waterfowler_gal

That is awesome. Way to pass on a great tradition. If you make it a good positive experience you plant the seed for keeping the tradition of hunting going. It teaches kids to respect it too. Just great stuff....keep it up!

How old is your pup? I feel it is important to get them started young, get them excitied about it. A wing is a great tool for training. Grab the wing and drag it on the floor. Get them pumped up about it! I will take the wing and make them stay and hide it in some grass so they can see it and then send them. In the end, experience is what will pay off and be the important tool for teaching them. Make sure you keep it a positive experience though! With a good basic obedience layed out, getting them out hunting with other dogs I think is great. If you have a pheasant preserve where you can introduce them over live birds once they reach a certain age and are introduced to gun fire and such.

I have been privelaged to live in South Dakota and go to college out here. It gives me as much time as I want to hunt and scout and follow the migration. However, each year and after losing a few close hunting friends and family members you soon learn that its not the quanitity of how much you hunt and shoot, but its the quality and the memories you make with your friends and family out in the field and water.....

I like this thread! I would say all of the above!

Hoyt Selena

You will do great! It is going to be warmer temps. And the mid-west up to my neck of the woods in the Dakotas will be in single digits. It will push new birds down and supply some good weathered shooting!

The great thing these days is that technology and specifics available on guns make a shotgun fit a lady hunter a lot easier. Making for better recoil, better comfort, improved consistency and that creates an overall better experience shooting shotguns. My go to gun is a Winchester Super X3. They are really lightweight. It is the fastest firing semi-auto on the market today. Also, I usually pack a back up on big waterfowl trips. My Browning Gold Hunters are excellent shotguns too. I have a specific turkey gun with a 24" barrel but I use it for waterfowl also. Shorter barrel makes it easier for me to swing and especially manuver if I am hunting out of a boat blind, pit or ground blind. There is a lot of great guns on the market. It all depends what fits and feels good to you. Now over and unders...that's a whole other story in itself!

Snakes and Ticks! The ticks are more of a pain in my neck and I am just not use to snakes up north where I live. So when I head down south to turkey hunt, I am still not use to "being careful" when they are out and about. Though I went down to Texas and Oklahoma this spring and was hoping for one so I could make a belt! I have ate them before and they are pretty tasty.

Congrats on a fine bird! I would love to hunt turkeys with you someday!

Had great results with both, shooting them through my Browning Gold Hunter. They pattern well and get the job done!

Re: question for lab owners.... Shawn, I own three labs and even though when picking out a pup you take into consideration the size of the parents and their background you can never be certain. I am assuming from the info on the parents your new pup will be big. Usually when I hit the 6 month range I will take them off the pup food and get use to feeding them once a day in the afternoon. You want to make sure the puppy gets all the nutrients and excersize it needs. Good luck with your pup!

Re: Hunting Season I have been busy as a bee. Went bear hunting in Minnesota and have been goose hunting 3-4 days a week here in South Dakota. Our waterfowl season opens this Saturday. Our archery season just opened for deer and I have my eyes on a few bucks. So much to hunt, not enough time! Good luck to all. Hope you all have a safe and successful season.

Re: my waterfowl project update.... Looks like it is coming along great, Todd. Good hunting!

Re: Graduation photo Congrats Ruth!

Re: Nebraska success (pics & story) Congrats Tracy! I enjoyed the story very much. You know the offer still stands if you want to experience some of South Dakota's hunting whether it be turkey hunting or waterfowl or even upland. You let me know! (You can bring covehnter too!)

Re: Were you a tomboy ?? Still am a Tomboy! Always have been--always will be! I would rather be outdoors than stuck in a shopping mall anyday of the week!

Re: Hunting in the Black Hills National Park Borch hit the nail on the head. He has helped me in the past. I love hunting Merriam's there. It is an annual trip for myself. The culture, history and scenery will take your breath away! The wildlife is unbelieveable. The terrain and altitudes can be tough if you are not use to them. There is plenty of public land to hunt. I was out there in April and harvested a beautiful bird. The weather is like night and day. It can be really cold and really hot. It is a really wonderful place to hunt and would suggest it to be a good place if you want a challenge and a trip you won't ever forget. Good luck!

Re: Male of Female? Try this....I don't know of any other ways Click here: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/upland/ruffgrse.htm

Re: Long Beard Lunatics (#15) Hey guys! Just checking in.....my first bird of the season isn't very big So sorry on that side of things..... Scored a double bearded jake Merriam.... will post when I get a chance! Congrats to all and good luck to the rest of you! I am headed out this weekend to hunt my homestate of Minnesota!

Re: ** Some very Bad News (Please Pray)** Prayers sent out. Let God be with her and her family and everyone touched by this always and forever...

Re: Dakota\'s pacemaker surgery went well! Prayer's go out to Dakota and your family. It is a true inspiration to see the RT forum family working together. I don't get on here much at all anymore but makes me happy and proud to know there is such good hearted people out there still. May God bless you all and glad that the outdoors can bring us all together. Hang in there and be strong. I am so proud of you Dakota! a.k.a. waterfowler_gal

I have an pretty much brand new Cuddeback 3.0 Megapixel Game Camera for sale. It has not been used very much at all. Asking $370 which includes new batteries and a memory card and shipping. This is one sweet camera! If you want nothing but the best this is the way to go!

Re: Long Beard Lunatics (#15) I am headed out to Wyoming on Monday and the Black Hill's in South Dakota. If I get my turkeys early I may hunt Montana also. Good luck everyone and I will let you know how I do.

Re: First hog with new gun Nice hog Tanya..... sharp looking rifle too..... Love your posts! Keem 'em coming....

Re: Realtree Turkey Team #15 I like the Lunatic name.... sounds good to me...