Al Hansen
Well-known member
Last night as Bev and I were walking the pups, I made the decision to take Pepper along on the last day of duck season. It has been over two years since I hunted her last and I was curious as to how she was going to do. As I had the pups get into the truck this morning, I thought I would have to put a brown paper bag over her head to keep her from hyper-ventilating. She knew what was going on and was so darn excited.
Well when we reached the ranch it seemed like everything was finally all right with her. She and Chili clambered up on the Kawasaki and got ready to go.
I have about a mile of some winding pathways filled with branches hanging out, so I drive very slowly and always wear goggles. When we arrived at the beaver pond Pepper and Chili knew right where to go and all was well. She sat along side Chili just like this picture shows you for one hour and twenty-six minutes. That is how long it took to see the very first ducks.
I had four mallards fly over and I was able to sweet talk two of them to come back around for another look. Nothing could have been more perfect for the set up. I took a double, set my shotgun down, and grabbed my camera. The great news is that Pepper fit right in just like I had her hunting two days ago. Hard to believe but I was so proud of her.
Well, the pups and I then sat there for another 43 minutes with nothing. They continued to sit there like little tin soldiers and not moving a muscles. I was staring out at the pond and saw this scene in front of me, so I grabbed my camera for a picture. As I began shooting the pic I could hear the wings above my head. Since we were under the limbs of some good sized trees, I could see the bellies of two mallards coming in.
VERY carefully I placed my camera on the carrying bag and grabbed my shotgun. This time I had to shoot three times to put both of them down. Chili stayed back with me and I watched Pepper do her thing.
Once again we settled in for a long wait. 46 minutes passed until a lone drake baldpate came barreling in. This guy came in so fast that I'm glad I didn't miss him. He fell on the second shot. Both dogs took off after him and I knew that the alpha female would get the bird. She always does.
What a wonderful way to end the season. When I got home Bev asked if I had brought any meat home for the table and I told her that I shot five ducks. "How many shells did you shoot?" she asked. I told her that I had shot seven shells. "You mean that you wasted two shells?" My gosh, I love her so much.
Al
Well when we reached the ranch it seemed like everything was finally all right with her. She and Chili clambered up on the Kawasaki and got ready to go.
I have about a mile of some winding pathways filled with branches hanging out, so I drive very slowly and always wear goggles. When we arrived at the beaver pond Pepper and Chili knew right where to go and all was well. She sat along side Chili just like this picture shows you for one hour and twenty-six minutes. That is how long it took to see the very first ducks.
I had four mallards fly over and I was able to sweet talk two of them to come back around for another look. Nothing could have been more perfect for the set up. I took a double, set my shotgun down, and grabbed my camera. The great news is that Pepper fit right in just like I had her hunting two days ago. Hard to believe but I was so proud of her.
Well, the pups and I then sat there for another 43 minutes with nothing. They continued to sit there like little tin soldiers and not moving a muscles. I was staring out at the pond and saw this scene in front of me, so I grabbed my camera for a picture. As I began shooting the pic I could hear the wings above my head. Since we were under the limbs of some good sized trees, I could see the bellies of two mallards coming in.
VERY carefully I placed my camera on the carrying bag and grabbed my shotgun. This time I had to shoot three times to put both of them down. Chili stayed back with me and I watched Pepper do her thing.
Once again we settled in for a long wait. 46 minutes passed until a lone drake baldpate came barreling in. This guy came in so fast that I'm glad I didn't miss him. He fell on the second shot. Both dogs took off after him and I knew that the alpha female would get the bird. She always does.
What a wonderful way to end the season. When I got home Bev asked if I had brought any meat home for the table and I told her that I shot five ducks. "How many shells did you shoot?" she asked. I told her that I had shot seven shells. "You mean that you wasted two shells?" My gosh, I love her so much.
Al