Tough year with all the standing water in SD and low numbers in ND. Managed to scratch out a limit most days.

Roosters and even hens were really running a lot this year. Took awhile for dog to figure a strategy to find them.

WA. quail opening day



pheasant points

late season corn and cattails

kicked up a lot of whitetails and mule deer every day. Few really decent bucks

high grass some days

retrieving a wounded rooster

One of the nicest points this year on top of a large hill

A rooster is hiding under corn stalks about a foot away.







rooster....

Great pictures, thanks for taking us along. Love your dog with the ice on his muzzle. He looks like he knows his business.

Fantastic pics! Thanks for posting.

Nice pics and season. Here is to a great fall 2020.

Congratulations on a great season and nice pictures. Thanks for pulling them all together.

Super!! I doubt I'll be able to spend that much time in a year following a bearded dog after birds, but I can't wait until I can!

Those are great Ribka!

Better than well done!!!! Thanks....

Awesome Hunts and pictures ribka! Well done for sure.

Excellent...Next best thing to being there.😎

Thanks for sharing, great photos.

A double 3 years ago, a mile and half from my home.

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Hard to tire this dog out but I caught him with his eyes closed.

Really nice pic, but if you don't mind tell me about the shotgun....

Good looking dog George.

He was a great dog but I no longer have him. He was one of two smooth coat wire hair’s I’ve had. Both dogs were just excellent on all counts.

Battue, that is 470 Silver Hawk from Beretta, in 12. 26” barrels, single trigger (which isn’t my preference); splinter for end, ejectors/extractors; straight stock.

I’m probably slightly bigger than average at 6’ 215, but it fits me so well, it shot where I looked the first time I carried it ~ two decades ago.

Was wondering if he wasn't a wirehair. Seen quite a few like that actually. My guy is a bit more hairy. Keep thinking I need a SxS, but at 6'7" not sure if I can find one that fits well.

Tell me about the "smooth coat wirehair." How are they different than a shorthair (GSP)? Do they handle cold-water retrieves better?

I didn’t know they existed until I got my first started dog out of a Kansas kennel. The second dog (black), and elderly now, is in the pic above.

Both were outstanding hunters and good for the Midwest falls and winters and just beautiful dogs. To my untrained eye they look like a GSH but they are smooth-coat wire-hairs.

The first (above) is with another owner nearby and still hunting well. This one I sadly had to put down at age 81/2 due to an undiagnosed illness, probably a cancer of some type; still makes me feel badly.

They sure found and locked on the pheasants for me

Thanks appreciate the reply.

Thinking about a straight stock SxS. Have handled a couple Spanish ones, that are really nice shotguns.

This place can find one to fit you close or have one fitted to you


http://www.fieldsportltd.com/gunroom/gunroom.php



.

I’ve only had AyA’s — stellar.

Have been looking at Aya's and Grulla. Lion Country Supply which isn't that far from me, has both and usually some great discounted used examples. Been waiting for the right one to show in a 28 or 20.

http://www.doubleshotguns.com/grullaarmas.html

I had — emphasized with some regret — an AyA 4/53 in a 28. It was the proper sized action and a petite, stylish piece that gave nothing up to a 20 on pointed birds. Big pheasants.

I’m not enough of a gunner to ever distinguish between fixed IC/IM chokes in a SxS and the screw-ins

While I have no need for any new guns, I don’t need to see any more fine Spanish doubles. I have a weakness.

Battu I thought you were going to buy this one. If I should out live you, you could leave it to me. I'll keep it in action!

https://williamlarkinmoore.com/inventory/itemid/6984

I breathed a sigh of relief. $48.5k, well above my contemplation level.

Beautiful pics... thanks for sharing them.

I can see why you want me to buy it with a 15 1/8 LOP.
If it was shorter and had some higher grade wood, I’d consider. 😀

Then you would drag it around in some Duck boat. I have to pass.

The LOP is short for me. You shoot try it you might be surprised!

Yeah that wood is hideous isn't it?