New GRHRCH

25 April 2013, 07:38

brad may

New GRHRCH

My Pete just passed his second
Grand and titled today.
410 dogs started the series and 56
passed with 17 receiving their
GRHRCH title.
Thanks to John Wilson of Wax
Lake Retrievers. Patterson, LA
I couldn't get away for the five day
event in Simms, TX.
Bowed up with work and I had to
Take care of the dogs that didn't
run so no pictures.
Pete came from nothing. Just a dog
born on the bayou. His mom got ate
by a gator.
John saw something in him from day
one and took him all the way to his
GRHRCH.
Thanks buddy, you the man.

26 April 2013, 03:44

daniel77

Congrats Brad. I hope you can put plenty of birds down for him next season, and keep him out of the gators.

26 April 2013, 20:40

tygersman

Congrats on the success.

quote:
Originally posted by brad may:
His mom got ate
by a gator.

Jeez. During teal season?

26 April 2013, 22:46

brad may

Thanks guys. A Grand title is a
Pretty big thing in the dog games.
Some are calling it the Redneck NFC.
Daniel, hope we get more birds down
here compared to the last 2 years.
I hunt the Atchafalaya WMA. Been pretty
slow last 2 years. Going to try a
Canada hunt this year.
Tygersman, Pete's dam lived on Bayou Teche.
They had a boat slip next to the house
and she went to get a drink of
water and never was seen again.
Nobody down here where I hunt takes a dog
during early teal season. Hell, the last 2
years you had to keep an eye out for them
in Janurary!

27 April 2013, 07:35

tygersman

Yep, same for me - I cringe when I see folks with their dogs heading out during teal season around here. Usually with a little care (ie watchful eye and hunting very shallow water), we're getting ok by the big duck opener (presuming some cooler weather). No hunting the big ponds with the dog until later or a real cold front ....

27 April 2013, 20:58

Scott King

Always wondered about this so help me out here fellas. What is the gun dog owner policy for operating dogs in gator country?

I always said to myself that if a gator got my dog of course I'd hunt down and kill that particular gator, laws be damned. Beyond that, I thought a wide scale and scope poison campaign would limit gator danger, again, laws be damned.

28 April 2013, 05:26

lavaca

Gators have been known to be suicidal, I'm convinced of that.

28 April 2013, 08:10

tygersman

quote:
Originally posted by Scott King:
Always wondered about this so help me out here fellas. What is the gun dog owner policy for operating dogs in gator country?

I always said to myself that if a gator got my dog of course I'd hunt down and kill that particular gator, laws be damned. Beyond that, I thought a wide scale and scope poison campaign would limit gator danger, again, laws be damned.

First, you do your best not to run the dog while the weather is still warm, and you keep the dog away from deeper access areas. Second, you pay a lot of attention going into your ponds (spotlight shows their eyes if they're suspended). Big old gators don't like lots of human activity (including mud motors and gunfire), but the 7/8 footers aren't really old and are much less shy. In teal season they regularly try to steal dead and crippled ducks. If there has been no cool weather, they'll do the same in early big duck season.

But, you just have to realize they're always there .... Cool/cold weather makes them lethargic and unwilling (for the most part) to take on larger prey (such as dogs).

They're way too many here (yes, they are legally hunted) to worry about "gator proofing" your ponds by any means.

28 April 2013, 18:19

chrystech

Congrats Brad that is a great feat for any hunter and retriever. I enjoy the ukc more than akc. more geared towards hunters IMO. Maybe a better season this year the storm screwed me last year. again great job.

28 April 2013, 21:51

Scott King

quote:
Originally posted by tygersman:
quote:
Originally posted by Scott King:
Always wondered about this so help me out here fellas. What is the gun dog owner policy for operating dogs in gator country?

I always said to myself that if a gator got my dog of course I'd hunt down and kill that particular gator, laws be damned. Beyond that, I thought a wide scale and scope poison campaign would limit gator danger, again, laws be damned.

First, you do your best not to run the dog while the weather is still warm, and you keep the dog away from deeper access areas. Second, you pay a lot of attention going into your ponds (spotlight shows their eyes if they're suspended). Big old gators don't like lots of human activity (including mud motors and gunfire), but the 7/8 footers aren't really old and are much less shy. In teal season they regularly try to steal dead and crippled ducks. If there has been no cool weather, they'll do the same in early big duck season.

But, you just have to realize they're always there .... Cool/cold weather makes them lethargic and unwilling (for the most part) to take on larger prey (such as dogs).

They're way too many here (yes, they are legally hunted) to worry about "gator proofing" your ponds by any means.

Very interesting and thanks!

Around here I'm concerned about my dog being out at night with bears but probably needn't be. The bears do roam the neighborhoods under cover of darkness but generally don't like barking dogs and I'm unaware of any bear/ dog kills. Wolves do kill domestic dogs on occasion but I think theres no worry in this neighborhood.

Being a helicopter parent of my lab, I've envisioned all those terrible scenarios regarding rattlesnakes, cars, bears, gators and on. That warm weather Louisiana/ Texas waterfowl hunting sounds great but I can't imagine going teal hunting without my dog!

02 May 2013, 02:40

JTEX

A "Grand" dog! Outstanding!

I raised and trained 3 HRCH dogs but never entered a Grand.

That was a bunch of fun I really miss the Dog stuff but I never seem to have the time. My last Lab spends a bunch of time snoozing on the couch and just holding the carpet down.

Congrats!

.

03 May 2013, 23:15

brad may

JTEX
Getting three dogs their HRCH ain't to shabby!
The Grand event is something to watch. If you ever
get a chance to see one try to take the time.
The only problem with the Grand it is pretty
much a pro event.
You have to be very serious amateur to compete at it.
What these dogs are doing is out of this world.
I always liked what they put on the HRC ribbons, 'Honor to whom
honor is due'
These dogs are amasing