Posted By:
jereme
Guest
The furthest recesses of my mind. I still can\\\’t find my marbles. 01-26-2005 23:11
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Good to see some of the posts and I really had similar experiences throughout the season.
It seemed work took its toll this year on both family and hunting time, but I was still able to get a few days (20) in the swamp. Unfortunately this season I have been on the road as much as I have been in town so my posts were few. I will continue to post where and when I can.
All-in-all this year had some pretty special memories……
This was my pups first full season and on opening weekend I watched him try to retrieve a winged goose. The goose pretty much beat the crud out of him. He is still wary of geese to this day. Damn that was a funny site. The following weekend I watched him retrieve four birds downed at the same time without missing a beat. Eventually all those hours paid off.
I got to “guide” (I use this word loosely) some friends from out of state that drew out on swan tags. Damn what a relief when they got those two grays.
I will never forget the Hollywood hog Mallards that flocked to our boat every time we pulled the camcorder out in early November, the amount of late season Green-winged Teal and the one Snow Goose that got away.
Cutem nova,
I have been in El Paso the last few weeks so we never did get a chance to do a “Bird and Breakfast”. We will definitely get something together next year. But hopefully before we even get to next season we will get something together for the Conservation hunt. Right now the plan is to be there through the first week and weekend of March. I will e-mail you when I have more info.
Joe,
If I have learned anything with trying to train Ranger, it is that I am the weak link in this equation. Any professional help is worth the price. I did use a guy here in Tooele for some obedience training, but haven’t had a chance to do any gun dog training due to my schedule. The place was called Perfect Pups and the owners name is Don Pawlak.
I do use an e-collar and especially like that it has a warning tone that I can send instead of a stimulation level. Ranger knows when he hears the tone that electricity could soon follow. I found that I rarely even use the “shock” levels anymore. As a matter of fact, he is a totally different dog once the collar is on.
Thanks for all the post this year.
[Edited By jereme on 2005-01-26 23:15]
Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest
01-23-2005 23:35
– – –
joe, im no pro on dog training but i have been through quite a bit of e-collar training with my 1 year old lab, i have him to the stage now that all i need to do is give him a tone pulse on the collar and he responds to every command that i have taught him. it took alot of patience, and frustration but in the last couple of months he has really matured into a well behaved pup. he still is a pup and just whines and paces around the house when there is a dog outside that he cant go say hi to, im sure you know the routine, and geez louise the energy he has makes me tired. i have in past got alot of great insight off of the dog training forum here on WFC. good luck with maxie, sounds like you have a great trainer to help you and start you in the right direction.
Post some pictures up on the photo gallery of her, i would love to see her.
Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren
Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest
01-23-2005 23:18
– – –
Cut emNova — Thanks for the encouraging words..I don’t know how much you know about labs, but Maxie was from two highly papered and awarded parents,and she would make a terrific Field Trial dog, as she is highly motivated with an attitude, and very difficult at times (like when I take her to the field, off leash) She’s beautiful, sleek, all muscle, and is the most wonderful dog in the world just before she goes to sleep. A dog trainer recommended this breeder to me and said she would be a good hunter, as the parents also hunted. So I love her now and can’t get rid of her, so this collar just has to work..Do you know K.C. Owens? She’s the trainer and is going to help me get going on the collar.. I got the Tritronics Sport 50, have watched the video twice now, and I sure want to make this work..Any other advice or tips would be appreciated….. Also, I enjoyed your posts during this past season, hope to hear from you soon.. CUL — JOE
Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest
01-22-2005 15:52
– – –
joe,
you will soon learn as i did this last year, how valueble that e-collar will be, as a training and re-inforcing tool. e-collars in my book revolutionalized, and sure made it much easier to train my pup.
Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren
Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest
Mostly South and East shores of GSL 01-20-2005 23:59
– – –
Hey Guys –Good to hear from you. I also agree that there has been less posting than the last couple years, but I’m not giving up- I love it, and really appreciate hearing all of your experiences, both successes and disappointments..Shooting wise, this was a pretty slow year for me, too. About 20 fewer ducks than last year, and just 3 geese. But I remember each trip vividly (they’re all recorded) and I can look at each date out, think back at what happened, review the events, and laugh or swear all over again!! I just love all aspects of waterfowling, and the shooting is just one part of it.
I learned going back to the same hole probably isn’t going to be worth it, so let it sit awhile…I learned my dog isn’t quite ready for this yet, but I think (and pray mightily!) that her new E-collar will work..Look out ducks next year, here comes Maxie!! I learned that of all the weather factors, usually wind is the most important, but if there are no birds around, then wind, rain, snow, cold, or whatever, still won’t make a bit of difference. I learned to stand right by the grill and keep checking those duck breasts so the are served pink on the inside…and I learned that a 20 ga is a good firearm for killing ducks, geese, chukars, and doves…Good luck to all of you this “off season” and I hope we stay in touch. (It’s never too early to start scouting!!) Don’t forget to support our waterfowl organizations…CUL — JOE
Posted By:
Spry Yellowdog
Guest
01-19-2005 07:49
– – –
Yes i agree with all that has been said. As I have aged for me success isnt as much a harvest thing but this year really was poor for that. I just feel for my Yellowdog she just blames me. I saw in her eyes many a morn
Shoot the seagull!! LOL Some day she will learn the wing beat of waterfowl. But the one who I owe the most thanks to is you Goose Guts. Buddy the hunting was poor but the effort and fun was still there. Thanks Man…Gone Fishing? Its time to apply for Big game. Have you noticed the new changes?
Now I am just hopeing for the words Successful on some of my applications this year starting with Turkey But only time will tell.Everyone have a great off season
Spry Yellowdog
Perhaps a Poem is in order for this Fowl season that has passed LOL
Posted By:
gooseguts
Guest
01-18-2005 22:43
– – –
cut emnova, I second every thing you said, Joe is the only editor we ever hear from, I honestly considered not re-upping for the 05 season of waterfowl.com , but it’s the reporting that the guys you listed on your post cut emnova that made me stay.That’s right us little local guys are what makes this site.This is just my opion. Oh about the 04-05 season it was the worst I can remember for geese, between low lake levels and no weather it made it tough.
It was good hearing all of your posts through out the season, and I look forward to them in 05!!
GONE FISHIN
GOOSEGUTS
Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest
01-18-2005 17:18
– – –
along with silver, it seems like Joe was the only field editor to share any info with the forum. Seems to me that we need some new field editors that are willing to share scouting and hunting success with other hunters in the area.
this year was a tough year, we sold our boat and mudbuddy, that cut down alot of our usual hunting areas. i took far less geese this year than past years, although i did harvest a snow goose here in utah. and for my last gripe!!! I AM STILL BANDLESS haha.
i did not get out in the marsh after the new year, work was very busy, a 6 month old little boy that is priceless to me took alot of my time, and wedding plans sure take alot of time and money.
come on march and the conservation hunt in colorado.
Joe, props to you my friend for continuing to keep us posted on what you find out in the marsh, also thank you to silverkitten, jereme, gooseguts, spry, andrea, dhinds and britton for all sharing what you are seeing on in the marsh and for sharing the success you were or were not having out in the marsh.
Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren
Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest
01-18-2005 10:42
– – –
I found this years hunt to be challenging from other years hunts. I shot less than half the birds this year as in years past, especially last year. I felt that great numbers of birds were present, but the weather was a major factor in the lower success. Next year I am paying for a lease for a duck club. I am only doing this to get a little farther away from the public hunters. I have even thought of buying an airboat.
I am still trying to decide which load of steelshot is best, and am toying with the idea of buying a reloader and loading heavy shot. Does anyone on this fourmn reload hevi shot?
I also noticed a great reduction in the number of posts to the field reports. LAst year, there were tons of reports, and a lot fewer this year.
These are my thoughts only.
Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest
Layton Marshes 01-17-2005 13:47
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Hey Guys — Hope to hear from you before you hang up the mouse ..How’d your last week/hunt go? How’d you rate the overall season? (ducks or geese)Any suggestions for RAC meetings for our next season? Did you learn anything this season that you could pass on to the rest of us?….I’ll get back again a little later; right now I’m still in shock that the (regular) season is over…CUL — JOE
