tsclarkson
12-28-2005, 07:20 AM
I know there are a lot of you out there wishing for lots of wind and cold weather to push the ducks down from the north and I am right there with you for the most part, but this warm weather has had some benefits.
I have a 12 1/2 year-old lab that is in the stages of forced retirement. I took him out on opening weekend and he picked up 5 ducks and then didn't walk for three days. I had to pick him up and carry him outside to go to the bathroom. I figured that was it for him and left him home the next weekend. Of course my wife told me he howled at the door for half an hour after I left. I haven't taken him again since then.
When I walked outside yesterday morning, I thought "It might just be warm enough to take him again today." So I loaded him up for one more hunt.
When I saw him wade through waist deep marsh for fifty yards to pick up a mallard I thought "this is it, his last retrieve." Every one now could very well be his last. I didn't expect him to move again for days, but to my surprise he is up and at 'em today. I look forward to taking him again tomorrow. At this point I would rather kill 1 duck and have him pick it up than kill a limit and pick them up myself.
They are amazing animals.
I have a 12 1/2 year-old lab that is in the stages of forced retirement. I took him out on opening weekend and he picked up 5 ducks and then didn't walk for three days. I had to pick him up and carry him outside to go to the bathroom. I figured that was it for him and left him home the next weekend. Of course my wife told me he howled at the door for half an hour after I left. I haven't taken him again since then.
When I walked outside yesterday morning, I thought "It might just be warm enough to take him again today." So I loaded him up for one more hunt.
When I saw him wade through waist deep marsh for fifty yards to pick up a mallard I thought "this is it, his last retrieve." Every one now could very well be his last. I didn't expect him to move again for days, but to my surprise he is up and at 'em today. I look forward to taking him again tomorrow. At this point I would rather kill 1 duck and have him pick it up than kill a limit and pick them up myself.
They are amazing animals.