Snow Birds

Took Cooper out for a little weekend work.  He likes duck hunting,....but he LOVES upland hunting.  And opposed to the warm days of October / November, he is built for late season, cold weather.  He really is a snow machine.  The conditions were perfect this day and we had the place to ourselves.  He did a real nice job on the chukars and bonus rooster.

I true blind retrieve!

 

...decided to get these chukar right in the crock pot for dinner.  I love the simplicity of the crock pot recipes and figured I would share this one.

Chukar w/ Morel Mushroom Sauce

 

1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 can (10.75 ounce size) condensed cream of chicken soup
8 medium size Morel Mushroom, (I used dried ones)
paprika


Step 1: Tenderize the Chukar fillets with a flat mallet  
Step 2:  Dump everything into the crock pot - turn on Low for 6-8 hours
Step 3: Sprinkle Paprika on finished meal

Goes great with a chilled glass of Chardonnay!

The Duck Swamp

Somewhere in Nowheresville, OH (or was is PA or WV?) is a swamp that has our name on it for next year.  A new spot so full of potential, that I go to bed thinking of ducks dive bombing out of the sky at first light like B-52's.  It's going to be a long off season waiting to hunt this spot.  Yes, I have a problem.

January Duck Hunt

Cooper and I were able to get out for an early morning hunt for ducks.  We haven't been able to get out a whole bunch this year with the twins and I certainly haven't worked Cooper like I have in the past.  It was honestly just nice to get outside with my dog, drink some coffee and blow my duck call.  Luck would have it, that we actually had a couple ducks work into the decoys first thing in the morning and I took the drake.  I only knocked this bird down and he managed to swim upstream and underneath the far bank into the brush.  I've heard that a good retriever will make you appear to be a better wing shooter and this couldn't be more true.  I wasn't getting this bird on my own, but Cooper went to work and tracked this bird the whole way upstream and cleaned up my mediocre shot.  We hung out for another hour or so and another set of birds came up the river.  This time my shot was a bit more decisive and Cooper's work was half done by just making the proper mark across the creek.  That was good for us to call it a morning and head back to the home front.

Crazy eye

Proud retriever with a morning's work