Journal and Pictures from Hunting (some training)
                       October, 2006 - into 2007  

   Oct 14 Taffey, Kooly and Daisy ran three cold blinds at Brian's and then worked on steady to wing, shot and
              fall = this is review for Taffey and Kooly while not quite finished up with Daisy = initial training was
              chaining verbal sit, whistle sit, sit to flush and sit to shot which means any single one of those means
              sit, this was done long before any real hunting, today's field drill consisted of two remote wingers
              loaded with Dokkens, using the different "cues" for sit, the dogs move through the cover individually
              and the various "commands" are "explained"
                       note: the dogs are not in a walk-up mode, they are searching and the flush is as if by another
                                dog, the focus is on the standard which is to respond correctly to any of the four
                                "commands" meaning sit
                       note: Taffey and Kooly were solid in all ways
                       note: Daisy had a short controlled break on the first "flush", but was flawless the rest of the drill
                       note: all three did extremely well on the blinds, Kooly was the most precise using the least
                                number of whistles & Daisy was just wonderful for the short time she has been running
                                blinds, very good initial lines carried far and the few casts she needed were literal and
                                accurate, she lined the short 100 yd one - wow! 

  Oct 15 (afternoon) Daisy, Taffey and Kooly - wearing a vest were "kenneled up" in the Kwick Hide near the
             Square Pond, listened to duck & goose calling, I shot a primer pistol a few times & each ran a cold blind
             (I was in a "camo" layout chair .)
                   note: standards were - stay in hide, lay down, don't move and be quiet
                   note; Daisy's session lasted 45 minutes and she was perfect
                   note: Taffey's session was 30 min. & received effective corrections for occasional whining - very good
                   note: Kooly was given five singles in the pond first as he rolled in something nasty a few days ago
                            and was still not very sweet smelling, he did a 30 minute session in the hide & received a few
                            corrections for whining
                   note: all three were relaxed with their heads down most of the time
  Oct 16 organized ND trip inventory & rain came late, ATV trailer back Wednesday each dog spent 4-5 minutes
             on the "whoa barrel" (inside)
                   note: Daisy was first and acted very skittish at first, wanted to sit, but stayed up and began to
                            relax...read = "I'm OK with this......if you are."
                   note: Kooly was very intimidated at first and just barely tolerated it at the end read = "Woe is
                            me!....when will this be over?"
                   note: Taffey didn't like it a bit, but was willing to work with me.....read = "I know what whoa
                             is........what's with the thing?"
  Oct 17 (morning) Daisy had a short "stint" on the whoa barrel = first on the carpeted side & then it was rotated
             to a smooth plastic side
                    note: on the carpeted side she became comfortable quickly, too much so that she was lifting her
                             feet, so "upped the ante" , within about a minute she figured out moving her feet was not a
                             good idea on the "slippery" side (not upset - just more careful), she's learning quickly
             (afternoon) walking singles at the Rockton Road DTA (evening) clean out van for trip  

    Oct 18 (morning) trained at Brian's - all three dogs ran three cold blinds using orange bumpers (175, 185 &
               161 yards) left blind = angle crossing a grassy erosion strip, through a bean field and finally up on
               top of a rise (second erosion strip), right blind = angle across an erosion strip, across heavy cover for
               about 50 yards, angle entry and exit of short grass wedge to another section of heavy cover, exiting
               this there is a small draw of grass & then up to the edge of a corn field, middle longest blind = angle
               entry to heavy cover and exits across a grassy path and crosses a wide garden strip, then crosses the
               corner of the bean field and finally on the other side of an erosion strip the bumpers are up against
               the corn field  (ran the 1st & 3rd from the left side, 2nd from the right)
                                                                      (left click on thumbnails for full view)

                       note: Kooly was first, "mo" steady and precision was terrific, he is the easiest of the three to
                                run blinds with - nice job
                       note: Taffey scalloped the first about four times (as usual to the right), the right and middle
                                blinds were crisp and fast
                       note: Daisy was straight with no hunting, fast off the line, took literal casts very well, she sat
                                very patiently and waited for each cast, first two were extremely good, the last one I lost
                                her right at the end when I misjudged the depth, but she never hunted and took all my
                                casts (even though 4 or 5 were wrong), she never gave up and kept at it until I sorted it
                                out, very responsive even when at long distances - neat pup!
               (afternoon) tried to get some "roading" early = rain delay, later it let up and we got about three miles
               in when it started raining again = with a mile and half back to the van..........I GOT WET! "roaded" 4½
               miles & the dogs seemed to love running in the rain, Daisy moves out much farther than the other two
                        note: Kooly is getting a small hot spot low on front right leg, sprayed with Bactine - tastes nasty
  Oct 19  (early morning) ran all three dogs on a blind at Blonhaven = for Kooly and Taffey it was a pattern blind
              from last year, for Daisy it was a cold blind
                        note: Daisy did a really nice job ("cheaty cover")     
             (morning) guide/train for client at Blonhaven Hunt Club at 8:00 am - eight birds release & help work
             his 16 month old pup on them one bird at a time
             (afternoon) short notice guide - eight bird release = ran Taffey in area #1 & all the birds were running
             in heavy, weed choked sorghum, Taffey's nose was a bit raw and so was the skin around her eyes,
             great shape and ran hard in the heavy cover for three hours
                         note: afterwards - ATV up to areas 11 & 12 to put in four miles of "roading" with Daisy and Kooly
                         note: fed when we got home, moving feeding time up so that when we hunt in ND, they will
                                  eat soon enough to "recover" for the next day, Taffey will get the main work with Kooly
                                  doing a good share, Daisy will be "spot" hunted where we can avoid any tough issues
  Oct 20 day off of Taffey & Kooly, made "box" to stack Ainley crates in Steve's truck 
             (evening) Daisy ran four walking singles and two long cold blinds at the Rockton Road DTA, charge
             all collars & unthaw goose
                         note: Daisy stepped on all the marks and confidently ran the two
                                  blinds, Wow! she likes running blinds as much as marks
             (evening) work with hide in living room (flaps are on and new)   
  Oct 21 (morning) Daisy, Kooly and Taffey ran 150 yard cold blind with a 9 pound goose (the ATV sure makes
             planting the blind a lot easier = all three ran very nice initial lines & Daisy two whistled it, after the
             blind "roaded" 3 miles with the ATV
                         note: trained at BT's
                                                                         (left click on thumbnails for full view)

  Oct 22 rain early = load van, trailer & Marsh Rat for the trip, leave for Steve's at 2:30 pm  
  Oct 23 off very early to North Dakota for the week  
  Oct 29 limped back home at about 7:00 pm.........I'm beat
  Oct 30-31 R&R for all
  Nov  1 finally recovered enough to resume the journal.......Wow....what a trip.....if I'm
             five years younger and thirty pounds lighter next year........I might go back  
                 with the area new for the experienced ND hunters in our group the trip turned
             basically into a scouting trip, saw lots of duck and geese with plenty of water to
             use, but we were never in exactly the right place at the right time, on Friday we
             found huge numbers of geese and mallards with no time to really target them
                   note: dogs had little real action, Kooly never had one retrieve, Taffy and
                            Daisy had two cold blinds apiece........both were nice, the trip was
                            very disappointing in terms of getting the dogs experience
                   note: Taffey had a long cold blind on a crippled goose which she brought
                             back with no trouble, Daisy's first duck was a blind retrieve of a big
                            "Bull" Canvasback - will always remember these two retrieves          
                   note: the place we stayed at worked out well and was inexpensive, also
                            learned that field hunting....often....with no birds....is very "not fun"
                   note: not much time spent chasing pheasants 
  Nov 2-3 slackers' holiday, couldn't run tower shoot on Friday - appointment with lawyer
  Nov 4 Taffey & Kooly ran a guided hunt at Blonhaven..Taffey did the first three hours
            alone and Kooly came out to run with her the last hour, clients were father and
            young son (13 years old). both were excellent shots and knew how to read a
            dog's work on birds, Taffey got in a bunch of nice points and handled the running
            birds flawlessly (released pheasants, chukars and huns) with 19 birds up and 17
            in the bag, quite a few of the birds were running & with wind blowing at 25+ mph
            the shooting had to be exceptional (another group had 13 birds up and bagged 3)
            two dogs working as a team at the end seemed to work nicely at the end, Taffey
            continues to do a very solid job of covering the cover for both hunters & somehow
            manages to point or switch over to putting birds up that refuse to be pinned,
                   note: clients love Taffey
                   note: Taffey again had raw spots around both eyes and on her nose. Kooly
                            sliced his tongue on the sorghum and was bloody for most of his
                            hour (small cuts on the tongue produce much blood - not a serious
                            problem)
                   note: Taffey didn't loose one bird & had some really nice points, Kooly
                            pointed twice & in the heavy deep cover was not pushing birds so
                            hard as to flush them up out of range (he is a natural)
                   note: no time to run Daisy & she gets a full day to herself tomorrow
  Nov 5 day off for all
  Nov 6 Taffey & Kooly had another day off, Daisy worked in the yard on a push/pull
            two bumper lining drill - awesome effort
  Nov 7 "roaded" all three dogs in the bean field at the Square Pond DTA - three miles
            at about 12 mph
  Nov 8 "roaded" all three dogs in areas 12 west & east plus 11 a total of four miles,
            let them hunt cover and got into some birds, had to take a break half way
            through because it was 68° - heat and dry conditions got to them, some water
            and short "blow" got then to their second wind and all three finished strong
                    note: Kooly seemed to have the most problem & he has put on some
                             weight (cut back on his food), needs a chest protector
  Nov 9 day off
  Nov 10 tower shoot at Blonhaven Hunt Club - went early and ran Taffey, Kooly and
             Daisy on three blinds - then it started to rain = the tower shoot was cold, very
             windy and then the rain (not a very nice day to say the least!) Fortunately the
             thunder and lightning started up right after we were finished.
                    note: Taffey ran the first eight rounds and Kooly did the last four, not many
                             retrieves as the gunners racked up the worst percentage of any
                             previous "Euro" at Blonhaven 
  Nov 11 day off
  Nov 12 two "Euro" shoots at Blonhaven - Daisy worked the first one and was really hot
             for the first three rounds, then she settled down and did fine, worked some on
             mouth issues........Kooly worked the second session, but went way to the north
             because the strong winds were carrying many pheasants beyond the normal
             stations.....Kooly did not get a huge number of birds, but the marks were very
             long in tough cover......his marking was sharp and his behavior at the line was
             much improved........lots of watching, Taffey ran three blinds afterwards just for
             something to do (guided hunt coming up on Thursday for her - four clients with
             a "many bird" release)
  Nov 13 day off - goose hunting closed until the 20th
  Nov 14 Taffey, Kooly and Daisy ran a 200 yard cold blind & then "roaded" three fast
              miles at the Square Pond DTA bean field (damp, cold with a crisp breeze)
                    note: was going to "road" at BT's, but it looked like someone might be in
                             either scouting or bow hunting deer (not sure & didn't check)
                    note: many geese in the bean field down near the pond (no ice yet) &
                             after feeding on beans for the last few weeks they should be tasty        
  Nov 15 day off - Daisy in for yearly exam & shot updates = 3 yr Rabies, Dhp-Pv Booster,
              Lyme Booster, Leptovax 4 Booster, Bordetella & Fecal exam -- wt. 53 pounds
              all dogs given Interceptor 
  Nov 16 guide at Blonhaven (morning) - 36°, very winding and dry = only used Taffey
              15 bird release, 21 "opportunities" and 9 in the bag (tough shooting & very
              little experience), the birds did nothing but run A LOT, blockers & being quiet
              seem to work best
  Nov 17 guided hunt (afternoon) - three hunters & super conditions = 40°, slight breeze,
              cloudy with cool, moist air....scenting conditions were almost perfect and the
              birds were not nearly as spooky as yesterday, Taffey got in a lot of points and
              pretty much "cleaned" the fields (12 bird release, 24 birds up in range and 12
              bagged = shooting not all that great)
  Nov 18 trainer's morning deer hunt in WI = no deer, Taffey had the day off, Daisy and
              Kooly had a long session of "roading" at the Square Pond DTA, pond still not
              iced over & a bunch of geese are roosting there and feeding in the bean field,
              Monday goose season opens back up
  Nov 19 ran all three dogs on a "push/pull" two bumper lining drill (front yards at dusk)
                        note: vet thought Daisy looked like she might soon be in heat, didn't
                                 eat all her food yesterday or today (keep a close watch on her)
  Nov 20 day off for Kooly & Taffey, Daisy went along for a short afternoon goose hunt
              at the Square Pond bean field, set-up with 12 new Avery flocked head shells
              by 3:30 pm and the geese arrived at 4:15 Pm - dropped a nice one and with
              sunset being 4:30 pm picked up and went home (five minute drive)
                        note: Daisy had fun "dragging" this one back - 12 pounds
                        note: Daisy ate all her food tonight (appetite loss from shots ?)
  Nov 21 geese on the pond early in the morning.....gone at 11:00 am, check tonight, 
              but let the field rest a few days
              spent part of the day preparing the goose (after reading about methods of
              properly handling goose meat & many recipes - here's my own recipe), the
              "test" was....Would my two grandsons like it? Passed with a two thumbs up
              from both!
                                              "Big Bird Soup”

                         2 fresh breast fillets from a 12 pound goose
                         slice 8-9 times crosswise almost through
                         soak in white vinegar for about 45 minutes
                         squeeze and rinse well with cold water
                         marinade for 12 hours in orange juice
                         rinse in cold water, repeat marinade in fresh orange juice for
                               another 12 hours rinse & squeeze out as much of the
                               remaining blood as possible
                         complete slices producing about 16-18 smaller fillets, drain
                               well & pat dry
                         in a cast iron frying pan, brown both sides well in hot oil
                         place in Crock Pot
                         add 1 can of thick potato soup
                         add 1 can of chicken noodle soup
                         add ½ to ¾ cup of salsa (select desired “heat”)
                         add ¾ cup of white cooking wine
                         add 1 cup of white, peach flavored cranberry juice
                         add 1 cup of Coca-Cola
                         sprinkle with powdered garlic salt (how much - your choice)
                         add ground pepper (to personal taste)
                         add three table spoons of Teriyaki “baste & glaze” sauce

                         cook on low for five hours
                         using tongs remove fillets, slice each into four smaller chunks,
                               place back in the Crock Pot & cook on low for another 5 hrs
                         serve with crotons & fresh dill or add a thickener to make
                               a meaty gravy served over hot buttered toast
                         peas or broccoli and carrots may be added to leftovers (if any)
                                for a little different look & taste
                         It doesn’t take much more time to make a double batch, and you’ll
                                wish you had.
    Nov 22 "roaded" all three dogs at the bean field, six geese were on the pond at
                1:30 am, but most were over at Legend Lake
                    note: Kooly's small lick sores are getting better now that I've started
                             using EMT under vet wrap (Fortunately, he leaves it alone.)
    Nov 23  ran Daisy & Kooly on the two bumper "push/pull" drill in the yard,
                 Taffey got the day off, with Thanksgiving dinner running late...the short
                 WI deer hunt was scrapped, scout geese at dusk
    Nov 23  two guided hunts at Blonhaven (morning & afternoon), traditionally the
                club's busiest day of the year, Taffey did a 4 hour hunt in the morning
                and after a half-hour break did another 3½ hour hunt in the afternoon
                25 "opportunities" and 14 bagged & 28 "opportunities" and 18 bagged
                "non-native"    pheasants, chukars and huns
                    note: Taffey did her usual impressive job and was going strong right
                             to the end (this is the most time she has ever upland hunted in
                             one day) 53 birds handled correctly (lots of points & just as many
                             running birds) & 32 retrieves
                    note: new first today, a son brought his 80 year old father along to
                             hunt, with congestive heart issues (30% functioning) we ended
                             up moving him to the end of each "drive" as a blocker sitting
                             on a chair, Taffey hit two beautiful points right in front of him
                             and he shot both pheasants & another flushed wild ahead of
                             us close enough for him to drop, his son was very happy
                             as they figured this might be his last time to go hunting & I was
                             excited that we even got the chances for him to get off a few
                             shots........"let alone" knock some down
                    note: scouted for geese at dusk & drove 35 miles = zero activity
   Nov 24 day off for dogs, invited for a field hunt with big set-up = lots of geese, but
               not finishing....three of us bagged two geese for the morning hunt
                    note: geese back on the Square Pond in the late morning & will scout
                             at dusk again tonight = empty

   Nov 25 trained Taffey, Kooly & Daisy at the Square Pond DTA in a bean field, ran 3
               remote line ATV singles (4 stickmen field) - primer pistol & hen pheasants
                    note: all ran excellent lines - gradual up-slope (shortest about 175 yards,
                             hen pheasant fairly easy to see if on line)
                    note: short sleeves = 58º & cloudy with no breeze (nice!)
                    note: the three have been "roading" with the ATV for quite awhile & today
                             Taffey was the first to run = she was "amped" to run with me as I
                             left her on the place board (but she stayed), Kooly was even more so
                             ready to leave with me, but I stopped a couple of times, early, to
                             "remind" him to sit, Daisy was the worst at wanting to take off on
                             another "roading" session, after stopping to "remind" her to stay,
                             I took off for the first station. Looking back she slammed into a sit
                             pretending to be a good girl except she was about 15-20 yards off
                             the board (closer to me). An indirect pressure correction of sit/nick/sit
                             was given followed by a verbal "back" cast got her back on the board
                             quickly. She was fine after that.  All three require only the single
                             "place" cast for the return to the line. With the ATV and the length of
                             these marks I could get to the next station before they got back to the
                             line. When they reached the board, they were given a loud whistle
                             sit. They turn and sit facing me for the next mark, and the length of
                             time before "sending" them is varied quite a bit. The place board
                             plays a very important role in making them very solid with this
                             routine.   

  Nov 26 day off - slacker trainer & scouted for geese......too warm = no movement
  Nov 27 "roaded" at the bean field = no geese present
  Nov 28 day off - couch potatoes & scouted for geese = not much
  Nov 29 day off - cold rain & scouted for geese = lots moving today
  Nov 30 guided hunt at Blonhaven Hunt Club - Taffey hunted for 2 ½ hours - 6 bird release = 15 birds
             handled correctly (many running, but several points), 6 in the bag (18º, 20+ mph and
             overcast = tough shooting day for new members)
  Dec  1  hibernate = 11" of snow, 20+ mph winds, single digit wind chill & heavy drifting 
                   note: today's job.......getting out to the road "only" took 4 ½ hours
                         note: late this afternoon scout for geese & check ponds for ice = no geese and lots of ice
  Dec  2 day off
  Dec  3 "Euro" Shoot at Blonhaven - cold and deep snow = Taffey did this shoot while the other two
              stayed in the van, deep snow had some birds getting completely buried and tough to find
  Dec  4 Taffey gets the day off & Kooly and Daisy spend the afternoon "roading" in a nearby bean
             field - only problem is the 11 inches of snow
                   note: "roading" mostly one area so as to "stir up" the deep snow & attract geese (in theory)  
                   note: Daisy decided it was "dominate" Kooly day and would not leave him alone, she's too
                            quick for Kooly to "get" and she would not listen to me, back to the van and kenneled
                            her up after a  very "vigorous discussion", she did not respond very well until I got her
                            down on her back, "roaded" them separately, usually she has the collar on  
                   note: Daisy seemed unaffected by the correction episode, but it is clear that when "push comes
                            to a big shove" there is still some question in her mind about being totally responsive
                            THEREFORE, the OB expectations and standards must be "upped" another notch - she's
                            cute, but very, very tough to deal with when she gets in her "manic" screwing around
                            mode = no more "loose without a collar" situations     
   Dec 5 day off for the dogs again, scouted the bean field this afternoon AND there were at least a couple
             of hundred geese feeding - Theory is a Law now  
                   note: they were gone by 4:30 pm (right after sunset) so I'll set up in the
                            morning and wait, will use only a couple dozen decoys
                   note: some of the geese were packed into a line 5 yards wide and about
                            75 yards long (like they found a row which was a "soy bean trough")
   Dec 6 Today was Daisy's first true goose hunt...,,,.....hide, snow and all. She was terrific!

             We arrived at the bean field at 6:30 am and set out only 12 flocked shells along a row of un-harvested
             soybean plants. It was about 80 yards from the area broken up by my ATV a couple of days ago.  Daisy
             was tucked into the hide and everything was covered with two white sheets. I  wore my white field
             trial jacket over my "camo".  Geese started arriving about 7:30 am, but they were landing down near
             the pines about 200 yds away and too close to the road. Two other small groups "buzzed" over once
             and disappeared. With more to show, I passed on one long shot.

             More geese were heard and then again nothing. Glancing to my right, I could see the "decoys". Wait
             a minute those aren't my decoys.......they are walking south about 70 yards away. I moved, and they
             flew off with no shots. About a half hour later, there were more geese sounds behind me and then
             nothing. Sitting up and turning around, I spotted several heads sticking up from the rise behind us.

             Crouched down on my knees and dressed in white, I inched forward.......very slowly. They didn't seem
             to notice me until about at 50 yards a sentry stretch her neck up. She jumped and then everyone
             jumped. Why did I opt for improved cylinder today? I dropped the sentry (barely).  She was angry,
             lively and running, but 11 inches of snow slowed her down some. 

             Calling Daisy out of the hide (where she stayed nicely during my sneak), she came flying. I cast her
             toward the goose........but now she was just standing there in the snow. Daisy must have thought it
             was a decoy because she ignored her.  She kept looking for a bird. Each time the goose moved or
             ran, Daisy was looking elsewhere, and each time the goose stopped she'd look over (at the "decoy").
             It would have made a great cartoon. Finally, she ran when Daisy was looking and the "light went on".
             Daisy bowled her over and soon brought the goose back.

             She was banded!  One more goose wouldn't make the day any better........so we quit. The geese can
             feed the rest of today, and more dropped into the field as we were leaving.

             update: The he was changed to she when the USGS Banding Certificate arrived.
                          female hatched in 1998 or earlier & banded July 1999 at Thunder Bay, Ontario  
             note: At 3:30 pm (this afternoon) about forty geese were feeding right where we
                      had set-up. 
                                                                        (left click on thumbnails)

    Dec 7 very cold with bitter wind chills, small bunch off geese in field...PM
    Dec 8 at 10:00 am only ten geese in the field, warmer, but only in the teens with a wind chill near zero, at
              11:00 am ran some geese off and raked out two bare bare spots (10 yds diameter) in the bean field
              to give it a more inviting look, went back at 1:00 pm to hunt and about forty geese were feeding
              (not where I raked), after setting up took ATV back to the truck and was about two minutes short of
              getting tucked into the blind when a bunch of geese showed up, IF I had made a really good shot,  
              nothing much after that except one group that made a single pass and took off, wind chill near zero
              made it tough to stick it out until sunset & almost got full blown frost bite on one finger when picking
              up, tomorrow much warmer with a high near forty
    Dec 9 four finger tips on left hand are "tingling" this morning (slight frost bite)
                    note: not going out today, 2:00 pm probably 400 geese in the bean field
                             and spread ALL OVER in smaller family groups
    Dec 10 set-up early farther south in the field, with two groups of mallards (18 and 12) up on the high part
               and goose decoys in two families down lower (left a 100 yards between them) and put layout up
               from the geese with plenty of room for another "family group" to set down I placed lot of decoys
               on their "bellies" with no stakes to look different. The geese liked the mallards so much that they
               were determined to land farther up in the field..........decided to move the layout position. As I stood
               up, 15-20 geese committed to the duck decoy area and were starting a swing. They must have
               been so mesmerized by the "duck deeks"...they never saw me. At twenty yards out and only about
               20 yards high, they were coming straight to me. I picked one out and shot. No need to pick out another
               one....two dropped. I was done and  Daisy had two retrieves. More geese kept landing as I tried to
               get out of the field as quickly as possible. The original plan was to have a group target my position
               by putting decoys "everywhere" worked. These are not "migrators", educated and feed in families.
               Therefore, they are looking for their own space or "landing zone" (in theory).  
                            note: Daisy was just perfect....again quiet and patient. One goose put up a fight (which she
                                     enjoyed). Afterwards while I was picking up, she got away with chasing off a
                                     bunch & gave me the "How come you aren't shooting?"................look.  
                                      note: left house at 6:30 am, set-up by 7:44 am and really sweating, home
                                     at 9:30 am, no issues with left fingers
                             note: last day of deer in Wisconsin, afternoon drove up to Steve's and
                                      finished the day in a tree........nothing was moving

   Dec 11 rainy day, did some scouting & took the day off
   Dec 12 Kwick goose hunt in the bean field with Daisy. The snow was going fast and with the fog, they'd be
               coming in really low. Threw three decoys down and sat in what little snow was left wearing one of
               my Tyvak stickmen "suits" (the one with Doc-E on the back). Geez, it was muddy, so I walked in light.
               The plan was changed after a couple of "familes" checked out the decoys and only made one swing.
               Not sure but just three decoys must have not been very inviting.

               So I left the decoys where they were and moved up the rise to another small patch of snow. The new
               plan was to take advantage of the "swing". The next group approached the field at 60 plus yards up,
               but when they started their swing they flew to "being right in range" on the rise. The rise made them
               unwittingly drop down and it worked.

               A good rule for hunting pheasants is "You only have to fool them once". I guess it applies to geese, too.
               After "whacking" this one for Daisy, we left and didn't educate any more.

   Dec 13  take trailer to welder for minor repair to front brackets, work on getting Website back on line
   Dec 14 trip to O'Hare Airport - boys to New Orleans for two weeks = day off for dogs
   Dec 15 couch potato day
   Dec 16 "roaded" all three dogs at the bean field in the late afternoon = 4 miles total with quick water breaks
               after each mile, ran three separate ½ mile sprints at 20 mph with Daisy keeping up, Kooly in hot
               pursuit and Taffey pacing herself
                    note: all were well within themselves at 4 miles & not tired (37º helped)
                    note: they really like the ATV sessions
   Dec 17 "roaded" Taffey, Kooly and Daisy for three miles at dusk - including 3 half mile sprints at 20 mph in
               the grassy lane (no water breaks until finished)
                    note: all handled this with ease
   Dec 18 trained in the bean field, remote winger doubles for all three dogs
                    note: 85 yards and 125 yards with Dokkens plus primer report
   Dec 19 day off
   Dec 20 bought 10 chukars at Toubl's Game Farm ($75)

                (early afternoon) "roaded" all three dogs 2 miles at BT's & planted 2 chukars for Daisy & just barely
                beat the rain, first chukar buried too deep and got a short five second point = she jumped in and
                caught it momentarily, then it flew away, the next chukar was planted behind a wall of cover and
                this one went much better, resulting in a 25 second point, not too bad for the first pointing chances
                since she was 6 months old, had time to get the camera out and take a few snapshots, this chukar
                was a very poor flyer and just managed to flutter away, after putting Daisy away, Kooly was sent on
                a blind retrieve and brought back  the chukar still alive
                    note: (to self) plant the rest of these chukars "easy" and in very little cover  
                    note: Daisy's point was immediate and solid, no creeping or tail movement (and I really like her
                             high tail), she's too close, but it is a cross wind & the bird is actually off to her left and
                             slightly in front near the green area
                    note: the main thing is she points! and we still have eight chukars to go

   Dec 21 rained all day, but had to air Brian's dogs so Daisy ran a couple of long blinds, no chukars today  
                   note: she wasn't very "straight", need to work on this = maintenance!                   
   Dec 22 rain and thunderstorms all day - day off
   Dec 23 all three dogs ran a pattern blind (new for Daisy & review for Kooly and Taffey,
                   note: 130 yards, Daisy ran it four times and the other two - twice (at Sq. Pd.)
               drove to the Rockton Road DTA and planted 2 chukars for Daisy (one at a time)
                   note: today's first chukar (3rd in the sequence) was in short cover and out in the open, point better
                            distance than first two chukars (not the best place) the second chukar today was planted in
                            better cover and near a tree, the wind was strong out of the west and as she worked straight
                            back toward me, caught the scent suddenly, made a sharp turn to her left and hit this point
                            (plenty of time to adjust camera for close and long shots, even in the excitement of the
                            moment, I think the count was about 20 seconds)
                   note: both chukars flew away (six left at home) 
                   note: things were improved today, extremely "amped" with her pointing drove back to the
                            Square Pond DTA & "roaded" all 3 = easy 2 miles              

   Dec 24 Taffey & Kooly day off, Daisy ran the new pattern blind after a session of three spoke wagon wheel
               lining (left and right side with push & pull), drove to BT's and did three chukars
                   note: number five was a long, solid point & the bird got up, ran and flew off
                   note: number six was really in too deep of cover, nice long point, but  Daisy got some feathers
                            before it flew off
                   note: Everything went wrong with chukar seven - 1) two neighbor Labs came into the field and
                            started barking as they got closer, 2) the normal round about path was cut short, 3) this
                            resulted in a much smaller scent cone, 4) this bird was not fully recovered from dizzying
                            and finally 5) Daisy practically ran over the bird on her cross wind run. She froze into a
                            point right on top of it. One bird too many!  
                   note: each point had her closer to the bird (back with two a day, a break to "cool off" and get 
                            back in balance)                     

   Dec 25  (at dusk) ran the two long pattern blinds at Roscoe's Rock River Park with all three dogs, 32º with a 15
                mph wind out of the north (cross wind & head wind), (evening) "whoa" barrel with Daisy
                     note: all three were very "zippy" off the line & then fast/straight
                     note: scouted for geese, feeding late in corn
                     note: received an interesting photo this week

    Dec 26 (afternoon) set-up a "stand alone" Dokken double at the Rockton Road DTA, all three dogs ran it,
                setup another extra one for Daisy, drove to the Square Pond DTA and Daisy ran a five pile handling
                drill with orange bumpers  (evening) inside "whoa" barrel work with Daisy (two chukars tomorrow)  
                     note: return to the line (by me) was something new for the dogs, Daisy was rearing to go, figured
                              it out and marked well, Taffey & Kooly did not mark the memory bird nearly as well as Daisy 
                     note: Daisy's memory work is vastly improved (maturing)
                     note: scouted for geese, a bunch sitting on Lake Victoria and not very hungry
                     note: the USGS goose banding certificate arrived - female hatched in 1998
                              or earlier, banded July, 1999 at Thunder Bay, Ontario & encountered
                              December, 2006 just outside of Roscoe, Illinois, USA

  Dec 27 ran Daisy on a "standalone" Dokken double (same routine as the 26th except used primer pistol), Daisy
              came out of the van walking right over the crate with chukars (not too bright on my part = marking was
              terrible ), chukar # 8 pointed nicely for about 25 seconds and then all bets were off as it popped up
              out of the cover and started running, chukar # 9 started with Daisy in a really nice point, but the
              "camera man" (that would be me) had failed to see that the dial had turned slightly to another mode,
              missed the point, but did get an interesting fuzzy, grey picture of Daisy in full "creep mode"   , stick
              a fork in us = we're done with this phase = time to work on the rules  
                     note: chukar # 10 ten went to Kooly
                     note: chukars numbers 8 & 9 served as "relocators" for Taffey after
                               Daisy "used" them

  Dec 28 trained Daisy at Brian's, ran two cold blinds and three short concept doubles
                      note: nice blinds, waited for casts and took good ones
              first double, Daisy overran the go bird big time, made short search way out there & popped, she sat
              there for about ten minutes........finally decided to give her a serious indirect pressure and handled
              her "little butt" to the mark, repeated the same double with improved attitude = "go get the mark
              or else", ran an additional different double, she was more focused and determined to avoid the
              "speed bump" that occurred earlier
                     note: I'm thinking in her little excited mind, when she blew over the mark she totally lost her
                              focus and suddenly was thinking blind? and looking for direction from me................thus
                              the indirect pressure, in this case it was "wake-up and pay attention to what you were doing"   
                     note: she is vocal with this type of correction but there is hardly anything to suggest she is
                              disturbed by it, she's too feisty to let it get to her & her response was correct, e-collar
                              indirect pressure is not something Daisy gets often 
                     note: Kooly and Taffey are "rug rats" today
  Dec 29 cloudy late afternoon with the temperature near 50º = sure nice!, trained at BT's with a big three
              stickmen ATV remote line setup, used a large canvass black & white bumper with flags (poor
              visibility - overcast), marks went 125 yards right, 175 yards left and 225 yards up the middle,
              afterwards left the stickmen out and ran a cold blind 230 yards between marks 2 & 3
                      note: all three dogs did very well on the marks, the blind was three whistled by Kooly, four
                               whistled by Daisy & many whistled by the "scallop" queen Taffey (Daisy had the tightest line) 
                      note: the remote line routine is going well with all three, the session went
                               quickly and all three dogs were slick
                      note: when Taffey is not on regular maintenance the "scallops" come back
                      note: got dark really quick, but late December sweatshirt "temps" was OK
                      note: left at 3:30 pm, back at 4:45 pm, the dogs are curled up asleep in the living room and I'm
                               not exhausted.............thanks to the ATV
  Dec 30 all three dogs ran two pattern blinds - Square Pond DTA & two more pattern blinds - Roscoe Rock River
             Park = exercise and maintenance of "run straight"  (especially for Daisy)
  Dec 31 rained the whole day = "couch potato work"
  Jan  1  cold and very windy, Daisy ran the two new pattern blinds (twice) at the Square
              Pond DTA (between bowl games) & saw zero geese when scouting
                      note: initial lines better, whistle sits & casts excellent
  Jan  2  the weather is too nice for goose hunting and perfect for winter training, ran
              two remote winger doubles at the Rockton Road DTA, Daisy and Kooly did
              both and Taffey only the first, afterwards all three ran a long cold blind
                       note to self: run Taffey as test dog on each set-up, a piece of paper really
                               "sucked" Daisy off the memory bird and totally screwed up that mark
                               in the second double, Daisy sharp on first, Kooly excellent on both
                       note: all three dogs ran a nice blind
                       note: Daisy is getting better about the line routine on doubles, used
                                Dokkens with a white ribbon
                       note: most geese appear to be eating grass and roosting in Lake Victoria,
                                no hunting spots as of now (12 days of season left)
  Jan  3 day off for Taffey & Kooly, start teaching a terrain change 350+ yard pattern blind
            to Daisy at BT's, worked back to about 175 yards today (nice weather for the
            next four days)
                       note: Daisy's go gettum' & love training attitude is neat
  Jan  4 decided to move all the way back and run the pattern blind - it is 374 yards,
             slightly downhill with a long diagonal swale to the left and calf-high hay rows
             mostly textured on a long, slight right diagonal, each dog took their turns
                  Daisy was first, fourth and seventh - 3 whistles, 2 whistles and lined
                  Kooly was second and fifth - 2 whistles each time
                  Taffey was third and sixth - 4 whistles and lined
                       note: this went extremely well, the two older dogs ran this last summer,
                                but Daisy began learning it yesterday  
                                                                                 (left click on thumbnail)
                                                                          374 yard pattern blind
  Jan 5 had to go to Blonhaven for info on "Euro" shoots so the three dogs went along
              and zipped off the two pattern blinds with steep slopes and cover changes
                       note: driving through the corner of the cover without wanting to hunt is
                                still a problem for Taffey, angle entry and exit is Daisy's issue,
                                Kooly is OK, but the slopes make him "wander" 
                                                                                  (left click on thumbnail)
                                                                       slopes and terrain factors
  Jan 6-7 what a slacker - two days off    Interceptor
  Jan  8 trained at BT's - ran three remote line ATV, stickmen field singles with a long
            up-the-slot mark ran last (184, 249, & 394 yards), afterwards moved the rig to the
            south border of the field and each dog ran the long pattern down across the lines
            of the singles 
                          note: all three had no trouble running these distances or seeing
                                   the long mark (nice day for January)
                          note: Taffey had the best lines (marks & pattern blind)
                          note: pattern blind - Taffey lined, Daisy & Kooly had one whistle
                                                                                 (left click on thumbnail)
                                                                                    three singles with an "up-the-slot" last
  Jan 9   wind chill of 17º with winds at 25 mph = day off, looking for an excuse  
  Jan 10 Taffey & Lick had their yearly Vet check-up & shot updates, took all the dogs
             and picked up Lick on the way
                   note: weights - Taffey - 64 lbs, Kooly - 70 lbs, Daisy - 56 lbs, Lick - 74 lbs
                   note: Taffey & Lick - Leptopvax 4 Booster & fecal exam
                            plus Taffey (only) - Bordetella
                   note: Lick needs a small eyelid tumor removed and her teeth cleaned,
                            fatty tumors still not a serious issue, she is in good shape and
                            enjoying retirement
  Jan 11 trained at BT's - Daisy, Kooly and Taffey all ran the 374 yard pattern blind
                    note: Daisy took four whistles = wind pushed her right, I waited too long
                             and it took four casts to get her on line (fighting the cross wind)
                    note: Taffey and Kooly lined it
              then all three were "roaded" - grassy paths & in the hay field = 4+ miles free
              running, ATV at an average speed of 10-11 mph (with two brief water breaks)
                    note: beat the rain
   Jan 12 walking baseball with long throws & orange bumpers at the Square Pond DTA
              plus a two bumper push/pull maintenance exercise (orange bumpers)
                    note: the orange bumpers worked fine at eliminating just looking at
                             bumpers, but in the fine tuning at the line for direction - Daisy needs
                             work, when using push/pull concepts she is moving forward a foot
                             or so, have to stop the this nervous, scooting and repositioning  
                    note: need to slow down more - mouth was a bit busy on the bumpers
                    note: scout for geese activity - two more days left
                    note: late freezing rain might move some tomorrow
   Jan 13-15 days off - nasty weather, ice
   Jan 16 more snow and it is cold, planned to "road" in the afternoon, Daisy was
              aggressively playing with a Nylabone tossing it and jumping after it on the
              living room floor, ten minutes later I glance over at her and the left eye
              is almost swelled shut, checked for scratches and called vet, waiting for his
              call back I put a cold water compress on the eye, the swelling went down
              some, vet = one adult buffered aspiring and call me in the morning, small
              scratches are not easily seen and we might have to stain the eye if it is not
              better = no "roading" today, just as well single digit wind chills
                      note: snow and ice have changed the training routines
   Jan 17 at 8:00 am it is 1º with three inches of snow on the ground, have to "road"
              Taffey (at least) with the guided hunt coming up on Friday, suppose to have
              a high of 20º
                      note: Daisy's eye is 95% improved over yesterday = the swelling is
                               almost gone, there is no extra blinking or any apparent
                               discomfort, the eye itself is clear, the only thing very noticeable
                               is the skin under the hair above and below the eye is bright pink,
                               she apparently took a good flush "whack" on it
  Jan 18 all three dogs were "roaded" 3.5 miles in the bean field at the Square Pond
             DTA, no breaks, average speed 10 mph, 3 inches of snow, 20º and no issues,
                      note: all three were breathing easy at the end 
                      note: Daisy's eye is fine today, red skin under the hair, but no swelling or
                             scratches
   Jan 19 afternoon guided hunt at Blonhaven for Taffey - 25 bird release
               snow cover was about 4" and it was a nice day for January
               Taffey got in a lot of points today and had two absolutely spectacular efforts
                      note: after holding a nice point in the sorghum on what turned out to be
                               a chukar, Taffey marked the fall in the blue stem field nearby, with
                               a quick retrieve she came running back into the sorghum when
                               suddenly she locks up on point.......with the other bird still in her
                               mouth, this is the 2nd time she has done this (the other = two
                               pheasants a couple of years ago)  the hunters emptied their guns at
                               a fast chukar. he was just barely "dinged" and flew across the blue
                               stem, continued on a over wide area of sorghum and landed in a
                               wooded area, Taffey had the direction of the flight, but lost sight
                               because the blue stem was chest high and thick, Taffey drove
                               through both stretches of cover and right to the edge of the last
                               sorghum, it was difficult to see her, finally as she started to put on a
                               hunt and with the help of her orange vest, I was able to handle
                               her beyond the sorghum right to where the chukar landed, With
                               the snow cover on the ground and the wooded area elevated, the
                               chukar was about 200 yards away when we saw it jump up and 
                               Taffey snatch it out of the air, two points, one with a bird in her
                               mouth, a snappy retrieve and a second spectacular one
                               That was just way too cool!    
   Jan 20 at 8:00 am it is only -- 2°, but it is supposed to make it up to  23°
              Taffey has the day off & so do the other two 
   Jan 21 two "Euro" shoots at Blonhaven = each with 500 bird releases with the deep
              snow = Taffey ran the first one and Kooly the second, Daisy ran a bit of cover
              just for some exercise afterwards = pointed a hen pheasant
                     note: Taffey was sharp, marking was super, ran a lot of blinds, a few
                               poison birds
                     note: Kooly's marking was super, his focus on blinds was fair (too much
                              going on - need to hunt him more this winter), very good bird
                              handling and OB was good at times (just not consistent)
  Jan 22-24 snow days - couch potatoes
  Jan 25 all three dogs ran individually in area seven at Blonhaven (scratch birds), Daisy
             pointed a rooster, then bumped a rooster and hen, Kooly and Taffey did not find
             any birds, snow was deep enough to make walking difficult
                      note: all got in a good run
  Jan 26-Feb 8 too cold, snow, below zero and severe wind chills
  Feb 9 Daisy, Taffey and Kooly - ran some fun bumpers in the snow
                      note: still way too cold
  Feb 10 Taffey goes to Blonhaven for a tower shoot (Daisy & Kooly stay home)
                      note: Daisy has been doing some basic OB in the house during
                               this cold spell
  Feb 11 ran fun bumpers with Kooly and Daisy
                      note: did an "Inventory" of Daisy's strength and weaknesses
                               so as to determine the direction of her training this spring,
                               Kooly and Taffey's will be finished soon        
                      Daisy's "Inventory" (link) 
  Feb 12-17 still bitter cold and deep snow, continued to do fun bumpers in the front
             yard and worked on OB in the house, conditioned all three dogs to the Dremel
             technique of trimming nails (slick), also spent time with each dog teaching
             down with just a hand signal = Daisy has it down perfectly (immediate drop,
             but the older dogs..................were older dogs = it took awhile and it still
             isn't snappy, also worked on remote drop and again Daisy was by far the
             quickest at grasping the skill
  Feb 18 tower shoot at Blonhaven - Kooly can't go as his allergies have not calmed
             down (small sores on lower legs), Daisy would be fine, but I don't want a pup
             dealing with deep snow, so Taffey the trooper will go
                   note: Taffey was 100% better than the last tower shoot, picked up about
                            50 pheasants and the deep snow made it work
  Feb 19-20 more inside OB and couch potato time
                   note: it has been over three weeks since Kooly went "cold turkey" on the
                            Predisone, every time we stopped previously he was itching and
                            scratching something fierce within a few days, the Dinovite
                            supplement seems to be working, today's  inspection of the 7-8
                            open sores on his lower legs indicate a big change, they have dried
                            up, also the big bare spot on his chest has cooled off and grown dark
                            hair around the circumference, shrinking the diameter considerably,
                            also, the loss of hair in bunches has stopped - this is promising
                   note: almost half the snow cover has melted today
                   note: solved the problem of having fresh mallard ducks for training
                   note: plan to start full time retriever training March 1st and move dog
                            work back to a single training journal
  Feb 21-22 snow cover now has a hard, slippery crust = not good
                   note: more inside OB work - off leash
  Feb 22- 27 more of the same - this is the worst winter for training I can remember
  Feb 28- March 2 - more snow, high winds & drifting
  March 3- 8
  Mar 9th officially going back to the training journals