2005 - 2006 First year of hunting

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September 18, 2005 "Mud Dove" Hunting

Did some Dove hunting On Lake Ray Roberts after a good bit of scouting to find birds. I found an area were dove were coming to water and then to roost in dead trees out in the lake. I used to hunt them from the water by sculling a canoe. I adapted my hunting here for Blaze by using dove decoys. I used one or two mojo dove decoys (spinning wing) and about 6 stationary dove decoys on the bank. Hunts started late afternoon and wold last a couple hours until sunset. Hunt in the pictures below started about. 3:30pm. Had a cool front with Dark clouds closing in, but all the rain never went North of the Collin County line. Shot 6 dove  and missed a few more. Not bad for a North Dallas public hunt. Most dove are water retrieves so good transition to retrieving ducks later. On a good day there can be so many birds in a flock darting in different directions at a shot, that blaze was not good at staying put to the shot. So had to short leash her to my belt for a couple hunts. Really spun me around a couple times! I did not had to use the leash for the last couple hunts, so we got it down and was even able heel her with me when a jump shot presented itself. 

September 21, 2005. First Teal Duck Hunt

Had a great morning with Blaze. Hunted Lake Lewisville at a spot probably not 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. Blaze originally was not supposed to be on this hunt because I was taking a another hunter out  in a canoe to access an area where we would be standing in thigh deep water on our hunt. The new hunter backed out at the last  minute so I went to an alternate area so blaze could come and be on land. I took my kayak, stuffed some decoys behind the seat, and blaze made the ride between my knees. I had her wear the neoprene vest for added camouflage and draped a camo net over a tree stump. Blaze was good about sitting under it with only her eyes forward sticking out. I wear full camo, gloves, head net, and become part of the stump. Blaze did outstanding in that before legal shooting time, I had a flock of teal land in the decoys. Some walking up on land. Blaze was shaking so much with excitement you would have thought she was having a seizure. I calmly whispered stay every few seconds and rubbed her ears to keep her settled until the time came. She really exploded on that first "go fetch". She really enjoyed this hunt.

Happy Birthday! September 30, 2005

Hard to believe Blaze is only one year old!

October 2005

We did more dove hunting through October. At my Dove lease it was mostly walking through a dead timber area with blaze healed, flushing roosting dove from the trees. She really enjoyed it. At my local lake spot, it was more evening hunts over the Mojo Dove decoys. 

Blaze got to go to the hunting lease with me one day in October, but not allowed to really hunt her because it was so close to deer 
season. She did get to point a covey of quail on a walk around camp opening day of quail season, but the quail rose between me and 
the direction of a boundary fence with other private property. We have a new law in Texas this year that our shot or bullet can not 
cross onto private property and game wardens were writing tickets for it during dove season. So staying legal, I was unable to take the shot.

November 5, 2005

First Real Duck Hunt

Opening Day hunt on Lake Ray Roberts. Normally I avoid opening day public Duck hunting near Dallas, but Jason "Sig1921" posted on the Texas Hunting Forum that he was looking for an open seat for opening day. New motor on my boat needed some break in time anyway, so I decided to give it a go. 

Absolute war zone. I knew what I was in for, so my strategy was to hunt the main lake. I had several spots scouted out so had lots 
of alternates that I could easily boat to. Ended up at my last possible spot. Got flashed by hunters at all others. Usual Murphy's 
law, first thing I set the metal dog ramp on top of my battery and shorted the fuses out. Had to take fuses from the truck, so got 
out later than I wanted. Then hunting it was the usual first morning of not paying attention, second guessing shots, and just plain 
missing, we should have killed more, but we did get two greenheads and a gadwall. Saw lots of ducks, mostly mallards. Lots of 
canvasbacks that are not in season. Figured out I do not need the dog ramp. If a duck is dropped, blaze goes in from wherever she 
is, drops the duck over the side of the boat and climbs in at the transom next to the motor. Like a monkey. Got to tell some of my 
hunting war stories to my guest. Was a good hunt.

That greenhead Jason is holding was Blaze's first wild duck retrieve. Came down crippled. To give Blaze the experience and to give us entertainment, I asked my hunting partner not to finish off the mallard. It was a wild swim for Blaze. I had no idea she could swim so fast. Once she caught up to the duck, it first looked like the Mallard was going to turn and fight, but then it suddenly made a dive under water deep into the Milfoil. Blaze kept sticking her entire snout under water trying to figure out what happened to it. We were laughing so loud I am sure every hunter within a mile could hear us. Blaze did pounce on the big Mallard when it came back up. She swam back with it and dropped it over the transom into my hand. I was very proud of her. 

November 24, 2005

Canoe Duck Hunting


Did a Canoe in Duck hunt on Lake Ray Roberts. Hunted an area that is difficult for both the walk-in and boat-in hunters, so the Canoe was the way to go. I did fall asleep and find several ducks swimming in the decoys when I woke up. Blaze fell asleep with me.

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2005 - 2006 Hunting Season

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