Hobby Sports

Hunting Trophy. 1862. Oil on canvas. Musée dOrsay, Paris, France. Claude Monet


The Hunt. 1876. Oil on canvas. Private collection, Paris, France. Claude Monet


Game Still-Life with Hunting Dog. 1730. Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

While looking for videos for Hunting with Hank, it reminded me of the show that used to proceded it on OLN, Sportsman Journal with Andy Mill. I began looking for any uploads of old episodes on the web. Unfortunately no one has ever uploaded it onto the internet. I googled Andy Mill in the hopes I could find a few episodes, I never did but I found that Andy wrote a Tarpon book.

Its available in three versions, standard, limited edition, and presidential edition. For $5,100 youll get the presidential edition signed by President Bush (the first one) and Andy Mills. The standard version is not cheap either at $100. I think Ill eventually pick one up as Andy really knows Tarpon and Im sure this book is packed with tons of knowledge.

The book is not available on Amazon so it looks like youll have to pay full boat for now.

It even comes with a Chasing Silvers DVD. The book is available at

http://www.wildriverpress.com/A-Passion-for-Tarpon.html

Back at it again in the Owens Valley.  I only had two or three hours to hunt before lights out.  I decided to check out a portion of the Owens Ive yet to hunt.  Within the first 20 minutes, Kaiser and I jumped a pair of greenheads but they were too far for me to feel comfortable with the shot.  At over $3 a round, I dont want to be risking low probability far shots.  Hiking over 2 miles we were unable to locate anymore.  We raced back and with the sun setting in the next hour, we made our way to Copenhagen Hill in the hopes of pass shooting some ducks.  But the only birds seen were a murder of crows.  We didnt even seen one duck at a distance.  Tomorrow we try again...

With hunting season now long over, many of us are now venturing off to our local streams with fly rod in hand in search of some wild trout.  I caution those who are, beware of poison oak!  Recently I learned that my fishing buddy Tuck has been infected.  Infected so bad that he had to go to the emergency room.  The contamination spread throughout his body including his cock and balls.  Yup.  You heard me.  ON HIS JUNK!  When Chul first notified me that Tuck had suffered this horrible fate, my first reaction was, like any good fishing buddys would be, not of empathy or pity, but to laugh my ass off.  Laughed so hard I nearly peed myself.  Yes.  I am that kind of "buddy."  The type that laughs at a friends misfortune.  I think that type of person is what is commonly referred to as a "Douche."  In my defense Chul too was laughing his ass off when he told me.  So I guess hes a douche too.


Heel up buddy.  You poor bastard.  You poor itchy-crotch-on-fire bastard.  At least you have another story...A good one too!

And Tuck I hope you arent upset I posted this story, dont worry no one reads this crappy blog anyway.  Although I have not known you for long, I do know you wont care because you are good humored but if you do, I dont care.  Afterall Im a douche, remember?  If one good thing has come about from this, at least the skanks of the San Diego bar scene are safe...temporarily...until Tuck heels.

With one day away, September 1st marks the dove opener for most of the States.  Most hunters are foaming at the mouth by now.  Not me.  Ill bypass the opener like I have done so for a few years now.  Its simply too hot and there are too many knuckleheads that ruin your day.  On top of that, who knows what yesterdays dessert rains had done to those birds.  They are probably all gone.  I do look forward to September 8th, though as it marks the opening of the early mountain quail season for the northern half of the state.  In anticipation to that I joined Lou for his weekly dog training at Prado.

Lous Darne R10 (take off that damn slip on pad!)

Lou had excess birds and as this was his last time out for training until the season opens he gave me call to see if Kaiser needed some bird work.  He invited me last week as well but unfortunately I was too busy t come out.  With two of his females in heat, Lou brought his three other dogs.  We had 20 birds for four dogs, so each dog was going to get a good workout.  I brought my Merkel 147SL in 12 gauge and Lou brought his Darne R10 in 20.  After telling Lou about Darnes and having bought his first, he is now a convert.  His Darne is lovely but unfortunately its LOP is much to short.  Lou added a slip on pad, which I hate and can not stand, to help increase the LOP to 14.5 inches.  I told him to get rid of that slip on and put on a proper rubber pad but its his gun.

My Merkel 147SL

It looks like my time at the clay range was a big help as no birds escaped my 12 gauge.  If only that will be the case in the field this year.  I even tried the R10 for the last bird.  His Darne seems so much whippier than mine.  As with any lightweight and short gun it is very whippy and as such you tend to stop your swing.  I missed the first shot and just barely made the second after realizing I was stopping my swing.  Kaiser needs work.  He bumped the first bird tripping the launcher right after he pointed.  After a correction he stopped that nonsense.  Since Ive done little bird work in the past off seasons, he is no longer is he steady at wing and shot which is a shame.  Lous dogs did well as they should have as theyve been training all damn summer.  For whatever reason all the birds seemed to launch my way.   Also my damn launcher failed to trip the latch, Im hoping its just the batteries.  If not Ill be pissed.

I videoed the training with my Contour Roam and if I have the time and patience to upload it on youtube Ill post it here.  They came out quite nicely.

For those who have had their dogs rattlesnake trained here in Southern California, it was most likely done by Patrick Callaghan of Gameland Kennels. Unfortunately, Patrick has past and has many of us looking for a replacement. While doing some Internet searches I did find one, Natural Solutions. http://socalrattlesnakeavoidancetraining.com/

I had my dog do a refresher with them. Patrick had once told me that it usually takes about 5 years for it to really set into the dogs mind. This is Kaisers third year.

Although I am no snake avoidance expert, I know Patrick may not have approved of all of their training methods. They definitely conducted there session a little differently than Patrick but that being said I am not knocking NS but rather I am saying they are different than what I have done in the past. Everyone has different training methods and philosophies. I can say NS was professional and knowledgeable. One thing they did that Patrick never did was they used baby rattlers. I may be mistaken but the reason Patrick never used them was because the babys do not put out scent. NS disagrees. In any case I think its prudent to use them whether or not they put out scent. Its better safe than sorry. One of the best features is that they do house calls. I recommend anyone with a dog to do such a training especially any gundog or outdoor dog in California. Even though this does not guarantee your dog from ever having an encounter with a rattler, its cheap insurance and should be done.

Hunting by Francisco De Goya

Carlos III (1716-1788)In Hunting Costume by Francisco De Goya

The Bittern Hunter 1639 by Rembrandt Van Rijn

Duck Hung on a Wall and a Seville Orange by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

American Field Sports a Chance for both barrels by Currier & Ives

"Pocket Pal," November 17, 1945 by Albert Staehle

Saint Eustache by Albrecht Dürer

Vue du château de Madrid dans le bois de Boulogne vers 1722 - avec chasse au cerf du duc de by Pierre Denis Martin

Portrait dun chasseur avec ses chiens dans un paysage, dit Portrait dAlexandre Dumas père by Louis Gauffier

Chien darrêt et deux perdrix rouges by Jean Baptiste Oudry

Chien darrêt et deux perdrix rouges by Jean Baptiste Oudry

A Dead Mallard a Boars Head Celery and a Copper Pot on a Ledge by Jean-Baptiste Oudry

Blanche Bitch of the Royal Hunting Pack by Jean-Baptiste Oudry

Still Life with a Hare a Pheasant and a Red Partridge 1753 by Jean-Baptiste Oudry

Chien darrêt et perdrix rouge by François Desportes

Chien darrêt et perdrix rouge by François Desportes

More art here and here.

I just picked up a pair of custom made leather knife sheaths for my Hubertus Small Game Knife and my Boker Bird Knife. Im alittle disappointed that the sheath for the Hubertus is so wide. Id preferred to thinner more inconspicuous knife holder. When I bought the Hubertus earlier this year I looked all over the place for a sheath for it. Unfortunately I could not find one in leather. The current fashion is everything tactical and leather has lost favor. No stores carry it and if they do usually its made in China. No thank you. I really wish this whole tactical craze would just go away and bring back the good old world stuff back. So I looked for a leather maker to make me a custom one, I found one not to far from my house.

Here is a view of what the pouches look like with the flaps open with the knives inside. I chose to have tabs rather than buttons just because I prefer them.

Belt loops are 1.5 inches plenty for my Filson belt I wear while wingshooting.

Each sheath cost me $35. Although Im not too crazy about Hubertus sheath for the cost I cant complain too much.