Gun Infidelity

[Craig Larter]

Garry the weird thing about the hunt with the AH Parker was I was by myself in one of the slow blinds in our marsh. My partner couldn't hunt so it was just me and Lucy my lab. Just before dawn a pair of mallards came overhead and I killed the drake with one shot, Lucy retrieved the duck a ways back in the cattails . A couple of minutes later 50 mallards were over my pond and I killed a drake. Lucy made short work of that duck. A couple of minutes later another 50 mallards and blacks are over my pond, I killed two drakes with two shots. I line up Lucy for the retrieve and she keeps looking off line from the two mallards I have marked. Lucy goes left on my back command and she would not take a whistle. Lucy swims around the corner of the pond and picks up a big black duck drake (always believe your dog!) a willy I had not seen. After she picks up the black the two mallards were retrieved. I was done before 7am and back at the landing before 7:30am. For an old duck hunter it doesn't get any better.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

Garry the weird thing about the hunt with the AH Parker was I was by myself in one of the slow blinds in our marsh. My partner couldn't hunt so it was just me and Lucy my lab. Just before dawn a pair of mallards came overhead and I killed the drake with one shot, Lucy retrieved the duck a ways back in the cattails . A couple of minutes later 50 mallards were over my pond and I killed a drake. Lucy made short work of that duck. A couple of minutes later another 50 mallards and blacks are over my pond, I killed two drakes with two shots. I line up Lucy for the retrieve and she keeps looking off line from the two mallards I have marked. Lucy goes left on my back command and she would not take a whistle. Lucy swims around the corner of the pond and picks up a big black duck drake (always believe your dog!) a willy I had not seen. After she picks up the black the two mallards were retrieved. I was done before 7am and back at the landing before 7:30am. For an old duck hunter it doesn't get any better.

My experience duck hunting is very limited, and even more limited with a good retriever. I love to watch a good, well trained dog do its thing. I would have paid to watch your lab on the morning you describe. To have a special gun to complete the gun-bird-dog triumvirate is something to remember. Hunting with a good friend is great. Hunting alone with your dog is equally so. What a nice memory.