Today we are joining 2 Brown Dawgs for their This ‘N That Thursday’s blog hop!
This is what she has to say about the hop,
A little of this and a little of that and everything in between…
“This ‘N That Thursday is for anything you want! Maybe you want to post about unrelated topics, or each topic isn’t quite long enough to make up a whole post, or you have awards to share, or you have one long post…anything goes! So grab the button and join the hop!”
This past weekend was Wiconsin’s opening day of Early Goose Season which lasts 16 days. This is a chance for hunters to shoot the geese that don’t migrate (the golf course geese). Each person is allowed 5 birds a day compared to the 2 birds a day during the regular goose season. They want to try and keep the population down on these birds because like I said they usually don’t migrate and stick around year round and there gets to be too many of them if the hunters don’t help with population control.
Saturday was opening day. I took Norman as my pick up dog as we all know he has bone cancer and I don’t know how long he will be with me so I wanted to make sure he had one more hunting experience before he left us. John took Glory. We hunted with 2 other friends and one of our friends child Dustin. I don’t know how old Dustin is but he isn’t old enough to get a hunting license himself but he can hunt under the mentor program which his mentor was his dad so his dad couldn’t shoot but could help Dustin shoot. You have to be at least 10 years old to hunt with a mentor. This was his first year hunting waterfowl. We had a great morning and ended up shooting 17 geese. Dustin shot his first goose and all I heard coming from his layout blind after he shot was “dad I got one, I got one, I’m shaking so bad”. It was the cutest thing.
Dusting picking up his goose. He thought he should give it another toss to make sure it was dead.
Norman had a ton of fun, it was so good to have him laying by my side out in the field hunting. When the birds started to fly over, he perked his ears up and sat so still and watched the birds come in, it was such a surreal moment, I shed a tear for my best friend. He was living life in the moment which will be etched in my mind forever. He made some retrieves and was in his glory doing so, I had to scream at him as he can’t hear much anymore but all in all it was a fabulous morning. Glory did good also, she will need some work before we go to Canada as she couldn’t contain her excitement when 5 birds were coming down. She didn’t know which bird to get first. She would run out grab one, drop it and run off to the next one and so forth. She did lay next to john very well thou. She is young and has many years ahead of her to get it right.
Sunday morning John and I went out again with Gambler and Nellie this time. We went to the same field we had hunted in Saturday morning. We set up in a different spot. Unfortunately the birds didn’t come around like they did on Saturday. So all I got was some pictures.
We went out Sunday night also with Gambler and Nellie. They had a much better hunt, only got 3 geese but it was better than getting skunked in the morning.
Gambler and Glory got to go dove hunting this week
Glory with her doves
And a little that:
MK with her kill and retrieve for the day.
So that wraps it up for today, why don’t you hop on over to 2 Brown Dawgs see what their up to and grab the badge and join the hopping fun!
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Ok, your question of the day from me is about the doves. Do you eat them? Use them for training both while actively hunting and then as freezer birds? (I am realizing that I have WAY WAY more to learn than I ever knew… LOL)
Yes we ate them, this was the first year I actually ate them. We just breast them out and then I put some flour and seasonings on them fried them in olive oil and butter. They were nice tender little morsels. The hunting was a training experience as the dogs have to sit quietly and not break which is hard since the action is happening right in front of them and the birds land so close to them. They are little so sometimes hard to find.
I’m assuming you eat the Geese too?
I have to tell you JoAnn, I’m writing this with tears in my eyes. I’m so glad you had that special day with Norman. I know it will be etched in your memory forever.
Jodi you are a dear friend, I had tears in my eyes reading your comment. I too am so glad we had this day. I hope to get him out more this season. Yes we eat geese. We mainly make hot sticks out of them.
While all your pics are wonderful my eye only focuses on Norman…
You have been blessed to have him so long.. I think we all should view our times with our loved ones like it could be the last as you treasure each minute.. I know I am doing this…doG Bless you and your pack..
I have been bless just as you have been blessed with Scout. Hugs to your gang.
What’s little?
Never mind I see now it is about the doves.
Thank you so much for participating in TNT. I love your story of hunting with Norman. I am so happy he feels well enough to go hunting and you had that special time together. You got some fantastic photos too. Really wonderful!
Our dogs won’t be getting out until grouse and probably not until closer to October. The first week or so, the cover is so thick that even if you flush the birds, you can’t shoot them for fear of hitting the dog. We really don’t have a spot for early Goose so hubby never really gets out for that. My dogs are jealous of yours!
Your dogs and you can come anytime hunting in WI. Can’t promise we will get anything but it will be fun.
My hubby would love that. 🙂
I’m so glad Norman got to have such a special moment, and that you were there to witness it. 🙂
I am too Donna, this means the world to me. Spending time with him in the field.
Love the pics of Norman. He looks so happy! So glad to hear that he is still doing so well. These will be such special memories to cherish. Keep kicking cancer’s butt, Norman! (Love the MK shots as well. So cute!)
That’s right Jackie, Norman keep kicking cancer’s butt!
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