On the way to Idaho!

Cap

My wife and I are on the way to a field trial in Idaho.  I had so much fun hunting out there in January that I was looking through the NSTRA calendar and noticed they are in the middle of their season!  Whoa, Nellie! I entered and they had some room left for one dog.  I'm taking Cap with me. Although he's the youngest, he needs the traveling experience and I want him to be comfortable at trials other than the same old fields around there.  He's a powerful little bird dog, too.  It's been over a month since he's smelled a bird, but that's what the first run will be for, I guess.  I'm hoping he'll do OK and maybe score pretty good.  He's easy to turn and listens well.  This will be more fun for me, because I get to bring BJ with me and we'll drive around and see the country for a full day before we show up in Asotin, WA for the trial on Friday.   I hope to see Hell's Canyon and that area and maybe look at some good quail and chukar habitat.

My new roading rig!

Ace is thrilled with the new rig. This sure beats the old iron bar and rubber bungee cord!

My Updated Bertram Lanyard

Bob made me lanyard last summer and even patterned it after the color of my Brittanies. But, through the season, I found I really missed the counters like I had on my old lanyard. One call to Bob and he says, "No problem!". Voila! My new and improved Kangaroo leather, custom lanyard

Dog Thoughts- Flossing and Heartworms

I did two things this week, with my dogs, that I've never done before.

 First, I took them in to have their teeth cleaned.  Up until this year, I never heard of such a thing! But, after several conversations with vet friends, it turns out bad teeth are a concern in older dogs due to poor maintenance throughout their lives.  Our Westie passed away last year and the vet who euthanized her later mentioned to me he noticed her teeth were very bad and would have caused major problems (of course, if it hadn't been for the cancer!).  I took my two male Brits in and had their teeth cleaned.  They sedate the dog, then clean the scale and polish the teeth.  It did wonders for their breath, too.  I'm not sure there is anything that can be done with active bird dogs to ensure it won't build up again.  With house dogs, brushing and additive to the water will help.  But, I'm glad it is done and suspect this will be an annual thing. 

Second, I gave them an injection that will cover heartworms for six months. I'm pretty sure heartworms are everywhere, but here, in the southland, they are a real problem.  Every month, year round, I give them some form of ivermectin.  For years, I bought it at the feed store and measured out the appropriate dose and squirted it down their throats.  That was the cheapest way to administer and I never had a problem.  Then, I converted over to heartgard and had to rob a bank every month. I was about to go back to the feed store when I heard about the 6 mos. shot.  My two Brit pups are on it now.  My main dog, Ace, is still on the chewable since there is a 7 year old dog limit on the shots and he just turned 7 this month.  I'm not sure where my vet got that information, since I couldn't find it in the literature, but I wasn't going to take any chances with the "franchise". 

Anyone have any comments on either of my adventures? 

WingWorks Vest



(Photo by Nancy Whitehead)

This is Bob Welsh and me hunting Valley Quail in Idaho January 2012. We are both wearing the WingWorks vest. After a full year of traveling and hunting around the country, I can easily say this is the finest vest I've ever worn for serious bird hunting. Plenty of storage, water capacity, secure pockets and designed for use with the electronics many of us use. The new Astro holder is a perfect solution to carrying and using the handheld unit.  I broke down and ordered the camera holder, too, since my various hunting partners all chided me exposing the camera to the elements all day.  This is a durable tool for the bird hunter. It may not be suitable for the hunting done by jumping in and out of the truck many times a day. For that, the Filson strap vest may be more appropriate. I did notice over the season that Chukar hunters love this vest. And that, my friends, is one heck of an endorsement! Those purists (some would say..fanatics) don't use anything that will drag them down or slow them up in their search for the red-legged demon. I hope to consider myself a Chukar hunter some day, but as for now I'm not, merely a wannabe.  My vest hunted 7 states over the season and should last me through my last day.  

2012 Georgia NSTRA Championships

Click here for YouTube video!

Now the season is 100% definitely over.  Only 6 1/2 months to go and we'll be back on the road to Montana, Idaho, Oregon and points birdy.  The dogs are ready and so am I. 

The truck box is coming along, with plans to assemble and then coat it again with a truck bed liner type material to enhance the water resistance and wear resistance.  More as we move along on that one!

Working on Truck Vault

Glen Bahde and I are building sliding drawers for use in our respective trucks. He has a 2012 Chevy 1500 and I am piloting a 2001 Ford F-250. Turns out the beds are the same general measurements so it's all good. Glen's father is a woodworker and is doing the actual building. Shown above is the application of 3 or more coats of spar urethane to all components for durability. The plywood is marine grade 3/4" and the drawers are poplar. The finished product will be coated with another product to enhance resistance to wear and abrasion. Stay tuned as we assemble this thing!

Bird Dogs and Fly Fishing

That's the name of a Facebook Group to which I belong. It's a great place to meet and talk about both subjects with like minded folks!. Look for it on Facebook! Look for it, next Fall, on fine hunting vehicles all over the country! 


Bird Dog and Fly Fishing
Facebook Group Decal

Summer Doldrums Already

Already the summer is dragging on. Cutting grass has already started!  I'm working through pictures of this season. Maybe I need to not do this. Trial season is over, too. It's a sad thing to see bird dogs after the season is closed. 

Ruby is just now coming out of heat. It's been 17 days since I first saw her spotting. I think I'll give it another week and then do the "stud dog" test on her to make sure she's back up.  I really wanted another puppy or two out of Ace, but I figured it would be nice to go a whole season with three solid broke dogs.  Now, I may be getting "no breeding remorse". Well, it's a done deal now.  Might as well just look forward. 

Memories of the Hunt

Ace on Two ND Roosters

It only takes a snapshot to remember the day.  It was freezing cold, with bad winds and temps in the low thirties.  The first blizzard of the year passed over us as we hunkered down in Mott, ND with lots of howling wind and snow that blew mostly sideways.  When the sun returned two days later, the roads stayed frozen, but the birds came out to eat.  We caught these boys in an area of tree rows and CRP surrounding a lake (public land).  Ace knew the plan and I was right on with the gun.  We worked the treeline, seen in the background, which borders a cut wheat field.  It wasn't long before his Garmin pager went off and I moved up the outside of the row.  Brush moved and red and white flashing color started left and emerged right in front of the gun.  One down.  We started up the hill to the truck, through the CRP, and Ace locked down again.  I kicked up the second rooster and bagged it.  I noticed his retrieve wasn't nearly up to his standards on the second one, so I grabbed his collar to check him over and noticed five porcupine quill on the side of his muzzle.  Evidently, he hit Mr. Porky a glancing blow while scenting the rooster in the wood line.  I've seen that before with hard charging bird dogs.  I'm darn thankful that's all it was. 

The Championships

Ace (with me) and Cap (foreground)

The Region Championship went very well. My Cap puppy just missed the cut when the judge would not allow his "back" for a score. He thought I "whoa-ed" him in to the back, and when I told him I absolutely did not say anything or intimidate him, it fell on deaf ears. Oh well, it's not as if I never made a bad call and you got to call 'em like you see 'em.... so we moved on with Ace. The final 16 dogs started with cool, light rain which quit for clear, blue skies and 85 degrees.  Our time to run was well after the rain moved off and we did the best we could. I couldn't be more proud of my dog. We pulled up a little shy of the cut for final 6. It was a great trial with lots of dog critigues, hunting stories, history re-visited, leaning on tailgates and laughing until the tears rolled. As we were leaving, I leaned over and whispered into the old Ball and Chain's ear, "Honey, only 6 mos. to bird season!". "You are a sick puppy", she retorted. Yep.

Journey

The Old Ball and Chain and Cap

Apparently, the old Ball and Chain reads Facebook.  Also, apparently, my blog links to Facebook.  So, to put this in a nutshell, I was greeted with "You're going on a long trip?" as I walked through the front door. That's when I managed to use my 6 seconds of remaining life to explain that this was going to be on my 65th birthday (3 seasons hence) and she was integral in the planning and execution of said trip.  Also, I might have mentioned (things get hazy here as I could feel my life force evaporating in the laser glare of my lovely wife) about the motor home and living accomodations, her flying home to check things out occasionally, etc.  It may have appeared, to the untrained eye, that I was babbling and trying to save my skin, but my coherent and cogent statement of facts enabled me to escape....er...leave, with some sort of dignity.  Whew!  That, my friends, was a close one.

The Journey



Randy and Ace
(Photo take by Nancy Whitehead)

So, I'm thinking a big trip may be on the horizon. I don't mean a week or two, although two week hunting trips are what keep bird hunters sane and walking upright- me, at least.  No, I mean one of those around the country hunting  numerous species kind of hunts.  One of those hunts you read about.   I'm thinking about timing and I realize three things are required for a successful foray.  First, you need the inclination to proceed.  You need to be the type  to get up every day and, after thanking God for another day on the green side of the grass, think "I could be in Idaho, or Alaska, or North Dakota, or Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, California" and on an on! Second, you would need the where-with-all.  You need to have the dollars to put diesel in the F-250, buy licenses in 10 states and feed those bird finding buddies of yours.  Lastly, you need the time.  Time, alas, it the one thing that cannot be earned.  There is a guarantee that it will end, come to a halt. (The numbers are in....one out of one people die.) Usually, the ending will be without preamble.  So, time is critical and not to be wasted or squandered on inconsequential things.  

I have all three items in my pocket right now.  This is not to say I won't lose one or all of them one day, but now looks like a good time to plan a bird hunting odyssey. So, a few big questions arise....

1.)  Where to go? 

2.)  When to go? 

3.)  How to go? 

4.) Who to go with?  (With whom to go?...I never could get that straight!) 

I'll explore this more as I work through the issues involved.  

Year of the Brittany?

Ace

Ruby

Cap

After a fine hunting season, the pups are ready to finish out the trial season, as well.  Ruby, top, had a first in her last trial a month ago, and Cap, bottom, had a first and third that same weekend.  If I've done my job well enough, they should do well in the next trial in a few weeks.  Shortly after that one, we have the Georgia Championships.  Since all three of my Brits qualified, I'm hoping this may be the "Year of the Brittany"! (Ace and Ruby photos by Nancy Whitehead)

The Look

(Photo taken by Nancy Whitehead)

They say some dogs are good and they know it.  They also say those dogs have a look and manner that radiates competence; a no-nonsense demeanor and attitude.

Valley Quail Hunting in Idaho

Bea has 'em!

Last Day Pups Action
None of them 2 years old yet!
5 Birds Pointed in that shrub.

A great way to finish this trip!  We put all four pups on the ground and hunted a  honey-hole we found earlier in the trip.  Action started heating up about an hour before sunset with two covey finds and  numerous singles pointed.  30 minutes after the pups pic, it was time to return to the truck.  Awesome finish to a great hunt.  The most memorable thing about this trip is the great people we met!  We hunted with some real gurus- chukar, valley quail, Huns- some real specialists.  The one day I hunted Chukar, this young buck mountain goat showed up and took me in areas I'd never go.  I got to admit, I was one worn out bird hunter at the end of that day!  He had us over to his house later for dinner (big slab of grilled Idaho salmon) and we met his lovely wife and children and listened to the Snake River shoosh by while we told tall tales and lies about bird dogs and hunts.  Finally, I was falling asleep listening (anyone who knows me would understand, it was almost 10pm, after all) and Robert suggested we needed to get back to the motel.  Another good friend invited us up to Sun Valley to meet yet another couple and we all went out to eat.  It was snowing so hard, we stayed over at their home (on a 7000 ac. ranch with elk, deer and wolves) and left in the early morning to beat the next storm. Several new friends offered to take  us around the area and we just had no time to do it.  What a wonderful problem to have.  You all know who you are, so thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! 

All of this came about through our contacts on Facebook (yes, even worn out bird hunters are on Facebook) in a Group called "Bird Dogs and Fly Fishing".  It is a closed group, which means you must be invited by someone you have "friended", who is already in the group.  I think you can also go to the group and request to join.  The pictures and discussions are friendly and helpful (I changed several things I do, based on advice from bird hunters all over the country).  Give it a look and see what you think.

Random cool pics of Idaho hunt

Cap on a chukar retrieve

One worn out pup

Ruby backing a horse

Male Sage Grouse

Randy and Cap

You want me to go where?

This country can get in to your head. Wonder what real estate is
doing around here?

Chukar!

My First Chukar!

Brittany on the Rocks Pointed

Chukar Retrieve!

Cap on Chukar #2

Break Time among the Rocks

After flailing around for two days on our own, even with good advice from friends, I decided I wasn't going to chase Chukar without someone along that knows what they are doing.  A game biologist from the area took pity on us and said, "Come on.  I'll show you Chukar."   What he kindly neglected to say was we would climb mountains, wade streams, walk snow and rocks and cold and hot and freezing and sweaty- all within 1 hour- just to get to Chukar Country.  Then the fun part started!  My pup, Cap, and his dog, Remy, were the two on the ground and they both did very well.  Once we got in the area, Cap headed up the mountain and made a 350 yard cast and pointed!  I figured he was relieving himself and didn't mention it.  After several minutes of this, I mentioned that he was on point (about 200 yards away, now) and we started moving there in earnest.  Finally, we saw him moving again high on the rocks and I called him down.  I no sooner got the whistle out of my mouth, when a flash  of feathers and noise came from my left off the face off a small rock face.  Never having seen a Chukar flush, I hesitated for a nanosecond running through the cataloge of species, etc., and came to the conclusion this was the bird.  Gun up- bird down!  My first Chukar.  I soon learned that Aaron shot, too..so I shared that one with him. Later on, Cap found a covey of 15 in the rocks and held them tight.  I knocked one down over the edge on to a shelf above the creek (the same one waded through earlier).  Aaron was up much higher overlooking the shelf.  He called out that Cap descended the rocks, was on the shelf and now was on point (pic above) on my wounded bird.  I eased down there, took some pictures, then kicked the bird up and watched the show.  He came out of the bush trying to fly and took off running!  Cap broke and I yelled, "Fetch 'em up, Cap!  Go get 'em!"  Those little suckers can run, too.  Cap was on his tail as he zig-zagged down the shelf!  Once, Cap almost caught him, and with a burst of speed, the bird went over a drop off. Cap never hesitated and went right after him!  Silence followed as we both waited.  About 30 seconds later, out from the creek bottom, my little pup came trotting up with a bird in his mouth. (pic)  He put it in my hand and looked at me as if to say, "What are we waiting for?  There's birds up there, Boss!"  Oh my aching legs.....

Aaron's dog, Remy, a Vizla, did really well.  A young dog, she will be a star for him next year.  Thanks, Aaron, for taking us up in the mountains...

Cotton and Maggie

A few of the harvest

Cotton, Ruby, Maggie and Bandit had this one pointed and  backed

Cap locked down

We are getting a lot of good work on our dogs out here.  Today was probably the best day I've had hunting quail in years.  And, it all started out fairly normal.  I'd found a small covey the day prior about 30 minutes before quitting for the day. Since we were passing by on the way to another area, I suggested we stop in and see if we couldn't find the larger group...just for a few minutes.  Well, 6 hours later, we were still in that area, all the dogs had finds and backs and retrieves and I was out of shells!  Wow!  Every once in a while you DO get the bear.