petey
02-20-2015, 01:49 PM
So after we lost our second lab last year and were "dogless" for a matter of a couple weeks, I did a lot of research to find my next hunting companion.
American Lab Fox Red mother and Yellow father, both with Master/SR hunting titles.
At 5 months our pheasant season started. The first day out, she flushed 19 birds, I was like wow....maybe I should keep count of what she does this year since that's an outstanding couple hours of work. By the end of season last year I had logged 96 pheasant flushes from the end of her nose, 32 grouse. Now folks this isn't SD...this is PA Game lands mostly stocked birds that get massacred the day the stock truck arrives. It's almost sickening to watch these guys shoot them right off the truck practically. This little girl still found birds EVERY time we went out, normally ending in me limiting out (2 birds) within 15-30 mins of hunting. 5-8mth old pup did better in one 3 month season then all my hunting dogs combined over all the years of hunting.
So this year hits, knowing she's a year wiser and grown into a much better hunter. 86 pheasants off the end of her nose, with 18 grouse flushed. The numbers aren't skewed and she didn't lose her touch... I just became a better shot, resulting in less opportunities for her. Suffice to say she is a joy to hunt with. She'll find a bird when there is "no birds to find" or "place is dead"... so I hear from the other hunters coming back to the parking lot empty handed... yeah 30 mins later we are too, with a full bag.
I have every intention of keeping her bloodline going strong and finding the right match for a litter. Next season will bring some titles as I hope to run some Gun Dog challenges. I know we all get that one dog of a lifetime eventually.. this one I feel is what all American labs should be molded from!
American Lab Fox Red mother and Yellow father, both with Master/SR hunting titles.
At 5 months our pheasant season started. The first day out, she flushed 19 birds, I was like wow....maybe I should keep count of what she does this year since that's an outstanding couple hours of work. By the end of season last year I had logged 96 pheasant flushes from the end of her nose, 32 grouse. Now folks this isn't SD...this is PA Game lands mostly stocked birds that get massacred the day the stock truck arrives. It's almost sickening to watch these guys shoot them right off the truck practically. This little girl still found birds EVERY time we went out, normally ending in me limiting out (2 birds) within 15-30 mins of hunting. 5-8mth old pup did better in one 3 month season then all my hunting dogs combined over all the years of hunting.
So this year hits, knowing she's a year wiser and grown into a much better hunter. 86 pheasants off the end of her nose, with 18 grouse flushed. The numbers aren't skewed and she didn't lose her touch... I just became a better shot, resulting in less opportunities for her. Suffice to say she is a joy to hunt with. She'll find a bird when there is "no birds to find" or "place is dead"... so I hear from the other hunters coming back to the parking lot empty handed... yeah 30 mins later we are too, with a full bag.
I have every intention of keeping her bloodline going strong and finding the right match for a litter. Next season will bring some titles as I hope to run some Gun Dog challenges. I know we all get that one dog of a lifetime eventually.. this one I feel is what all American labs should be molded from!