Dec 13 goose hunt......went out too late with geese in the field already, they flew off set there the rest
              of the afternoon and saw nothing
                       note: no dogs = too much ice
   Dec 14 day off for the dogs - too much crusty ice afternoon goose hunt = cold, but four showed up late
                                                                 (left click on image to view)          

   Dec 15 more snow - day off for everyone (especially the handler)
   Dec 16 (morning) Taffey, Daisy and Kooly went to Blonhaven for a tower shoot Kooly is the designated
              "Tower Dog" for now - he was just plain terrific today - great marks, tough conditions (deep,
              crusty snow with drifts & cold)
                   note: 64 retrieves with several blinds and a few "search hunts"
                   note: last year I did not run him because the allergy issue caused him to have several
                            small sores on his lower legs which bled every time he was in the field - this year
                            I decided to do what he would want. He loves retrieving and the excitement. The
                            "issues" are a long way from his heart, and they heal over quickly. 
   Dec 17-25 the snow, ice, wind and cold have shut things down - dogs are going to "OB school" in
               the pool area - lots of room for stretching and review
   Dec 25 Daisy suddenly developed a large swelling on her left side along the ribs, vet appointment
               tomorrow at 2:30 pm 
   Dec 26 swelling has almost doubled in size overnight - Daisy has eaten and aired with no issues
                   note: Sonogram indicates probable infection, left for surgery to drain, picked up a 6:45 pm,
                            wearing white cone, big drain sticking out her left side and three bottles of meds,
                            drain to be removed Saturday, Master Card took a hit of $550
                                                                 (left click on image to view) 

  Dec 27-28 Daisy is progressing well, the drain area is a bit messy (but not bad), she has adapted to
               the cone collar without much of a problem, but totally not thrilled with the confinement
                   note: vet appointment for 10:00 tomorrow.
                   note: big thaw followed by lots of snow today
                   note: zero geese in "our" field for over two weeks, most have moved out and the few
                            remaining seem to have very little pattern, it may be over 
  Dec 29 Daisy's "tubes" were pulled out and the culture revealed the present anti-biotic treatment
              remains appropriate - looking good
                  note: white cone off the three days (if all goes well)                              
                                                                 (left click on image to view)   

   Dec 30 Daisy had the cone off today for the short trips outside to air. She likes the warm, moist towel
              routine. The incision between the two two "holes" is totally heeled (can't even see any scar).
              The holes are still open a little, but the vet wanted them like that (for a few days) to let it heal
              more from the inside out. The cone still has to remain on because she is very compulsive
              about licking her side.
                       note: There is a small area of skin which seems to have been irritated by the clotting
                                blood (really no issue).
                       note: There is no sign of any deeper swelling, but there are two skin lumps where the
                                tubes came out. These are actually more like temporary scabs that will disappear
                                as the healing continues.
                       note: Everything looks good.........so far.   
                                                                                           (left click on image to view) 

      Dec 31 - Jan 8 Daisy surgery seems to have been a success, all the antibiotics have been given
                and there appears to be no swelling because of all the snow training came to a standstill,
                however the pool room has become a large OB training area - an off lead OB routine was
                designed for Daisy, Kooly and Taffey with emphasis on precision and evolving to only the
                use of hand signals.....the skills are two sided heeling (backwards, forwards and pivoting),
                remote sit (extended), remote down (extended), remote drop (bumper), remote leave it
                (bumper), place boards, casting, lining
                       note: all three are having fun with it (even Kooly who hates drill work)

    Jan 9 scouted for geese and for the first time in over three weeks the pond has geese on it and open
             water, Daisy, Kooly & Taffey ran four blinds in the grassy area (out of sight from the geese) Taffey
             was really sharp, Kooly did a good job with a very solid attitude, Daisy ran the first three really
             well and then took off on a pure hunt mode on the fourth, brought her back to the line and she
             popped at 30 yards which go her an immediately "no/back/nick/back" with cast to "de-pop"
   Jan 10 My goose hunt plan was to be ready at 7:30 am ----- I was ten minutes late. Eight geese were
              five minutes early. They came in hot and didn't even circle, they were five feet off the water on
              the other side of the pond when they saw me. They kept right on going.  I guessed wrong on
              which side to put my blind.
 
             I didn't think there was enough time to move, so I decided to let the next bunch land in the water
             if they came in like the last. That way I would have time to stand up and shoot. They can't flare
             away from me because of the tall pine trees along the pond. It would be a 40 yard shot, but I was
             shooting 3" Hevi-Shot 2's. It was a good choice, about dozen came in hot just like the others. I
             stood up and they scratched for air. I picked out the lead goose and when it dropped I swung
             on another....two down....but neither were dead.
            
             Taffey was waiting in the van because I wasn't comfortable with the poor cover. The deep snow
             was now gone after our unusually effective January thaw. It had flattened everything and the
             "end of the season geese" are looking for any little thing that's not just right. Daisy has been the
             "designated Goose dog". She's almost recovered from an infection, but not ready for water. 
            
             Both geese were in the water, and headed in two directions which would lead to being off the
             property. I had four shells left. The distance was too far away, sluicing didn't have much of an
             effect. Plus, the shells are over $2 apiece. After trying, I was kind of glad there weren't anymore
             (shells).
 
             The ATV was hidden close by and Taffey was fetched back quickly. The "easy" goose was in
             plain view up on a small finger of ice and flapping its wings.  It became the "poison" goose. The
             other was headed across the corn field in the direction of a road and required a quick search. 
             Because of the road, there was no way Taffey would be sent on a blind. So we beat a quick
             path through the corn field. I was giving it a "stand-up look" and Taffey was in hunt mode.
             There was no cover........and no goose. 
            
             After checking the waterway that feeds the pond, Taffey still wasn't showing any signs of picking
             up goose scent.  So I scooted across the road to the opposite ditch and headed west....zero
             traffic.  About fifty yards later Taffey hits a strong scent trail and takes a hard right into the woods.
             A goose is tackled about 15 yards in and Taffey soon brings it out.  We ducked across the road
             back into the corn field and skirted the pond on the way back to the blind. The other crippled
             goose is now on the shoreline, "hunkered" down low and is pretending to look like a flat rock.
             Taffey and I take care of the "woods" goose near the blind. 

             Next, Taffey is sent for the "poison" goose. She gets there...................no goose! Before I could
             stop her she runs out on the little finger of ice that is near the dam. I whistle her to come back
             just as she breaks through. She looks to me and I give her a hard right over. The ice is thinner
             there and open water is only a couple of yards away. She is quickly into the open water, but
             where is the goose? Did it dive under the ice to escape?

             Scanning the far shoreline, I spotted the goose in its "low in the water" snake mode. I whistle
             "sit" Taffey and she takes a perfect angled cast right at the goose. I could tell by her wake she
             saw it.  When she gets about three yards away from the goose, it dives. I'm thinking this is not
             going to be easy, but the goose doesn't know Taffey very well. On the fourth dive, Taffey snags
             a wing. The goose breaks loose and dives again. The fifth time, Taffey was in the right spot and
             nailed it.

             After she retrieved it to me, Taffey posed for a few "picaa". As I was picking up decoys..,..she
             started looking for another goose......IN THE WATER. Wow! Taffey is a bear.

             The whole sequence was a huge rush, and Taffey has given me another special day. I think
             I'll play this one over a few times. Two days left, so if this it......what an ending. 
            
           disclaimer: This story became reality because of poor shooting.
                                                               (left click on image to view) 

     Jan 11 -scouted today - several groups worked the water, corn and grass all day
     Jan 12 goose hunt - last day of the season = left early and setup by 7:00 am, three mallards were not
                happy about our visit and flew off, setup put only three decoys & hid under the pine trees,
                Kooly was on his first ever goose hunt
                     note: the ATV was hidden under a bunch of pine branches that broke off from recent ice
                              and snow storms
                about thirty minutes later 12 geese circled overhead & made five cautious passes....then flew
                off.  The next bunch of 5 did the same thing. I moved Kooly's dog hide up closer to me and
                picked up the 3 decoys. Two more flocks came in twenty minutes apart, and each wanted in.
                A couple of passes and they swooped down. Got one from each flock and we were done.
                Kooly was pretty excited when he sat waiting for me to get the camera out. He was steady on
                the second one even though it was moving around. It only had a broken wing & I decided
                Kooly could use the experience. This was a good day. The "trio".......Daisy, Kooly and Taffey
                have all had their turn hunting geese this 2nd season.......each did well.   
                                                                  (left click on image to view)