Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe and Great Bay Belle

[Coalman]

10-11-10
Fall's Beauty in the NH woods.We slept in Sunday morning. Those cwazy ducks are safe for now.

We went for an upland hunt on some state land in Deerfield. The State of NH has done a fine and continuing job of forest management in this large track of woods.

The logging practice is meant to enhance the habitat. There are all different ages of growth coming back. They seeded the logging roads when they finished. The one once big clear-cut is growing in very thick with raspberries and young poplar. I felt for sure we would flush a bird there.

But after a hour and a half of walking some very pretty fall woods we never flushed a woodcock or partridge.

Our search continues.

[Coalman]

Bay and I hunted a few hours every day last week in a beautiful old logging operation where "Dad's Gobbler" lives. The score ended up......

Partridge 5
Bay 1
Woodcock 0

Every grouse we flushed was wild and out front. We only flushed one woodcock.

Friday morning we hunted down an old french road at the back entrance to Dad's Gobbler. As we walked down between the stone walls Bay put up the woodcock. The shot was true and Bay had her baptism to upland hunting.



It was good week. We did nothing in a hurry. Everything was at our own pace. If this is what retirement is all about....

I'm in !!!!!!!

[Coalman]

11-11-2010
The switch is on. Bay sees the light.Tuesday morning at camp was gray and the drizzle was light as Bay and I headed up the mountain for a ruffed grouse hunt.

I have seen all the qualities of an upland bird dog in Bay but when handed birds on a wire the juice just didn't flow. Somewhere the continuity was broken.

Instead of discarding the wire I went to work to find the disconnect. Our basics commands were reinforced and I didn't find the break.

There have been some signs that energy can flow in the line. So Tuesday morning I slung my 20 gauge volt meter over my shoulder and we went looking for electricity.

It didn't take long and I noticed Bay on the hunt. Her body language was prickling. And in an instant a grouse was airborne. I didn't have a shot.
As I started to praise Bay for the flush she went right back into the cover and flushed a second grouse, of which surprised the heck out of me and I missed.

You should have seen the look on Bay's face when shot didn't = bird. I could almost hear the juice flowing through the wire.

As we made the turn back down the mountain Bay's became electrified. I saw the lighting hit the ground as a grouse exploded from the cover underfoot.

As that grouse safely glided off the ridge and down to the valley floor I looked at Bay. The halo was bright as the current flowed through the line.

With more field work I am hoping to turn up the amperage. Long live Great Bay Babe.

[Coalman]

12-11-10 We had the mountain to ourselves.

Deer season is over. I don't think anybody could be happier than my little princess Bay. I have spent the last six weeks chasing bambi. There were way to many sad eye mornings as Bay watched me leave without her. I don't think she understands.

But one thing she did understand this weekend was when I put my bird hunting vest on, poked two shells in the Charles Daley and took a turn on the trail to go up the mountain behind camp.

December grouse woods are my favorite. Especially Saturday morning hunting with a fresh dusting of snow on the ground. Gone are the thick leaves. The woods sport a whole new look. Kinda bald like me. Our line of sight is greatly increased.

It was an uneventful trip up the mountain trail. No grouse tracks but I did see a snowshoe hare track.

As we made the turn back down the mountain I thought I should feel disappointed because we didn't flush any grouse. But it wasn't like that. I thought to myself that even if I never shot another bird in my life that I truly enjoyed my time with Bay and the memories I hold dear of my past hunting with my English Springer, Brandy.

Also not to forget the pleasure of taking my gun for walks.

It occurred to me on the walk back down the mountain that Bay knew we were going back to camp. I could it see through her body language. She starts to run like the wind. There is no birch bark on the ground safe from her.

Then wouldn't you know it. Within the last couple hundred yards from camp a grouse explodes off the side of the trail. It's flight path took it through too thick a stand of hemlock to get a shot.

But that sure got Bay's attention.

Maybe there isn't a pile of grouse up behind camp. That is OK because the turkey are back on the mountain. We found quite a few fresh scratchings.

It is only six more months till spring gobbler season. I know Bay and I will be back. There is a longbeard on the mountain with my name on it.

I am looking forward to Bay's pre-season help in finding him.

[Coalman]

Last Pheasant Hunt of 2010

Bay and I went to the club yesterday for our last pheasant hunt of the year. I had been looking forward to this day all week. It is too bad I didn't bring my A game.

The birds were there and Bay did her best. I think I have another gun with a bent barrel.



Five roosters took flight in our three hour hunt and only Remington is richer for the deal.

When the sun started to drop behind the horizon our game bag held one pheasant and one bonus chukar partridge.

I was very proud of Bay. Although her retrieving skills need work she has hunt that shows through her body language. And I am enjoying learning the lingo.

We still have time for a couple more weekend grouse hunts before the new year. It will help me polish up on my reading skills.

December 18, 2010

[Coalman]

12-19-10

There is a cover here in town I flushed a few partridge in during the 2009 deer season. I didn't hunt deer there this fall but have always wanted to return. Today I took Bay and the single twenty for a walk.

We hunted about an hour along an old field edge and a swamp. We didn't flush a grouse. But what a great hunt it was.

The dog, the naked forest and the anticipation of a flush kept my spirits high. Bay runs like a deer in the woods. She is graceful and covers ground. I notice she is wandering further. Paying attention more to her nose than my location. She is listening to the whistle well. A point of the arm and she is off in that direction.

We still have a time to shoot a grouse for Bay in her first hunting season. I hope to have at least my B game when the time arrives.

12-31-10

Bay and I took a walk in the Family Grounds woods today. The town put the bridge back across the Little River. The original bridge washed away in March 2010 flood. This opens up more than 400 acres of hiking trails on the other side.



We saw tracks of deer, turkey, fox, coyote, fisher, grouse and squirrels. We left a great horned owl hooting at sunset.

It was a good day for a walk. Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Happy New Year everyone!

[Coalman]

1-16-11
Snow is natures camouflage.

I took the yellow dog out to Family Grounds.



Snowshoes were required to break trail. Destination.. the canoe.



Along the new trail I spotted a black dot under a hemlock bough. The hare never moved.

Snow is natures camo.

[Coalman]

02-17-11
By far Bay's favorite TV show.

[Coalman]

08-17-11

I hate deer flies. They keep me out of the summer woods. Because of the flies I have been neglecting Bay's water training.

Bay has to be the most intelligent dog I have ever owned. We communicate by body language. Lately I have been tempted to wash her mouth out with soap. Her eyes have been bad mouthing me.

Last evening we took a short trip to Family Grounds. I wanted to practice water retrieves. I am nothing but proud of her performance.

A couple times the current took the bumper out of sight. Bay never gave up looking. If she goes in the wrong direction I give her a stern no. Right direction and I shower her with praise. She is a listener. All but the last retrieve was to hand. I knew then it was time to call our adventure.

Bay can go from a retriever to an upland hunter in a pawstep. While we walked the trail in and out last night all I needed to do was whistle and point and Bay will work the cover in that direction. She quarters naturally and is rarely out of gun range.

After watching her woods and water work last night the next step is to get her back on birds. Bay understands "find it". I need to give her something to find. I renewed my membership this summer to the Green Mountain Shooting Preserve in Ossipee, NH. We have a pheasant hunt already scheduled for September 17 with Rose and Yogi.

I don't think we can wait that long.

[Coalman]

08-29-11
When I look at the yellow dog I think where has the time gone? Bay is two years old now and we are preparing for her second hunting season.

I should say it is me who needs the preparation. This summer has been hot. Too hot to enjoy time afield. The pounds have a way of creeping up on you sitting next to an air conditioner. I am glad summer is winding down. And along with it the heat and bugs.

Our woods walks the last couple weeks have been for fun. It is a time for me to evaluate what is to come. Bay is as graceful as a deer. She would make a good running back the way she twists and turns. She quarters on instinct. Her nose vacuums the ground. I notice she is testing the wind more. She is listening well to the whistle. When we get close to water I know she can smell it because I can't keep her out of it. Bay is living up to her breed as a retriever. She is a strong and determined swimmer. No bumpers have been left behind.

This month things will get a little more serious. It is time to start wearing my orange bird vest. Bay knows this article of clothing well. It means birds. And birds are next on our list. There are a couple club hunts in our near future.

I like this one man, one dog thing. She is the best woods partner I've ever had. We communicate by eye contact, hand signals and whistles. Words are seldom spoken. I should have gotten a lab a long time ago.

We visited the Family Grounds Beaver Pond recently. What was some of the best deer habitat is now totally flooded. This is the second year of the pond. The wood ducks have had a whole year to find this lush wet meadow. Pretty soon we'll have to stay and watch what comes to roost.

As I transition back to being Elma Fudd I am glad I have both these tools by my side.