As usual Fred left the camera in the truck when he should have had it with him.  Enjoyed a nice morning walk at the club with our friend Ron and his setter.  Our search for pheasants only yielded a couple opportunities but ended up with a GREAT retrieve from our buddy Fritz.

Ron’s setter had a gorgeous point on a bird and Fritz backed him up like a champ.  At the flush Fred shot and couldn’t believe the bird didn’t fall, another shot and the bird still going.  To quote Ron, “There goes a flying dead bird”.  As we and the dogs watch the bird makes it across two fields and a hillside to drop out of the air about 150 yards away.

What to do now?  Send Fritz of course…  Actually he had a good eye on the bird the whole time and marked it well.  To be honest he broke just before I sent him(he is just a little competitive when another dog is around).  My fault for not paying better attention.  We need to work on that one.

Ron says, “Is he really going to get that bird?”  My only response was, “I hope so!”

About two minutes later Ron asks where my dog is.  I look up and respond with a joyous, “Here he comes!  And with a bird in his mouth!” 

Ron was impressed and I was overjoyed.  My little guy is really growing up!

As many of you know this was a particulary hard Thanksgiving for Fritz and I.  It was our first one without my mom.  The distraction of the morning hunt and Fritz’s great retrieve made the morning pass easier but the afternoon was most certainly difficult.  As hard as it is to experience the loss of a parent we are both happy that her suffering was ended.  Fritz and I miss her terribly,  It was truly amazing watching how Fritz even as a young and energenic puppy treated that sick little lady with such gentleness(and would then come over and wrestle wth me).

Mom and Fritz as a little guy.

As I’ve said before…  I owe an incredible debt of gratitude to Deb and Gary Arbach at Dakota Wirehairs for rasing such amazing companions.  The joy that Fritz brought into my mother’s final years and the companship and wonders he brings to my everyday life bestow a debt I’ll never be able to repay.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. 

May God Bless you all!

- Fred

Fritz and I had a great day today.  The heavy winds have finally settled down and made for great bird finding conditions.  It was about 30 degrees when we hit the fields at the club this morning and the birds were everywhere.  Fritz seemed to be finding birds at every turn.

We had some great points, retrieves and no so good shooting but it all worked out in the end.

Fritz and I went to our club property for the first time this year today.

It was a gorgeous day other than the 30 mile per hour winds. Made it very hard on Fritz. The birds were very spooky and the wind made the shooting very challenging.

Fritz had a couple gorgeous points that always makes the day a great one.

We managed to get a couple birds to reward Fritz for his efforts so all is good.

One of Fritz’s favorites is here again.  The NJ woodcock season.  He really does love those little birds.  Much to some people’s surprise he even readily retrieves them.

It was a gorgeous day afield, the weather was agreeable and Fritz hunted three of our favorite covers like a champ.  Unfortunately we only found one bird.

Can anyone say “The flight moved out )-:”  We scouted a week ago and we had lots of birds.  It happens just that quick here, a favorable wind and the birds head south.  The weather is supposed to change next week so with a little luck we should have some new birds here soon.

Photo of a Proud Fritz with woodcock from last year.

Fritz and I are heading to the Catskills tomorrow for a few days of hunting with our friends at Redhead Guide Service.  If all works out according to plan we should be field hunting for geese in the mornings and chasing partridge in the afternoons.

Both of us are looking forward to this trip.