well, training really

[Rick Losey]

I took the upcoming project out for a evening of dog training. The recent above average heat slacked off a bit, so I took the dogs to the preserve for exercise. The setters both real and engraved had a field trip.

I was quite happy with both the way the DH handled, and shot, with the Galazan's Gamekeeper velcro pad to extend the LOP. Now to get the barrels and wood refinished so that it will look proper in the grouse woods this fall - that means no tape to those who saw my hunting 16 at the NE in PA, :rotf:

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg195/setterw/firstbirdsDgradetailgate.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg195/setterw/firstbirdsDgradefull.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg195/setterw/firstbirdsDgrade.jpg


and some over heated dogs who had no time for fooling with cameras.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg195/setterw/tireddogs.jpg

[Dave Suponski]

Great shots Rick. Thanks for posting them. Those are wonderful looking Setters congratulations.....:) That tape wasn't so bad ....It added character...:)

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Nice gun, but really love those those setters. I've always been partial to black and white setters myself. This is Black Butt Betty, my little Ryman type setter. I could not move a bird on that point and finally came back to her and a grouse blew out from under a log, flew across the beaver pond, while I just stood there with my mouth open.

[Dean Romig]

I can see five grouse in that picture Harold...

[charlie cleveland]

dean you got super man eyes...charlie lovely point dont get no better than this heh weve all had our chins a sagging if we would fess up... charlie

[Rick Losey]

Nice dog Harold, I'll need to see the picture on something bigger than this phone screen to count birds. :)

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Five birds--man, I need to get my eyes checked!--oh wait, I am an eye doctor. Two of my grouse hunting buddies were in to get their eyes checked today , so we shot alot of guns, grouse and bull this morning.

[Bill Murphy]

Rick, tell us about your dog truck. My shooting buddy had one of his salesman bring one like yours to the front of the lot for the gun box "fitting". The boxes never came out. Linda just closed the tailgate and walked inside to the check writing desk.

[Rick Losey]

Rick, tell us about your dog truck. My shooting buddy had one of his salesman bring one like yours to the front of the lot for the gun box "fitting". The boxes never came out. Linda just closed the tailgate and walked inside to the check writing desk.

the truck is a 2011 toyota 4Runner - chosen for its dimensions for outfitting for the dogs. the new model is bigger than the previous version.

I built a high grade hardwood plywood platform/box to fit inside the back with two drawers in it (I see they are out in that picture) and covered it in matching auto carpet. There is a beefed up center support between the drawers to keep it from sagging and pinching the drawers. And then I topped that platform with a pair of large ruff-tough kennels with the coupling kit.

http://rufftoughkennels.com/Double-Door-Unit-Now-Available.html

they have doors at each end - so I can see the dogs and they can be reached from the front, but they can still load from the back.

the drawers for the box were fit for take down cases, plus dog gear and shells, ect. The truck's back seat will still go up with the unit in place if we have extra passengers.

I have one "round tuit" thing to do for the box yet. The box drawer area is raised a couple inches from the very bottom of the platform so that I can fit a retractable ramp in there, you can see an opening in the lower middle under the center divider. The older dog can have an issue jumping that high after a run in the heat, I have not built and installed that ramp yet, but its a must before the fall season. The canvas will come out once the ramp is in, it keeps the claws from banging up the bumper.

I'll get some better pictures of the set up in the next couple days if any one cares about them.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Looks like a great set-up on the 4-Runner. I hunted out of a 4-runner for years but now prefer a 4 door truck and a mid height cap, about 6" higher than the truck cab. I put 2x4s across the bed in the slots and then use a particle board/plywood across the 2x4s for the floor. I can put 2 X-large dog crates up there and have about 12" of space for storage under the floor and still have room in back of the dog boxes , plus I have the whole back seat.
This solves the odor problems with wet, muddy dogs, dog farts, etc. So, if you see a silver LIncolon truck with a cap and some tired English setters back some old logging road in the UP this October,stop and visit.

[Bill Murphy]

Rick, mine is a 2010 model, best truck I've ever owned that wasn't a Suburban. It holds two dog boxes, truck frame, two speed manual transfer case, 21 miles per gallon in town. I'm up to nearly 40,000. If my buddy needs it for his used truck department, all he has to do is cut me a break on a new one.

[Rick Losey]

Rick, mine is a 2010 model, best truck I've ever owned that wasn't a Suburban. It holds two dog boxes, truck frame, two speed manual transfer case, 21 miles per gallon in town. I'm up to nearly 40,000. .

Bill

those are the same required features that led me to buy my first import, (had the boxes in Trailblazers for years) Body on frame construction is being squeezed out by vehicles made for folks that as one friend used to say "that think off road driving is a gravel parking lot at the golf course"

Mine will roll 30K tomorrow just as I take it in for the oil change, another few months and I will have had it a year.


Harold;

its been a couple years since I made the what used to be annual trip to the land of the Yuppers, probably should go again soon. Used to putter around around Sagola and Ralph. A Lincoln truck, my how times have changed :rotf:

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Yeh, thats where I hang out also. I rent a cabin on a lake acouple miles south of Sagola for 2 weeks each October. Havent missed a year there since 1986. What part of Pa. are you from? I'm about 15" from the Pa. border going East and 15" from the Ohio border to the West.

[Rick Losey]

Yeh, thats where I hang out also. I rent a cabin on a lake acouple miles south of Sagola for 2 weeks each October. Havent missed a year there since 1986. What part of Pa. are you from? I'm about 15" from the Pa. border going East and 15" from the Ohio border to the West.

Lake Mary?? if so - we have crossed paths,

I'm not in PA - I am in the Finger Lakes of NY. We must pass very close to you as we roll by the Washington PA area on our way to the annual Old Hemlock reunion.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I have 2 first cousins ( Pickens) who live and teach in the Ithica area and every October, my son would be playing tennis at the Cornell Univ. Open tournament while I was in the UP. Washington,Pa is only about a 1/2 hr from me.
A big regret is that I never took GBE up on his offer to visit him at OH back in the early 90's. Jim Fergus ,when he was writing the "Hunters Road" wanted to interview George but George declined until he told George that he had spent the day with me. George said that if Harold(me) thought enough of him to spend the day hunting with him that he would consent to the interview. There is a chapter about me in that book entitled "Looking for Mr. Grouse". I carried a Parker 16 VH that day.

[Rich Anderson]

I can smell a PGCA Grouse hunt this fall what with all the members that "poke around" Dickenson county in the U.P. I'll be doing some exploring around Channing, Sagola and Crystal Falls this year as I bought a home in Channing. I used to have the area around Ralph, Foster City & Hardwood as part of my territory when I worked up there back in the 80's. As I travel through there to get to channing it hasn't changed much.

[Steve McCarty]

What a joy to hunt with good dogs! Thank you for posting the pictures.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I have always said-- the best thing about bird hunting is the dogs-- and sometimes the worst thing is the dogs.
This is one of those best things.

[Rich Anderson]

Harold thats a great picture, suitable for frameing. I hope to meet you this fall in the U.P. maybe share a dinner at the bar in Channing. Bard is a great cook. I haven't cooked a meal at the house since I've owned it!