Dakotas 2017

It was a successful pheasant season in the Dakotas, despite the drought that cut the bird population back significantly. Drew left about 10 days before we did and sent me all kinds of good photos with the dogs. Even as a pup, Boomer did awesome. He and Cotton make a perfect team because they are so different. I'm looking forward to many years ahead of us with them.  

Griffin and Cooper both love being up north. They have always traveled well and don't pose much of a problem. This year, we ended up riding in the WDT travel van affectionately known as the "mafia van". It offers lots of room, ability to stand, outlets, a bathroom (we didn't need to use), and a satellite TV. Hard to complain about a drive, no matter how long it is in a vehicle like that. Actually, there was only 1 problem. Once we got to Omaha, the wind really picked up and turned the van into a kite on 4 wheels. It is no fun to ride a billboard in 60 mph wind gusts. Fortunately, no one got sick. Another interesting thing about this year is that we brought our high school aged babysitter with us. We went back and forth about it. She really wanted to go, and it was actually very nice since everyone got to go hunting in the morning while she stayed with the sleeping kids. They joined us after lunch for afternoon hunts except for 1 very windy afternoon.  

Boomer's first retrieve

Before we got up there, Drew sent me some very sad pictures of Cotton's first experience with a porcupine. It was pretty pitiful. They drove the poor guy to a vet about 30 miles away and she sedated him to get the quills out of his nose and mouth. He recovered quick! Just a day off and he was back at 100%. 

Griffin was out of school on the Friday and Monday of our trip for a scheduled Fall Break. He had to miss half of Thursday, but his teacher assured me it wasn't a big deal. Mrs. Darter asked Griffin to send her a picture while we were gone. The very first day we took this one and he insisted that I got it to her right away. She ended up putting it on the projector the following week and letting Griffin get up in front of class to talk about his trip and show a feather. He was on cloud 9. 

He also took his BB gun in hopes of shooting a pheasant with it. This was about as close as he got. 

Such a special place that we can't wait to get back to! I'm hoping we will see the Dakotas in the summer of next year for the first time.