Even if you never use a dog for hunting a Lab is still a perfect family dog.

Hello Dee-enjoy your postings greatly!
 

Firstly, my sympathies on the losses of your dear family members. Time may not always heal the wounds of such a loss- I can still close my eyes and picture my best two buddies from HS- both are buried in Arlington and their names are on the Black Wall in DC. I was one of the lucky ones-

I am an avid waterfowler, tried turkey hunting last April with a private land senior license here in MI-and got "beginner's luck" took a Jake with a head shot at 35 paces mid-morning 19th of April 2010. He and two hens walked right up to my "hide" and I used my tight choked 12 LC Smith 32" F&F- No. 6 paper Rem express in both tubes- he never knew what hit him-- here are some reasons why I 'got lucky" at least, IMO-if they help you, well enuf!

(1) I have been waterfowling and shooting woodchucks, crows and pigeons on that private farm for 25 years, know every square inch of the land.
(2) I had scouted for several days, when scoping the fields for woodchucks, and had seen turkeys in a going to water pattern from the picked corn fields and the hard woods- remember, oaks mean- deer, turkeys, squirrels and wood ducks!
I got their early and was in full camo- like I use for crow shooting- the old sniper's mantra- No rattle, No shine- also-- "every deer thinks a hunter not moving is a stump-- every turkey thinks every stump in the woods is a hidden hunter- their eyesight and depth perception/sense of motion is akin to Superman's X-ray vision-- have your shotgun positioned where you expect the bird to come from, less motion, better- and remove any sling when you get to your hide-out, so it won't catch in the brush at a critical moment of truth.
(3) pattern your gun and know it like a soldier knows his rifle- if the safety catch clicks, get that silenced before you go out. If you shoot a choke tubed gun, make sure the choke of your choice is solidly in place in the muzzle-
(4) If you don't know how to call- Don't- I call very little for waterfowl, none at all for turkeys- I hunt like a sniper- 100% concealment, 100% confidence in my choice of weapon and knowlege of its killing range and patterning potential-

Lastly, I am also an avid pistolman- mainly Colts- both wheelies and the great 1911-A-1 .45 ACP. I have a "Statie" for a close neighbor, so I get to shoot on their qual course several times a year by invite-:bigbye::cool:

Fantastic advice!!! I will take it, use and see what happens :) Thank you!

Dee: A lab is a great choice. They are very affectionate and smart. A Golden Retreiver is also a great choice. Try to get a rescue dog from a shelter. Too many great dogs are put under for the lack of enough folks to adopt them.

Best Regards, George

I agree, I wouldn't go anywhere else but the shelter ;)

You know Guys ! There is something about this thread that has me thinking it may brake a record in Views Over 4000 -Two dollars a view = a restored gun. I still will put up the first 20.:whistle:

I'll put some in the pot.

If If my final four pick comes thru-like Da Pack did in the SB
 

- I'll also put in a nice crisp Monticello--this little lady from the great Lone Star State (Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson amongst other good things) has most certainly expressed her appreciation for the help and advice from the "PGCA brotherhood" on her family VH Parker. Just another reason, IMO, why this is such a great Assn.- We have so many well informed "Parkerists and Parkeristas" willing to share with new members, and that spirit will keep the PGCA membership growing.:bigbye:

Any kin to George Durham of the Texas Rangers?

My great grandpa's name is George Durham...hmmmm :shock: