I want to get one last hunt in. Friday is not an option, and the weekend looks frigid. Monday is our last chance, and it looks slightly above frigid. Would I be crazy to hunt a few hours? Ripley is pretty impervious to the cold, but I don’t want to make a poor decision.
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Ever since my dog got frost bitten balls and I had to rub antibacterial ointment on them for a week I haven’t considered these temperatures 
Your dog has a lot more fur than mine though…
Ever since my dog got frost bitten balls and I had to rub antibacterial ointment on them for a week I haven’t considered these temperatures
Your dog has a lot more fur than mine though…
Ha! His balls are fur-free, though! They are coming off next Friday…
I have a lab that does not mind cold temps at all. A few years ago during the winter that we had several “polar vortex’s” I went out on the final day of the year in about -30 wind chill. I was more or less just out because I felt like I owed one last outing to my dog. I had on a facemask, ski goggles, and the warmest clothes I had, no skin at all exposed. We saw some hens, and between my thicker than normal gloves and bulky clothing, I highly doubt I would have hit a rooster if I saw one. I am hopeful that I can get out for an hour or two sometime this weekend still.
The only problem that I have sometimes run into is frozen ice/snow balls getting stuck in his paws/toes. I think the warmer body temps on his feet hit the snow and then immediately turn to ice as he lifts his paw up with each step.
Ever since my dog got frost bitten balls and I had to rub antibacterial ointment on them for a week I haven’t considered these temperatures
Your dog has a lot more fur than mine though…
Oh my. I think I will go ice fishing instead…
We made it out yesterday in WI. First public piece was slow, but we closed the night with an insane hunt. All the birds we tightly grouped, but when they got up they didn’t go far. We just kept bumping them and new ones for 2 hours straight. A lot of them were getting up deep, but that seems typically this time of year. At one point the dog was looking for a downed bird for a few mins and two rosters blew out that were sitting at our feet the whole time. *It’s my buddies dog, but the dog seemed fine.
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I’ve done it when we’ve had a planned group wknd and we’ve shot birds, would also agree with points that rabbit and Johnie mention.
IMO the cold makes the birds hold super tight or gets them extra spooky, no real in between. While we made our own fun, the experience on the whole isn’t pleasant; the cold isn’t bad when you’re in the middle of the slough, really sucks when you’re posting.
Dress smart, take care of your dog’s feet/nose/undercarriage, and you’ll be fine. Just remember the old saying: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. Good luck if you go.
I think I know the right choice. I don’t like it, but I don’t want to put my dog at risk of frost bite or worse. Stupid weather! 
Ever since my dog got frost bitten balls and I had to rub antibacterial ointment on them for a week
Might have to try that one out on the FW this winter…..
Might have to try that one out on the FW this winter…..
HA!! 
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