American Brittany, American Dad: Fall Update ~ Owens First dove hunt

I knew when I started this blog the summer months would prove tough to be able to write. As it turns out, it was more than tough seeing how I have not been able to post a single entry since April 26th. It was very busy summer with work, travel baseball, and Club Volleyball. But I am happy to finally have some time this Labor day afternoon to sit down, and write about a few of the events that have happened over the past few months, and then we'll take a quick look at what is in store for this fall.

Quick updates:

First of all, back in the spring I introduced you to Ellie - AKA "old Girl" our 15 year old Golden Retriever - I'm saddened to report that after 15 and 1/2 wonderful years she left us for that dog park in the sky, where I'm sure she is enjoying ice cream, and McDonalds Cheeseburgers every day, and she is no longer riddled with arthritis. Ellie, left us a couple months ago and will forever be missed.

Remi's litter - I'm excited to tell you that Remi's litter all made it safely to their forever homes, and we are lucky enough to get to see two of them on a regular basis. Mr Hamer our gun dog trainer, took one of the liver roan females, and my Mom and dad took another one of them. Ruger and GIGI are almost 6 months old and getting ready to start their first introduction to birds, guns, and the entire way of life they were breed to live. I'll be helping with getting them started in a few short weeks. The other 6 pups, are all healthy and doing well at their new homes as well.

Owens first Dove Hunt ~

With the 1st of September upon us, it kicks off the first event of the fall for most avid bird hunters. Its the opening day of Morning dove season, and is always a "main event". Owen has been a little slower to get into shooting his shotgun than Nolan was as a little guy. A bit intimidated by the percussion, and the kick he really had to scrape up the nerve to pull the trigger for the first time. Over the past three years I bet we were out back with him at least 4 or 5 times waiting for him to get the nerve to squeeze off that round, each time we had returned to the house unsuccessfully. Refusing to allow myself to be anything but patient with him, each time I would give him a hug and tell him I didn't care if he ever pulled that trigger that I loved him anyway, and nothing would ever change that. Unfortunately, his older brother was not quite as soft spoken (as older brothers can be sometimes). Owen, wanting nothing more in life than to impress Nolan tried over and over again, still unable to find the courage. Well about 3 weeks ago, Nolan and I were talking about dove season coming up and how excited we were to get out, and get his fall kicked off (Even if it was in the 90's) Owen overheard the conversation, and quickly piped up, "Dad, if I shoot my shotgun can I go dove hunting?" "Of course" I said! (We had had this conversation the previous three years as well) "In fact" I told him "if you prove to me that you will shoot your shot gun, I will let you skip a morning of school to go with me on opening day."

30 minutes later we were in the back yard with some cans set up on a log, watching Owen tremble a bit nervously, as he shouldered his gun. After a fairly long pause....... BANG! "That didn't hurt!" as he looked over at me with a huge grin on his face. Well this one shot quickly turned into another, and another, and a full box of shells. The next day he, Nolan and I went to Blackwing and shot 2 full rounds of skeet. Working on gun handling and safety. He was doing great, even broke clay pigeon or two. So I went and bought him his first apprentice hunting license.

Owen is a very compassionate, and caring little guy so I thought it would be a good idea to talk to him very openly about what hunting really means. So the night before opening day, I sat him down and explained very clearly that when we shoot an animal we are stopping a beating heart. And that sometimes I still feel sad, and a little guilty when I kill an animal. Some folks try to desensitize this by calling it "bagging an animal" But I wanted to be honest about it. And I wanted him to really think about it before doing it, because the last thing I wanted to happen was for him to be overwhelmed with guilt if he actually hit a dove. I explained, that we had to be respectful of the animals that we hunt, and always make an asserted effort to recover them, and put them to good use, so its not a wasted loss of life. He really seem to process it, and assured me that he was okay, and ready to be a hunter.

Tuesday September 1st 4:30 AM - my alarm goes off, and I go to wake a normally hard to wake up Owen. Not this morning, he bounds out of bed! Quickly getting dressed and ready to roll. We head south to Deer Creek Wildlife area, and meet up with friend on the way. Owen told me that he could hardly sleep because he was so excited. After snacking all the way to Deer Creek, we arrived at the sunflower field I had picked out the day before. There seemed to be a lot of vehicles in the parking area, but nevertheless we headed back through the edge of the bean field, and towards the sunflower field. After a 20 minute walk we arrived at the field, only to find that apparently every other dove hunter in the Columbus Ohio area had also decided this was the best field. After walking throughout the sunflower field, Matt and I decided that it was just simply not a safe place to hunt. So we headed back to the truck. Devastated, Owen said "does this mean were not going hunting?" No Buddy, it just means we have to go find another field that will be safe to hunt, Whew! I thought I was going to have to go back to school early!" Owen whispered. I chuckled and we walked the 20 minutes back to the truck.

By this time daylight had broke over the eastern horizon, and we were able to easily identify a nice big corn field, with plenty of open space for the perfect spot for a rookie dove hunter. They outer rows of corn had been burned and tilled under, making the field much more enticing to the doves looking to feed. The three of us headed for the field and quickly made found good spots to sit. I intentionally left my shotgun in the truck, to simply focus on Owen. This was his first hunt, and I didn't want to be so consumed with my own hunting, that I might allow him to make a mistake, or miss something that I may only get one chance to see him do for the first time. Watching him get so excited every time a dove would come flying over is something that I will never forget, his face would light up, and his eyes would get so big with excitement. 1/2 way through his 2nd box of shells a hard flying dove came from the adjacent tree line, and flew on a course just west of us but fairly low overhead. A good and safe shot for a young hunter. Owen had seen it as soon as it came into view, and was ready. He cocked his single shot .410 and lead that bird perfectly as it came into his range. He touched off the round, and the bird came crashing down to the ground only 10 or 15 yards away. I quickly jumped up, and retrieved the bird for him. He was so proud of himself, As was I, and he was so excited at his accomplishment. I let him look at his dove, and then put it in the cooler. This was truly a very special moment for he and I, and we had a big father/son hug right in the middle of the hunting field.

Somehow after all the shooting that he had already done to this point, I was lucky enough to actually be taping him for this first successful shot. You can tell my by my voice on the video that I was just as excited as he was. All in all he bagged two birds on the day, before I had to take him back to school. Its safe to say, that my little man has now been bitten with the same bug, that Pop, Nolan, and I have all been bitten with and that kid is now in love with the sport. On the drive back to school he ask me if this meant he was now allowed to go to South Dakota hunting with us in November. (It won't be long bud, I promise)

I returned Owen to school, and Dad and I hunted that afternoon down at Fallsville wildlife area, we bagged 28 birds 2 short of our daily limit. It was a fun afternoon, and action packed with lots of birds, and shooting. But it didn't even start to compare to the morning.

After returning home late in the evening, and enjoying some dinner. I headed to the barn to clean the days harvest. About the time I got started, the barn door opened up and my little buddy came dragging in. Tired as could be from the long day, and emotionally worn out from all the excitement. I ask what he was doing, and why he wasn't in bed. He replied, "Dad, I shot two birds today, and its only right that I clean them" he insisted. (part of the conversation that we covered the night before) So I pulled a stool over for him to stand on, and watched as he cleaned his birds (all by himself). After he finished, he ask if I needed help with mine, and I declined encouraging him onto the house for bed time.

We have a lot of fun days hunting, but this day with Owen is definitely one of my all time favorites.

Upcoming this fall:

We're traveling to the UP for a 4 day Grouse hunt where Colt & his mama Tessie will hunt Grouse and woodcock for 4 days in the Seney National Forest. (Hope to have a Go Pro up and going for this trip)

Then in November we'll be traveling to South Dakota for 10 or 11 days of some of the best Pheasant hunting in the country. Over Remi, Colt, Nelli, Ruger, and Annie

Along with chasing some waterfowl, chuckers and quail along the way.

Stay Tuned! Its going to be a fun Fall!

Sincerely,

Matt

Owen, All smiles as the sun comes up