Otto's First Season

[E Robert Fabian]

Otto is a Deutsch Drahthaar and my first pointer he arrived first week of June at 11 weeks old. I bought him from a breeder in Nebraska after visiting Jill's kennel. I worked with him all summer with a local handler on birds.

[E Robert Fabian]

This is his New Brunswick trip. They say the best teacher for your pup is to get him on wild birds.... well we found plenty of birds. The locals hadn't seen bird numbers like this in 20 years. The New Brunswick daily limit on Grouse is 6 birds Ruffs or Spruce. We had a couple 11 bird days and I don't think anyone was trying to limit out. Otto manage to get his bird numbers up and he learned how to work them as most would run in cover. I did notice that he would hold point if the bird did. We all had many memorable moments even though this was a deer hunting trip and the severe winters and the coyotes have there numbers way down.

[E Robert Fabian]

Don manage to take a spike horn which stayed with one of the locals.

[E Robert Fabian]

Back home for a week of that four letter word..work... and off to South Dakota. Bird numbers where down according to counts but we found plenty of birds. Would have taken more birds home if someone shooting wasn't off.
First pic. pointing a hen
second his first SD Fez.

[E Robert Fabian]

One of Otto's tests as a Drahthaar is a rabbit track so I shot one of those monster Hares which he retreived to George after giving it a good shake.

[E Robert Fabian]

This last photo is us managing to find a local bird... not that easy these days as the cover is all to mature in my area.










Well that's been my bird season... all my birds where killed with a Parker.
I have to get him out on water fowl before the season ends.

[Angel Cruz]

Beautiful dog Robert! My boy Nash had his first solo hunt last week. He would have had more birds to show if Only I had done my part. I have to remember to take pictures while he's on point.

[E Robert Fabian]

I'm a fan of the Brittany's myself. My breed choice had cold water fowling figured in. How old is Nash?
That's one nice looking long barrelled shooter you have there Angle. 16 or 20 ?

I didn't take enough pictures myself, I missed a whole hunt that we made early in the season up above Moosehead Lake.... lots of Woodcock and Ruffys.

[Angel Cruz]

He turned 3 in october. The gun is a 16 ga with 32 inch bbls hammer gun.

[chris dawe]

Good luck with your DD,fantastic dog's ...I've had one for 5 years now ,he's my best buddy ,faithful,loyal,fantastic game getter the list go's on.

If I want to hunt duck...he hunt's duck.

If I want to hunt grouse or ptarmigan ...he hunt's those (with style).

If I want to shoot a bunny for supper ...he'll run those as well.

If by some unfortunate circumstance I loose a big game animal...just turn old Heiko loose.

You made a good choice

[Dave Suponski]

Wonderful stories and pictures Bob. I am glad to see your new pup is working out so well. I have been wondering were ya been and my you have been a busy guy....:) I'll see ya on the 1st and we can get caught up. Don't forget to bring that great C for show and tell...

[Dean Romig]

Great pictures Bob!

[E Robert Fabian]

Will do Dave, I used it in SD, the birds gave me a fit there for awhile. Look forward to catching up with you and Danny.

Thanks Chris, I have never seen a dog with more prey drive than this guy, I winged one bird in SD at 40 yrds. and the bird landed in a shelter belt, Otto made a general search where the bird came down and tracked it out of site 80 to 100 yrds. threw the tall brown grass, returning with it after about five minutes without a tail feather in it.... the bird must have got under something or he caught him on the run. I couldn't have been prouder.

Chris I've been up your way once about four years ago... visited a friend in Mutton Bay Quebec, drove up to Havre-Saint Pierre and rode our snow machines up the coast.... it was a great trip.... it was March so we fished for sea run brookies and smelt. I would love to get back up for the Ptarmigan.

[chris dawe]

Yeah the Ptarmigan are great fun,the number's were down drastically this year though,and we walked a great deal to get as lucky as what we did...the bird's here on the island tend to be "wilder" than those on the mainland .

All the best,