Cove Mountain Kennels

The Idaho goose season ended here a few weeks ago and I was able to take a few more birds. I hit a slump there for a few weeks, then went out on a good note. Therefore, I thought I would post a tasty goose recipe.

Roasted Goose w/Wild Rice

1 young Canada goose (cleaned and plucked, best if bird has some fat)

Oven Roasting Bag (large)

3 medium apples (any variety)

2 medium Russet potatoes

2 teaspoons ground clove

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 package Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice (not instant version)

1 package Knorr Brown Gravy Mix

To Prepare Stuffing:

Dice apples and potatoes ( ½” squares)

Mix with clove, nutmeg and cinnamon

Place stuffing into goose, pack tightly, put goose in roasting bag and seal well

Place goose breast up in roasting pan

Place in 350 degree oven; roast for 3 hours or until inserted meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees F

(Note: cooked goose meat is dark and should resemble roast beef in color and texture; take care not to overcook.)

Prepare wild rice as directed on package

Prepare brown gravy as directed

To serve goose, discard stuffing (really, throw it out) and carve as you would a turkey. Serve with gravy over wild rice. The age and condition of the bird really seem to make a difference on the palette.

As you know from my blog, I am not much of a waterfowl hunter. I think it’s because of two reasons, I love to walk too much to sit in a blind or lay in a field, and I don’t really care for the taste of duck. That said, I have been doing a little goose hunting the past two weeks and have had a ball. I’ve got to say, when 20 geese are cupped up with their big black feet splayed out in front of them settling into your decoys, it’s an awesome sight.

There seems to be a good number of geese here in southeastern Idaho this year and I’ve had good luck decoying them in. Enough that now I have to start enjoying the taste of goose.

While I was learning the game the first few times out I left Allie at home. Now I’ll start taking her along. I just didn’t want to have to try to keep her still, while tryng to figure everything else out that is going on as birds are coming in. She’s an upland flushing dog; keeping still doesn’t come naturally to her. She’ll have to learn.

Also, she is a fairly small dog (55 lbs). I purposely breed her small for the uplands so she could hunt chukars and desert quail for days on end. When it comes to geese, well, they’re huge. She won’t have any problem subduing them, she’s got plenty of prey drive. It’s the retrieving that will be the challenge. She can’t even get her mouth around a 8 -10 pound honker. We’ve been working on it in the yard and she has figured out the wing carry, so we’ll see how it goes this week.

It is finally here, the winter solstice! These short days are killer for trying to work and train dogs. The days are now getting longer though. I do a combination of things in order to train on these short winter days; going in to work early so I can train after, going in late so I can train early, and doing some yard training in the dark. The days are getting longer though! I did live about 30 miles below the artic circle for six month many years ago. I saw the longest and shortest days of the year there. All I can say is that I’m glad I don’t live there now.

I had a potentially scary situation this afternoon hunting that I was able to turn into a teaching experience. I was out hunting pheasants with my lab and a young Brittany when we came across a porcupine. Luckily it was out in the open on the edge of a meadow and the dogs were both wearing e-collars. I saw it with a little bit of warning, so I was able to get the controller out and crank it up. I sent the lab out into the thick brush with an “over” cast so I could deal with the situation one dog at a time. The Brittany, about seven months old, got within about 10 feet and then went on point.  I took a step closer and he started to creep in. The porcupine turned, bristled up and was ready to counter attack. I waited until the dog was about three feet away,  just as he was taking another step and the porcupine started to move I let him have it hard with the e-collar. He came yiping out of there like he’d been struck. Quickly he decided that he didn’t want anything to do with these painful critters. Then I had basically the same experience with my lab when she came over.

Through the years I have had a few dogs get a face full of quills from a porcupine and it is a nasty experience for both me and the dog. I hope this lesson sticks.

Friday afternoon I was able to slip away with my 10 year old daughter Sarah for some ruffed grouse hunting. She was happy to be out with her Dad and I was tickled to have her to myself. (Truth be told, I think Mom was glad to have the kids seperated for a few hours. Tell me, why are they such a pleasure one on one, but just want to fight when they’re together?)

Sarah and I took Luke, a bold little male cocker spaniel that we have been working with out for his first experience on wild birds. We were hunting him with Allie, my seasoned female lab. I was excited to get this little brush-buster hunting wild birds. It wasn’t long before Allie got into birds. Luke was right there with her. What I loved about this little dog is his ability to thoroughly work tight cover (and look cute doing it). I’ve never been able to hunt over a cocker before and loved the experience. I think you have to look carefully for the right breeding to get a game hungry cocker like this one, but if you can find one, they are a pleasure to hunt with.

The two dogs put up a handful of grouse for Sarah and I and despite the thick cover, I was able to put one of them in the bag. Needless to say, we had a ball on our daddy-daughter date. We did have to spend a while after we got home combing the burrs out, but it was worth it.

11/22/09: I have had several calls about hunting cockers since I wrote this post. I have now had luke out after pheasants and grouse and thoroughly loved hunting with this dog. The following comment came from Gail Workman about Luke:

From: G L Workman
Sent: Nov 19, 2009 8:13 PM 

There are only a handful of breeders who are breeding the American Cocker for its true intent: as a sporting dog. Luke is owned by Sharon Pearson and bred by Gail Workman. Here is a little history of Luke’s background. 
In 1995, the first “Master Hunter” titled American Cocker was CH Petts Southwest Breeze, CD, WD, SH, MH (Ruby). Bred by Elsie Scolaro and Anne Noble, Ruby was owned, trained and handled by Trish Jackson of West Falmouth, Massachusetts.  In 2001, Trish Jackson bred, trained and handled the first cocker spaniel field champion in almost thirty years, a Ruby daughter, FC Madisons Pride and Passion MH, sired by Bazils Stylish Pride JH SH.

Gail Workman, who also breeds field Cocker Spaniels, trained and handled the first VCD3 American Cocker earning advanced titles in obedience, tracking, agility, and hunting. OTCH Knights LIttle Kelly Girl VCD3 TDX AX AXJ WD SH (Kelly). Kelly was bred to the first male cocker to earn a “Master Hunter” Pudg’gee Ann’s Heart and Soul MH (Spunky) who was bred, trained and shown by Bob Linehan of San Deigo. From that litter Gail kept a red male Kelly’s Cruisen Legacy (Cruiser) who was trained and shown by Gail Workman earning his UD, TDX, OA, OAJ titles and was shown to his Master Hunter by Bob Linehan.

Trish Jackson bred FC Madisons Pride and Passion MH to Gail Workmans Kelly’s Cruisen legacy VDC2 TDX OA OAJ WDX MH. From this breeding came Lukes Sire: Madisons Blackland Prairie Rufus SH WDX (Rufus) owned, trained and shown by Elain and Buck Grabowski.

Luke’s Dam is Six of Seven CDX, NA, NAJ, WD, SH (Six) . Six is an old fashion cocker with no background in hunting, Gail purchased Six to add a new line i.to the small gene pool of the field bred American Cockers. Six is now working towards her Master Hunter title.

As Chris said it is not easy to find a game hungry cocker like Luke. However, that being said, I could recommend all the breeders mentioned above to get a true field bred American Cocker.

Thank you, Sharon, for giving Luke an awesome home and for sending Luke to Chris’ to get his hunting training. Having worked with Chris myself, I know Luke is in good hands!  I could not be more proud of of Luke and all the hard work Sharon has put into raising him.

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I had a great opportunity this afternoon, I was introducing a young Brittany to birds using pigeons when I heard some huns just over the top of the hill, so I took the dog just around the knoll where he would crest the hill close to them and directly down wind. It worked well. We topped the hill and the dog got birdy, followed the scent and found the birds. What surprised me was how many huns there were. We got about 25 huns up in three waves. It really got him keyed up. To tell the truth, it got me keyed up. There is nothing like training on wild birds.

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything new; it’s been busy.  In October we moved from south central Utah to southeastern Idaho.  Moving is a huge pain, but we are slowly getting settled in and getting the kennels set up like we want. It was really hard to leave good friends, but we are looking forward to making new ones. Hunting buddies are always welcome. Unfortunately it will be further for our Las Vegas clients, but will be closer to our Northern Utah/Southern Idaho clients.

One reason for the move was the ready access to wild bird populations. It is really enjoyable to look out and see pheasants feeding in the back pasture, and hear ruffed grouse on the hillside. Other birds I have seen while out in the area include: huns, dusky grouse, sharp-tail and sage-grouse, valley quail and chukars. I also look forward to hunting spruce grouse, as that will be a new species for me.

 We had a great time at the Dave Walker Seminar here in Annabella. I met and made a lot of new friends, and learned a ton watching Dave work 20+ dogs a day, plus listen to his thoughts on how dogs learn and what to do in different situations. Then Dave worked with us as we worked our dogs. The focus was training the trainer, rather than just the dogs. 

Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great weekend. Thanks especially to Dave Walker for coming and so willingly sharing his knowledge.