This picture is from a couple weeks ago, a late season hunt for my young pup. The last couple times had been frustrating with the late season snows, we had put up a couple birds, I even got a shot off at one - He knew he was looking for "birds" but you could tell he was unsure.
On the last hunt, the snow was still deep - 3 ft - I hunted on snowshoes. It had snowed the night before, so any tracks were "fresh". We came to a section of blowdowns, covered in grape vines, and alot of grouse tracks were in the area. Ben got all excited, I knew he could smell the bird by how he was acting. I got into position, and watched him work the area - it was a wonderful sight, he's never been trained (except for me throwing a frozen grouse and having him fetch it - sometimes I shot at it).
When he got close to the bird he locked up - (like he does at the birds at our feeder). A second or two later the bird busted cover - and I made good on the shot. Ben saw it all unfold and was un top of the bird before it stopped flapping its wings. I couldn't have asked for a finer training session for Ben - He's 7 months old.
Now that the season is over - he doesn't understand that we are "done for the year" but I think he's hooked for life now.
Thanks for reading - I feel like a proud Papa sharing the story.
Ben's first bird - pics
