The day had finally come to bring our Irish Setter home. Throughout all the setup and research we were feeling prepared but still a bit anxious. Pickup day at Point Proven Kennels arrived fast and driving home with Willie was a bit surreal. I love interacting with dogs, especially working dogs. But heading back with a pup I purchased, family in tow, was novel and almost a bit foreign but it was a truly amazing memory. Willie was coming home and would share a lifetime with my boy, Finn. Willie settled in to our home quiet quickly. He didn’t appear to miss his 14 littermates at all (sorry). We still had to set up a few final things, like his...
As unpredictable as elk usually are, I was fortunate enough to pattern a small herd to be feeding across a stubble field between heavily treed pasture and standing corn. Having eyes on them morning and night for 3 continual days before the season, I was able to identify the two main points of entry which they were using in and out of the timber. Although 12 elk nonchalantly crossed the field opening morning, I unfortunately chose the wrong trail to set up on. Sitting in anguish, but knowing there was really no other choice, I decided to not pressure. Admittedly I did at first take a few steps closer, but soon thereafter my brain sent a clear message to not mess...