Duckboats.net: Main Forums: Duck Boat/Hunting Forum: Meet Coal and this former Jersey guy---

Sep 29, 2021, 11:26 AM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 11:26 AM

Post #1 of 21

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Meet Coal and this former Jersey guy---

Coal is exactly 8 weeks old today, Sept. 29th. He was born on July 29th 2021 and I will not forget that because on July 29th 1966, I set my feet on Alaskan soil for the first time in my life.
I'm waiting on Bev to count the number of red petunia blossoms that she now has left.

I sure like what I see. He loves to investigate and Coal is starting to use his nose.
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 12:00 PM

Carl

(8100 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 12:00 PM

Post #2 of 21

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Nothing like puppy pics to make the work day better!
Glad you had a safe & successful trip.

Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998

"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

Sep 29, 2021, 12:03 PM

Huntindave McCann

Platinum Sponsor/Donor (6499 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 12:03 PM

Post #3 of 21

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Al,
Just tell Bev; Coal is using the red blossoms to acclimate to your New Mexico weather. Angelic

Nice looking pup. My pup is 5 months old now and has been going with me on the boat every day when we go fishing. Amazing how quick they learn what it is all about.

Take care, Huntindave McCann Smile

SHELL ROCK IA. ,,,,,, "As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats." Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

Sep 29, 2021, 2:31 PM

Jeff Reardon

Supporter (2844 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 2:31 PM

Post #4 of 21

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Coal looks vicious and dangerous in all the right ways! Keep him away from those rattlers you keep sharing photos of.

"At first blush I am tempted to conclude that a satisfactory hobby must be in large degree useless, inefficient, laborious, or irrelevant."
— Aldo Leopold

Sep 29, 2021, 2:42 PM

Ed L.

Supporter (3871 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 2:42 PM

Post #5 of 21

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That's a great looking pup there Al!

Take care,

Ed L.
East Moline,
Illinois
_________________________________________
If I'd had asked what they wanted they would have said faster horses" - Henry Ford

Sep 29, 2021, 4:12 PM

James Woods

Sponsor (210 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 4:12 PM

Post #6 of 21

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Jeez Al: Your dogs from wherever are the sweetest. And nothing better than a long drive across country, always so interesting. When we were younger, we hiked-though not to pick up dogs.
James Woods

Sep 29, 2021, 5:19 PM

Paul Taylor

(347 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 5:19 PM

Post #7 of 21

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Beautiful pup Al! I bet that was a beautiful drive too!

I would have had to stay in MT and chase ducks and upland birds for a day or two!

Sep 29, 2021, 8:18 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:18 PM

Post #8 of 21

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Thank you so much, Carl. I will try my hardest to keep you in the loop with how he is doing. I do realize that he will or hopefully will be ready to take over Chip's duties of being my partner in the duck blind. We will see how it goes.
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 8:26 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:26 PM

Post #9 of 21

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There is no doubt about that, Dave. They are an amazing specie within the dog family. Most labs have that gene pool packed and ready to go---"hunting"---
As for the comment on the weather you sure were right. This was a very warm year down here. I remember what a scientist said not too long ago when he mentioned that some of us in this zone of North America should start getting ready for a 6 month summer. Our September has to be close to setting a new heat record because it sure was a warm one.

Dave, it sounds like your pup will be ready to hunt ducks this year or are you opting for next year? Sorry, I was thinking about how old he would be in January here which would be perfect.
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 8:32 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:32 PM

Post #10 of 21

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I really liked that first sentence of yours. I will do my best to keep him away from those crawling creatures. My good friend has removed over 20 western diamondbacks from his property this year.
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 8:34 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:34 PM

Post #11 of 21

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Thanks so much, Ed. We have already fallen for him. He is showing some smarts already.
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 8:44 PM

Charles H.

(253 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:44 PM

Post #12 of 21

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Handsome pup you got there for sure! Congrats!

.........................................
Recovering Engineer, Standup Philosopher, Aspiring Pirate, Cooking Enthusiast
"Life is a garden.... Dig It!"

Sep 29, 2021, 8:49 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 8:49 PM

Post #13 of 21

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Hey James
I am one of those guys who loves to travel and I will on purpose take the two lane highways and leave the interstates for those who love speed. When traveling through, CO, WY, and MT I found that almost no one other than ranchers will use some of these highways, so now I use them also. Case in point would be Colorado. From Colorado Springs to Fort Collins just seems to be a zoo with some gosh awful traffic. So on my way to Doug and Nancy's home, I drove towards the east to a highway that is almost a straight north/south road. When I got to it, I was passed by 4 vehicles in the southern part of that state and then in the northern half, not one car or truck passed me. Yes,I am one of those guys that if the speed limit is 65 mph, that is what I set the cruise at.

Bev and I have always tried to have a line of Labradors that are really good family dogs. Then if you are a hunter and care to spend the time in creating a good retriever, there is nothing quite like a dual purpose lab. I have to admit that I ask folks if there is a hunter in the household. I get excited when they say,"Yes."
Al

Sep 29, 2021, 9:03 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 9:03 PM

Post #14 of 21

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Paul, I would agree with you on Montana. I was up in the northeatern part of the state and the farmers/ranchers are really suffering from a terrible drought. The Fort Peck reservoir is down 40 feet.
Thank you on your comment about Coal.
Al
This guy was sailing his boat below the Fort Peck Dam. The word tranquil came to mind.

Sep 29, 2021, 9:14 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 29, 2021, 9:14 PM

Post #15 of 21

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I appreciated what you had to say about life. So true. Thank you for your comment on Coal.
Al

This was on the side of one of Doug's storage sheds.

Sep 30, 2021, 4:40 AM

Paul Taylor

(347 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 4:40 AM

Post #16 of 21

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I've hunted around Malta and Lake Bowdoin back in the late 90's. I'd love to get back up there! I heard the drought hit them hard this year. That'll be tough on all wildlife for sure.

Sep 30, 2021, 5:38 AM

Dennis Schneider

(105 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 5:38 AM

Post #17 of 21

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Good Morning Al,

Great looking pup and well worth the drive. We are heading North on the 14th for our annual Saskatchewan adventure, in speaking to our farmer friends, it is also very dry in their area.

Have a great upcoming season and keep us posted on Coal's training and growth development.

Dennis S.
Rio Rancho, NM

Sep 30, 2021, 6:48 PM

jode hillman

Gold Sponsor/Donor (2499 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 6:48 PM

Post #18 of 21

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Al Hansen wrote:

Last Thursday morning at 2:10, I set off to get up to Glasgow, MT. From where Bev and I live it is almost straight north from Luis Lopez, NM. I was heading for Doug and Nancy Bowman's place out in God's Country (Part of Montana). I live about 140 miles north of Mexico and Doug's kennel, Sweetgrass Labradors is about 60 miles from Canada. That meant just one thing, I had a medium sized drive ahead of me that was 1,210 miles long to be exact. Just take that times 2 and I was home again with Coal. He was worth every mile I had to drive.
Al

Here is Doug who is holding Coal.

Doug is good people! He went by the name Montana for years. Before he finally made the move west. We miss him out here but know he's doing great. Great looking pup

Coal is exactly 8 weeks old today, Sept. 29th. He was born on July 29th 2021 and I will not forget that because on July 29th 1966, I set my feet on Alaskan soil for the first time in my life.
I'm waiting on Bev to count the number of red petunia blossoms that she now has left.

I sure like what I see. He loves to investigate and Coal is starting to use his nose.
Al

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never know which is worse: the sorrow when you hit the bird, or the shame when you miss.
http://www.hillmandecoys.com
Mullica Hill NJ

Last edited by:

jode hillman: Sep 30, 2021, 6:49 PM

Sep 30, 2021, 8:45 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 8:45 PM

Post #19 of 21

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Paul, I also hunted in Montana in 93. I was after Mule deer in the Broadus area. Beautiful country and good people.
Al

Sep 30, 2021, 8:50 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 8:50 PM

Post #20 of 21

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Good to hear from you, Dennis. Best of luck to you and your crew when you get to Saskatchewan. I know you will enjoy it. Just being there first of all is a plus factor.
Al

I will continue to update you on the progress with Coal. He will be my last "duck dog". Fingers crossed!

Sep 30, 2021, 9:14 PM

Al Hansen

(8458 posts)

Sep 30, 2021, 9:14 PM

Post #21 of 21

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It was good to hear from you, Jode. Doug and Nancy are doing what they want to do and lead a good life and they are sincerely enjoying it. They have been up there for ten years now. The best way I can explain their set up is to say, Shangri-La.

They have really worked hard with their Labradors and it shows. I was impressed with them to say the least. They have all three colors and tend to lean towards the chocolates.
Al

Doug let out his critters to run around in the huge enclosure that they have. When it was time to put them back he would quietly call each dog, open the door and only that one or two of them would enter. After watching him with his dogs I firmly believe there is another Dog Whisperer. When I looked at this shot, I must send it to them so that they can tell me who is the dog in back with the jet pack on?