James Holst and I made a trek down to Bucktail Waynes house for one last outing before the season closed. With all the snow they have had, it was easy to see all the birds out in the fields feeding. In this field there were over 125 birds out!
We saw lots of these too!! One was a pretty decent buck!
We saw lots of these too!! One was a pretty decent buck!
Last but not least. Here is a pic of Ziggy and 3 of the 5 roosters we managed over the two days. He was happy to get out one more time before the season ended. I think he got sick of pointing hens though! Man did he point them out for us! That was a blast for me to watch.
Last but not least. Here is a pic of Ziggy and 3 of the 5 roosters we managed over the two days. He was happy to get out one more time before the season ended. I think he got sick of pointing hens though! Man did he point them out for us! That was a blast for me to watch.
Thanks for having me Steve! I had a blast and that little pup of your has gone from a hesitant gun-shy newbie to a full-fledged pheasant hunting machine in 2 years. He was so much fun to watch and a blast to hunt over. Without him we would have seen very few birds in the areas we hit…. hard to believe how tight those birds would hold even with Ziggy staring them down nose to beak. 
Looking forward to doing it again next year.
Thanks for having me Steve! I had a blast and that little pup of your has gone from a hesitant gun-shy newbie to a full-fledged pheasant hunting machine in 2 years. He was so much fun to watch and a blast to hunt over. Without him we would have seen very few birds in the areas we hit…. hard to believe how tight those birds would hold even with Ziggy staring them down nose to beak.
Looking forward to doing it again next year.
If we get more freezing rain thats predicted are birds are in BIG trouble. We better get a January thaw 
If we get more freezing rain thats predicted are birds are in BIG trouble. We better get a January thaw
Great job guys.The last few hunts I had this year I seen alot of birds also.
I’m surprised you guys went back North after being in the great state of Iowa 
Ryan Hale
Great job guys.The last few hunts I had this year I seen alot of birds also.
I’m surprised you guys went back North after being in the great state of Iowa
Ryan Hale
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Great job guys.The last few hunts I had this year I seen alot of birds also.
I’m surprised you guys went back North after being in the great state of Iowa
Ryan Hale
Oh we’ll be back to Iowa……when the bird season opens back up! 
Just Kiddin! You guys have have it great for a bird hunter. Just think if pool 4, was in the middle of Iowa’s best birds spots! I wouldn’t have to leave the state!
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Great job guys.The last few hunts I had this year I seen alot of birds also.
I’m surprised you guys went back North after being in the great state of Iowa
Ryan Hale
Oh we’ll be back to Iowa……when the bird season opens back up! Just Kiddin! You guys have have it great for a bird hunter. Just think if pool 4, was in the middle of Iowa’s best birds spots! I wouldn’t have to leave the state!
Thanks for coming with James! It was a blast. Glad you had fun watching the dog! That’s what it’s all about for me.
On a side note. How many of you guys have a lab that points?
Did you “train” that?
Was it advertised as a “pointing lab” when you bought it?
Are all “pointing lab” bloodlines, guaranteed to give up pointing labs?
Ziggy points and it was all an unexpected surprise. Just curious to hear any experiences with “pointing labs”. Thanks
Thanks for coming with James! It was a blast. Glad you had fun watching the dog! That’s what it’s all about for me.
On a side note. How many of you guys have a lab that points?
Did you “train” that?
Was it advertised as a “pointing lab” when you bought it?
Are all “pointing lab” bloodlines, guaranteed to give up pointing labs?
Ziggy points and it was all an unexpected surprise. Just curious to hear any experiences with “pointing labs”. Thanks
So now, you two need to talk to Bucktail Wayne and have him make “roostertail” jigs, along with his bucktail jigs!!!
So now, you two need to talk to Bucktail Wayne and have him make “roostertail” jigs, along with his bucktail jigs!!!
My dog Gunner was advertised as a “pointer” and he has not shown any signs as of yet. I asked a trainer about it and he told me it may take a coupple years but he should point instinctivly. I don’t really care,I like to watch him run around in Circles as the bird runs around his paws.
My dog Gunner was advertised as a “pointer” and he has not shown any signs as of yet. I asked a trainer about it and he told me it may take a coupple years but he should point instinctivly. I don’t really care,I like to watch him run around in Circles as the bird runs around his paws.
I would agree James, about Ziggy”s progress in the last two years.I have it on good authority that it all turned around when ziggy made Steve where the shock collar and chewed up the plastic whistle 
Smart dog 
Sorry I missed out this year.
I would agree James, about Ziggy”s progress in the last two years.I have it on good authority that it all turned around when ziggy made Steve where the shock collar and chewed up the plastic whistle Smart dog Sorry I missed out this year.
Steve,
Sounds like you guys had fun! Is James as good of a shot as he is a walleye fisherman? Well anyway I have a lab that points..started in her third year. She was not advertised as a pointing lab so like Chappy said I think its mostly instinct. But what a blast watching her…after the pointing started I quickly learned to follow the dog instead of calling her to “hunt” my way, I believe this has put many more birds in the air for me! The dog always knows! With a dog as young as yours you will have a blast for years to come! Chappy dont give up yet your dog it will point I almost would bet on it! 
Steve,
Sounds like you guys had fun! Is James as good of a shot as he is a walleye fisherman? Well anyway I have a lab that points..started in her third year. She was not advertised as a pointing lab so like Chappy said I think its mostly instinct. But what a blast watching her…after the pointing started I quickly learned to follow the dog instead of calling her to “hunt” my way, I believe this has put many more birds in the air for me! The dog always knows! With a dog as young as yours you will have a blast for years to come! Chappy dont give up yet your dog it will point I almost would bet on it!
Am I a good shot? We don’t know!… lol I used to be good but the last two times down with Steve (the last 2 times I’ve bird hunted in the last decade) I’ve not had a single legit shot at a rooster. 
That’s just the way it goes I guess. I can’t tell you the number of times I was up behind the dog on a point ready to take my turn at the bird and it turned into a hen. On Sunday I would bet Ziggy pointed no less than 10 birds for me, all in about an hour’s time, only to have every one turn out to be a hen. It was darn fun to watch Ziggy work for us but that did get a little frustrating.
We have plans to go back next season several times. I’m starting to get a little of my hunting bug back… I might even get back into deer hunting to take part of the late season muzzleloader season.
Am I a good shot? We don’t know!… lol I used to be good but the last two times down with Steve (the last 2 times I’ve bird hunted in the last decade) I’ve not had a single legit shot at a rooster. That’s just the way it goes I guess. I can’t tell you the number of times I was up behind the dog on a point ready to take my turn at the bird and it turned into a hen. On Sunday I would bet Ziggy pointed no less than 10 birds for me, all in about an hour’s time, only to have every one turn out to be a hen. It was darn fun to watch Ziggy work for us but that did get a little frustrating.
We have plans to go back next season several times. I’m starting to get a little of my hunting bug back… I might even get back into deer hunting to take part of the late season muzzleloader season.
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My dog Gunner was advertised as a “pointer” and he has not shown any signs as of yet. I asked a trainer about it and he told me it may take a coupple years but he should point instinctivly. I don’t really care,I like to watch him run around in Circles as the bird runs around his paws.
I agree. I wouldn’t give up on him Chappy. Ziggy started pointing his second hunting season. The first season he was so darn gunshy that he spent more time sitting on my boots and shaking than anything. People told me “you’ll never break him of that….”. Well it doesn’t bother him a bit. As far as watching your dog run circles after a running bird….that is awesome to see to. I actually have the best of both worlds. If a bird is running, my dog will make me dizzy watching him chase it, but if it is sitting tight he will lock up on it. I can even tell him to get it and he won’t flinch. Man, I wish the season wasn’t over. I just love it!
Quote:
My dog Gunner was advertised as a “pointer” and he has not shown any signs as of yet. I asked a trainer about it and he told me it may take a coupple years but he should point instinctivly. I don’t really care,I like to watch him run around in Circles as the bird runs around his paws.
I agree. I wouldn’t give up on him Chappy. Ziggy started pointing his second hunting season. The first season he was so darn gunshy that he spent more time sitting on my boots and shaking than anything. People told me “you’ll never break him of that….”. Well it doesn’t bother him a bit. As far as watching your dog run circles after a running bird….that is awesome to see to. I actually have the best of both worlds. If a bird is running, my dog will make me dizzy watching him chase it, but if it is sitting tight he will lock up on it. I can even tell him to get it and he won’t flinch. Man, I wish the season wasn’t over. I just love it!
Those late season birds can be frustrating James. My last trip down on Jan 1st and 2nd only yielded 4 roosters in the bag. We saw plenty more, but they were very cagey. Like you, we also flushed tons of hens. They sat tight and the roosters ran.
Here’s a picture from a trip in December. It sure was fun!
Those late season birds can be frustrating James. My last trip down on Jan 1st and 2nd only yielded 4 roosters in the bag. We saw plenty more, but they were very cagey. Like you, we also flushed tons of hens. They sat tight and the roosters ran.
Here’s a picture from a trip in December. It sure was fun!
We’re going earlier next year to tap into the dumb birds before everyone else thins them out. I’ll get my share yet.
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