T Bone
Well-known member
My 3 year old daughter has been wanting to go hunting with me for some time. So with the temps in the low 50's I thought today would be ideal. We got the two older kids off to school and piled the 3 year old, baby, wife, shotgun, snacks and drinks, and the dog into the little car and we took off for a short day of pheasants.
The plan was for me to carry the baby in a backpack, help Emmaline in the brush and snow, and hopefully the dog will lock down one or two of these spooky late season roosters, we toddle up to the pointing dog, flush bird, and kill it, dog retrieves, all in plain sight of the daughter..........sounds like a plan....
We started off with lots of birds, plenty of shooting opportunities, but none that my daughter could see due to the deep cover.
We head back to car to go to a different spot where there aren't as many birds but they hold better, as they don't get hunted much.
Baby falls asleep in route, so wife agrees to stay in car and nap. Daughter dog and I head out. Daughter gets tired so I put her on shoulders with the hope that the dog will lock up and give me enough time to get her off. On bird #2 it all came together. Dog is locked up tight and I know from her body language that the bird is just feet away from her twitching nose. I take Emmaline off the shoulders and slowly help her come up the dogs side. We go slow, step by step, and then the rooster comes up cackling at our feet. A classic point, shot and retrieve....with a trembling excited little girl watching it all. We hi-fived and decided it wasn't going to get any better than that so we went back to show Mom the prize.
First time this season I didn't limit out, but thats alright. Quality over quantity anytime. Man, I hope this stuff sticks on these kids.
The plan was for me to carry the baby in a backpack, help Emmaline in the brush and snow, and hopefully the dog will lock down one or two of these spooky late season roosters, we toddle up to the pointing dog, flush bird, and kill it, dog retrieves, all in plain sight of the daughter..........sounds like a plan....
We started off with lots of birds, plenty of shooting opportunities, but none that my daughter could see due to the deep cover.
We head back to car to go to a different spot where there aren't as many birds but they hold better, as they don't get hunted much.
Baby falls asleep in route, so wife agrees to stay in car and nap. Daughter dog and I head out. Daughter gets tired so I put her on shoulders with the hope that the dog will lock up and give me enough time to get her off. On bird #2 it all came together. Dog is locked up tight and I know from her body language that the bird is just feet away from her twitching nose. I take Emmaline off the shoulders and slowly help her come up the dogs side. We go slow, step by step, and then the rooster comes up cackling at our feet. A classic point, shot and retrieve....with a trembling excited little girl watching it all. We hi-fived and decided it wasn't going to get any better than that so we went back to show Mom the prize.
First time this season I didn't limit out, but thats alright. Quality over quantity anytime. Man, I hope this stuff sticks on these kids.
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