Don't forget the dog!

[gadwall2]

Guys we all know how excited we get in the morning going hunting and how rushed we get when we get to the boat ramp and there are several more trucks putting in when you arrive. Saturday morning 4 boats arrived at the same time. I was lucky enough to get there about 10 minutes before. We left the ramp while the other guys were rushing about trying to get in.

As we were leaving two other guys that were in that mad rush were also leaving. They said that two guys got there let their dog out and while they were loading the boat. After they got loaded they tore out down the creek. Guess what they forgot- their dog. They said the dog was just running around the parking lot happy as can be trying to load up in everyone elses boat. He and his buddy left the ramp thinking that the two guys would realize they left the dog and would come back and get it.

He said they didn't realize it for over an hour. Because they never came back by them.(they were set up in the main run) I can see them now; anticipating legal start, sitting there all still listening to ducks mill around overhead, shooting time comes and they cap a duck and yell BACK! nothing happens, BACK!!!. "Oh crap Fred, guess what we forgot"

Their truck and the dog were gone when we came out, so I guess they go the dog.

Just goes to show that slow and steady wins the race.

[Lab4U]

While you guys were working the ducks, I was at home trying to get a few last minute "honey dues" taken care of. I took a break and watched a show on the Outdoor Channel where a guy was in Texas at one of those really nice Deer Farms. A really nice buck came out within shooting distance and the guide said to the hunter "you need to take him". At that point the hunter looked over at the guide and rather sheepishly said "I left my shells in the car".
I've left plenty of things in camp or the car that I really wish I had during the hunt, but shells and/or dog todate has not been one of them. I'm sure my time will come.

[gadwall2]

I don't think my dog would let me forget her. She is trying to get in the boat before I get it off the trailer.

[duckhnter2003]

i had a climbing stand that i left in the woods with a lock on it, and there is not telling how many times i left the key to the lock at home. You talkin about pissed off i cant decide whether to throw a stick or kick a log. decisions decisions.

[goosebruce]

Anyone not paying any more attetion to their dog than that ought to have their ass kicked. A busy boat ramp is the kind of place your dog shouldnt even be off lead, let alone running wild where your dumb ass forgets the dog. Hopefully, that pooch was stolen by someone who thinks more of it than to leave it somewhere he's likely to be killed. travis

[gator]

i say take a boat paddle to em...bwahahahahahaahahaha...gb, how's the season been so far?

[dukdawgn]

anybody that frickin lame deserves to lose his dog. i bet he didn't leave the huddle house that morning without chowing down that last little bit of biscuit and grits. if he show'd that much concern for his breakfast, why slack off the concern for your dogs whereabouts. goose is right, i hope someone who really can pay attention to the dog wound up with him. i once knew a fella who came across a dog that was wondering the backroads looking for some food. poor dog looked like he hadn't ate in a week, and like he'd been running mud drags like he was chasin a truck. the guy placed a lost/found ad in the paper and three weeks later decided to keep the dog. we could kind of tell by the soar spot on his leg that he'd been riding in the bed of a truck without a dog box. poor pup musta jumped or fell out and nobody ever check'd up to see if he was still hangin in. turns out, the pup was one heck of a hunting dog.

"@#$%#"'s like that don't need dogs. they need a brain.

[goosebruce]

The season has totally sucked. Best thing/worst thing is, I'm not sure I care anymore. Hopefully, this weekend it gits ugly. But either way, I'll be there. travis

[gator]

man, keep your head up, it'll get better, hopefully...my pup has made 10 retrieves so far and looks to be enjoying himself to say the least....as am i, never thought seeing him do what he/me have worked soo hard for would be so enjoyable...don't get me wrong, he's made some mistakes, but i expected it and w/out him, several ole ducks would have made it outta sight...don't know which has looked more goofie, me taking darn pics everytime he he makes a retrieve or my buddy floating his hat opening day...naw, it was definitly the hat...hope you smack a bushel full the weekend...gator

[goosebruce]

Yup... your dogs first retreive is great... You think, man. But when your dog brings a duck back, you KNOW you would have lost without, you think BAD ASS!

Opening day we had a busted wing blue at about 85 yards. Drewman (my 13 year old) was hollaring when the goose was going down, cause all he's talked about for a month was seeing rowdy tackle a crippled goose. This bad boy had one wing draggin, and the other above his head, ready to fight. Instead of running, he pulled himself up, and stood rowdys charge... His timing was off, when a 100 mph black rocket bulldogged his ass, poor goose was half way back to the pit before he knew whut hit him. Too funny. Older gent thats hunting with us this year said the next morning his galfriend got mad the night before, said she told him he'd rather hunt with a goose fighting dog than dance wif her... hehe, apprenlty, he had told everyone in the joint bout rowdy's day at work! hehe. Dat's whut its all about... a rather poor day that the dog made it memorable.

Next day rowdy had bout a 135 yard blind on a crippled hen... She took flight with him still 15 yards from her and he grabbed her in mid air. My older friend turned and says, just what does a bird have to do to get away from that damn dog??? hehehe.

Had a guest kill a banded greenie sat... Banded in south dakota in 99... dat old boy had heard a call and seen a deek in his day. Those are the highlights of my season... $#!+ shooting made for good dog work on 2, and a stroke of luck on a band. It'll get better... I think... hehe. travis

[gator]

awesome...i hope gauge gets to tackle one of dem "geeses" before it's all said and done...i got a good un for you, and me typing it ain't gonna quiet do it justice...anyway, me and gauge was hunting by ourselves (which i mostly do) and i have been real pleased w/ his work up to this point but i could tell that he just didn't quite undestand why he was sitting out in that cold water...well, group of mallards swing in, cupped, REAL jihad style and i pick off an ole fathead...as i'm swinging on another, i remember thinking "damn, harrison, that was close" and bout that time i hear a thump and whimper...well, i stop my swing on another cause man, if'n my pup's in trouble i gotta do something right...well, the ole greenhead had head-butted him while burning in...it sorta knocked gauge back a bit, and sure as i'm sitting here, after he shook his head i saw hatred in his eyes...he didn't even wait on me (something I didn't like but hey, he had a score to settle)...well, the duck was wounded and making a break for it...ole gauge took off and i tell ya, if i had a rope tied to him, i coulda skied behind him...he brought the duck back, released it on my command, and went back to "his" spot w/out direction as if to say, "dude, you do the shootin and i'll do the gettin"...now, whether he REALLY gets it or not remains to be seen but he had a few more retrieves that day, and he had a lil more pep to his step...man, i had to stop for a second and laugh, which i believe pissed him off more...gator[/i]

[DuckyDan]

That reminds me of one morning about 3 years ago, we were at my uncle's house getting ready to head out....it was around 4 AM I guess. Anyway, he always leaves his dog out the night before so she'd be a little more calm. This time, he forgot to let her out. I used to have a little '94 Toyota 4X4 ext. cab that was my pride and joy. I parked it the night before where we usually park the duck boat. Well, when we went outside at around 4, we let the dog out and she did the usual victory lap around the yard to celebrate her freedom, then she proceeded to run in a full sprint toward my truck (which I guess she thought was the boat), used my brushguard as a stepping stone for a little help in her giant leap onto the hood of my truck where she came to a screeching halt. CLAWS AND ALL! Needless to say, we were all a little speechless there for a second other than a few choice words for the dog and my delicately getting her off the truck to save any further scratches. We had a good laugh afterwards....still do to this day. Needless to say, I don't park my truck there anymore. The expression on the dog's face after she figured out that the truck was DEFINITELY NOT THE BOAT was priceless......still laughing...

[mississippi_duc_htr]

Heck guys mine sleeps more than I do She gets in the blind nothing happening so she curls up and goes too sleep. When there aint nothing too shoot @ . The last couple of days I decided she may need a bed warmer and thought about curling up beside her and take a nap too. I dont think it would make much difference. With what ducks we have had over here on this side of the state