MCgunner
Member
Went to a hole this morning that has dry ground to shoot from, ain't standing butt deep in water. Took the dog. I'd taken him early in the season, but he couldn't concentrate, was shaking and nearly over his head in water. He was comfortable this morning even though it was much colder.
It was SLLLLOOOOWWWW as I knew it would be. Shoulda gone Sunday, but I don't like hunting weekends there as someone might get my favorite spots first. A gadwall hen flew in and over just before shooting time, so I called her back and she sat in the deeks. I mean, according to my watch, I lacked about 3 minutes to shooting time. Then, someone down the way fired. I walked out, shot into the water to try to scare the duck MY direction, she went straight up and I fired and knocked her down. So, I yell "dead bird" and Ruger comes up lookin' and I point and he goes out a ways and goes to retrieve a friggin' decoy.
So, I wade out into the deeks and yell "dead bird, BACK!" I point at the duck and he takes the direction and right about that time the bird flaps a wing and he fixes on it and goes and retrieves it. It was his first decent retrieve. He now KNOWS it's BIRDS he has to get, not retriever dummies. I don't think he's quite connected the shotgun blast with the bird, yet, but that will come. I've got to take him a few more times before season is over, next chance will be Thursday, but it's new years and they won't be open, state WMA. Damn. Well, anyway, the area I went to today should be open Wednesday, so I might make it out there Wednesday.
So, after I praised him and he was all happy he'd done good, he was energized. I think he thought he killed the bird or something, because he started running up and down the pot hole chasing marsh wrens. I yelled, he'd come back, then off again. As nothing was flying anyway by that time, I just gave up and let him run. I sat down on the ground, though, he'd come running to get petted, so I figured out that's what I needed to do to get him to stay put. He's still got a lot of puppy in him, but he'll mellow with age and experience. He's gonna be a damned good dog, I think.
It was SLLLLOOOOWWWW as I knew it would be. Shoulda gone Sunday, but I don't like hunting weekends there as someone might get my favorite spots first. A gadwall hen flew in and over just before shooting time, so I called her back and she sat in the deeks. I mean, according to my watch, I lacked about 3 minutes to shooting time. Then, someone down the way fired. I walked out, shot into the water to try to scare the duck MY direction, she went straight up and I fired and knocked her down. So, I yell "dead bird" and Ruger comes up lookin' and I point and he goes out a ways and goes to retrieve a friggin' decoy.
So, I wade out into the deeks and yell "dead bird, BACK!" I point at the duck and he takes the direction and right about that time the bird flaps a wing and he fixes on it and goes and retrieves it. It was his first decent retrieve. He now KNOWS it's BIRDS he has to get, not retriever dummies. I don't think he's quite connected the shotgun blast with the bird, yet, but that will come. I've got to take him a few more times before season is over, next chance will be Thursday, but it's new years and they won't be open, state WMA. Damn. Well, anyway, the area I went to today should be open Wednesday, so I might make it out there Wednesday.So, after I praised him and he was all happy he'd done good, he was energized. I think he thought he killed the bird or something, because he started running up and down the pot hole chasing marsh wrens.
I yelled, he'd come back, then off again. As nothing was flying anyway by that time, I just gave up and let him run. I sat down on the ground, though, he'd come running to get petted, so I figured out that's what I needed to do to get him to stay put. He's still got a lot of puppy in him, but he'll mellow with age and experience. He's gonna be a damned good dog, I think.
