Erich_870
10-21-2007, 11:11 PM
I finally took the dog out for some jump shooting today and we had a blast.  I'd been feeling bad because we've been working on our shed every moment it wasn't pouring or dark (which is not very often up here  :shake:) and he hadn't been on any good, long walks in more than 3 weeks.
I've had him out hunting with me a couple times this year, but I didn't get any shooting.
Today was another story.  We headed out to the Mendenhall Game Refuge to do some jump shooting along the channel.  We got to the channel after a good hike out and I found a group of half a dozen or so and we put the sneak on.  My method is to pick a reference point on the shore and then move away a safe distance so they can't see you approach, then you head down and turn back in when you think your far enough for a look.  The tide was out so to the birds were going along the shallows and not really paying attention.
I run Fletch with a training collar to keep him focused and as we got close I'd have him sit while I worked forward, then I'd bring him up, and do it again.  We moved to the edge of the channel and I was doing a belly crawl at this point and had him healing.  He did a great job, stayed right with me and even seemed to understand the game and he stayed low too!
I stood up and took the closest bird which happened to be a hen pintail.  I sent him for the retrieve and he wasn't quite sure what I wanted him to get.  Just at that moment an eagle came diving in from my right and I have to rush out there to wave him off  :flipoff:
I got him focused on the bird and he was all instinct from there.  I've worked him with wings from last year, but this is the first time he's picked up a bird in all it's feathered-ness.  Didn't even phase him.  He was soft, didn't shake and dropped on command.  We did a couple practice retrieves and he was rewarded like he won the $300-million dollar power ball jackpot  :bowdown:  :love:
Anyway, we moved up the channel and I dropped a mallard drake in the same fashion, minus the eagle, and he had another great retrieve. 
We headed back at that point and when we were 500 yards from my rig I had a bird approach.  I called Fletch in, had him hold tight stood up and winged the bird.  The duck picked up speed and lost altitude quick and I sent Fletch.  He was 100 yards out before I could blink and the bird was flying 5 feet off the ground.  That's when 4 eagles got in on the chase and I called Fletch off.  The bird had plenty of moves left, so they were shucking and jiving and out of sight in no time.
Anyway, I couldn't be prouder of Fletch and he's earned lots of belly scratches and a looooong nap for his hard work.
Here's a pic for the memory book.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/Erich_870/P1030295.jpg
I've had him out hunting with me a couple times this year, but I didn't get any shooting.
Today was another story.  We headed out to the Mendenhall Game Refuge to do some jump shooting along the channel.  We got to the channel after a good hike out and I found a group of half a dozen or so and we put the sneak on.  My method is to pick a reference point on the shore and then move away a safe distance so they can't see you approach, then you head down and turn back in when you think your far enough for a look.  The tide was out so to the birds were going along the shallows and not really paying attention.
I run Fletch with a training collar to keep him focused and as we got close I'd have him sit while I worked forward, then I'd bring him up, and do it again.  We moved to the edge of the channel and I was doing a belly crawl at this point and had him healing.  He did a great job, stayed right with me and even seemed to understand the game and he stayed low too!
I stood up and took the closest bird which happened to be a hen pintail.  I sent him for the retrieve and he wasn't quite sure what I wanted him to get.  Just at that moment an eagle came diving in from my right and I have to rush out there to wave him off  :flipoff:
I got him focused on the bird and he was all instinct from there.  I've worked him with wings from last year, but this is the first time he's picked up a bird in all it's feathered-ness.  Didn't even phase him.  He was soft, didn't shake and dropped on command.  We did a couple practice retrieves and he was rewarded like he won the $300-million dollar power ball jackpot  :bowdown:  :love:
Anyway, we moved up the channel and I dropped a mallard drake in the same fashion, minus the eagle, and he had another great retrieve. 
We headed back at that point and when we were 500 yards from my rig I had a bird approach.  I called Fletch in, had him hold tight stood up and winged the bird.  The duck picked up speed and lost altitude quick and I sent Fletch.  He was 100 yards out before I could blink and the bird was flying 5 feet off the ground.  That's when 4 eagles got in on the chase and I called Fletch off.  The bird had plenty of moves left, so they were shucking and jiving and out of sight in no time.
Anyway, I couldn't be prouder of Fletch and he's earned lots of belly scratches and a looooong nap for his hard work.
Here's a pic for the memory book.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/Erich_870/P1030295.jpg