Rattlesnakes

I have yet to run across a rattler while bird hunting, but there is always that chance.  I've never seen a dog firsthand that has been bitten, but I've read plenty of stories and seen pictures.  It's an ugly situation.  Last year I took my Vizsla to rattlesnake avoidance class as a safety precaution.  Luckily I never had the chance last hunting season to see if it worked.  This year the rattlesnake clinic came up again so I thought it was a good idea to do a follow up session so that it would really be ingrained in her.....it turned out to be a waste of $40.  She wanted absolutely nothing to do with the snakes from the very first station.  The first five stations they had set up were live snakes (bull snakes), which are fairly similar to a rattlesnake in appearance.

They also had sound stations set up playing a continuous loop of a rattle.  The last station was a combination of all the elements.  She passed with flying colors.  I'm fairly certain she will have nothing to do with any snakes if we come upon them in the field unless they completely take her by surprise.

A mouthful of feathers

I was working with the dog today on retrieving and it got me thinking about how many times my dog has actually fetched up a bird and brought it back to me. If the bird was crippled and still alive the chances were more in favor that I would be the one doing the retrieving after she located it. Not sure why, but she's not too excited about retrieving live birds, a good reminder that I should be doing my part in making sure they get put down if I hit them, a good clean kill, which isn't always as easy as it sounds.

I remember one instance in particular...the day was a typical late season hunt which basically boils down to it being cold, cold, and colder in the chukar hills.  We had just got done making a 5 mile loop through the hills and were on our way back down to the rig when Kati started getting birdy.  It wasn't long before she was locked up hard on point, her body was shaking and rigid...exciting stuff for sure.  I hadn't really been taking any pictures, so I took a chance that the bird would hold and was able to snap a few photos.  Just a quick note that this is also back when I was somewhat in doubt when the dog went on point.  It was just one of those things that truly amazed me since I had never really been around a pointing dog before.  The fact that she knew a bird was there and I couldn't see it was something I just couldn't comprehend.  Those times are gone now though, a word to the wise...always trust your dog!

I walked up on her and the first bird flushed, but it cut back to the right and behind the rock outcropping along the ridge line.  I got a shot off, but I was way behind as it sailed away across the drainage.  Then another burst from cover and headed the opposite direction out into the the open...out into space it seemed like.  My first shot was behind, but the second was true and brought it down as it sailed 100+ yards down the mountain.  That little red dot on the road below, that's my car.

Kati took off down the slope chasing the bird while I thought 'oh crap' I got some hiking to do now.  I didn't really even pay any attention to the dog as it was apparent that she was on a mission, and we were both headed in the same direction anyways. I was though concerned about my own footing, slick icy rocky hillsides are a little tricky to navigate.  I was working the side hill and on my way down when I noticed her running back up the mountain with something in her mouth.  I was fairly shocked, but grabbed the camera and started snapping pictures as she came up.  I could hardly believe my eyes as she got closer and I could tell she had a mouthful of feathers.

These kind of experiences easily make trudging up and down chukar hills worth it.  Point, flush, and retrieve.  A hunter can't ask for much more from his bird dog.  This ranks up there as one of the best moments I've had with Kati.  She never ceases to amaze me.

Only one more month till grouse season opens.  It seems like forever.