this new guys nose.
Then two mallards made a run right down the center and the right bird tumbled into the decoys with the feet up doing that dance that goes to the core DNA of a Duck Dog. We moved Hobbs to where he could get a good visual. Then his nose hit the smell. It was on. He took to the bird just like his bumpers making his way back through the blocks to a hummock in the yellow leaves of the sweet pepper bush.
Many firsts were had thanks to that hen. We packed up and enjoyed the proud display of the new Duck Dog at his seat on the front pile of burlap in the canoe.
I would like to thank Eric for his work to keep this going. I was thinking of Steve, Jeff and Lee all morning. Im positive they were there. I was also sure my good friend Ed Bokowski was in the group with them.
I hope you all are having a bang up season. Its been an amazing Fall here.
What a first hunt.

Bob B

 

[Todd Duncan Tennyson]

Bob,

Great shots and so glad to hear that you were able to get out there and get that dog a positive first time. You should be glad that you were there to see the first of hopefully many great days out there for him..,

You ought to frame that first photo of Hobbs, it's just perfect.

Steve, Jeff, Lee and Ed were all right there rooting for him.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Bob

Thank you so much for your post and great to have you back. What a nice tribute to Scout and our forum friends that have passed away.

Eric

 

[Dani]

Bob,

I am glad that you got out and even better that there was a new pup to start learning his job. That is exciting. Duck season opened this past weekend here but it was so warm and we need water so bad, the ducks will be concentrated in what will become war zones. With that, plus it being too warm to let Reggie work in water, we sat it out. Thanksgiving weekend should be cooler so I may take him out to a place for woodducks (hopefully). Or, I'll buy a bunch more quail and introduce him to birds that way. Either way, it'll be fun watching him learn....

Great pictures

Dani

 

[greg setter]

Hi Bob

Glad to hear of your return. I too lost my 14 and 9 month old lab Rose last October. it was very tough, along with the realization that I probably wasn't going to get another due to my station in life and inability to spend the time and give one the life I have to my previous dogs. But duck hunting I am sticking with, and I also had my first day out on Saturday. And though I can't hunt all of the places and take all of the shots I would if I still had a dog, duck hunting is still great. The things we all see and experienceduck hunting are things many others never get to see and can't be replicated.