Taking a walk with my new Varmint hunting partner

[Flintsack]

I’ve been bringing my puppy with on some of my stalking sessions for the chipmunks 🐿. She is extremely good about being quiet, which I find incredible.

A week ago she caught her first bunny rabbit on her own. When I caught up with her the rabbits back feet were sticking out of her mouth. It was a baby. She was trying to swallow it whole.

between zoom calls, we took a quick walk this morning. The chipmunk population is way down, and the ones that are left are much smarter. I could hear a few sounding off in the distance, and then I heard a squirrel bark. Big game! He was up in my oak tree stealing my acorns, he needed to cease and desist.

It was a red, it took three shots to finally hit him. Reds move fast. Reds rarely stop. It wasn’t a great shot, hit him mid body. He dropped about 50 feet out of the tree, and started to run into the brush. We both ran after him. I told Penny to go get him. She did. The squirrel was about 10 feet in the brush, underneath a pile of small trees that I had cut earlier in the year. She grabbed the red squirrel, still alive, carried it to me and dropped it at my feet. Then stepped back while I put a pellet in its head. She understands the gun is dangerous. When I pick it up she gets excited to go.

What a great start to my day!

mike

Her solo bunny kill!

 

[JW652]

Very good story. Nothing like a well behaved puppy who likes and understands the game. Have enjoyed your recent posts.

Which rifle were you losing? 

 

[Cannonball]

Is that a Labradoodle? Those dogs are extremely intelligent and quick to learn.

 

[Flintsack]

It is a golden doodle, she’s extremely smart. She was flushing pheasants last year that I walked by, at six months old.

I am still shooting the 77 Sheridan PCP remake custom.

mike

 

[bendog]

I use my dog when calling yotes

 

[JungleShooter]

I like your hunting story, Mike! Thanks for sharing! Adding a dog to your hunting tool box really adds....

Matthias

 

[Ezana4CE]

Awesome dog!! What a gift.

 

[Flintsack]

Thanks guys. We’ve played ball a lot. Last fall I bought birds and worked her when she was six months old. Though it was not work for either of us. But to tell her to go get it, and point, and have her go digging in there headfirst under all that brush and come out with the squirrel in her mouth, was awesome.

oh, and she did it with a soft mouth. Carried it gentle like an egg. I hope that transfers to the birds next fall, but I have a feeling she’s going to grab them hard.

It is those kind of moments, that make all of the work we do to survive worthwhile. Made my day.

mike

Zoom in on the bird, it’s still alive.

 

[XSUltimate]

Great story Mike! I am surprised there are any squirrels or 'munks that are brave enough to venture onto your property at all!

Thx

Dan

 

[Removed]

Dogs are great company out in the woods, I enjoy mine much more than the company of a people. Golden Doodles are very intelligent dogs and that's a great looking one, really only downside is the fur picks up a ton of debris. Lol I'm sure you've figured that out already. Mine lives to hunt and has motivated me more than anything to do what I do. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Flintsack Keep working with her Mike. It sounds like she’s coming along nicely. I don’t know much about bird hunting or training bird dogs, but I’ve seen what an untrained one is capable of. It’s a beautiful thing to see a dog with its owner/human companion doing what it has been bred and trained to do. 

 

[L.Leon]

Beautiful dog, love that six month old picture...