The Countertop Chronicles

So I was thinking, since it looks like Gov. Palin is going to miss at least the early part of this years hunting season (actually, I have no idea when it goes up in Alaska), I should blog mine. And, I get the double benefit of also getting to shill a little for Sportsmen for McCain/Palin (of which I have a role, but thats as much as I’m disclosing about myself) and continue the dog training blogging.

And so, today, labor day September 1 was the start here in Virginia of Dove Season. And a less than glorious start it was.

To start with, I got back from the beach last night at 1:00 am. Woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, and unpacked the cars. Rushing and racing, hoping to get out early so I can run down and pick up the dog and get out with him and the trainer. The only problem was - threefold.

First, for some dumb reason Virginia doesn’t allow you to shoot doves during the early part of the season before noon.

# Season Dates:

* September 1 - September 27
* October 4 - October 31
* December 27 - January 10

# Bag Limit: 15 daily and 30 in possession
# Shooting Hours: Noon until sunset in first segment, ½ hr before sunrise until sunset in last 2 segments.

WTF???????? Today, it was about 90 degrees at noon. There were no doves flying about. If they are going to impose a stupid restriction on hunting till mid afternoon - do it in December, or October, when its cooler.

Second, rushing down I realized I hadn’t gotten my license yet. No problem, I drive right by Gander Mountain. Rush in, grab some ammo, head to the counter and . . . . . VADGIF computer system has crashed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gander’s computers can’t log in and get me a license. Holy crap!?!?!? Well, no fear I continue on and stop at the general store near the dog trainers, and low and behold I get my license at 12:50pm.

Three, get to the trainers, and we are out in the field by 1:45. Its hotter than the hinges of hell, and my poor black puppy dog isn’t taking the heat well. He’s quartering the field, heck he flushed a couple of quail (not in season) but by the time we worked the field a full 3/4 miles he’s clearly a little overheated. So we rest under a tree, and then work back to the creek and let him swim and discuss dogs and life and where his training will go.

Doug, the trainer, has some sage advice. He’s a great dog. He’s a smart dog. He’s an energetic dog. He’s still a puppy. Don’t train him at all. Give him a break, don’t press him this week. Get him out next Saturday and shoot some doves over him. Make it fun. Don’t overwork him. He’s gone through training, now its time to play the game. At this point, he thinks the best training for the dog is to get him in the field and have him

We also talked about future hunts for this season. He thinks Rex is big enough and certainly trained enough, to start in on the early goose season. He referred me to a local guy who went out and got 10 geese this morning and was asking him if he knew someone with a dog. Hoping this one works out.

He also referred me to someone who has a hunting preserve - both for Sportsmen for McCain purposes as well as someone who is much closer to me (Doug is about 2 1/2 hours away, this other guy is 40 minutes away) and has a hunting preserve. He said that he’s always looking for guides with dogs to take his clients out - and suggested I think about bringing Rex over and getting lots of experience by helping to guide on the weekends with him this winter. Pay is in tips, and having been to a shooting preserve before, those tips might very well be high enough to pay for most of my hunting this year (well, local stuff, not the trip to South Dakota or Missouri). We also talked some about getting pheasants and bringing Rex back down to run on those with Dog’s dog later in the fall when the weather gets better. Oh yeah, and I can hunt deer on his land . . . . sweat!!!

So, all in all, it was a great day (any day in the field is) even though I returned empty handed.