That's a wrap on the solo career… (Taxidermy in progress pic updated 3/5/11)

[Goldeneye]

Here's how my old girl ended the last day of the season with me and a friend last weekend.  A mainly wigeon and teal bag with the token mallard thrown in plus a bonus canvasback.  Cans are very uncommon where I hunt.  I'm going to have it taxidermied as a reminder of my old girls days in the field hunting.  She retrieved a total of 43 birds during the last 3 days of the season with different friends hunting behind her.  A classy way to end a solo career.  She's 11.5 yrs old.  She is at about 1/4 speed of what she used to be, been deaf for a couple years, and is starting to show other signs telling me it's time to move towards retiring her.  Luckily when I train my dogs I always work hand signals into the training.  Otherwise the deafness would have hurt the hunting as of late.  I'll be picking up a new pup sometime this spring and starting over on the training.  My old girl will assist in getting the next generation going.  She’ll have company this next fall in the field…  

[mossy8352]

They sure grow on you don't they, glad you are retiring her but keeping her around and involved.

[WCTaxidermy]

Goldeneye, I know what your going through, my Yellow Lab just turned 12.  He is slowing down a lot.  Still at 11 1/2 your dog still looks like she knwos what she is doing out there.  Nice mixed bag and pic.  Thanks for sharing.  John

[Goldeneye]

Your right John, she does know what she is doing out there.  I wish there was a way to download an old dogs hunting knowledge to a young dog.  She can't out physical a downed bird anymore, but she does have the knowledge to out smart them.  She did not lose a bird this year.  Sometimes it took her a while to find them, but I trusted her and in the end she would find them as I let her work.

      

[jordano]

great write up! glad it was a good end to the season! it's tough when they get to retirement but just look back at all the great memories you had with her! I'm sure it was a great career.

[TheSkyBuster]

Thanks for sharing, 11 years is inspiring for me as my first lab just finished his first season and far exceeded my expectations. After 7 or 8 years of duck hunting my first year with a dog was easily the best.  Hopefully we will have another 10 together.

Congradulations on the Bull Canvasback, I've I only seen one taken on the wet side, it was a few minutes after I promised my hunting partner I wouldn't shoot the next bird before he got a shot at it.    I knew exactly what it was when it was coming in and all I said was "you better not miss" It's currently hanging on the wall in his den. 

[singleshot12]

That's great! and a great story. What a memorable hunt with a canvasback to boot. Reminds me of a female lab I had on her last season and she out did herself. I hunt around that area too and have only seen one Can in my whole life, still haven't taken one.

[JakeM]

Great story. I hope you two had a lot of good memories that you will remember. I'm sure she served you well. Great pic too.

[T-Rip]

Thanks for sharing, it's a amazing bond that we have w/ our dogs.

One note, that CAN, is absolutely beautiful, please share who your using and the finished product.

[sakoshooter]

Darned good ol dog. It's hard to watch em get older cuz ya know their time's comin.

[woodswalker]

She is a good sport...and like Goldeneye says, she can FIND them given time to work...she has found some I've dumped in bad places.  Sorry about those girl!   

Cute story, last hunt Goldeneye and I went together on, she stole a ham sandwich out of my hand when i turned to look at something Goldeneye pointed out.  My fault i suppose...I had been feeding her corners and crusts already that morning.   

[Goldeneye]

Thought I'd share an in progress picture of the canvasback.  A friend is helping me do this mount.  Today we skinned out the bird and went through a number of steps to get the bird to the drying phase.  This picture was taken near the end of setting the bird to where we want it when it gets to be time to be put on a mount.  I guess he normally lets the bird dry for 3 weeks before moving to the base.  After we were done I walked a couple local beaches looking for unique wood to use as a backdrop for the mount.  Found some candidates.  I've always had taxidermy done for me in the past so I'm a newbie to being involved in doing the actual taxidermy.  I'll share another picture or two of the final product when done.    

[norsepeak]

I know what you are going through, lost my lab at age 14 this last fall.  Tough to go through, but you have a lot of great memories and pics of past hunts, and you know that they live for the time hunting with you. 

[jordano]

that's a gorgeous bird Goldeneye! nice work!