Hunting the Okanogan

[barklee]

Hi Guys,
I am new to hunting the Okanogan and I was wondering if there are any water fowlers on here that hunt around Kelowna?
I have a great lab and it’s her first season. So I would love to go out and get her some experience. Of course her introduction and training is my main concern so I would need to go out with some one that’s not too worried about missing a few ducks if she needs a little extra time etc.
Let me know if you are interested.

[Big Lew]

Have you eased her into being comfortable with the blasts from a shotgun at close range? If you scare the daylights out of her, it can ruin her as a retriever, or at best take a long time for her to get used to it. It's always a risk taking shortcuts to retriever training....if you're lucky she'll be hyped enough on retrieving the downed bird that the sudden blast won't deter her. On the other hand, I have seen several dogs completely cowed and scared by the sudden and totally unexpected blast from a shotgun.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Okanagan is probably the worst region to be a waterfowler. There are private land opportunities for geese (if you know someone).....but not many places to have consistent duck action.

SSS

[barklee]

She has about 4 months of training with a pro trainer so she has no problems with retrieves or marks. She has finished swim by so she is taking rudimentary casts. She has never been on a duck hunt or goose hunt before so I am just making sure she is introduced correctly. I don’t want to allow her to develop any bad habits.
I was thinking about going up and scouting some of the lakes up in the hills around Kelowna and Penticton to see if I can find any birds moving through.
Has anyone tried hunting any off the lakes around Beaver lake and Oyama lake?
I will be heading up scouting there on Thursday.

[barklee]

Well had a pretty good year of hunting. We only got 2 Geese but with limited out on Ducks 6 times. and had lots off adventures.
Barklee was a champ. She made some pretty impressive retrieves on wounded ducks in the water.
We went on a private pheasant and she put up 34 birds in 2 days off hunting. To bad I can't shot as well as my dog can hunt.
I am going to put up some photo's when I figure out how to upload them.

[monasheemountainman]

Nice man, I'm glad to hear you had a great year! Congrats to you and your dog

[barklee]

[barklee]

So here is our hunting season mostly.
Hope you enjoy.


Heading out in the morning

Barklee's first goose

[barklee]

And the first Pheasant hunt as promised above




Can't wait till next year

[barklee]

And one more with my brother.
My first lessor Canadian Goose in Alberta