Teal from Saturday 9/19, A New Hunting Buddy, and Jewelry

[Kayser]

Went to the teal marsh with my dad and Zoey, his new yellow lab puppy he got from a friend, and our first true duck dog. At first light, teal were everywhere- 60-80 in the decoys at once, and us just waiting for sunrise @ 6:45 to start the slaughter. Around 6:30, a big volley from somewhere spooked them from the decoys, and we just watched. At 6:40, another big volley pushed birds from the marsh. At 6:45, our spread was looking lifeless, until a pair came in 5 minutes later and didn't leave. Then a single fell to dad's 20. Another single shortly after, coming straight in. I shot, the bird fell, and dad celebrated his shot to my confusion. Turns out, we both shot, and both hit. At 5 yards. Not good...

But then 7 birds were passing right to left, and dad dropped 2 while I emptied my gun into the sky. I redeemed myself when 3 landed on my side of the blind, where I jumped them and dropped all of them in some sparse smartweed. The puppy hadn't done a whole lot to this point, other than ride around in a boat I pushed around while I tried to get her to pick up birds. This time, she came out swimming with me while I was picking up bird on foot, and wanted me to throw the teal I had already collected, because that's what she's trained so far at home. But then a cripple started making a break for it in the smartweed, and her demeanor changed instantly. She suddenly had no interest in the bird in my pocket, and was churning water towards the cripple as fast as she could hop/plow in the chest deep stuff. The bird dove and bit, and we lost it. We looked for 15 minutes for the cripple she had chased, and nothing. Not the outcome I had hoped, but Zoey was definitely more interested in the hunt after that little chase- almost a night and day difference. Dad shot at one more single, and Zoey was ready to go out and get the bird. Except dad missed, and it was time to call it a day, as I had a wedding to get to that afternoon.

As we're transferring the birds to head in, I pick one up and notice something out of the ordinary- metal. It was decided that Dad got his second band ever (first was a Canada a few years ago), as I'm pretty sure it was a bird he shot. I'm still on the hunt for my first. Reported the band, but information isn't available yet, so we'll try again later.

Clean the birds, clean the guns, clean the dog. Overall, a good great day! Here she is post-bath, wondering when she gets to go next.

She got to go out Sunday with Dad, but I wasn't available (wedding went late). She apparently made 3 great retrieves on 3 birds, and didn't lose any. I think we're all hooked, and I think this is only the first of many great hunts with a new hunting buddy. 

 

[JohnP]

Congrats on a awsome hunt.  Good lookin pup you got there.