Fall pheasants

[IRISHWISTLER]

My buddy Henry and I recently decided to hunt pheasants along the lush cover growing on the floodplain of a river with my first season gundog TRAD (age 14 months). The first bird taken was a nice rooster that Henry dropped with his Browning Citori Upland 20 gauge o/u with 26" barrels. The bird was hit about 3/4's the distance to the opposite shoreline and fell into the rapidly moving current.
TRAD has been trained to be steady to wing, shot, and fall (splash in this case), and had marked the bird upon it's fall. I released TRAD with a verbal command sending him on retrieve. TRAD shot across the land between himself and the river and entered the water as the current hit him broadside. Never taking his eyes off of the bird trying desperately to makee it the remainder of the way across, TRAD swimming rapidly toward the pheasant. TRAD made the retrieve turned and started his swim back across the river to my location. I moved about 20 feet upstream to an area that would allow TRAD to more easily exit the river with the large bird.

Upon reaching me a very wet TRAD sat at my side holding the still-live rooster in his mouth until I issued the command "GIVE" upon which TRAD delivered the bird into to my hand.

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TRAD gently holding the live bird after making a rare water retrieve of an upland bird, is an illustration of the value of hunting over a well trained retriever.

Both Henry and I each managed to take a daily bag limit of two birds apiece over the cover busting,
pheasant tracking, upland hunting machine that TRAD has become. A grand day afield had by Henry, TRAD, and meself.

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Henry and TRAD with the twin braces of pheasant we had taken over TRAD during a really fine day of bird hunting.

TRAD is having a really wonderful first season and has had 25 pheasants retrieved and delivered to hand to date, along with many more birds flushed but either missed or not shot at.

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Our hunt for the day finished, Henry walks homeward with a full limit in his gamebag as TRAD maintains his nose to the ground while quartering out in front of Henry and his now unloaded smoothbore. TRAD was still in hunt mode and likely hoping the hunt was not over. Another day TRAD, another day me Lad!

Cheers,
Irishwhistler

[Jeff]

Trad is really having quite a great season. While I don't hunt anymore, I just don't have the time for it with everything else in life. I have such fond memories hunting with dogs. So nice to see you and Trad out having so much fun wish I could join you it certainly brings back such fond memories. I can almost smell the fall air out there in the fields from your pictures.

[IRISHWISTLER]

Trad is really having quite a great season. While I don't hunt anymore, I just don't have the time for it with everything else in life. I have such fond memories hunting with dogs. So nice to see you and Trad out having so much fun wish I could join you it certainly brings back such fond memories. I can almost smell the fall air out there in the fields from your pictures.

Jeff,
I have been where you are at in life now. I am back at hunting and fishing full swing as if never having missed a beat. Life throws us all some funny curves mate, some not so funny too. I hope ye get back to it so ye can live it in reality and not vicariously. I am glad to know TEAM TRAD brings ye some joy in the interim.

Cheers,
Irishwhistler & TRAD

[HammerLover]

TRAD sounds very well behaved! I too love to take Hammer hunting but haven't been able to actually shoot a gun until last year as I was too young. Then just before hunting season, I sprained my ankle. Great right?! xD Well, we are hoping to take him next season. He has yet been able to actually receive a bird because my dad and brother can't hit the broad side of a barn! It's so great to see hunting dogs! I love seeing the owners training their dog and putting so much work into their dogs! Great job!

[IRISHWISTLER]

TRAD sounds very well behaved! I too love to take Hammer hunting but haven't been able to actually shoot a gun until last year as I was too young. Then just before hunting season, I sprained my ankle. Great right?! xD Well, we are hoping to take him next season. He has yet been able to actually receive a bird because my dad and brother can't hit the broad side of a barn! It's so great to see hunting dogs! I love seeing the owners training their dog and putting so much work into their dogs! Great job!

HAMMERLOVER,
Very nice to hear from you and I hope you keep your aspirations to hunt going strong. So few kids these days are interested or get the chance to hunt, it is refreshing to hear from one that does. I hope that somebody mentors you in the ways of hunting, dogs, and the outdoors, be it your immediate family or otherwise. Your letter reminded me so much of myself when I was approximately your age. I wanted to hunt so badly and I could not get enough of it once I started. I have been hard at it for about 46 years now.

Good luck my friend and keep me informed of how things are going for you in your outdoors pursuits. As for my dog TRAD being well behaved, let's just say he and I train together frequently and diligently. TRAD will be a great gundog.
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Cheers to ye Mate,
Irishwhistler & TRAD

[POPTOP]

Excellent work TRAD! Pheasants are beautiful birds.

May I ask, what do you do with the feathers? I've seen some gorgeous crafts done with them.

[IRISHWISTLER]

Excellent work TRAD! Pheasants are beautiful birds.

May I ask, what do you do with the feathers? I've seen some gorgeous crafts done with them.

I will at times save the wings for the training of young dogs to pheasant scent. I also have saved tail feathers for me mother in-law and she uses those for various crafts.

Irishwhistler

[Dallas dawg]

I'm not a hunter, but I sure enjoy your stories and I can feel how proud you are of young Trad.

[IRISHWISTLER]

I'm not a hunter, but I sure enjoy your stories and I can feel how proud you are of young Trad.

Dallas Dawg,
Thanks for ye kind words Mate. Happy to know that ye enjoy the stories of TEAM TRAD and that we bring some joy to ye life. As for me K9 companion TRAD, we do train together continually and you are spot on in me pride in him, a very special retriever he is indeed.

Slainte,
IRISHWHISTLER & TRAD

[POPTOP]

I will at times save the wings for the training of young dogs to pheasant scent. I also have saved tail feathers for me mother in-law and she uses those for various crafts.

Irishwhistler

What about all those gorgeous neck feathers with their spectacular color? Maybe your mother-in-law would enjoy making holiday ornaments with them. I've seen some awesome hard foam balls covered with the small feathers that sell for unbelievable prices. Between the two of you a new cottage industry could be started.