A Water Retrieve is Special

The first day of hunting season out at Hastings Island is always special.

I take time after we take our first bird to give thanks for the bounty that nature gives us.

A pheasant is a wonderful bird that is great food.

 

A water retrieve holds a special place in bird hunter's hearts.  The drive of the dog to swim to the downed bird, no matter how far or tough it might be to get to.

And then with bird softly in his mouth to return it to the hunter.

Bailey returning with bird.

 The harvest today was four male roosters.  I had the club clean the breasts and thighs.  I have friends looking forward to this.  The have never tried pheasant before. 

Fog Dogs

Fog Dogs enjoying the cool Pacific fog as it rolled over the Las Trampas Wilderness area ridges from the west.

Winds blew at over 40 MPH on the ridges and drove me back down into the sunshine of the San Ramon Valley below.

Pups grow up fast.

The Lily, Chloe and Bailey pack

July 4, 2011  Russian River camping

Spring 2012 Morro Bay camping

Summer 2013 Point Pinole hiking

Early Spring 2015 Mount Diablo Park hiking

Almost summer 2015 us leaving the house for a walk to the park after a rain

Las Trampas Late Spring 2015

Enjoying the late spring air and open fields and wooded trails of Las Trampas Wilderness Area.

At the lower elevations of the walk the foxtails were in the fields.  For the dogs to have the freedom to explore, they wore their "Outfox Field Guard" PPE.

Once up on the ridge the foxtails were much less common and the dogs were able to go "naked."

Dropping into Corduroy Hills Canyon 

Corduroy Hills Trail Review

the forest trail was steep and narrow.  The wildflowers were in bloom.  It was a wonderful 7 mile hike on a cool late spring Saturday morning.