Fox Collectors

Stan,
That sounds like the gentleman thing to do but if I followed you lead I would wear out my hat and voice most days. Still missing is better than not having anything to shoot at

Stan; I would find it amusing and classy.
It looks as though you have a wonderful set-up there, and I hope you hit 'em hard and often. As in early sporting clays days, before the pre-mount was allowed, the quote was "NOBODY hits 'em all."
I have enjoyed your pictures.
Here is to a great fall with sunny skies, cool but not cold temps, and legions of our feathered friends finding the sunflowers.

Sam Ogle

SAM: Ogle is not a common name, did you know a Barney Ogle or Martha Ogle from NE? My wife's cousin was Martha Callan Ogle, I thought they might have been related to you. My wife is very into family history and when I mentioned your name, the questions started flying. Thanks, Ralph

One of the funniest sights you can see on a dove shoot is when a dove (or several) are coming toward you at high speed and you wait a little too late to commit the shot. Sometimes they will see you and start "evasive maneuvers", flying extremely erratic and changing directions in a split second. The result is that the gun is trying feverishly, even frantically, to get a line on one of them and they zip past without you firing, and you're still trying to get on one as he speeds away. It looks just as foolish as it feels because the bird has won the round, and you know it. A neighboring gun may holler out at you, "He really screwed you into the ground!". That's exactly what it feels like, too. Great fun.

Only 50 days and a wake-up!

SRH

It is a very normal thought process of we dove hunters to miss 5 or seven in a row, then make a clean and lovely shot, and to say to ourselves "Well, dang, I'm a pretty good shot."
It is the only bird shooting sport where we can be smug with a 10% kill ratio which would get us laughed off a pheasant, quail, or duck hunt.
God Bless all,

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

I thought the conditions were right for the doves to be feeding about 5:00 this afternoon, and I rode over to the sunflower field. It was cloudy, cool (well, in the low 80's) and a very light mist of intermittent rain. I was right. Here's what i found.

The next three photos are of the "powerline" across the field, in sequence. Over a hundred and thirty waiting to feed.







A couple photos of droves that flew by me.





And a prime chance for a double.




"Oh, the wa-ai-ting is the hardest part", Tom Petty.

Stan

Hunting in Washington State. The opener September 1st is just a few days away. Add corn, wheat, a pothole, a fox gun and one lab for great fun! Mike

All summed up = great hunting

Best looking Model B I've ever seen.

Most years on September 1st. I would be hoping to freshen my shooting skills on doves. I my part of Utah doves are an iffy thing. Most years an early cold snap will push most of the birds south.

This year our wildlife dept. has given us another few weeks, that no one was asking for, to chase ruffed and blue/dusky grouse. Grouse season opens on Sept. one. I think I'll take the number one grandson, the dog and go chasing dusky grouse high up on some nearby mountain. It will likely be hot and there will only be a hint of color on a tree here and there. Still, we'll hike some ridges and try to bring a grouse or three to bag.

Mike, I agree with Bill, that is one fine looking B model Fox. Got any close-ups of it?

That little pothole shore is purty. I can just see you hiding in those cattails as about five mallards drop in on a December morn.

Good luck, Slowpokebill, on Sept. 1, to you and your grandson. Mine will be with me on that day opening the dove season in that field of sunflowers I posted earlier. We will both be throwing lead at them with .410 doubles.

Stan

I will spending most of my time hunting ducks in central NY. This is a view of our duck clubs marsh, 1400 acres just north of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. My little piece of heaven! Ducks open October 22nd. We have a early goose season and grouse opens in September.

My 7 year old lab DeeDee died suddenly last week of cancer, a real shock and loss. I will be without a bird dog for the first time in 25 years. Here is picture of her last year watching birds, I really miss my little girl but I have a new puppy coming in mid September. Craig

Craig;
Stealing from a Quote someone uses on one of these sites: "If Dogs don't go to heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they go."

Funny, We never forget our dogs........we forget people, but not the dogs.
I hope the new pup brings involvement, joy, puppy frustration (chewed things) and love.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

Craig, I am so saddened by the loss of your hunting partner, Deedee. My black lab Mandy is 9 years old now, and I don't know what I would do without her.
Jim

It is hard to notice but that beautiful stock on the B grade was cut then repaired about 1 1/2" from the pad. The owner also etched his intials on the barrel flats. AHHHH how could anyone cut that wood? She still shoots good patterns and might be a future project or I might carry her on the steep, shale slopes on the Columbia River for chucker. Every few steps one tends to fall especially when in the act of shooting.
The 3 man and one dog blind is in the grass area of the "beaver pond". This pond is best late season when everything else freezes and the spring keeps this pond open.
Craig sorry for your loss of your lab. I hope you get a great, new hunting partner!
Thank you for the marsh picture especially from the migrating ducks point of view.
Mike