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Post by frankyme on Sept 17, 2007 15:22:22 GMT -5
 Still working on Teddy staying in control after the flush and my shooting skills, but we did manage these two Sunday afternoon. I won't say how many we missed Saturday and Sunday morning, but it was an exciting opening weekend! ;D |
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Post by markbaldassarre on Sept 17, 2007 17:15:54 GMT -5
Great job guys!!!!
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Post by hicntry on Sept 17, 2007 18:43:02 GMT -5
Alright Frank. I understand grouse are pretty tough to get close to. At least that's what everyone says that doesn't have a dog that can do it like Teddy.  |
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Post by Maverick on Sept 17, 2007 23:50:20 GMT -5
I think the trickier part with an Airedale is to have the bird retrieved in an edible condition! LOL! So Frank, how is Teddy's retrieve? Soft or hard mouthed?  Good to see people keeping the Airedale's hunting versatility going! Cheers, Pete |
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Post by frankyme on Sept 18, 2007 7:41:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words, we're both still learning. That was my first grouse too!
Teddy is a soft mouthed retriever. He also delivered me a squirrel on this trip, free of teeth marks ;D Small furry creatures who trespass in the garden are not treated as gentle.
Yeah, getting close is the problem. Most of our training and experience has been in open fields. Teddy was getting really excited and charging out in front of us when he smelled or heard a bird. Not good with all the leaves still on trees. If the bird is up for a second it is gone. Mid morning Sunday I had enough and put him in a heal while I snuck through a river bottom cedar swamp. After the second flush he started to figure out that we get a lot closer if we move slow and deliberate. I let him start to hunt again by sending him into thick cover along the river bank and he stayed really close and flushed a few birds. And I was able to get him sit and wait for us to catch up if he got on a scent. After that he started to "ping pong" between me and my human hunting buddy really tight. Both shot birds came after that. Like I said we're both still learning. I'll be staying out of the open fields for next weekends training session and taking him into some thick cover. Practice like you play!
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Post by frankyme on Sept 18, 2007 7:42:35 GMT -5
Oh, and I almost forgot; the grouse was delicious!! Frank |
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Post by ed on Sept 19, 2007 7:27:36 GMT -5
Wow .....great hunt. What kind of shotgun is that with the engraving on the reciever?
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Post by frankyme on Sept 19, 2007 7:49:26 GMT -5
Wow .....great hunt. What kind of shotgun is that with the engraving on the reciever? Charles Daly 106 12 ga. Those are little gold ducks. I'm not a big gun guy, every gun I have will at some point end up in a mud puddle at the bottom of my canoe. This one is new and nicest one yet! I float the river for duck by my house. Most shots are either really close when a duck jumps from cover right next to the canoe, or they jump at 40 yards as soon as you get around a corner. I figured with a double barrel and selector switch I could use open choke and closed choke at the same time. I still try and pump it between shot, old habits. |
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Post by Summit Forge on Sept 19, 2007 14:39:20 GMT -5
Nice...love to hear about an Airedale flushing grouse within range...alright Teddy.
Where are you located? Our grouse season doesn't start until the middle of October. Also great to hear that you had plenty of grouse to flush !
For the money, Charles Daly makes a nice field gun. However, I have just left the ranks of the SXS and O/U for grouse and bought a Browning BPS Special Upland 20 ga. but I'm just beginning to remember to pump it on the skeet range.
BTW, I've never had a problem with the "30 day rule"....how about you?
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Post by frankyme on Sept 20, 2007 6:31:03 GMT -5
Nice...love to hear about an Airedale flushing grouse within range...alright Teddy. Where are you located? Our grouse season doesn't start until the middle of October. Also great to hear that you had plenty of grouse to flush ! For the money, Charles Daly makes a nice field gun. However, I have just left the ranks of the SXS and O/U for grouse and bought a Browning BPS Special Upland 20 ga. but I'm just beginning to remember to pump it on the skeet range. BTW, I've never had a problem with the "30 day rule"....how about you? Michigan, the grouse cycle is on its way up here, perfect time to raise a puppy! We got lucky with the weather, 40s in the morning, 60s in the afternoon. It will be 85 here today though  30 day rule sounds like a problem I'd like to have. |
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Post by snapshotjunkie on Jun 6, 2008 14:27:24 GMT -5
I know this post was started a while ago. Sorry I just joined. But how old was your dog when you took him out?
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Post by frankyme on Jun 18, 2008 6:50:15 GMT -5
I know this post was started a while ago. Sorry I just joined. But how old was your dog when you took him out? This was his second year. He was born January 06. I took him out his first year and we managed to flush a few birds but that was mostly training not 'hunting'. Still a pup here with a lot to learn but he was never short on drive. Frank |
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Post by hicntry on Jun 18, 2008 15:46:26 GMT -5
Frank, my intention is not to bring up bad memories. I am curious as to how the gal has reacted to this incedent. I would expect there would be a lot of baggage on her side also. Does she realize what she did?
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Post by frankyme on Jun 19, 2008 8:37:13 GMT -5
I haven't heard from her since that day. Her husband came over to see how I was doing and asked me for my side of what happened. A little background, he is a hunting safety instructor and big outdoors advocate. I told him I don't think she should hunt anymore because she put killing that bird above the safety and well being of others. The only thing I can think is that the bird was all she saw. She got tunnel vision as a result of the adrenaline. I'm glad it didn't hop by head! A little later she emailed my wife and refereed to "the freak accident". Not sure about the "freak". If her semi-auto cycled and fired without her finger on the trigger I'd want to know about it. It would help me greatly. As for you making me relive bad memories, I'm doing it to myself way to much. Those last few moments keep replaying and I keep thinking if I I had done this or that.
I did say it while he was alive, Teddy was great dog with incredible potential. More than I ever hoped for when I decided to get an Airedale. Lately my wife and talk and its kind of funny you'd think he could walk on water or something.
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jackie
Hunter/worker
Duke & Patty
Posts: 97
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Post by jackie on Oct 15, 2008 23:28:03 GMT -5
Hey, I know this string is getting old but I love your picture, man, dog, and birds. Just read a story in "Gun Dog" magazine titled "Give a Dog a Bird," by Lisa Price (Oct 2008 issue). She had a young German Shorthair that had to learn the same thing your dog did, to stay closer and you get more birds to fetch. It's a fun story. You might want to read it and then write up a little story yourself and submit it. Also, the Airedale Terrier Club of America advertizes in the back about guess what... "Airedale Terrier Gun Dogs."
Also had a good article on shotguns Summit Forge might enjoy.
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