Offseason doldrums

[TylerS]

I call myself a fisherman. I call myself an outdoorsman, too. But those are just facades, nom de plumes. Because, in reality, I'm a hunter. Anything and everything I do during the offseason happens for one of two reason: to benefit me during hunting season, or to make the spring and summer months go faster.

Most offseasons, I busy myself with the usual things: yard and housework gleaned from an ever-increasing Honey-Do list, the occasional fishing excursion, and even some woodworking (I've been getting a knack for making cornhole boards, and requests have been coming in for more).

But it never fails that, as the days begin getting shorter and the trigger finger itch worsens, all energy reserves are depleted on one goal: hunting season.

Last year, that happened in early May, when I began training Remy for his Natural Ability test in June. After that, we worked an average of five nights a week on turning him into a hunting dog machine.

And despite emergency sock-removal surgery in late July, Remy hunted without a hitch from the beginning of September until the last weekend of December.

As often happens, once the winter woes set in and our slothy selves emerged, both he and I turned into slugs. And, be honest with yourself: staring down an ice hole while drinking beers does not constitute "activity," even remotely.

We both got soft -- both around the waist and in our training -- and paid for it. Remy got away with more and more trouble in the house. I wound up notching my belt at two holes instead of three.

Then spring, miraculously, came early. By early March, the snow melted. I'd been training for the Grandma's half marathon a bit over the winter, but this sunshine and unseasonable warmth invigorated me and pushed me harder. Now, I'm running five to six nights a week, and I've upped the belt holes to four. I finally am starting to feel like I did last spring after a nasty winter left running as my only outlet.

I've been forgetting one critical piece to the puzzle, however: Remy. Although he does come with me on every run, even long 8- and 9-milers, he hasn't had an inch of formal training since July.

That's far too long.

Any excuses are gone, too. The temperatures are ideal for training the dog. Sloughs and ponds are open for swimming. If anything, the biggest hiccup will be in finding training birds, thanks to a nation-wide shortage.

Really, the biggest factor is timing. By the time I get my evening run in, it's time for supper. After that, the sun is setting, and our window of opportunity for training has closed.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right. If I truly want Remy to get back up to speed, I need to make time for him, just as I do myself. Prioritization in life is everything, and Remy is right up there with the highest of them.

The problem is deciding where to start. Last summer, our breeder met once a week to see the progress and issue homework. That one-on-one, hands-on training was perfect for both Remy and I. While I'm sure he'd be willing to go to such lengths again, I don't want to rely on him. This is something that has to be done on a personal level, too.

So I've decided to make a plan. I will write out specific goals to accomplish, and come up with ways to get there. Ideally, I'd like Remy ready for the NAVHDA Utility Test in the fall, but without a readily available source of training birds, that could be difficult.

Anyway, I don't really know what the point of this post was. Maybe a venue to expel all these thoughts swimming around in my brain? If that's the case, it's worked. I feel much better.

With that, what is everyone's plan this offseason? Is it dog work? Patching a boat? Saving up your pennies for a new shotgun? (I'm guilty of that, too). Maybe carving a wooden totem pole of Muthagoose in his likeness as a trade for a raft of his meticulously crafted decoys?

Hmm...that gives me an idea...

[uwleagle]

Always dog training 2 to 4 times a week. Try to get out fishing as much as possible. Practice duck/goose calling 10 to 15 minutes a day (get alot of this done while driving). Been debating on flocking the heads on all my mallard decoys, but havent decided if I think its worth it or not yet. Also this spring I'll be out monitoring the hen houses that I recently put out, to see if they get used and hopefully get some nice shots with the camera.

[Gordie]

Great read Tyler

As I was reading it all I could think of was how my chco lab is getting aaway with so much and I know now is the time to set her straight so she doest get into the bad dog syndrome and all I could say is I know its my fault.

So I will be starting a daily training regiment and I will also try and have my boys follow up when I'm down from my back surgery.

Thats why she is getting soft its because my back won't let me and I'm getting soft Enough is enough and I have to start.

Thanks for starting a fire under ,well you what Tyler

[BLACKJACK]

(I've been getting a knack for making cornhole boards, and requests have been coming in for more).

Curious minds would like to know, what is a cornhole board??!! Not even going to venture a guess??!!

[TylerS]

Curious minds would like to know, what is a cornhole board??!! Not even going to venture a guess??!!

Cornohole, a.k.a. beanbags.

Here's my first, custom set. Yes, I kept it:

[TylerS]

And here's one I made for my in-laws:

[bobbymalone]

Sucks you will have to destroy that Tyler. Definitely not an NCAA sanctioned cornhole board.

[TylerS]

Sucks you will have to destroy that Tyler. Definitely not an NCAA sanctioned cornhole board.

Have we not learned anything from history? When met by tyrannical oppressors, it is the people's right to stand up for what they believe in!

FREEEEDOM!