I have been sitting around with a sad look on my face because the weather is so hot and bird season is still 3 months away. During the time of the year when I cannot hunt I usually try to work young dogs for the upcoming year. But this year I have worked so much that I have not been able to spend time with them the way that I would like. This is probably going to put me behind on my young dogs, because I usually like to have the ones that I am going to sell ready by Oct. I also spend time with the family in the off season, visiting friends, family, and catching up on jobs around the house that my wife wants done. The reason for this login is that I would like to know what other people do during the off season.

Tony, don't feel like the Lone Ranger, here in Georgia we are having the hottest, and wettest summer I can recall, and with very little breeze it's just choking humid, also it seems I'm mowing grass every weekend just to keep up, it leaves little time to work the dogs.
I also have a couple of youngsters I wanted to have ready for this coming season but right now it looks like it may be later in the year before they will be ready to hunt.
I'm looking forward to cooler weather and a week of grouse hunting in Michigan in mid October, then from there it's all down hill, crisp cool November mornings in Kansas and Oklahoma, (those are the thoughts that keep me going), so hang in there friend, we're in the same boat with ya.

I think we all (anybody hunting with dogs) can't wait for the seasons to open.. I'm sorry to say I'm not a bird hunter (used to when I was younger) But I do the same or try too.. Work the young dogs in the off season, get them out in the woods so they get to know the real world with some of their packmates.. I hunt fur and have Airedales... I do have one older female I got here a few yrs. back that was hunted just on birds in the south.. She came from my mentor. Had a female that I just buried in July (my best dog) that I took to Iowa a few yrs. back that hunted with a GSH on pheasant.. The man who own the bird dog couldn't belive how she worked.. just like his.. She would point,flush, honor his point. The only thing is she wouldn't retrieve. She'd stand over the bird but, that was is.. It was kind of fuuny watching her because when she'd hear a gun go off it always ment that something fell out of the tree or was on the ground for her to wool on. She would give me this look like... "hey, this thing is'nt fighting back..what you want me to do" I never taught her anything about birds, she just hunted like she'd been doing it her whole life. She was a good dog.

Right now Im waiting on September 1st, opening day of dove season. Doesn't a mess of dove sound good right now?

As far as working young dogs, this year I have two. I'm hoping to keep them for myself. About 8 pm everyday, I have a yard work session. Nothing to serious, I usually have them retrieve for me. Then I "heel" them around the backyard. I've started the "whoa" work. On Saturday morning I get up at 6:30 load the dog and head to the bird field. This week I plan to put them down one at a time with a collar and let them run. My goal is to have them "come" when asked and also I'll work on pattern some. I'll only let them run about 15 minutes each at a time. Hopefully they'll bump a wild bird or two, get a good "nose full" of the wild stuff.

We are going to have another great season in West Texas. Lots of birds.

In the off season for me is lake lake and lake. I make sure all the dogs are ready to hunt birds for the fall. If I have any young dogs they get plenty of work with the big dogs on our 320 acre ranch until the heat slows that down.

Well I am glad that I am not the only one that thinks he only mows the yard this time of year about every four days. Try to slip down to the lake and fish every once in awhile. My youngest daughter is a seinor this year has been playing asa softball this summer has keep mom running in Colarado one week and in Ga. one week. So dad stays home and takes care of the dogs and mows the yard. But I am going to put all my yard work to uses on September the 17th for my wifes birthday party we are going to have a 2 man scrable here on my own self made golf course. sould be a good time right before bird season. I picked up some good hunting close to you Mike at Lamont with a customer of mine. He has some corn that will not come off till November.

This summer I’ve just been working dogs that are ear-marked for customers, none of my own. It's been way too hot to do much of anything and there certainly is not enough time too work very many as it gets too hot to fast. Alot of this summer my days off found me working dogs early morning, then making my way to the kitchen, as I laid new flooring in the kitchen. I've needed to do this for a few years now so this summer I finally got it done. Wendy is pleased with it so I guess I am too, especially the fact that it's done!