Best Bird Dog Ever!

[petey]

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!

[Gil Martin]

Sounds like you have a swell dog. People who really like dogs and form a special bond are my kind of people.

I have a female English Springer Spaniel named Amy who will be three years old next month. She is the poster child of a pheasant hunting operation near Altoona. I just wanted to copy the picture of my dog afield and this is not a commercial endorsement. When the picture was taken, Amy was 9 month old and in training. She flushed and retrieved six pheasants for the hunters in the picture (who I do not know) and they wanted to buy her. Of course, she is not for sale. All the best...
Gil



http://www.hillendalehuntingclub.com/home_copy1.jpg

[petey]

Gil,

If you're near Altoona, you aren't but 1.5 hrs away. In fact this little girl came from Houtzdale. Too bad season is over. Most of the birds meet their demise at the end of my 20 gauge in Clarion County. I do hit some Forest and Jefferson county game lands though. What did you think of this am's temps? -30 is a bit cool.. Definitely hoodie season eh? It's just been too cold over the last 2 weeks to even consider bringing my baby out in it.

We're definitely dog peeps. The wife even convinced me to "save" a blind yellow lab male. So we went from 2 to 1 to none to 1 to back to 2. Gotta admit he isn't much of a hunter but loves to trail behind if I do train.