Jimbob78
Twelve Pointer
I wish we had the quail like we used to around here and the time to go chase pheasants in the Midwest and west
Feather Point Retrievers?
- Thread starter wncdeerhunter
- Start date
We had a wild bird hunt scheduled for GA this weekend, but they lost their leased land due to a sale unexpectedly (apparently had been on the market for several years). They offered us a deal at their preserve as a consolation, so we opted to do a mallard hunt at Toney Creek Plantation in SC. I really don’t have an interest in shooting “pre-released” birds, but it was great experience for Katy and a friend/work colleague that had never done anything waterfowl before.
16 birds for 4 of us. Katy made some really impressive retrieves, handled solid on a couple blinds, had to be called off one bird and listened well, and overall did excellent in a situation with lots of nearby shooting and lots of birds & excitement for a young dog. She was steady with a couple breaks, but reheeled and was overall very solid.
I will say that if you’re looking at doing a preserve type “hunt” for training or kids or introducing someone to wingshooting, this place is enjoyable and run correctly. They really do a good job.
Looking forward to Missouri in a couple weeks.
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shurshot
Ten Pointer
Good deal, solid learning experience! The more you put her in birds, the better she’ll get.
Exactly my thinking.
Just got back from our 2nd Missouri trip of the season - slow would be an understatement this year. But, we scratched out a few and Katy got some more retrieves under her belt. She was in the pit when I shot this GW. She did really well on this blind.
Katy blind retrieve
Katy blind retrieve
Katy’s first season is in the books. We’d hoped for a lot more retrieves for her this season but this year was tough for ducks everywhere we went. Anyhow, we made the best of it and have some great memories to reflect back on. We hunted NC, SC & Missouri with Katy picking up 54 birds since dove season. Dove, mallard, teal, gadwall, canadas, and wood duck. Finished out this year with a great morning. Looking forward to many more seasons with this girl - she’s really impressed me.
We had an intro to tower shoot retrieving and upland work this weekend. Katy retrieved her first (and just one of many) pheasants this weekend and cut her teeth on quail. She has an incredible nose on her and picked up “whoa” in less than 10 mins. Very impressed with her natural upland ability. Still some work to do but she did great.
Nothing much looks better than a wet, black dog. I may be a little biased though.
We got in some good training with a friend that owns Crabtree Retrievers in Haywood County, overall a solid morning of training.
We got in some good training with a friend that owns Crabtree Retrievers in Haywood County, overall a solid morning of training.
I know I already updated this in the retriever hunt test thread, but this one is kind of a chronological documentary of my lab since the beginning about her, so here it is. She just got her Senior Hunter title this past weekend.
Katy turns 2 tomorrow. Sure has come a long way and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
TH80
Ten Pointer
Doesn’t seem like it’s been 2 years already. I’ve enjoyed keeping up with her progress from pup to now
My answer to @Jimbob78 asking if I was going to run any hunt tests….it’s his fault. We have room for a few more on this board still.
Jimbob78
Twelve Pointer
We can easily expand that board, don’t let that hold you back.
Jimbob78
Twelve Pointer
Where is that bright ribbon
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Yesterday was 2 years to the day we snatched her up. Seems like it has flown by.
Couple recent (Fall '24) pics of my Feather Point "pup"
One of my favorites shots - some folks just see a lab in the pond, but I see a dog that hit the brakes on a whistle sit in the water so fast the water is still swirling with drops in the air. Solid handle & retrieve on that blind - camera guy caught the timing perfect.
We stumbled into a duck shoot last year at a “preserve” due to a guided wild bird hunt being cancelled. We had a good time but it isn’t “wild” duck hunting, although the dogs don’t know that.
We thought about doing it again this year to knock the rust off and get the dogs some work before the season got rolling.
We missed the early season due to everything going on up here and our little group decided we needed a day away from the chaos, so we headed down to Georgia. They basically release a bunch of birds early in the year and let them be.
I knew this would be a good opportunity to get some solid pictures of Katy working, and had a photographer tag along for that purpose. I didn’t ask for him to do video, but he told me that he was going to put something together since he was there.
Turned our really well and the photos did too. Katy had a good time and picked up 13 ducks, so well worth the day spent down there.
So, in short, we were able to scratch the itch, get a little reprieve from all the craziness up here, and keep my dog happy. Ready for some real duck hunting now.
Georgia Duck Hunt
We thought about doing it again this year to knock the rust off and get the dogs some work before the season got rolling.
We missed the early season due to everything going on up here and our little group decided we needed a day away from the chaos, so we headed down to Georgia. They basically release a bunch of birds early in the year and let them be.
I knew this would be a good opportunity to get some solid pictures of Katy working, and had a photographer tag along for that purpose. I didn’t ask for him to do video, but he told me that he was going to put something together since he was there.
Turned our really well and the photos did too. Katy had a good time and picked up 13 ducks, so well worth the day spent down there.
So, in short, we were able to scratch the itch, get a little reprieve from all the craziness up here, and keep my dog happy. Ready for some real duck hunting now.
Georgia Duck Hunt
51 seconds before I even saw a dog,,,
cool video though,,,
and good on ya getting the pup into some birds
cool video though,,,
and good on ya getting the pup into some birds
Jimbob78
Twelve Pointer
There were dogs?
Yeah, I wasn’t the camera operator, so…. If it were up to me it would be all dogs all the time
Katy doesn’t know she’s a d-o-g
On Thursday night I found a concerning place on Katy’s back leg - a tumor looking growth. Took her to the vet first thing Friday and the vet said the cells were abnormal and she wanted to send samples for cytology to a pathologist. She then told me she believed it was cancer and she would need to have surgery which could be a longer healing period due to the location, but wouldn’t have a treatment plan until the results came back. So I loaded up my buddy to head to Missouri for what we thought was her last duck trip this season (only her 2nd season). To say I was devastated to hear that about my 2.5 y/o pup is an understatement. So I was super relieved to get a call from my wife telling me that the results came back today as a benign histiocytoma that should self resolve with no surgery. Huge weight off our shoulders. I’ve been sick about that since Friday and really didn’t expect this to be the outcome but so glad it is. So we are going to go out and take advantage of this and beat up on some ducks for the rest of this season and be thankful for the time doing what we both love.
^ That is great news. I know that was a burden lifted for sure. That is a good looking dog, and you are both lucky to have each other.
You got a great working dog, and she got an owner who gets her in the field. She could have been stuck in a kennel inside some Raleigh subdivision for 99% of her life.
You got a great working dog, and she got an owner who gets her in the field. She could have been stuck in a kennel inside some Raleigh subdivision for 99% of her life.
Thought I'd share for those interested - Feather Point has started a dog training related YouTube channel. I've followed several others and have found useful info on them, so I was glad to see FPR start one up. Already some really solid info in the videos posted.
shurshot
Ten Pointer
Thanks for posting, I’ll check it out.
HR Feather Points Katherine Elizabeth SH
“Katy”
This girl turns 3 today. Seems like the blink of an eye since I made this thread checking into a breeder/trainer. It’s been a fun ride so far and she’s a been a great addition to our family. Just a great all around dog - At home and in the field. Hopefully we have many years ahead filled with lots of adventures.
We’ve been very impressed with Feather Point Retrievers - so much so, that we are picking up our next girl in late May. Here’s a preview of her - really looking forward to starting this journey over again with another pup. Can’t wait to meet her in person. Lots more to come….
“Katy”
This girl turns 3 today. Seems like the blink of an eye since I made this thread checking into a breeder/trainer. It’s been a fun ride so far and she’s a been a great addition to our family. Just a great all around dog - At home and in the field. Hopefully we have many years ahead filled with lots of adventures.
We’ve been very impressed with Feather Point Retrievers - so much so, that we are picking up our next girl in late May. Here’s a preview of her - really looking forward to starting this journey over again with another pup. Can’t wait to meet her in person. Lots more to come….
Jimbob78
Twelve Pointer
They still make hair dye and shoe polish, we can turn yellow into the right color, chocolate!!
Got an updated picture of our future new pup - headed down on the 22nd to pick her up and bring her home. Just over a week away…
Got to meet my new girl for the first time today and headed home with her tomorrow. Welcome to the family, Feather Point’s Queen of the Hive aka “Honey”
