During the off season
Posted 08-02-2009 at 03:12 PM by gundogs
I get lots of questions about " What do you do in the off season?" My usual response is ... what off season. I train dogs all year long my time schedule just gets moved up a bit. Fortunately I am in the mountains and it is a bit cooler here than at lower elevations. This does not mean it is cool in the afternoons so my training begins very early in the mornings. I need to be done by noon. The afternoons and early evenings are used for hunting big game. The wild hog population has become such a problem here that many hours are spent on them. My Guide Service keeps me hunting all year. When upland bird season is over and the tournament hunting trail is at the seasons end then I can enjoy a short break, then archery season opens and its off to the high Sierras for big game.
This year we were welcomed aboard the Alpen Optics Pro Staff so now we can observe the gun dogs in the tournament field and hunt even more efficiently. During the NAGDA nationals in Colorado this years banquet all of the youth competitors were presented new Alpen binoculars. The Ladies division competitors all received Pink Alpen binoculars of which part of the purchased price (purchased by NAGDA) was donated to the Susan B. Komen For The Cure Foundation. This helps fund the research for a cure to breast cancer, a more than worthy cause.
I have been working with Alpen's model #735 spotting scope Kit. Packed in a aluminum case for travel and storage. Inside you will find the 15-45X60mm waterproof spotting scope which is nitrogen filled, dustproof and is equipped with mulit coated BaK4 lenses. This scope comes with standard features such as a zoom eyepiece and extendable sun shade. You can choose straight (inline) or 45 degree offset eyepiece models. Also in the kit is a 12 inch tripod (great for bench use) and a car window mount along with a zippered carry case. The top mounted focus is easily adjustable without upsetting the scope position. The rubber armor coating in deep green is easy on your hands during use in hot or cold weather. Alpen's lifetime warrenty makes this spotting scope a keeper. Winning the Great Buy Award for three years in a row this is a solid choice for equipment you should have on your next big game hunt or even your next trip to the range. Optional SLR camera adapter and a stay on padded nylon case even add to the value.
I have a late season Muley hunt on my schedule where the Alpen 735 spotter and the Alpen 4-12 X40mm with A.O. Kodiak rifle scope will both be put to the test. I will try to do a comparrison test with some of the industury standard brands. The Alpen 10X42mm Apex binoculars faired more than well a couple of years back and made testing interesting in just this sort of field test.
I can already say that while guiding a hog hunt recently. My clients rifle fitted with a top brand scope was loosing it's picture as the sun began to set and our light faded away. I said mine is still working and traded rifles with him. He looked through the scope on my Weatherby .338 fitted with the Alpen 4-12X40mm and said "I can see fine". He continued to hunt for an additional 45+ minutes before we had to call it quits and exit the field. More on that later.
I believe there is no real off season for the bird dogs. You have to use your head and keep them cool. Keep up the retreive drills and work your dogs on birds whenever possible. Find a gamebird breeder and purchase birds using DFG dog training stamps or leg bands. Just ask on the forum pages of JHO, try the hunting ,versitle dog / retriever section and I sure you can find a bird farm to keep you going in the summer months. Another tip is to attend seminars and special events such as the Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic during the month of August.
"Give the old dog a biscut for me." R.I.P. Icky
Bryce
www.gun-dogs.net
This year we were welcomed aboard the Alpen Optics Pro Staff so now we can observe the gun dogs in the tournament field and hunt even more efficiently. During the NAGDA nationals in Colorado this years banquet all of the youth competitors were presented new Alpen binoculars. The Ladies division competitors all received Pink Alpen binoculars of which part of the purchased price (purchased by NAGDA) was donated to the Susan B. Komen For The Cure Foundation. This helps fund the research for a cure to breast cancer, a more than worthy cause.
I have been working with Alpen's model #735 spotting scope Kit. Packed in a aluminum case for travel and storage. Inside you will find the 15-45X60mm waterproof spotting scope which is nitrogen filled, dustproof and is equipped with mulit coated BaK4 lenses. This scope comes with standard features such as a zoom eyepiece and extendable sun shade. You can choose straight (inline) or 45 degree offset eyepiece models. Also in the kit is a 12 inch tripod (great for bench use) and a car window mount along with a zippered carry case. The top mounted focus is easily adjustable without upsetting the scope position. The rubber armor coating in deep green is easy on your hands during use in hot or cold weather. Alpen's lifetime warrenty makes this spotting scope a keeper. Winning the Great Buy Award for three years in a row this is a solid choice for equipment you should have on your next big game hunt or even your next trip to the range. Optional SLR camera adapter and a stay on padded nylon case even add to the value.
I have a late season Muley hunt on my schedule where the Alpen 735 spotter and the Alpen 4-12 X40mm with A.O. Kodiak rifle scope will both be put to the test. I will try to do a comparrison test with some of the industury standard brands. The Alpen 10X42mm Apex binoculars faired more than well a couple of years back and made testing interesting in just this sort of field test.
I can already say that while guiding a hog hunt recently. My clients rifle fitted with a top brand scope was loosing it's picture as the sun began to set and our light faded away. I said mine is still working and traded rifles with him. He looked through the scope on my Weatherby .338 fitted with the Alpen 4-12X40mm and said "I can see fine". He continued to hunt for an additional 45+ minutes before we had to call it quits and exit the field. More on that later.
I believe there is no real off season for the bird dogs. You have to use your head and keep them cool. Keep up the retreive drills and work your dogs on birds whenever possible. Find a gamebird breeder and purchase birds using DFG dog training stamps or leg bands. Just ask on the forum pages of JHO, try the hunting ,versitle dog / retriever section and I sure you can find a bird farm to keep you going in the summer months. Another tip is to attend seminars and special events such as the Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic during the month of August.
"Give the old dog a biscut for me." R.I.P. Icky
Bryce
www.gun-dogs.net
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