Post by hotshot on Dec 14, 2005 13:20:02 GMT -5
LAst week I had an opportunity to "shoot out the season".... I talked to a construction crew who gladly told me I could put a sneak on the birds infront of the house they were building.
My kids watched from behind a wood pile as my dog and I crawled behind an island that was between the geese and Me. As I broke ice, my pup swam along side. I peeked up over the island once I thought I was within range. I was! I quickly stood and walked as fast as I could towards the birds. AS they got up, I singled out a bird on the edge of the flock and fired. Amazingly, he flew off, but two ducks crashed to the water. They must have jumped flown infront of him as I fired. My pup then went into action. He ran after the ducks- focusing first on the one trying to swim off- a nice red legged drake. The bird got agod head start as REmmy had to break though ice to get to him. 100 yards later, he caught up to the bird. The mallard hopped up onto some more ice, which Remmy kept breaking through. I was wading behind the whole thing, I finally got up to the dog, and lifted him onto the ice. He again gave chase, working the bird back to my direction.
I could not shoot as there were houses in my line of fire. Finally, the duck tumbled back in the water. Rem-dog saught up to him and delivered to my hand. Duck numnber two had fallen stone dead. However, she had drifted out to where the drake chase had started. I pointed the bird to REmmy, and he swam off. Found it, and brought it back. We were standing in water two inches from the top of my waders at this point. As we headed back, I wrapped my arm around REmmy and helped him swim back to shore. I estimate a 300 yard swim for him in icy water. He broke ice twice himself to get to the birds. The second bird was my biggest mallard hen ever. She'd definitely gone back for seconds at the Buffet more than once.
My pup is not quite 9 months old!
His icy coat got a good rub down and he got several treats when we got back to the house.
The best part, when we got close to the truck, I held the birds up. My 6 and 4 yr old kids began jumping up and down, and cheering. They had retreated to the truck after getting a little cold while we chased down the birds.
My kids watched from behind a wood pile as my dog and I crawled behind an island that was between the geese and Me. As I broke ice, my pup swam along side. I peeked up over the island once I thought I was within range. I was! I quickly stood and walked as fast as I could towards the birds. AS they got up, I singled out a bird on the edge of the flock and fired. Amazingly, he flew off, but two ducks crashed to the water. They must have jumped flown infront of him as I fired. My pup then went into action. He ran after the ducks- focusing first on the one trying to swim off- a nice red legged drake. The bird got agod head start as REmmy had to break though ice to get to him. 100 yards later, he caught up to the bird. The mallard hopped up onto some more ice, which Remmy kept breaking through. I was wading behind the whole thing, I finally got up to the dog, and lifted him onto the ice. He again gave chase, working the bird back to my direction.
I could not shoot as there were houses in my line of fire. Finally, the duck tumbled back in the water. Rem-dog saught up to him and delivered to my hand. Duck numnber two had fallen stone dead. However, she had drifted out to where the drake chase had started. I pointed the bird to REmmy, and he swam off. Found it, and brought it back. We were standing in water two inches from the top of my waders at this point. As we headed back, I wrapped my arm around REmmy and helped him swim back to shore. I estimate a 300 yard swim for him in icy water. He broke ice twice himself to get to the birds. The second bird was my biggest mallard hen ever. She'd definitely gone back for seconds at the Buffet more than once.
My pup is not quite 9 months old!
His icy coat got a good rub down and he got several treats when we got back to the house.
The best part, when we got close to the truck, I held the birds up. My 6 and 4 yr old kids began jumping up and down, and cheering. They had retreated to the truck after getting a little cold while we chased down the birds.
