Almost lost my old lab to an otter attack.

[Goshawk]

I feel compelled to post this, but I can say there is no real lesson to be learned besides be aware of what's around you. I took the old man (my lab) down to a swamp alongside the lower Chehalis River for a last chance at some ducks. While walking in, a pair of widgeons cut past us at reasonable yardage. Again, my lab is old and not able to handle current anymore so whacking a smaller duck for him would be about as good as it gets. I pulled through and pulled a lot of feathers off the second bird, but not a DRT shot. The duck went into glide mode then folded up. The lab saw the shot and marked it well. No current and just some swamp grasses to swim through, so he should be ok. I sent him.
What followed next was something right out of a horror movie for any duck hunter.
The old lab cleared the first batch of open water, passed over the floating grass and onto the next open water were I could no longer see him. I then heard a screeching / hissing that I've never heard from a dog, followed by the sound of my dog barking and yelping, then growls and gurgling. I plowed through the chest deep water and pushed through the grass. My dog was being drowned by river otters. As soon as he came up for air one would grab him by the back of the head and roll him over onto his back with another otter grabbing at his neck. I was in luck in that I could still touch the bottom, so I plowed into the fight. The otters backed off when I shot over them. The lab did his best to swim to me but got rolled again. I did a contact shot on that one and pulled my dog up onto my hip and shot two more as they surfaced in my face hissing at me. None was shot further than 5' away.
Dog and I made it back home. He did not need stitches as most of the wounds were puncture type including his paws, but man is that one stoved up old lab!
The short of it is that before I again do some jump shooting, I'm sure going to check for otters, or at least have them in the back of my mind. I always carry a load of buckshot just in case of a coyote or bear, but never considered otters as a threat. I'm just hoping they did not have rabies.
Anyone else ever run into one of these packs?

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm glad your old dog is OK.  What a fright for both of you.

[JimmyHoffa]

I've run into otter packs of over a dozen.  They haven't been aggressive toward me, but they cleaned out the river of steelies.

[ICEMAN]

Wow, what a scary story. Glad all are ok now.... Geez!

[goody31]

Glad your lab is ok and is recovering.

[Ice monkey]

Glad your dog is ok. Good advice!

[bobcat]

Wow! Scary! I guess the otters were hungrier than normal?   

[bear hunter]

I always carry a load of buckshot just in case of a coyote or bear, but never considered otters as a threat.  [/quote]                                                                   My dog went after 6 otters in the river and the little ones took off,but the big ones charged. I called my dog and she come back. I'm glad she listened or she might of had her ass kicked. I would watch out about carrying lead buckshot while duck hunting. No leadshot shell be carried while duck hunting. $1000.00 dollar fine per shell. I buy hevi shot 00 buck or lead slugs its legal. I saw a guy getting a ticket for having lead buckshot in the hunting area. I think it was bull*censored*,because he was in the parking lot just heading out. Hell I use to carry lead for upland birds and steel for ducks,but the Game Warden/State made it a law.

[BOWHUNTER45]

The only battle I ever had with an otter was them stealing trout off my stringer  at one point I picked him clean out of the water before he tore more from my stringer !!!!

[jeepguy]

thats a scarey situation  glad to know your both ok your poor dog if he could only talk 

[Call em in]

Wow scary!  You were lucky you were able to wade out to help your dog!  Thanks for sharing that story.  Glad your pup is alright.  I've run into many packs of otters hunting waterfowl in SW WA but never had an issue.  I'll be sure to look out for them in the future!

X 2 on the Hevi shot buckshot 

[mossy8352]

Glad your dog is okay might not have been without your interference. On the shot I now and will always carry dead coyote 3 inch shells with me just for things like this and they are legal.

[Jim Sr.]

A good friend of mine told me a story about his lab & it was the same thing, almost drownded him too. Glad yours is OK.

[JohnVH]

scary! Time to go back there otter hunting 

[tatatumpi]

what a story!