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RE: Pennsylvania
If you like landscape photography, try the Pa Dutch country in Berks County. We live in the mountains outside of Birdsboro and there’s lots of natural beauty there. A mountain brook on our property:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Dog%20Romps%202009/8-2-09-Fallsafterrain.jpg width=640
My pup, Chase, at a little mountain lake by our house:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Dog%20Romps%202009/3-1-09-Chasebythelake.jpg width=640
My family has farmed in the Oley Valley down below “our” mountains for nearly 300 years; and there’s a lot of beauty there as well – restored 18th century farmsteads and the ancient land itself. Apparently, Mr. Mikhen is from this area as well.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Dog%20Romps%202010%20-/3-23-11-OleyValleyhouseinearlyspring.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-23-11-OldGraveyard-1.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2010%20Hunting/9-9-10-Latedayhuntng-2.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2010%20Hunting/9-4-10-SunsetovertheHartmanfamronthe4thday.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/FarmHouse-4-17-08-Gibraltar.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town%202010/3-20-10-OleyHouse-4.jpg width=640
There are many other beautiful untraveled places in Berks County, where the dogs and I are privileged to hunt upland birds:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/1-2012%20Hunting/1-27-12-Maggieafield-2.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-QuittinTime.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-28-11-LairoftheKing-2.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-12-11-FirstOutingatWingPointe.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2010%20Hunting/11-26-10-MaggieGrouseHunting-1.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2010%20Hunting/10-29-10-ChaseUnderstormyskies.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/12-17-09-Downbythespringhouse.jpg width=640
There are the well-known historical sites, such as Hopewell Village National Park, but there are many others just waiting to be discovered by a photographer, like this early 19th century aqueduct that carried the Union Canal over Antietam Creek:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/3-7-09-Aquaduct.jpg width=640
An old train station in Birdsboro:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/3-7-09-TrainStation.jpg width=640
An unrestored 18th century mill:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/3-7-09-OldMillRuins-1.jpg width=640
An enormous factory complex that made Sherman tanks in WWII, but that now sits abandoned to the elements:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town/3-7-09-ArmorCastInterior-2.jpg width=640
I could go on, but enough for now.
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Birddogman
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03/26/12 08:51am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: RV as part of the family emergency plan
We live way back in the woods on top of a mountain in the middle of a good bit of our own land. It is very common for us to lose power or be snowed in for a week or ten days. I can foresee a situation where that went on for a much longer period of time. That is the sort of emergency situation I have prepared for, rather than a total national breakdown of civil order. In that event, I think the cities would spew their countless millions into the countryside and enormous mobs of those desperate, starving people would find their way to places like mine, probably sooner than later. Unless one is willing to literally have bunkers and to mow down fellow citizens (I am not willing to do either), I don't see how anyone can survive that.
For lesser situations, I heat with wood cut on my own property. I have a massive generator system with 550 gallons of fuel. I have my own well with pure mountain water, plus a free running mountain brook with potable water. I buy groceries and household supplies in large quantity and then store and use them over time, oldest first - never having less than a couple months worth of each on hand. I am an avid competitive shooter and hunter and there is plenty of game on my property, so if need be (and I don't think this could happen in a survivable situation), I have both the means and ability to harvest lots of meat. Likewise, I have several little mountain meadows that could be planted with food crops if need be and I have the equipment and ability to do that (once again this would only happen in a long term situation that probably wouldn't be survivable anyway due to the mass exodus from the cities). In addition to outdoor/farming equipment, ATV's and so on, I have a number of vehicles, including a four wheel drive Jeep - and I make an effort to keep the fuel topped up in each of the vehicles - never less than a half tank. I also store significant amounts of gasoline in the barn (kept fresh by cycling through the various vehicles and equipment).
To my mind, these are all just sensible backcountry living practices, not preparation for the end of the world.
I keep the big MH topped up with diesel fuel and it has all of its own "stuff" so I don't need to stock it from home when I us it. Just add fresh food and toys and it's ready to go at any time. Even so, I don't see it as any sort of survival vehicle. I would think that a huge clumsy vehicle obviously containing all sorts of desirable things (food, guns, ammo, money, etc) and likely hopelessly mired in traffic jams would be nothing less than a very attractive and easy target to desperate mobs boiling out of the cities. I would stay right here at home and never try to use the MH in such a situation, therefore I feel it has zero value in an emergency.
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Birddogman
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03/07/12 05:51am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: side aisle motor homes
Mine has something like that - sort of an "S" shaped floorplan. This photo gives an idea:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-29-10-WindyInterior-1.jpg
I really like it for a number of reasons. It feels much more "homey" and less like the straight-though inside of a submarine. The bathroom is large and comfortable and can be accessed from the bedroom or the living area. When someone is in the bathroom that does not trap anyone else in the bedroom or the living area because the middle of the coach is closed off. It also allows amidships placement of the TV which, in turn, causes the whole living are to be used, not just for forward portion, making the whole place seem much more roomy and home-like.
The downside is that when the slide is closed, the side hall disappears and the bedroom can only be accessed by going through the bathroom, but that's no biggie.
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Birddogman
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03/07/12 05:11am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Does anybody enjoy shooting (sports) while on the road?
Over the years, I've traveled all over to compete in NRA bullseye pistol, NRA highpower service rifle, flintlock (rifle and smoothbore), plus registered shotgun competition, but these days my competitive shooting is mostly on a casual, local basis and it is mostly just shotgun games - sporting clays, 5-stand and skeet.
I've become pretty much of a one-trick pony - upland bird hunting over my pointing dogs. This is the reason I have the big MH and generally the dogs and I spend much of the fall on the road in various wilderness places around the country hunting upland birds. This season, a serious health problem suffered by my wife prevented our usual travels for the first time in years, so we were forced to take advantage of opportunities close to home:
We started out dove hunting on September 1 on the ancient family farms down in the valley from where we live. Scanning the skies for incomers:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-28-11-Bothdogswatchingforincomers.jpg width=640
A retrieve to hand:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-ChaseRetrieve-3.jpg width=640
When ruffed grouse opened, we hunted them high up in the mountains where we live:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-21-11-Mountaintopcover.jpg width=640
A point on an elusive ruff in a rare open area, allowing for a picture and a clean shot:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-27-11-Chasepoint.jpg width=640
When pheasant season opened, we added pheasant hunting (my favorite of all hunting) into the mix, covering many, many miles of beautiful local pheasant habitat:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-28-11-LairoftheKing-2.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-30-11-Chaseworkingswitchgrass.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-21-11-Maggielookinggoodafield.jpg
After the regular seasons closed, we scratch hunt at our hunting club through the end of March - a couple nice points and backs:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-30-11-MaggiepointChasehonor.jpg width=640
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-MaggiePointChaseHonor.jpg width=640
Double dog point:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/1-2012%20Hunting/2-1-12-DoubleDogPoint-1.jpg width=640
One of hundreds of retrieves:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/1-2012%20Hunting/1-6-12-Chaseretreive-1.jpg width=640
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Birddogman
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02/28/12 04:39pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: kayaks vs canoes
FWIW, I have what I consider the ideal compromise. It's 14' canoe, but it's set-up like a kayak in that you sit in the bottom of it and use a double ended paddle and foot pads. There is no deck like a kayak, so you can carry a lot of stuff. It paddles very efficiently and is maneuverable like a kayak. With all of the weight on the bottom, it is extremely stable in rough water.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/AssociationIsland-2006-CanoeonSpit-.jpg
I had it built primarily to give my dogs and me (and our hunting equipment, food, water, etc) access to the far side of the bridgeless bodies of water we encounter in our wilderness hunting trips. I had it built out of carbon fiber material with thin teak trim and thwarts, so the whole thing weighs 17 pounds and can easily be lifted with one hand or portaged for long distances by one person (I am always alone), but yet is super-strong. The downside of carbon fiber construction, of course, is cost.
Normally one dog sits in front and one behind, but if we are not crossing really big water, the dogs prefer swimming beside the canoe to riding in it.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Outer%20Banks%20and%20Shore/2007-OuterBanks-5-19-07-Canoe-Ch-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Outer%20Banks%20and%20Shore/2007-OuterBanks-5-19-07-Canoe-Maggi.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Outer%20Banks%20and%20Shore/2007-OuterBanks-5-17-07-Canoe-Ma-1.jpg
I carry it on top of my Jeep toad. There it is out of the way until I need it.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/10-21-09-Onthewayhome-roadweary.jpg
It's also good for fishing and exploring in the off-season:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/RaystownLake-5-08-Fishing-1.jpg
I couldn't use a kayak because you can't carry what I needed to carry. A regular canoe was too heavy to load, unload and portage when you are also managing dogs and carrying a gun and all of the stuff needed to sustain man and dogs in wilderness places, plus a canoe is too unstable with active bird dogs as passengers. The cheap inflatables weren't strong enough and didn't handle well/paddle efficiently for long over the water trips - they were like toys. The high quality inflatables were too heavy and too much trouble for one man to set-up and take down.
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Birddogman
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01/24/12 05:55am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: What are your favorite RV activities??
Pretty much what Portscanner does, I guess. During the season, bird hunting in various locations around the country (east and west) with my two Brittanies.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-MaggiePoint-Cha.jpg width=360
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-ChasesRetreive-.jpg width=360
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-MaggiePointChaseHonor.jpg width=360
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/1-2012%20Hunting/1-6-12-Chaseretreive-1.jpg width=360
Off season, exploring natural places with the dogs, some competitive shooting and some photography:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/4-18-09-AmeliaIsland-Nodogsallowed.jpg width=360
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Shooting/FiveStand-4-2004.jpg width=360
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places/4-18-09-AmeliaIsland-LIghthouse-2.jpg width=360
Sitting around is torture to me. I must be active and moving.
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Birddogman
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01/22/12 06:16am |
RV Lifestyle
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A PE of two working dogs in the 2011 season (long)
This year has been very different for us. Normally, the dogs and I spend a good bit of time in the big motorhome traveling to beautiful wilderness places to hunt, usually in the west. After suffering the ever-worsening ravages of MS for over 35 years, my poor wife had a catastrophic stroke and is now unable to do any of the so-called "activities of daily living". She needs 100% 24/7 care and cannot be left alone for a minute. Therefore, we have been unable to travel this season and we've been relegated to taking advantage of what opportunities exist locally during times when I have a nurse come to care for my wife.
Maggie is that special once-in-a-lifetime dog, more human than canine and a big part of my soul. She's thirteen - very old for a working bird dog. Chase is eight and in his prime.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-1stdayofdoves-MaggieandChase-1.jpg
We started out the 2011 season on Sept 1st, when the first bird season of the year opened - mourning doves. We hunted the nearby family farms in the valley below the mountains where we live. Dove hunting isn't really hunting, as the dogs don't find and hold the birds for a point. You try to station yourself under an area where the doves are moving and then pass-shoot them. They tend to move to roost from spread out feeding areas in the late afternoon/early evening. All there really is for the dogs to do is watch for incomers and retrieve downed birds. On the way down the mountain, excited for the first day of hunting in months, we saw these fine young fellows in one of my little mountain meadows and took it as a good omen (and indeed it was).
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-21-11-Turkeysagain.jpg
The family farm is a beautiful place - reminds me of a Dutch master's painting:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-21-11-Mutedcolorsthisday.jpg
It's amazing how the dogs instantly know just what to do - they don't even try to quarter through the cover searching for hidden upland birds by scent as they normally would - they scan the sky instead. Here is Maggie in a brief sunbeam on a stormy day watching for birds over a cut corn field:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-28-11-Maggiewatchingforincomers.jpg
Chase looking for incomers:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-Chasewatchingforincomers-2.jpg
You can wait all day without having a shot, or you can have real hot barrel shooting. When the birds are in the air, things get pretty exciting!! If you look closely there are seven of them in sight.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-14-11-Birds-2.jpg
Here, during the heat of the action, is Maggie marking a falling bird down for a retrieve, while Chase is in the process of bringing one to hand:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-14-11-Chaseretrieve-Maggiealertformore.jpg
This was a cool retrieve. Having each been stampeded by both cattle in the east and by buffalo in the west, my dogs hate such critters and try to stay away from them. Here, I somehow managed to drop a bird right in the middle of a tightly packed herd of steers. Chase marked it down and I could see the wheels turning in his head. He apparently decided that those &^%# cows weren't going to keep "his" bird and he dashed right into the herd at full speed, weaving between their legs and avoiding their hooves, snagged the bird and came dashing proudly back out, still at full speed.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-14-11-Chaseretrievingfromaherdofcows.jpg
A few more of many retrieves:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-ChaseRetrieve-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-MaggieRetrieve-2.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-ChaseRetrieve-3.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/9-1-11-MaggieRetrieve-1.jpg
The dove hunting was surprisingly good this year, but we were getting anxious for real upland hunting. The next season to open was ruffed grouse, which we hunt right in the mountains where we live. They are a very wary bird to hunt and there are miles and miles of good grouse cover - ideally super-thick areas of emerging woodland that have grown up maybe five years after a logging clear-cut.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-21-11-Quittintime.jpg
Hunting grouse in the impenetrable birch whips, picker jungles and steep glacial rock piles is hard work. "Hey, Boss, this doesn't look like the open prairie to us - when does the FUN start??"
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-19-11-Whendoesthefunstart.jpg
Birds are few and far between. A dog that isn't very cautious will spook the bird. But, it's all worthwhile when you see a hard-earned point on a ruffed grouse! Here are two:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-19-11-Chasenailsone.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-27-11-Chasepoint.jpg
Finally, the pheasant season opened. To me, the ringneck is the King of all upland game birds (followed closely by the prairie chicken and sharptail grouse). Maybe I feel that way because I grew up hunting pheasants. They run like antelope, They can often out-fox an experienced dog. When you do get one to hold for a point, his cackling thunder into the sky with his bright colors and long tail flashing in the sun gets my heart pounding even though I've probably killed thousands of pheasants over the years. Plus, the King is hunted in what I consider the most beautiful cover of all around here.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-28-11-LairoftheKing-2.jpg
You can see the mountains where we hunt grouse from the pheasant hunting fields:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-28-11-Grouselivehere.jpg
The first day of the season for the King dawned wet and cloudy, but we went anyway. Within five minutes, Maggie pinned one in a thick fence row for a nice point and the 20 gauge spoke when it flushed.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-24-11-firstdayofphezforus-Maggiesretrieve.jpg
Five minutes later, Chase gave me another great point. When the bird flushed, I didn't want to shoot because we would be done for the day - the limit is two - but Chase had done such a perfect job, I felt I had to take the bird and I did. Chase brought it to hand:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-24-11-Chasebringsonetohand.jpg
After all of that anticipation, we were done for the day in ten minutes. Lucky? Maybe not so lucky....
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-24-11-firstphezhunt-limitedintenminutes.jpg
As the season went on, Maggie, Chase and the Old Man covered countless miles and took our share of birds, but never did we repeat the ten minute limit. Here are some heart-stopping points by Chase with Maggie honoring:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-Pointandback.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-ChasePointMaggiehonor-2.jpg
Maggie locked-up on point and Chase doing the honors:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-MaggiePointChaseHonor.jpg
Working together:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-28-11-MaggieandChaseatwork-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-21-11-theteamatworkinlateseason.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-Workingafieldtogether.jpg
A few of many retrieves:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-Chaseretrievinghisphez.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-10-11-MaggiieRetrieve-1.jpg
This was an unusual and pretty bird - all light tan with no bars on its feathers, but a regular white ring around its neck and a typical dark green head:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-Chaseretrievingtancockbird.jpg
Here we were hunting with the wind at our backs, so the dogs could only scent things behind them. Maggie scented a bird, twirled around in mid-air and locked into a point right in front of me (you can see Chase hasn't gotten the word yet):
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-Maggienailsoneaboveapond.jpg
When I took a step, it flushed HARD and I dropped it out of sight by a little pond. Here is Maggie "hunting dead" for the bird by the pond.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-Maggiehuntingdeadbypond.jpg
Chase found that bird and retrieved it to hand with great enthusiasm:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-Chaseretrievingphezbypond.jpg
Tools of the trade - little 28 gauge sidelock and battered camera:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-30-11-Toolsofthetrade.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-14-11-28gaugeandphezinvest-1.jpg
Chase working thick switchgrass - he makes like an kangaroo in that stuff - frequently jumping up above the cover so he can see me and keep track of where I am:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-21-11-HandsomeChaseintheswitchgrass.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-30-11-Chaseworkingswitchgrass.jpg
Maggie getting it done at age thirteen!
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-Notbadfor13yearsold.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-21-11-Maggielookinggoodafield.jpg
Maggie nails one in an open field:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-10-11-MaggiiePoint-2.jpg
Chase has one pinned in an impenetrable greenbriar jungle:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/12-10-11-ChasePoint-2.jpg
We had snow now and then:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-30-11-28gaugeandwildphez-2.jpg
Well, this is enough for now - The Old Man and Maggie are tired (Chase is still going strong). It's getting to be quittin' time in the beautiful uplands:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-Thetwoofthem.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-QuittinTime.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-pond.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-30-11-Phezcover.jpg
Hope you enjoyed coming along and seeing what two working dogs can do.
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Birddogman
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12/20/11 04:44pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: What kind of knife.....?
Well, I don't have a knife for just camping. I do, however, have one and only one pocket knife that I carry at all times and use for pretty much anything that requires a knife, from cleaning countless birds and deer to opening packages. I keep it very, very sharp; and it easily flips open and locks with one hand. It's a custom A.G. Russell folder with a damascus blade with a solid carbon steel center which really holds an edge and mammoth ivory scales. It has a LOT of miles on it.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/guns/knifewithmamothivory.jpg
Leatherman tools are very handy and I always have one in my hunting vest for pulling cactus spines or porcupine quills out of the dogs and a myriad of other chores, but they are not knives. For slicing a perfect fillet off a pheasant or deer in about two seconds, you need a real, razor sharp knife.
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Birddogman
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12/16/11 04:29pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Manly Man Christmas Gift Ideas, Please!
I have enough "stuff". Permission for me and the dogs to travel in the MH without guilt or anger would be the best present.
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Birddogman
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12/08/11 04:18am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Tick
Oh my - all of that over one tick.
My dogs are working dogs as well as pets. It is more common than not for each of them to have 50+ ticks on them after a session afield. The cover they hunt is loaded with ticks.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-21-11-ChaseatBlueMarsh.jpg
We also live way back in the sticks up on a mountain and there are zillions of ticks in our woods, so just a daily run gathers many, many ticks. The only time ticks aren't a problem is when the temps are below freezing, and even then if the temp gets above freezing for an hour, the ticks are out again.
FWIW, here's what I do:
I've never found anything that keeps the ticks off the dogs - when they push through cover, they collect ticks no matter what. So, I don't even try to deal with that.
I use Frontline Plus religiously every 30 days (it is more effective early on during that period and gradually becomes less effective), which is supposed to kill any imbedded ticks within 24 hours of biting. Supposedly, it takes longer than 24 hours to transfer Lyme virus to the dog.
As soon as the dogs are done with a hunt or a run, I carefully pick the live ticks off each dog by hand an drop them into a wide-mouth jar with rubbing alcohol which kills the &^%# things. At this point, none of the ticks are really imbedded and they are easy to pick off. It takes a good bit of time and three or four session with each dog to very carefully ruffle through all of their fur and try to get all of the ticks.
Inevitably, I will miss one or two ticks that will become imbedded. When that happens, I will simply pinch the swollen tick as close to the dog's skin as possible and pull it off. 99% of the time, the tick comes out, head and all.
Other than washing my hands at the end of the process, that's all I do. The combination of careful tick picking and Frontline must work because after exposure to thousands and thousand of ticks over the years, I've never had a dog get sick, get Lyme disease, etc. Plus, the dogs really enjoy this process and the attention - they each try to be first to be "checked".
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Birddogman
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12/07/11 05:31am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Is Reading Better Than TV?
Each to their own.
35 years of MS followed by a catastrophic stroke have left my wife pretty much unable to do anything for herself, including any of the "activities of daily living". She is totally obsessed with TV and becomes very anxious if she doesn't have it blaring in her face 24/7 (yes, even when sleeping). Maybe that obsession is partly due to the accumulated brain damage from the MS and the massive brain damage from the stroke, but she has always been a TV fanatic - long before the stroke. Back when she would still sometimes accompany me and the dogs on a MH trip, she had the same TV needs that had to be met at all times, no matter where we were, so our RV's were always equipped with the latest and best TV technology, including in-motion satellite dishes, etc. While the constant loud TV noise and the frantic anxiety if it is momentarily interrupted by a storm or something is very annoying to me, I'm glad she finds comfort in disappearing into the tube - it's all she has. She is nearly blind from the years of MS and the stroke and couldn't read if her life depended on it. But, she never was any kind of reader even as a young person.
On the other hand, I'm not a TV watcher. I'm no sports fan - why anyone would utilize their precious time to sit and watch other people play children's games and get their exercise for them is beyond me. Almost all other TV bores me to tears - I just can't get "into" it - like watching paint dry - and I almost always have ten active things I want to be doing with that time. In fact, I can't remember the last time I watched TV - years, I guess. Now and then, late in the evening if I'm too exhausted to do anything else I will use Netflix streaming video watch a good movie or historical documentaries. I like Netflix because I can watch exactly what I want exactly when I want to without commercials and all of that. The downside is that this makes me a pop-culture pygmy, but that's not new and I'm OK with that.
I have been an avid reader since I was a child. At any given moment, I can be commanding an infantry company on D-Day, or be one of the first Europeans to explore this continent; or be one of the first colonists on a new planet. Or, I can be learning most anything - from Photoshop minutia to identifying Luger pistols. My kids bought me a Kindle when they first came out a few years ago and I really like it, especially because it allows me access to a vast library of books anywhere there is cell phone service.
Is TV "better" than reading, or vice versa? Reading works best for me. My wife cannot be five minutes without TV. I could care less what others do, as long as they aren't blasting me with their TV noise. Sadly, blaring outside TV's are more common than not in any campground; and that is one of the many reasons why the dogs and I avoid campgrounds whenever we can.
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Birddogman
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11/23/11 04:52am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Working Dogs vs Lap Dogs
My dogs are working dogs who are always with me, at home, at work, in the MH, in the outdoors, etc. Right now, both are ensconced on the couch in my home office/gun room.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town%202010/1-27-10-HomeOffice.jpg
Obviously, when they are actually working, they get out pretty far (how far depending on the cover and species being hunted). Here is a point and back the other day in heavy eastern ag cover:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/11-11-11-Pointandback.jpg
Here is a recent point on the vast western high plains:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Maggiespoint.jpg
Here is a point on ruffed grouse in the eastern mountain jungles a couple weeks ago:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2011%20Hunting/10-19-11-Chasenailsone.jpg
About the only time they are not with me is when I am running the chainsaw up in the woods (I heat with wood that I cut on my place, so this is a common event). They love to run along when I'm on the ATV up in the mountain, but as soon as they realize it's a chainsaw day, they go back down the mountain and hang around outside the house waiting from me to finish and return. I think they hate the noise and know that I can't pay attention to them while I'm running the saw.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town%202010/9-4-10-Farwud-thehillbillysrenewableenergyresource.jpg
Since my wife's terrible illness, their constant presence and devoted, gentle understanding have been an enormous help to me. Keeps me alive.
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Birddogman
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11/22/11 01:45pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Where does your dog or cat like to "hang out" on the road
When actually driving, Maggie (my older dog) sits in the passenger chair and keep an eye on me and the passing scenery. Chase (my young dog) doesn't challenge Maggie's right as alpha to the seat and rides in a dog bed in the front passenger foot area with the stairwell closed off. He can see out the windshield if he sits up and he is usually doing that and watching me. Now and then they will take a walk back into the MH to get a drink of water or something, but when we are moving they are up front 99% of the time.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Arewethereyet.jpg
They find urban areas as boring and usually sleep through those (wish I could). Any animals or birds out in the country get their immediate attention.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Chasehatescattle.jpg
Once we've arrived at a destination, they (and I) live in the MH pretty much as we do at home - namely, they have the run of the place, but are never far from where I am. They are usually pretty tired because we have either been hunting all day or out walking in wilderness places.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-25-10-tireddawgs.jpg
Mostly, though, we are outside:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-8-09-Takingabreak.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-Doubledogpoi-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-ChasesRetrei-1.jpg
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Birddogman
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11/21/11 05:55am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Said Good-bye to the best dog ever
That's awful - I know all too well that a dog can become a big part of your soul, especially one with whom you've traveled many thousands of miles and done countless things. Lady was a really beautiful girl. It sounds like she had a good, long life, chock full of love and interesting experiences - and it sounds like she will live forever, young and strong, in your heart - that's all any of us, human or canine, can hope for.
A pup will never replace Lady, but I know there is a young Brittany out there with a whole life ahead of him or her, who would be very, very lucky to have you as his/her new master. Maybe give that some thought?
My beloved Brittanies (Maggie - 13 and Chase 8), who have also traveled and hunted all over the country, send their condolences and they will each get an extra hug today.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-MaggiePoint-Cha.jpg
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Birddogman
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08/16/11 01:09pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: not tying dogs...Small fence?
Like Portscanner, I have two super-athletic pointing dogs (Britanys). When I put them out at a campground, they are in a small ex-pen.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places%202010/4-20-10-PecanPark-1.jpg width=640
They could easily jump over it or just push it open, but are trained not to do that. They like to watch the people and critters going by and to sample all of the scents; and there are no ropes to tangle. They are also trained not to bark at passers by. With trained dogs, an ex-pen works great. I just fold it up when done and keep it in a basement compartment.
The only problem is that this does not keep busybodies from coming on to my site and giving the dogs food, reaching into the ex-pen, bringing their foo-foo dog up to "say hello", etc, etc. That's one of the many reasons the dogs and I avoid campgrounds when we can.
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Birddogman
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07/30/11 01:32pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: The Kindle and kindle books
Another Kindle fan here. Not much to add to what has already been said, except to point out that if you are a really avid reader and you "camp" in really remote places, a Kindle will keep you in books.
I'm often "camped" in wilderness places for upland bird hunting, where it's a long drive to the nearest town and that town might have one bar and one tiny grocery store with a half-dozen dusty paperbacks for sale if you are lucky. The nearest place with a real selection of books might be several hours away. If I can get cell service, I can download books on my Kindle anywhere. In addition to the other benefits of an e-reader, this is of particular benefit to RV'ers.
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Birddogman
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07/28/11 05:12am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Glucosamine - How Many use it and see positive results
FWIW, as an active upland bird hunter, I walk many, many miles in rough terrain and heavy cover. My knees started giving me trouble around age 50. I started taking GC and after a few weeks the pain went away. Now, at age 65 with thousands more miles under those same knees – no problems at all. I don’t know if it was the GC or if the knees just got better and stayed better on their own, but I take the stuff every day just in case.
Same deal with my dogs. For example, when my older dog, Maggie was 7 she started to show a lot of stiffness after a hard day afield covering maybe 40 miles of rough terrain. I gave her the GC and she’s now 13 (VERY old for a pointing dog to remain active) and still runs like the wind. She’s the orange and white dog shown at work and at play below:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/2-13-09-GregtakingbirdoverMaggie-1.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/11-12-09-Maggieretrieveingoneofmybi.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Outer%20Banks%20and%20Shore/2007-OuterBanks-5-17-07-MaggieandCh.jpg
Once again, did she just get better on her own and is she just exceptionally fit for such an old dog; or did the GC make the difference? Dunno for sure, but I’m hedging my bets by giving her GC twice each day.
Neither the dogs nor I had any downsides from the stuff that I could tell. I try to buy top quality GC, different brands, depending on what is available. As long as I stick with the good stuff, it seems to work. My suggestion would be to give it a try with your pup – doesn’t seem to be much to lose.
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Birddogman
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07/27/11 07:03am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Show your dogs!
You take outstanding pictures Birddogman. What photo editing software do you use?
Thanks! I use Adobe Photoshop CS5 - a huge and complicated piece of software, but also the most versatile.
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Birddogman
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07/26/11 05:05am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Show your dogs!
Maggie:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/11-8-09-MaggiesittingatBlueMarsh-5.jpg
Chase:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Dog%20Romps%202009/3-1-09-Chasebythelake.jpg
On the road: a break to water the bushes
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Breakontheroad.jpg
riding shotgun for thousand of miles
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-21-10-Arewethereyet.jpg
tired after a hard day afield
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202010/9-25-10-tireddawgs.jpg
At work: point and honor for the Old Man
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/3-18-09-JimLowePics-Gregwalkinginon.jpg
point and honor from the business end
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/3-28-09-LastHunt-ChasePoint-MaggieB.jpg
eastern phez retrieve
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/1-30-09-MaggieRetrieve-1.jpg
western sharptail retrieve
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-ChasesRetreive-.jpg
At home: keepin' an eye on the turkeys off the deck
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town%202011/3-19-11-Turkeysoffthedeck-1.jpg
fishing in our brook
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Dog%20Romps%202009/4-5-09-Maggiebythefalls-2.jpg
relaxing with the cat in the gun room in the evening
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/My%20Home%20Town%202010/1-27-10-HomeOffice.jpg
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Birddogman
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07/25/11 04:32pm |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: What is up with Dogs not on Leash
"Puppy gonna need a box for a dirt nap."
"We're just waiting for the (painless) poison we fed it to take effect, then we'll be burying this poor homeless stray we found so it doesn't continue to suffer."
My God... Please let me know where you camp and I'll be sure to stay far, far away from there.
My dogs are working dogs as well as beloved pets and full family members. They must be trained because we get paid to "guide" - to provide top quality pointing dog work in the uplands for our Guns (when the Dick Cheney's of the world want to hunt upland birds, they don't maintain and train their own dogs - they pay for the service). Here is a typical point and honor in eastern cover. They will hold that bird there until the Gun arrives to flush and kill the bird.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/2009%20Hunting/3-28-09-LastHunt-ChasePoint-MaggieB.jpg width=650
After the bird is down, the dogs will bring it to hand. Here is a typical retrieve in western cover:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202009/Dakota-2009-10-6-09-ChasesRetrei-2.jpg width=650
The Guns would not be pleased if the guide spent the day trying to control his unruly dogs and the guide would soon be out of business. Also, 100% control is often a life-and-death matter for the dogs. If one of my dogs is hot on the trail of a pheasant that is about to cross a highway, I must be able to instantly and reliably stop them in their tracks, even if they are 1/2 mile out as is common. Same if I see a nasty critter, like a prairie rattler, near the dogs - not an uncommon event.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/South%20Dakota%202008/7thDay-2008-PrairieRattler.jpg width=650
Not obeying a command simply is not an option for my dogs. My dogs actually handle much better off-lead, because they can't begin to do their job on a leash they spend very little time on-lead.
Nonetheless, I leash my dogs when I stay in campgrounds because that's the rule and if I stay in a campground, I figure I'm implicitly agreeing to be subject to their rules. Frankly, one of the reasons I avoid campgrounds as much as possible is to avoid their onerous rules, especially relating to dogs, plus there are hoards of willing Rules Nazis to enforce every rule.
For the record, I don't like uncontrolled dogs either! When some idiot lets his/her dog run up to my dogs (an all to common experience in campgrounds), I am furious! I do not hesitate to give that person the full "benefit" of my thinking on the matter, loudly and in no uncertain terms - but I would never harm their dog unless it was actually attacking (which has never happened) and then only enough to stop the problem. If someone in a campground or elsewhere attempted to deliberately harm my dogs, I would react to that in the same way I would if that person deliberately attempted to harm me or one of my kids.
Leashes are not, in any event, a cure all to irresponsible dog owners. If I'm not actively doing anything with the dogs at a campground, I will put them in a small ex-pen so they can watch the goings on and enjoy the many scents.
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee263/Birddogman_photos/Trips%20and%20Places%202010/4-20-10-PecanPark-1.jpg width=650
Campground busybodies will come right on my site and give my dogs food without asking me. It is all too common for some busybody with a little foo-foo dog on a leash to come onto my site so Princess can "say hello to the nice doggies". Worst of all, they will allow Princess to stick her dumb little face in the ex-pen. My dogs are bred and trained to instantly dispatch small varmints on command - a very useful thing for a rural landowner like me. To them, Princess is a small varmint. They won't go after a varmint without a command (one cannot have one's dogs attacking the neighbor's cat who wandered on to your property), but nonetheless I must drop whatever I am doing and gently suggest to the busybody that what she is doing with Princess is not a good idea. Usually that results in the busybody standing on my site giving me a piece of her mind. Sigh.
Bottom line - the misbehaved/uncontrolled dog problem is strictly a problem with the owner and not the dog. While I understand the need for the leash rules and other rules when people are jammed together in a campground (and I obey those rules when I must stay in a campground), basic respect, good will and common sense is needed, too. It's needed on both sides of the issue - by those who have dogs and by those who don't like them. People who let their dogs run rampant should be summarily ejected from campgrounds and told never to return. Concomitantly, people who threaten others directly or by threatening their beloved pets should also be summarily ejected from campgrounds and told never to return.
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Birddogman
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07/21/11 07:46am |
General RVing Issues
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