Dogs at rest with the seasons over
 

The grouse season has come to a close in NY, unfortunately. Duck season has been over for a while. I really pounded the grouse since I bought my year old started setter in early January. We took a lot of birds with my little Jesse and she handled the birds better than I had a right to expect for a year old dog. I got lucky with this one. She turned out to be among the best year old dogs I’ve owned. Always under control and she doesn’t crowd the birds or bump them. I used an E collar initially with her but no longer need it. She’ll need to go back to a trainer in the spring to sharpen up her retrieving and make her steady to wing and shot. Then she’ll be finished. I expect this dog to become a true grouse dog when she gets another season under her belt. All she needs is to be hunted hard, which I will do with my grouse coverts only minutes away. I’m looking forward to the 2019 season already.

The waterfowl season has been over for Clark, the golden retriever, for a while. But we still spend plenty of time with the ducks in the Great Swamp observing and just enjoying them. It’s one of my favorite things. We’ll head into the swamp this afternoon and stay there till dark spying on the wintering mallards and blacks.

Clark and Jesse often share the same chair when resting. The Parkers in the background are my hunting guns. I use them all during the season. Each has a specific purpose and use. I particularly enjoy the 10 bores for waterfowl. I load 1 ¼ oz, 1200 fps 10 bore cartridges which is perfect for my shooting. Most of my shooting is done about ¾ of a mile hike in and the heavy 10 bores are a tad heavy to carry in, but I don’t really care. I enjoy shooting them too much to leave them home.

In their natural state.

https://i.imgur.com/kN161Nvl.jpg

Tom I like your choice of dogs and shotguns!

Jay those are fine looking pups as well!

Sherwood relaxing on a Ranger ride

Yours dogs have the life. Hunted hard during the season and the run of house during the off season. That is the life for the hunting dog.

Most hunting dogs we have had would prefer to hunt year round. Summer vacation is the time they look forward to the least. Sort of like us, though.

Hunting season may be over but field trial season is just beginning

A couch full of dogs is a wonderful sight. What type of dog is that big fella? The eye patch is great.....kind of makes you wish you could jump into the picture and hug that big head. The setters are beautiful. My Jesse is a small setter and not as pretty as the bigger types such as those in the picture and Dean's beautiful female. But she is wonderful anyway and I love the hell out of her. She is very affectionate and I must admit that she sleeps in my bed with me. I spoil the heck out of my dogs. I couldn't live without them. They bring an incredible amount of joy, in and out of the field.

Personally I like small Setters. My last one, Ringo, was a small framed male dog that could really find birds.

Raider and Hobbs are in recharge mode also.....