2016 Season in pictures.

[sjemac]

Season started as it does for us every year with the late August fishing trip on Van Isle. We limited out on salmon, lings, rock cod and halibut in a few days.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/5BD8A84F-33F9-456F-9646-B13518B9D56A_zpsrjqovy7u.jpg

That quickly transitioned into waterfowl season with the boys and I doing a scout/hunt at the first of Sept.


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/02D7DD23-AF02-477B-B54D-AFF078008D96_zpssmrtc0zq.jpg

We hit a small marsh the next week and picked up a few more. More working on having the two dogs working in the boat than a real hunt.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/647E280C-D2C5-4599-82C3-32D685FD3741_zpsjinxlzzp.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/D55E7193-7CD1-468A-B5CF-6231A48DA4E8_zpsztzkg6nf.jpg
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[sjemac]

This was Maple's (the Toller) first full season and she got the hang of things right away. We even did a solo hunt just so she could work without the distraction of Warden.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/DC395A25-2734-4972-903B-FE451813FB90_zpskhxbsytd.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/B8DA9150-F420-4D44-B56B-2E347781D531_zps2rhnm3jw.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/46174B41-3FFF-40E5-987B-D323AA28E0C7_zps5onhpzlr.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/2F4E2179-D14C-4C29-BF98-D7BBA3EA481F_zpskdygp5yy.jpg

On a later hunt with both dogs however it was apparent that large geese were too much for her so we kept her for ducks and closer retrieves while keeping the big boy in reserve for long cripples and big geese.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/5EC416D5-CCC7-4FC3-82A1-460E312BB6B0_zpsp33yluka.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/2ECE67B4-BF4C-41B4-AEB5-26407803660D_zpsepxsbzil.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/6A3B7301-9372-461F-A819-D4400CEA7255_zpsozsvj5wq.jpg

The youngest boy even managed to whack a grouse from the front step one morning.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/FA7F9863-83AB-4CC1-A97A-9E83EF877EBF_zpsrcsa4f9x.jpg

I got the oldest out on a good shoot with the big dog early in October. Warden made one amazing retrieve where he chased a cripple nearly a half mile down the lake before ultimately catching it while it was diving.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/2742A667-8475-45C3-B640-FF649873926F_zps0przqpb1.jpg
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[sjemac]

Took a weekend "off" to slaughter turkeys and swine

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/39D19CAF-FDB5-460D-8AED-3A1421EBD32F_zpsgdqfitd3.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/B527D7BD-EA19-4ABC-AF05-FA4F7715051F_zpstchy0nst.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/BD1C215A-0DE5-4B16-AC45-273064811DE7_zpszbaanwit.jpg

Before heading to Taber for Pheasant Festival

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/A3350A15-BEA4-4A14-81CD-59E8ABEF9521_zpsxyq5fjcf.jpg

Followed by a week in 102 to hunt mulies in the coulees.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/717F83D8-5A4D-48AF-96AA-25678531AF05_zpsrqfqnjna.jpg
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http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/70AA931A-0224-4835-A053-828062FC912A_zpsufd1l8hd.jpg

The youngest picked up his little buck the following weekend.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/D6B65AE5-A85C-458E-A71D-BDF53B7C18A4_zpsldvcvbfu.jpg

And both boys finished out the season with a antlerless double.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/sjemac/2016/1C8CBA54-CCC2-41DB-80CF-B67D74969BEB_zpskga9eiz6.jpg

Great season overall. Would have liked more time on the birds but you can't do it all all the time. Still some grouse to shoot around Christmas.

[H380]

Looks like a great year to me , congrats to all especially the younguns . Good job Dad , getting em in the field .:)

[58thecat]

Wow, you guys are going to get the meat sweats big time this winter:sHa_shakeshout:

Great outings for sure.:)

[sns2]

Thanks for the great pics and write-up. Very enjoyable.

[brendan's dad]

After seeing zero deer but having a great day, Brendan wanted "chicken wraps" for supper. The 260 was quite effective on a head shot.

[300magman]

Great post and pics, looks like a heck of a season for your family!

[brendan's dad]

Congrats on the season and I apologize for posting a picture on the thread. I thought it was open to post pictures of the 2016 season. Misread the intent of the thread.

[wildwoods]

Great Season OP. Thanks for taking the time to share

[kujoseto]

Awesome stuff!
Where'd you get the toller?

[CNP]

Awesome!

[hayseed]

Holy smokes!!!!

What a great year you guys had, congrats and thanks for sharin!!!

Love the dog pics as well !!

[sjemac]

Awesome stuff!
Where'd you get the toller?



Minnesota. From a Calgary bloodline though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alpineguy]

Looks like a great season and some nice photos......thanks for posting

[Newview01]

Hope your hungry. Thats a lot of meat..

[sjemac]

Hope your hungry. Thats a lot of meat..

Teenaged boys. A braised deer shoulder is one meal and a day of lunches. The oldest is 17, 6 foot two, 140 pounds and 95% raging metabolism. He is like a shrew, if he doesn't eat his own bodyweight each day he'll die of starvation.

[chaser]

Congrats, that looks like an awesome year. Its nice to see the involvement with the youngings!

[Bonescreek]

Two of the most smiling dogs I've seen in a long time.
Not short on pride in the young mans smiles upon their faces either.

What a wonderful fall you have had.
Merry Christmas and God bless.

Many are never are gifted enough to know the happiness life can give.

You and your family are not one of them.
Thank you for sharing your fall this year, your life this year.

[lromanchuk]

Awesome pics. Congrats on a great season.

Love the name Warden for the old pup.

[Sooner]

Sweet season, thanks for posting.