Neat story from saturday

[james_walleye]

I had a unique day afield yesterday. I've always been a pheasant hunter, never shot at a duck or goose. But my sisters boyfriend the other day talked me into jumping a couple ponds saturday morning so i agreed too give it a whirl. We peeked up over the hill and 12 honkers were right down the shore. We crept up and got up on them and we jumped them. We got 3 down. We rounded 2 of them up and 1, just winged, got out of the pond and got away. I hate losing game and didnt like this but i wasnt sure what we could do. At that time a couple mallards landed on the pond. We crept up and got those birds. They were smack dab in the middle of the pond. It occured too me at that time that why wait for the wind too push the birds too shore, my truck was 100 yards away and my pheasant hunting, no retrieving german shorthair was in there ready for the 9:00 am pheasant hunt. And just maybe he could also sniff out that goose that got away. Now hes retrieved a few pheasants for me, but usually just finds them for me and i have too go get the bird. Well he took one look out on that pond and proceeded too retrieve those mallards just as pretty as a lab! So we went in search of that goose. Sadly, we had no luck and again i was bummed. So we loaded up and headed through the picked beans, through the creek, and again through a big picked bean field. We came around a bend in the creek and there was that dang goose walking across the field. He was like 1/2 mile from the pond. Well now i could see what my shorthair would do with a winged goose. I let him out, got there, kind of checked things out for a second, then grabbed that goose and promptly brought the goose right too me!! And i realized all the money i bought on stamps for one morning was more than worth seeing my dog do that! I never dreamed id see the day he would be retrieving ducks and geese. So last evening i went bowhunting and my sisters boyfriend went and jumped that pond again. They got 3 more ducks and they took my dog and he promptly retrieved all 3 ducks from the pond for them. Anyone else ever take their GSP too do this? It seemed kind of odd, but it sure was cool.

[LuciandTim]

Sounds like a great day!

[lawdog]

I had a friend in law school who's husband had a GSP that retrieved ducks like a machine. That thing brought in over 30 ducks in one weekend on the opener. Its not the norm, but some do it I guess.

[mamohr686]

All the vesatile breeds should have some natural ability to hunt upland game, fur, and be sufficent on the water. They usually don't have the same retrieving instincts as a lab or golden but with the proper training and exposure do a tremendous job. Sounds like your gsp has some NAVHDA potential.

[CaptainMusky]

I am not sure why GSP's get labeled as non-retrievers. I have owned them for well over 20 years, many different dogs from completely different bloodlines and all have been excellent retrievers.

Waterfowl dogs? Now that is a different question. They are fine for early season, but just cannot take the cold water since their coat is not nearly as thick as Labs.

That is a heckuva day you had there. One for the memory books!

[james_walleye]

Yeah it was a great day. The one thing i regret is that when he was bringing that goose back i turned my digital camera on and the batteries were too low too take a picture! I would have posted that picture here.

[catman71]

as the ownwer of 2 labs, i have to say that i'm impressed. Now you should see if he can tree a coon, bay a hog and help a blind person cross the street! you don't see that at the field trials! Seriously, cool story.

[gorrilla]

My GSP's have been fine on waterfowl unless its below 35 out. They'll still get them if I let them but I'd prefer not to stress them(and their joints) when I know they don't have the coat for it. They make a pretty warm little heater in the field blinds too.

[FOOT]

James, great story. Dogs truly are mans best friend.

[CaptainMusky]

I can attest to GSP's prowess at Coon treeing! One year, not all that long ago, I shot 25 coons while pheasant hunting. More coons than birds that year. Strange situation, haven't run into ONE coon since that year though. Wierd. Yes, one of the coons was actually treed in the middle of a swamp. Funniest thing I had ever seen.