The Evans Family at Hatcher's Game Preserve

 

Today, January 12, 2014, we met Ann Spiegel at Hatcher's Game Preserve in Albion to dazzle her with Arianna's gun work and Lia's sparkling personality. I had met Ann through Facebook through a couple of the bird hunting sites, and I'm guessing through Buddy's now new found fame. Ann invited us to join her as she worked her German Shorthair Pointers, and I think she might have been a little curious of Buddy.

Ann had set some birds out for us so that we could watch Buddy Brittany get to work and to try and get Arianna Evans some shots at birds. I may be biased but Buddy works like a machine. He would run, roll over, get put back up, only to get hung up, stuck, or roll back over. Most of us would have said the "The hell with this, let's go watch the football game!" Not Buddy though, there was the smell of birds in the air and he needed to find them.

 

 

We need to work on some things, but Buddy and I are just getting to know each other. I certainly appreciate Ann's invitation and any advice that she offered.

Thankfully I had the whole fam damily along. It's hard to watch and control a dog; Guide, push, and position Arianna through the woods and ready for the shot; Maintain a point while trying to help Arianna with the shot; Get everybody's best side with the camera; And simply enjoy the moment. We all played a role and we all worked well as a family!
Arianna's shots never connected with any birds, so we were not able to shoot any birds over Buddy today. I think we've got time for that though!!
 

After Arianna and Buddy got too cold, Ann got Nitro out to allow Tanner and Lia some opportunities to shoot. Lia was up first. Nitro finally found a lone chukar and it will always remain our secret, and we'll forget as we retell the story again and again, but Lia got her first bird and I think I heard her say "That was cool!"
 

 

Ann got Jesse out next to work him. Both Tanner and Lia shot a quail a piece over him. I think Ann was impressed with their shooting skills and even said that she would like them to come again just to help her work her dogs. I hope I get invited!!!

 

The whole family seemed to enjoy the day. I know Buddy did, by the smile on his face, and I can only hope that Ann did as well.
 

Thanks Ann, and thanks Hatcher's Game Preserve for a great day!!