The old man was startled awake by the loud buzzing of an alarm clock. It was 6:30 am and it took him a moment to remember where he was. He had spent the night over at Jim's house. Jim's wife, Dottie, insisted that the old man take their offer of the spare bedroom. The offer …
The Old Man and Jake- Part 12
The two men went outside and climbed into the truck. Jim suggested his vehicle this time sighting that Tom's truck would need a few days before that smell would be gone. Tom happily agreed. The two set off the down the gravel road, north about a mile or so and then made a left onto …
The Long Blind
One of the most impressive parts of a well-trained retriever is watching their blind work. A blind retrieve is sending a dog to pick up an object that they didn't see fall or get placed in that location. The blind retrieve is the epitome of trust in the dog/handler relationship. As a trainer, it takes …
The Old Man and Jake Pt. 6
The morning hunt was a success. The sunrise had been spectacular and the birds worked to his beckoning call with ease. The old man left the slough carrying out 6 large ducks and even a bonus canada goose who got a little too close. Jake was happy too. With the truck loaded up again the old …
The Old Man and Jake PT. 5
The sleep came easy last night despite the shortcomings of his hotel bed. Jake’s dreams seemed to be filled with birds as he whimpered throughout the night. The old man found himself not dreadful of the alarm clock ringing at 4am, but instead, he was elated. He knew that the sunrise would bring a promise …
The Old Man and Jake- PT 4
It was a peaceful walk back to the truck that evening. The waning sun warmed the old man's skin as they zigzagged down the beaten path back to the parking lot. Even though the hunt was over, the old man's vest carrying three roosters, Jake continued to work a tight pattern out in front …
The Old Man and Jake- PT 2
The old man and Jake were back in the truck before sunrise the next morning. The scent of gas station coffee filled the cab of the truck. The headlights retraced the gravel roads to the public lands they had visited the day before. Parking in the grassy lot, the old man slid from his truck …
The Fall Experience 