TimJ
Well-known member
This isn't very duck related but if we can start getting snow a little farther north it may help them next spring.
A few weeks ago when the predicted 5" snow fall turned into 15" I was worried that winter was here to stay. I don't mind winter but when it starts that early with the ditches full it makes for a very long winter. Thankfully the warm temps lately have melted all of the 15" and another 9" we had gotten after that. If not I think the pheasants would have been in some trouble.
A weekend ago there was still quite a bit of snow but it was melting fast. I was able to get Deuce out for some exercise, what we call pheasant hunting when there aren't any pheasants. My sisters young Brittany Keira was along as she always needs a good run.
We had only run into one hen and with all the water things weren't looking good. So when a rabbit flushed into a safe direction I shot it. I have been wanting to see what Deuce would do with some fur to retrieve. Keira was closer but had failed to retrieve a pheasant I shot the week before so I wasn't expecting her to go after this. Well Deuce best get on the ball because that little orange and white dog beat him to the bunny.
This was as good of a photo as I got on her first wild retrieve.
Later on she caught a mouse and brought it back to my sister. My sister didn't think that was nearly as funny as I did. I wish I would have still had my camera on me then.
I had to throw it again so Deuce could get a taste of fur.
They at least were able to run off a little energy.
If you have been around a young Brit you know this look. The sinister mind inside needs to be housed in a tired body.
While Deuce, no matter how evil he looks, is just a goofball.
A couple days ago we were able to get out again. While the conditions were not as good for carrying the camera they were better for hunting. Nearly all the snow is now gone...well its melted. Now every cattail slough and ditch is full of water. I think the last 4 hunts I have been on I've been wet up to my knees and sometimes well above that.
It was crazy but both dogs had points on birds in the water. Deuce was belly deep when my nephew-in-law was walking up to one of his points. He looked ahead and said "If he has a bird here its a duck." Sure enough it was a rooster. The pheasants could walk on top of a lot of the bent over cattails but the one I flushed in the water was standing in it under the cattails. Deuce made a great retrieve on that one in the middle of a thick slough. I can't imagine finding some of these birds without having a driven dog along.
We should have had a a couple more but under the soggy conditions we were happy with the day. Three were over Deuce points and the other one was Keira's.
Wet roosters smell so good to the dogs they didn't want to sit up for a very good photo. They were soon burying their noses in the pheasants if I didn't snap quickly.
I hope the snow coming tonight and tomorrow stays to the north and west like the weatherman said. That area needs the moisture and I'd rather not have to wade through any more water to hunt pheasants.
Tim
A few weeks ago when the predicted 5" snow fall turned into 15" I was worried that winter was here to stay. I don't mind winter but when it starts that early with the ditches full it makes for a very long winter. Thankfully the warm temps lately have melted all of the 15" and another 9" we had gotten after that. If not I think the pheasants would have been in some trouble.
A weekend ago there was still quite a bit of snow but it was melting fast. I was able to get Deuce out for some exercise, what we call pheasant hunting when there aren't any pheasants. My sisters young Brittany Keira was along as she always needs a good run.
We had only run into one hen and with all the water things weren't looking good. So when a rabbit flushed into a safe direction I shot it. I have been wanting to see what Deuce would do with some fur to retrieve. Keira was closer but had failed to retrieve a pheasant I shot the week before so I wasn't expecting her to go after this. Well Deuce best get on the ball because that little orange and white dog beat him to the bunny.
This was as good of a photo as I got on her first wild retrieve.
Later on she caught a mouse and brought it back to my sister. My sister didn't think that was nearly as funny as I did. I wish I would have still had my camera on me then.
I had to throw it again so Deuce could get a taste of fur.
They at least were able to run off a little energy.
If you have been around a young Brit you know this look. The sinister mind inside needs to be housed in a tired body.
While Deuce, no matter how evil he looks, is just a goofball.
A couple days ago we were able to get out again. While the conditions were not as good for carrying the camera they were better for hunting. Nearly all the snow is now gone...well its melted. Now every cattail slough and ditch is full of water. I think the last 4 hunts I have been on I've been wet up to my knees and sometimes well above that.
It was crazy but both dogs had points on birds in the water. Deuce was belly deep when my nephew-in-law was walking up to one of his points. He looked ahead and said "If he has a bird here its a duck." Sure enough it was a rooster. The pheasants could walk on top of a lot of the bent over cattails but the one I flushed in the water was standing in it under the cattails. Deuce made a great retrieve on that one in the middle of a thick slough. I can't imagine finding some of these birds without having a driven dog along.
We should have had a a couple more but under the soggy conditions we were happy with the day. Three were over Deuce points and the other one was Keira's.
Wet roosters smell so good to the dogs they didn't want to sit up for a very good photo. They were soon burying their noses in the pheasants if I didn't snap quickly.
I hope the snow coming tonight and tomorrow stays to the north and west like the weatherman said. That area needs the moisture and I'd rather not have to wade through any more water to hunt pheasants.
Tim
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