Bird Introductions to Maks

This was Maks first bird introduction. He may had some exposure to pigeons at his breeders kennel but I wouldn't know that. I think things went well. He showed no fear even when the bird fluttered its wings.

Tizona Retrieving

Maks

Maks is a Vizsla. This pointing dog is originally from Hungary and is said to be an old breed. Maks (pronounced mox) is six months old. It is sure a different change to have an almost puppy around. His basic commands are good, I have to reenforce them. Soon, will be an introduction to birds.

Tropical dreaming

Located off the coast of Puerto Rico is "La Isla Nena". The first time we went there, my wife and I fell in love with it. The second time we went there, my kids fell in love with it. This where I also caught my first bonefish. Our next trip is not soon enough for us.

Gentlemen's Game Dinner

Once a year a few of us get together to have a dinner from the game we took during the year. This year's star role was the crane one of our hunting companions took during the year. I also suppplied pheasant breasts and another person, supplied slow roasted whitetail deer. One person brought about six bottles of wine so we can taste with the meal. The meat was cooked on a grill; the crane had a rub on it and the pheasant breast were marinaded. The crane was superb and if anyone had the opportunity to hunt or eat it, I would highly reccomend it. The pheasant wasn't too shabby, either. The roasted deer was as good as expected. I brought the leftovers home and everything disappeared the first night.

Rio San Juan, "El Reposado Tour"

It was great to see friends and spend time with them and my family on the San Juan. The river fished well enough for us; we all caught fish. My best day was on Friday when I stopped counting fish. We fished the upper flats with very little competition with the river flowing at 500 CFS, more or less. On Saturday, we ventured to the lower flats. The lower flats area didn't have many anglers on it with the exception of the float guide trips that would frequently come by. I only hooked two fish during the morning but both were huge; I lost one before bringing it to the net - it turned and faced me and the hook just popped out, the second one (cutbow) went 19 inches with a thick body. The going pattern for us was the Chocolate Emerger in a #22.

The above photo is my son, J.J. He casted the nypmh, set the hook and reeled in the little trout all by himself. He has fished with a fly rod before and enjoys it.

We BBQ for our dinners. The first night we had rib eye steaks. The second night we ate Nilgai, Axis Deer and pheasant breasts. Both meals were superb.

Unfortunately, it had to come to an end. The gentlemen from Texas had to return home and I had to return to Albuquerque. Not before we had made plans for upcoming trips.

"Akita"

Akita is a year old German Shorthaired Pointer. I am training this spring for an individual with the hopes to get her ready for some hunting in the fall. She came to me with absolutely no formal obedience done much less to say anything about advanced field work. Her owner, David C. from Albuquerque acquired her with the hopes of doing the training himself but the training fell threw with all of life's other obligations.

I have had her a week now and can get her to sit on command until released. Next week, I will do the come command and introduce "Whoa" training. This is my first experience with working/training with pointers and looking forward to it. In the past, I have had guide trips where the pointers (Brittany) owners wanted a more experience dog around with their young dogs (Ducky Grouse hunting in the mountains). Akita is a high engery dog and likes to run. It will be fun to see her working a field.