The wonder of it all

I suppose if bird hunting over dogs didn’t continue to amaze or thrill me or whatever adjective you wish to use, it simply wouldn’t be worth going. The sudden, without warning, heart stopping sound of 20 bobwhites flushing almost simultaneously causes the intoxicating release of endorphins in my body. (Endorphins as in the ‘runners high’)

Personally, I own … 12 Brittanys. Wow, you might say. Consider that if you are an avid bird hunter who is in the field at least once a week for 6 months in a row (Montana to Texas), that it takes dog power to cover thousands of acres. It’s not that I shoot birds because I really don’t. Most shots are with a cap gun. The thrill of seeing the dogs work absolutely amazes me to this day.

I say it takes about 12 for someone in my situation, if done right. Done right means to me that some are pups, some are young but green started, some are finished and some are retired. If all were the same age it would be awful. They would all have to be trained at the same time and they would all grow old at the same time.

The average bird hunter probably has 1 or 2 dogs. That’s perfect for the family man with responsibility. He has a wife, children, dog, career etc. to take care of. (or woman if she is the hunter). For me though, I have an empty nest now with my wife Debbie. We share our love of Brittanys and treat them like our children.

I have progressed as a bird hunter like the deer hunter does as he grows old. You’ve read about the deer hunter progression and it is much the same as the bird hunter. The deer hunter starts out just wanting to shoot a deer, either sex. Then he wants to shoot just bucks. Next he wants to just shoot trophy bucks and finally, he wants to watch & observe and maybe take one on seldom occasion. That is how I explain my desire to watch the dogs work yet shoot seldom.

I thrill at the beauty of a dog that understands his field duties and that he is part of a team. His / her ability to run, no, ….g l i d e effortlessly through the open fields and then, as if on the cue of a conductor, slam to a stop and stand ever so quiet yet firm in stature. It takes my breath to this day. Then the wild flushing of birds and watching the dogs eyes widen like saucers as it watches the mixed frenzy of wild bobwhites flushing hard and away in multiple directions. He stands there until the shot then breaks in complete amazement that nothing fell thus his intensity increases evermore.

My personal dogs are my children. They make me whole and make me feel like I am living.

Here are my thoughts on the life cycle of my companion gun dogs:

My puppies renew my zest for life and keep me young. My started dogs keep me patient and honest in my training. My finished dogs amaze me while their God given talent humbles me. My retired dogs have grown weary and their body reflects many days of hard work afield, yet they give me comfort and remind me of hunts now ended and years of devoted companionship. The passing of each dog teaches me to accept things I cannot change, to feel sorrow and to vow that I shall never forget the devotion of my departed companion gun dog.