Finn from the Cascades, Season 3

[JLS]

This last trip was a fun one. My legs were pretty-cooked from snowshoeing, so I was a little limited in range and ambition. It was a great recon trip for future expeditions.

I explored some country I hadn’t yet set foot in before. Bird numbers didn’t disappoint, but in all reality I really didn’t care. I love eating chukars, but I’ve come to realize these little gray missiles are merely a vehicle to the experiential process.

I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many I’ve shot this year, and I don’t care. I could tell you a multitude of experiences, such as Finn pointing a huge bobcat at 20 feet, and show you a photo log of Gods finest creation.

The road less traveled.





Jack Frost.



Rimrocks.



Retreives.



Spoor.



Trees.







Vistas.



The talent on our team.

 

[Outlaw]

Yes, VGP next year. A huge problem was the nearest VGP test is right in the middle of the elk hunt I had already planned. I may look at different options next year to allow for the September testing.

I do try to make sure he's back behind me when I touch off the rifle. He really isn't sensitive to it, but I don't want to expose him to the additional hearing damage. One of the components of the VGP is the dog staying in a down stay in a place he can't see you, while several gunshots are fired.

The blood track is a component that you'll train completely separate from the gunfire exposure/steadiness.

When do you get your pup?

Jason Northern California runs their VGP in November.

 

[JLS]

Jason Northern California runs their VGP in November.

Is that the Loma Rica test? That might work well this year. Does it fill fast?

 

[Outlaw]

Is that the Loma Rica test? That might work well this year. Does it fill fast?

Yes the Loma Rica test and yes it fills fast. Bo Waller I do believe is the test director. I talked to Bo last week the test this year will be November 11-14 (HZP and VGP).

 

[JLS]

The season is rapidly winding down. Friday we spent the day in pea soup fog. Navigation in cliffy country gets fairly tenuous when visibility is under 30-40 yards. I had a hell of a time finding my dog a few times, even with the GPS collar.








Today was a prime example of why sample size n=1 can be misleading. I hunted this ridge two weeks ago. I found nine coveys of birds, and I had a short day to hunt. Today, we found two.


It was a great two days with my wife. We explored some new places and hiked a lot of miles. One more trip this next weekend, then we’re done.

 

[MTLabrador]

These are not the cats we are looking for.

 

[1_pointer]

Very well done!! I keep toying with the idea of skipping a year of NR big game hunting and taking two weeks, the wall tent, and marking wild chukars off Hank's bucket list...

 

[duckhunt]

Awsome season.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Very well done!! I keep toying with the idea of skipping a year of NR big game hunting and taking two weeks, the wall tent, and marking wild chukars off Hank's bucket list...

Their season is so long and varied in different states it works great to fill in pieces of the hunting season. Gonna hit NV today and CA Sunday to chase emm

 

[1_pointer]

Their season is so long and varied in different states it works great to fill in pieces of the hunting season. Gonna hit NV today and CA Sunday to chase emm

That is one of the reason I'm very interested. I could take Hank when things here are over or have slowed down. The "fly in the ointment" is the time/cost it takes as it'd be a 24 hour drive, one way...

 

[JLS]

Season finale. I’m enjoying a beer after a much needed shower.


It was a fantastic weekend. We found birds. We ate good food. We burned a wood stove. We explored country of great historical and cultural significance.









I’ve put 10k miles on my truck since September 1st. I have no idea how many miles I’ve put on my boots. I got to hunt two new states this year. My shotgun needs a few coats of oil on the stock, and has about a case of ammo through it this year.

Finn has earned a well deserved off season.

 

[Irrelevant]

Damn man, those are some stellar pics.

 

[JLS]

Damn man, those are some stellar pics.

I lost a bird down the canyon in the second photo, in the cliffs on the left side of the picture. We were trying to find it and ended up in some truly hairy shit.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Congrats on a great season

 

[Irrelevant]

I lost a bird down the canyon in the second photo, in the cliffs on the left side of the picture. We were trying to find it and ended up in some truly hairy shit.

Yeah that looks like next level shit. Huge exposures.

 

[Jc2020]

Sounds like a decent season congrats. I’ve been waiting for my drauhthaar to be born I finally be picking her up in the next couple weeks so I’m stocked about that hopefully soon I’ll be doing hunts like this myself.

 

[stillkickin]

Well done JLS and especially Finn!

I really enjoyed being able to tag along with you via the great photos.

Get rested up Finn!

 

[1_pointer]

Season finale. I’m enjoying a beer after a much needed shower.

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It was a fantastic weekend. We found birds. We ate good food. We burned a wood stove. We explored country of great historical and cultural significance.

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I’ve put 10k miles on my truck since September 1st. I have no idea how many miles I’ve put on my boots. I got to hunt two new states this year. My shotgun needs a few coats of oil on the stock, and has about a case of ammo through it this year.

Finn has earned a well deserved off season.

Very well done. I hope, someday, to be able to type that last paragraph.

 

[rtraverdavis]

What I think is so cool is all the new country you explored this season. I have a tendency to, once I find a good spot, stick to a go-to area. But at least half the fun of getting out into the field is exploring new country, and you crushed it on that this year.

 

[Hunting Wife]

I have really enjoyed these threads the last couple seasons. Good stories, good photos. You guys left it all on the field this year. Congrats, and hope you enjoy the well-earned rest.