Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome back to the Garden State Outdoors and Podcast presented by Boondock Hunting.

Speaker 2: 0:04

You know that's why you're your um, your tagline, like JCL known perfect. You don't know what that morning should have been. You don't know what the last morning should have been.

Speaker 1: 0:13

I accidentally drifted my canoe between a sow and a cub and she, like charged and like hit, hit like the back of the canoe His head hit the ground before his ass did begging, begging and crying to go with my grandfather, go with my father on these deer drives you know, the last trip over I shot a great cape buffalo with my bow, charging through grass, and then the whooping.

Speaker 3: 0:38

And then you hear welcome back to the garden, stay outdoorsman. Podcast. I am your host, frank.

Speaker 1: 0:42

Bustica, I'm your co-host, mike Nitro.

Speaker 3: 0:45

And today we've got a very special guest. She's Alicia Azareti, is that right?

Speaker 2: 0:52

Yes, that's me. Yes, All right perfect.

Speaker 3: 0:55

She goes by LifeWithHuck on Instagram. So, alicia, welcome to the show.

Speaker 2: 0:59

Thank you for having me. I'm excited.

Speaker 3: 1:02

I'm excited about this one too, especially. You know, we were just chatting a little bit before and you, you know, come to find out that you're only like five minutes away from me. That's awesome.

Speaker 2: 1:12

We're pretty much neighbors.

Speaker 3: 1:15

Pretty much so. But for Alicia, for the people who don't know you, why don't you give us a little background, tell us, like how you got into hunting, and just a little background like where you're from the floor, george, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 1:28

Um. So I'm 25, I grew up in sussex county, pretty much born and raised. Um, I live in wantage now, but I did grow up in branchville, not too far from here. Um, I've always been a daddy's girl and my dad is very outdoorsy and he's into the hunting and fishing and everything. So he pretty much created me, um, which I feel he created a little monster.

Speaker 2: 1:47

He started the addiction with everything. Um, you know, growing up my aunt had a pond on her property and that's where my fishing started, because every time we'd go there, like I always had to go fishing and he taught me all my ways and like catching that first fish was like the addiction right there. Um, so that started that. And then, you know, he always grew up deer hunting and everything and, like you know, seeing like the mounts and stuff like that, like it was just such an interest in me because, like, I love animals but I also love nature and I love hunting at the same time. So everything is just so like intriguing to me.

Speaker 2: 2:18

I never got to go with him though, because, you know, life got busy and he kind of lost his interest or kind of time for it. You know, as me and my brother grew up because sports and everything kind of took over um, so we never really got to go hunting together, it was always just fishing. And then eventually he wanted to stop fishing because I'd ask him almost every single day to go with me. So I think I burnt out that interest in him as well. Um, so that's pretty much that he. He's the one who really got me going in this outdoorsy lifestyle. Um, pretty much now it's just me and my boyfriend who kind of do all the fun outdoorsy stuff, especially because of our dog, huck, our black lab. Everything we do is for him now. So that's where all the hunting and everything started. My dog is the reason I got my hunting license. So that's pretty much where I'm at now, like just doing everything for my boyfriend and for my dog.

Speaker 3: 3:09

No, that's awesome. I think we can all relate to. You know, having somebody that, like, we idolized, or having somebody to grow up Cause I remember, even when me growing up with, uh, with my dad and my uncles and my grandfather, they got started when I was five going out with them and you know, once you get hooked, you know you're hooked already.

Speaker 2: 3:30

Yeah, no, exactly, and that's the thing, like I was telling you before as well, like going with my boyfriend too, like now it's like getting out with him. I'm like, oh my God, this is the coolest thing ever.

Speaker 3: 3:40

Like he's who I idolize now as well, you know like I think he's like the coolest thing, so like when we'll go sit outside together and go hunting and everything like that yeah, no, of course, and you know, I guess it's even probably easier for you, so you know, so to speak, because, like you said, like your dad kind of like dropped off a little bit from going, so now it was easy. You know that now that you're dating somebody that's kind of likes the same stuff, it's easier just to make that transition and no, exactly that's the thing.

Speaker 2: 4:11

Exactly, he makes it a lot easier because it's like you know he wants to go. Like of course I'm gonna go, I'm like his little shadow. Wherever he goes, I go. Whatever he does, I do. So, um, this past fall we did go deer hunting together. Um, we'd go sit out in our yard and everything, but like I'm just a shadow, I just wanted to watch what he was doing and kind of see everything and like we would sit out there and he'd explain everything to me at you know, five o'clock in the morning. Then I take my little nap because you know it was dark and I was tired, but you know it was still an exciting experience. No, absolutely, and you know it was still an exciting experience.

Speaker 3: 4:43

No, absolutely. And you know, especially like just just getting out there is, like you know, the best part of it all. And just to touch base, like on what you're saying now, do you guys like hunt off the floor? Did you guys hunt in tree stands when you first started to go, Like, are you afraid of heights?

Speaker 2: 5:04

No, that's one thing. I'm not afraid of heights. We kind of do both Like we have a little area, we kind of have like almost like a ledge in our backyard so we have like a little pop-up thing that we will go on and kind of lean up against the trees over on the ground. But he did buy a very nice buddy stand just for me and him this year as well, so we will go up in that as well. So it just, it just depends on the day. Truly, whatever we kind of end up in, um, I mean like I like being on the ground, because making me carry all the stuff up the tree stand, I'm not a fan of that I wouldn't be either.

Speaker 2: 5:38

I feel like I'm like his backpack. You know I try and carry everything up like he's the main one.

Speaker 3: 5:46

You said hey, listen, I got a shoe. So, like you know, here you go. You can carry everything.

Speaker 2: 5:52

That's how it feels. That's how it feels he doesn't make you drag the beer too, does he? Oh, my God, no, thank God, no, that I would have a good excuse to get out of that one.

Speaker 3: 6:04

Yeah, I think we can all relate to wanting to take a nap, though, just like you were saying, oh yeah, I need a nap Halfway through the season, I know me and Mike were like we've had enough, we're dying for a nap.

Speaker 2: 6:16

It's like you can't avoid it. It happens.

Speaker 3: 6:20

Yeah, absolutely, but I wanted to talk about more about. So I know, um, your Instagram handles more about like the life of Huck and seeing him go back and forth and, um, I just kind of wanted you to touch base like how, like how, um, for people who don't know like, um, how did you train him? How did you get into training him? Like how, how did that all go? How?

Speaker 2: 6:44

did you train him? How did you get into training him? Like, how did that all go? Yeah, absolutely. Um, it pretty much he. So he just turned one last month, so he's still a baby. Um, he's the best thing ever.

Speaker 2: 6:56

The way we got into it is like I mean, I've always dreamt about having a lab for hunting. I grew up having them my whole life but you know, they're always like my fun pets, great family dogs and everything. But it was always a dream to get a hunting dog because I wanted something to really spike my interest as well, to really get into it. And when me and my boyfriend first started dating, we always had that same interest. We always talked about getting a lab one day when the time was right, you know, when he was done with college and everything. We really want to get into hunting and get a lab. So it pretty much started because I cut hair as well. So that's the backstory.

Speaker 2: 7:26

And I had a walk-in client one day and his name was Ben Baker and we got chatting and he was wearing a vest that had something like pre and pro plant on it and we got talking about dogs. I'm like you do something with dogs? And he's like, yeah, I breed labs. I'm like, oh my God, what a small world. That's so crazy. You know, me and my boyfriend want to lab one day when the time's right, yada, yada, whatever. He's like, yeah, when the time comes, let me know. So I told my boyfriend that night and I was like, oh my God, this is so cool and we're ready. Like I got a guy now, he's local and his dogs are great. So I ended up seeing Ben one more time, like not too long after that, and he's like I have an upcoming litter and I'm like, oh boy, don't tempt me. So you know, I can't say to know, I can't say to know. Like dogs, like I love them, I want them, I want a puppy instantly.

Speaker 2: 8:18

So I somehow convinced my boyfriend while he was still in college that we needed that lab coming up in the next litter. So that's pretty much what happened and my boyfriend won't tell me no as well. So we got talking about like you know, is the timing really right? Is it going to work? Like should we do it? So you know, we had a couple on and off, like talks with Ben and everything about when they'd be born and like getting into it and stuff like that and pretty much he was born. Well, he was born in May of last year. So we started discussing getting him around March. That's when, you know, the litter was getting ready to be set up and everything. So you know, and this is, we were not really into waterfowl hunting a lot. I've never really gone before that and my boyfriend was in college, like I said. So he's gone a couple times on and off in the past.

Speaker 2: 9:02

So when Huck was born, we got him in July and pretty much like we let him be a dog for like the first month or so, like letting him adjust and be a puppy and be cute and bad and stuff like that. You know we worked on the basic obedience and everything. But at this point we ended up maintaining a really great relationship with Ben. Like we became really good friends with him. You know he wasn't just a breeder, saw him as a dog and never talking to us again. Um, we became good friends with him. So we'd reach out here and there about like where we should be at, what we should do next and, like you know, kind of get ideas like where I should be at and at, like three months old, four months old, like what the next steps would be. So pretty much at that point it was about August now my boyfriend did have to go back to college. So I was the one taking care of the puppy and in control of all this training and I'm like, well, what do I do next? So I would always reach out to Ben as well and get ideas.

Speaker 2: 10:00

So pretty much at that age it was a lot of obedience. Like that was like the main key for everything, like just making sure that he is going to like be a very well-behaved dog and like basic manners Like you know, sit, stay. He needed to know his name and stuff like that. So I worked on that a lot with him and then, like we would intro to like do intro to gunfire and everything, because we didn't want him to be gun shy and afraid of gunfire as he's growing up, especially if we're gonna hunt with him a lot. So what we would do with that too was like basic things, like obviously he's a lab, he loves to eat. When he was eating we'd feed him outside and we chewed off like a 22 or something like that, something very simple. And you know, do it when he's eating. So he associated that that was something good. So we repeated that we eventually went up to like a 20 gauge and he didn't care at all, like he was totally fine. So we're all right.

Speaker 2: 10:51

Like you know, building the confidence, so that stuff we would do like on weekends when my boyfriend would try to come home during the week. I did a lot of the obedience but we did start puppy classes with him because Ben actually started a puppy gundog program as well for Huck and like a couple of like his litter mates and like other local puppies like his age that people were interested for hunting. So we'd start attending those and pretty much it was basic obedience again, like we would do a lot of place training, which is pretty much like a raised platform, like just something a little bit off the ground and we teach our dog place. So that meant like he could not leave that board unless we told him to, because that plays a role in hunting. You know when you got to be silent out there sitting, waiting and stuff that we can't have a dog running around like a nut and everything. So teaching him to be steady, pretty much.

Speaker 2: 11:43

So we would start off with like very basic things like that. Um, and we did actually get into like live birds mixed with gunfire as well, because we have a you know it's all about the drive and the dog as well to make sure he has it in him. So we got some pigeons and we would clip their wings and everything so like they could still kind of flap around but they can't really fly off or anything. We let them run around and stuff like that, let the dogs go after them and stuff like that. And you know it really sparked like Huck's interest. So I'm like, ok, like you know, it's a good thing he likes gunfire, he likes birds, like he's got some pretty good potential Hopefully. You know this is at like four months old, so it's very basic things like that.

Speaker 2: 12:26

We would use the pigeons a lot to keep the drive up, because we usually use like bumpers, like you know, like the little round things yeah um, so you know we use that a lot for training, like still, like that's always been it, but we mix in the live birds to really pull it out of them. So then we'd also do that with water as well, kind of get the confidence going into water to pick up the bird and everything like that, and he, like he would do really good, because it's pretty much a game. It's like fetch to them. Like you know, we're throwing a bird out there. If he brings it back, he gets it again. So it's just, it's the same thing as like just with like a typical dog, like we're playing fetch, we're trying to get his attention and get him out there and build that drive up. So that was pretty much that. These classes went on from like end of August, like September, up until about November, december. So you know we didn't really get a lot of snow this year in the beginning.

Speaker 2: 13:14

So we kind of pushed it as long as we could. So it was pretty much like just working our way up with, like in certain levels of like okay, like we completed this, now we can move on with Huck and kind of go to the next level. A lot of it was just retrieving, like pretty much just building that drive to understand that his job is to go out there and get it. We would do like time delay retrieving, like we would put something down, walk away and do something else. He would have to remember that that was there and go retrieve it, cause you know, let's say like in a hunt, if you know, let's say like in a hunt, if you know these birds come down and we're not ready to go get those ones yet, but we need him to go get this one first.

Speaker 2: 13:51

He has to learn to remember like what's there. So we worked on a lot of that when he was younger, so like we wouldn't do like super long ones, like it'd be like you know a minute, and then we'd send them back for that one he's like oh my gosh, yeah, there's something good there waiting for me. So I mean a lot of that training started in the beginning, and then we do a lot of it at home now, because my boyfriend finished college in December, so around that time it was like game time like for him, like he was like ready to train his dog, like all the time, like I got a break.

Speaker 2: 14:20

Finally, like I didn't have to be in control anymore, that I was messing him up because, um, my boyfriend's birthday was in October and I bought him stuff for Huck for his birthday and we had, um, a dummy launcher. You know it's one, it has blank caps in it and shoots the launchers off and there's like three different types. There's like green, yellow and, um, red packs. So, depending on, like, the distance to launch them, and I didn't know, I was just buying a birthday gift and I bought the strong ones and it petrified huck and I felt so bad like, oh my god, I ruined the dog, like I'm done training him like and now he's gun shy and everything like that. You know, um, but he wasn't.

Speaker 2: 14:57

We had been there to help us and talk me out of it and realize I did not mess up my dog, who got scared once.

Speaker 2: 15:03

So, um, you know, we played around with that a lot and they sell, like you know, like they almost look like deodorant sticks, like it's like duck scent, waterfowl scent or like upwind, and we spread that on the bumpers a lot because, you know, a lot of it is them using their nose as well when we're launching it out there that they have to go find that. So there's like so many little things into it, like I could like probably write a book on things that we've bought to train this dog, like there is so much out there to help him, you know, get his knowledge up and learn everything. So there's so much to it and it's a lot of fun. Like it's literally become like my favorite hobby at this point is like training our dog, because it's just he's so smart that it's so easy to take advantage of his brain and use it, you know yeah, no, I could see, like when we, um, when we had our, our conversations, I could see like how passionate you were about huck.

Speaker 3: 15:56

That's why I was like we have to talk about him on the show. But I didn't know from you know, um, that I mean I knew. I didn't know from you know, I mean I knew, I didn't know that there was a lot that went into it, but I had like no idea. Yeah, there's so much.

Speaker 2: 16:11

That's only the beginning of it too. Like that's just like those few months of training him Like now it's like that he's gotten older and everything Like. There's just so much more. Like it truly depends on the person too, like how far you want to get into hunting with and how trained you want your dog. Like you know, there's a lot of people who like take it so serious and this is like their best hobby. They need the best dog possible, which is great. And then there's other people who are like as long as my dog gets the duck or the goose or the bird and brings it back, I'm happy like you can stop at certain levels and be content with where your dog is, but like we want to take advantage, like I said, of him and use him and make him more than he is, because it's like he's so smart, why not make him the best version of himself? You know, yeah, so we like every day almost, it's like maybe two to three times a week, we We'll train them on our own.

Speaker 2: 17:04

He has classes Thursday nights that he goes to, which is where he's at tonight for training. There's about like six dogs in his class. There's just so much to it and it's. Like you know there's a lot of gear that goes into it too. Like you know, we have the training collars, the training slip leads, we have whistles for him. You know he needs bells on his collar, like when we go upland hunting, like there's just he needs like his own closet of stuff.

Speaker 3: 17:32

I'm sure, and I know, I know it can't be cheap no, it's not cheap, it's.

Speaker 2: 17:39

It's a very expensive hobby, but it's like he just makes it so worth it, like he's just so smart, so it's a lot of fun training him. Like now that he's a little older, you know his memory is better and stuff like that. Like he, he just knows so much more and remembers a lot of things. Like it's. It's truly crazy what this dog can do.

Speaker 3: 17:59

So he's, he's a lot of fun yeah, no, it, it sounds it and like, and I had no idea, like, and you actually brought up a good point where he would actually like a lot of people like that I've talked to have never ever brought up about. Like the dog's memory before, like I've always heard of people training dogs but nobody's and I like I guess I never even thought of it either, but that's a very important key to it.

Speaker 2: 18:27

No, it's like so important and that's the thing too. Like before we got Huck like same thing, we had no clue that there was this much into it, and it's like we learn every single day about it too. So we do like a lot of memory. Things Like if we're like training him out in the yard or whatever, we'll have our vest on just to hold all the bumpers and everything, and he always walks in heel like right on our side. He's not allowed to step forward to the side or whatever. He has to be in position because it's a main part of our obedience that we wanted with him what we would do is like you know we'd have him sit and we'd throw a bumper out in front of us and say leave it.

Speaker 2: 19:03

So he knows that's there, though, and then you know we walk away and go do something else, like we'll work on like other attributes, maybe more obedience, whatever, like 10 minutes can go by, 15 minutes like max, and then we'll line them up and we'll get ready to send them, and it just like clicks in his head, like you can tell, like if he doesn't know, if something's there, he's like whatever, like looking around, but the second he like remembers and locks him, like his ears perk up, he's focused, like nothing is like going to distract this dog, you can send him across the whole entire yard and he'll remember that bumper that we left there, like it's crazy so it's like you know it does come in handy when we are going to be out hunting with them, like, okay, like we'll get to that, like there's so much going on over here, like he knows that landed over there and everything, like we'll send them later and it it it's crazy.

Speaker 2: 19:45

Like he does remember, like when we do train with, like if we have like dead birds that we had, like we'll use ducks here and there too to kind of switch it up from the bumpers, from the bumpers, same thing. He just knows. But it's also him trusting us on sending him there and him using his nose and eyes and just remembering that scent, remembering where it landed. So that's pretty much like if we are out hunting, if we like, you know, let's say, we drop a bird over here and he watched it and heard the gunfire and everything and watch from over here he's marking. So he knows like, okay, there's a bird over in my right corner, like 80 yards out, and then he watches this one. So we'll let him go get the first one and he comes back and brings it to us and he remembers that second bird out there and he will go get that.

Speaker 3: 20:30

Wow, that's. It's incredible, like wow.

Speaker 2: 20:34

It is really cool. It's like smart stuff and it's just like he amazes me like every single day with being so smart and, of course, like he has his off days, which we all do, you know. So it's like there's days where he's like the dumbest dog out there. I'm like, are you even smart, like do you even know what you're doing out here?

Speaker 3: 20:53

But I'm like you have a brain fart, so it's okay yeah, no, especially like um upland, burn hut and over in like layton, like we were just talking before on the show, and it's just like there's. It was almost like you said it's all. It's always chaos.

Speaker 3: 21:09

There's always so much going on, so that's actually really smart to train him in that atmosphere already because, I've known the prior experience, like there's so much going on, like there's times where, like, I don't even know which way to look, which way you know, like no, exactly, it's overwhelming for us.

Speaker 2: 21:25

I can't imagine being a dog. That's exactly like when we first started taking him pheasant hunting, that was also. He was probably around six months old, so he was a little young. But we really want to build this drive up then too, because we're like, okay, we're going, we're going into winter, like what are we going to do? Wait now until next season? What if he has no interest?

Speaker 2: 21:41

So that was something that Ben recommended doing was taking him pheasant hunting and same thing. Like we were gone, like there's like people like bumping into you and stuff like that. There's so many dogs running around and there's gunfire everywhere. So I'm like I'm getting, like I'm overstimulated looking this way and this way and my dogs. I'm like expecting the same from him. But he knows his job, he knows what he's doing and it's just so much fun watching him work out there for that too, because it's like that is so different. Like training him for that versus like waterfowl, like they're like polar opposite things, like of course you know the similarity is him going to retrieve his bird, but like just like the technique of hunting and like what he has to do for like the pheasant versus like the ducks and the geese. It's just like crazy that he knows his job, like he knows words, and it's like it amazes me because I've never had such a smart dog before wow, that's yeah.

Speaker 3: 22:31

I mean, yeah, they're definitely smart and, like we were talking before, I think like a huge part of it, especially for, like state land hunting, is, like you were talking about, like making sure like you have a vest on them and the bell. Because, like I've, I've personally been in situations where, like people have come up to me and been like, hey, like you know, like they'll, they'll get on a scent and some dogs will just go, or you know there's so much scent out there, they get confused.

Speaker 3: 23:03

Like I watch dogs where I'm, they're like you could tell there was like three or four birds there and they're like they're going nuts, you know, and it's, it's amazing just to see them work.

Speaker 2: 23:12

No, absolutely it is amazing, and yeah, it does get very crazy and amazing. And yeah, it does get very crazy and yeah, I've seen some dogs take off you know the owner's screaming at them, losing their dogs out in those fields, I'm like, oh boy, it's a crazy day out here. So it gets a little insane out there, but it's still worth it at the end of the day, watching him get his birds and, you know, being happy bringing them back, so it's it's cool.

Speaker 2: 23:33

It's a lot of fun, and that's what makes it fun for me, and that's why's like I can't wait to get out and go, because it's like I know my dog is going to be doing his job, you know. So it's like okay, I have to be good. I have to get a bird because my dog wants to do his part, like he does get mad at us if we don't come home with anything. Like you. Just know he's upset yeah.

Speaker 2: 23:52

He was like look, you better not miss he gets very upset because it's like in his mind he understands like gunfire means something. Now, like it either means like he's going to retrieve something, like there's a bumper or a bird out there. So if there's gunfire and there's no like reward for it, he's like well, what was the point of that? Why'd you do that?

Speaker 3: 24:09

like I can see him thinking that, because like we actually go ahead, what were you gonna say?

Speaker 2: 24:17

no, go ahead oh okay.

Speaker 3: 24:19

So like um, we actually, because when I was big into pheasant hunting, I was like I almost had to train the same train of thought. I'm like, oh, like, I'm gonna go get a dog and I'm gonna train it, and so like we ended up getting um a poodle pointer. We still have her. Her names are oxy, so, um, you know she's half german, short hair pointer and the other half poodle, but she she's very tall and lanky. She like she'll go on point in a second. Like I let her out in the backyard like it's on like the squirrels and everything she's all over yeah, yeah so but it just like I, I guess, like I didn't understand how to go about it.

Speaker 3: 25:01

And it was just like I think for me it was too much work for them. What I had time for, yeah. So it was like, yeah, and I was like that's why, like, when you were saying, I was like, yeah, like it's, it's all about having the time to and learning patience and working with the dog because, like you know, I have, I have two kids. So like it wasn't happening, like I tried it, just like between everything else. It was like, but she wasn't gun shy, like I brought her out, I used to shoot the gun around her, try to get her. You know, um, yeah, oh it was. We used to have a blast and like, but I just I couldn't, I just kind of fell off from it because I was like look like I just with kids and everything.

Speaker 3: 25:50

I was like I just don't have the time, but it makes it a lot easier for you, you know.

Speaker 2: 25:56

I'm very lucky that I don't have kids and it's like he pretty much is my kid, so a lot of my time did go to him. But like back when my boyfriend was in college, that was his fear about getting him was like not having the time to put into him, like well, what if he just becomes nothing? And like we don't have a good dog. So I'm very lucky that we did maintain a relationship with Ben and I did have the time, because when we did get him my work schedule was like so much easier at the time too, like I had like two and a half days off during the week. So I'm like, okay, these are full days, like to train my dog, like I have all the time in the world. And like even the days I did work, like I either went in late, so I had all morning, or I was home early, so I had the whole night to do stuff with them, and then the weekend. So it's like Huck got very lucky that I had a very lenient schedule in the beginning when he came home, so it made it a lot easier. And then even now, like I mean I work all week and then I'm home by usually like five o'clock and my boyfriend is working nights right now. So it's like our schedules like totally overlap, like perfectly for Huck. So it's like he has Huck all morning and all day to do everything with him, and then I get home and it's like I have him now. So it's like, you know, if he couldn't get to something now it's my turn, like I could do this and that with him. Like Huck has a really good life, hence his Instagram handle good life so yeah, oh, absolutely like, and he's, he's a beautiful dog.

Speaker 3: 27:11

He actually he almost like, resembles mine a little bit, so like mine's all black, blue, brown eyes, like you know's gorgeous. She's a pain in the butt though, yeah, no, of course they always are Like he drives me insane.

Speaker 2: 27:25

I'm almost glad he's not home tonight, because he'd probably be sitting right here whining, so I'm not giving him attention.

Speaker 3: 27:30

Yeah, oh, of course, Especially after you know all this training and stuff. He's like hey, like come on, like, like what are we doing here? You?

Speaker 2: 27:41

know, that's, exactly that's exactly it.

Speaker 3: 27:42

Yeah, no, no good. Um, I was gonna ask you now for the people who don't know, like, what are like the training levels, like like are they like, are they expensive? Like what's like the basic, like where? Because I wouldn't even know where to start, I just try to do it on my own. That went nowhere.

Speaker 2: 27:59

So it really depends, honestly, like we pay like a monthly payment for our classes, so it's like every every Thursday night we'll do it, and it usually starts on five o'clock till like sunset, so we get a decent amount of time in with him. Usually, for these classes it's closer to like what do we pay? Like 300 a month usually, um, and in my opinion, that's on the cheaper side for certain things, because you know there's a lot of people who don't want to train their dogs on their own, which is fine because you know time and everything. They'll um board their dogs and do training that can start going into like the thousands, like monthly. So it really depends how great you want your dog to be, how much time and money you want to put into your dog, um, and that's where a lot of people do kind of train on their own as well too, like you know, back to like, depending how great they want their dog to be, um, that's what these classes are great, though, because it's, like you know, it is very helpful if you kind of feel lost, like where you are, like you need some guidance or whatever.

Speaker 2: 29:04

It's nice to have something, just like once a week. Like you know, it doesn't have to be anything crazy. You don't have to put so much time into your dog. Get together once a week, get ideas, get tips and everything. Train with your dog and it's like you know, continue stuff at home versus you, you know, sending your dog off, spending a lot of money Because some people too, like don't send their dogs, like local, like we're very lucky that Ben is local to us and that we have him, but there's people who send them like upstate New York, they send them down south and everything. So it's like you're paying a lot of money to get involved with training. So it's really interesting.

Speaker 3: 29:38

One second, sorry guys. It's really interesting. One second, sorry guys no worry.

Speaker 1: 29:42

So you know, on on on that topic and discussion, you know you always hear, like a lot of people who you know get into waterfowl, like one of their dream sayings is to get a dog and everything like that, and even pheasant hunting. Like I, I don't even go pheasant hunting anymore, just because it's such a a pain in the butt to do it without a dog and everything like that. So, yes, um, what, what? What are some of the you know after you know doing it and everything like that? What? What can you see for people that get a dog and just they don't have that success? Like what? What would your recommendation for for someone when they first get it? Like, what is? The is the most important thing. I know a lot of it was obedience and everything like that.

Speaker 2: 30:21

But what is something that's a very crucial step that maybe people misunderstand or don't just nail because they overlook it biggest assumption with people getting like a gun dog or like a lab bred for hunting is assuming that their dog instantly knows their job and is going to be perfect just because they have good genetics. They're bred for waterfowl, you know retrieving and stuff like that. It's. It's not that easy. Yeah, genetics play a huge role in everything. Like we're very lucky that huck is so smart and everything. But like you know, let's say you get a dog just as great as him, but like well, he's a lab, he's going to know to go out and get the ducks and he's not scared of gunfire, he's a confident dog and everything.

Speaker 2: 31:07

You can't just assume that and then just throw your dog out there and be like, oh, I took my dog hunting and he's petrified of birds, he's petrified of gunfire, he took off, he doesn't listen A lot of it. It's like almost like it's silly kind of how much really goes into it that you don't realize. Like, yeah, obedience is great, but it's just truly like getting. You have to build the confidence. They don't come with it Like they do, but you have to pull it out of them.

Speaker 2: 31:33

Like you can't just throw your dog out there, you know, and assume that they know their job. That's like starting a job that you just got and you have no idea what you're doing and just being like, oh well, I know how to do this. And you sign up and go and you're like, oh my god, I don't know how to do any of this stuff. I can't just like, just because, like I said, I could type on a computer doesn't mean I could take the ceo job and work in a huge office and do yada, yada. You know, like I can't just assume that huck wants to go pick up a duck because he's a labrador retriever. He might be petrified of ducks, who knows?

Speaker 2: 32:03

so that's that's like the main thing. It's just like don't be too confident in your dog. It's a lot of. It starts like baby steps, like it's just, it's patience, it's a lot of patience, and it can be super simple. It can be super complex. Some dogs are very hard-headed, so it really be super complex. Some dogs are very hard headed. So it really depends Like, yeah, even if they are very well bred, if you get a tough dog, they're going to test your patience so hard and really test you and it's going to drive you insane. Or you're going to get like the perfect dog that wants to work for you so perfectly that their job is to please you and they make everything a breeze, which is kind of huck. Like we got so lucky that, like he wants to do his job, he knows if he's like he gets us upset and we're mad at him or something. Like he knows he failed, you know. So it really it does depend on the dog, but it really depends on the person, like everything comes back to, like the handler.

Speaker 3: 32:56

Yeah, no, that makes sense and like it's probably a lot more rewarding for you guys to, you know, to say like hey, like I trained huck, you know.

Speaker 2: 33:05

like yeah I mean, yeah, he did, he did attend classes, but for most of it, like it was us that did it oh yeah so like way more rewarding and that is like the biggest reward possible is, like when people compliment him and I'm like thank you, like we made him.

Speaker 3: 33:23

Like that's our dog.

Speaker 2: 33:23

We did that you know it's such a confidence booster for us.

Speaker 3: 33:29

Yeah, no, it should be because that's you know, like you said, it's you're putting in a lot of time, a lot of patience, like there's a lot that goes into it, so like you earn that too, just as much as he did, like you guys also earned it.

Speaker 3: 33:44

you know, because I know yeah good, no, because I I know, like guys who try it was just like you said like with with the whole black lab thing they would, um, they would go by black lab and be like okay, okay, like the dog's just gonna flush birds, you know, and then they're getting mad at the dog because the dog's way ahead of them, you know, and they're watching the dogs flushing the birds because the dog's running like it picked up the scent, but then they're mad because the dog's like, they're like, oh, like he's not waiting for us, but like they didn't put in the time though you know, so it's like he doesn't know exactly and the dog doesn't respect you.

Speaker 2: 34:25

That's like the main thing. Like they have to respect you and it's like if they don't, they're not going to listen to you, they're not going to care about what you want, they're not going to work good for you out there. Like that, literally, respect is like the number one thing coming from your dog. Like you have to prove to them like you're the owner, you're the person, you're in control. If that dog controls you, they're not going to do anything for you. You're going to be like getting dragged behind them. They're going to be off doing their own thing. You know it shouldn't be like that.

Speaker 3: 35:02

No, I agree, and like I say, like going back, going back to it was like you know, there have been guys who I know like would take they would go pheasant hunting. They would take like the scent of the bird and they would put it like on like a tennis ball and just throw the tennis ball and like that's how they would train the dog, they would just throw it, let the dog go, get it, bring it back, do it again you know, and it was like almost on repeat yeah, how effective it is.

Speaker 2: 35:21

I'm not that sure, but you know like kind of like it depends like a lot of things too. Like, um, dogs are funny, like they go through phases where it's like they don't like something anymore. Like huck would get bored of his bumpers so we had to switch to a tennis ball. So, like, in certain situations it does make sense because it's also bouncing. So it's leaving that scent every if it's landing in different places. That scent is landing here, here and here. So now the dog's gonna think, well, the bird's there, but it's not actually there. It bounced 10 more times and it's 10 feet further, you know. So it kind of gets them working. So and it's like, like I said to you, like, if they don't like the bumper using the tennis ball, that it's kind of like a fun game of fetch and it's like scented to them. So it it's what really gets their interest.

Speaker 3: 36:07

Yeah, I mean, that was very well, you know, that's very well said on how to put it. Because now, like I'm like yeah, you know, like I never thought of, like, when the ball bounces, okay, like it's still leaving scent, but that that's.

Speaker 2: 36:20

That's a good point exactly, and a lot of things are done like that to kind of distract the dogs too. Because it's like you know, like if something like let's say, we're sending the dog out on a retrieve, like just a test one, like that, and if it's a tennis ball, it's bouncing here, like that scent is all in that area. So that's like they kind of know like, okay, something smells really good and it's in this area like I need to hunt, like this section, like I'm. If I leave here, like if I go 10 feet out, that way the scent's not out there. If I come back over here, the sense over here I know my reward is going to be within this radius, kind of yeah, absolutely, I was going to ask you.

Speaker 3: 36:55

So hunting state land right with with?

Speaker 1: 36:58

was with Huck was there ever?

Speaker 3: 37:00

was there ever a situation where you felt like like unsafe for Huck or anything, cause you know, like some places you go to like people, people will say, oh, it's like a war zone. You know, have you ever run into anything like that where you felt like, oh man, like maybe we should leave?

Speaker 2: 37:20

Back to like what you're saying, though, about like unsafe um public land. The only time I could say I did would be pheasant hunting over in reedon, because you know everybody does like to pile up there as soon as it's sunrise. It's like a line of men on the field and their dogs going crazy and everything like that, especially holidays. That would be the biggest thing. Um like, we went I think it was New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve and it's like you're getting pushed over shoulder to shoulder, and you know it was the night after they just stalked birds, so it's like fire over your head over this. My dog is running through and people see movement. They just want to shoot it like. Thank god he has his orange on his bell, but it's the only times that I'm not a fan of like public land hunting, but it is what it is. What are you gonna do?

Speaker 3: 38:11

yeah, no, listen it's, it's all a part of it. But uh, you know it is like I said, I've personally been there. So like it does get nerve-wracking at times you're like you start second guessing yourself. But yeah, um, especially like yeah um, did you ever experience a lot of people like shooting birds like on the floor, like? Because I noticed like a lot of people don't even let them like get up. They'll just as soon as they see them running or whatever, or just holding, still they'll start shooting right away.

Speaker 2: 38:40

Yes, and it's it scares me because it's like you know, if my dog sees that bird on the ground too, he's gonna go do his job and try to get up to it. So it's like, let's say, that guy over here sees the same bird and he's shooting my dog's right there, like it's like my biggest fear about being on public land. Yeah, people go crazy and it's like you know, a lot of people come from um, out of state, honestly, on the holidays. So, like back to like the two days that were with so many people who aren't familiar with this fields and the property and everything like that, um, they, it was a game to them. There was like 20 of them all piled up, like they had their little kids with them. So it's like you know they're distracting the dogs, they're running through the field and everything like that. I'm like this is just so like overwhelming and scary, like I don't. I didn't like at all.

Speaker 3: 39:25

That was one day I did want to go home early yeah, I think we've all had those days, and you know, because, like I've been, I've been almost shot a few times hunting on state land, so I don't even bother going out anymore. No, no, I think that's one of the reasons why I got away from it.

Speaker 2: 39:46

Yeah, that's, it's the thing. And it's like I liked it at first, like getting hugged used to it and going out and stuff like that. But the more we went I'm like is this even really worth it at this point? Like when I'm like is this even really worth it at this point? Like I don't want to get shot, I don't want my dog getting shot, like these people, like I don't trust them with guns right now.

Speaker 1: 40:03

any movement they're just shooting at it doesn't matter if it's you walking through the woods, you know I think I was told by a warden I, I was told by a warden that, um, their busiest time is usually and where the most shootings happen during the hunting season is during the pheasant season. Um, I'll never forget. I've told this the story on the podcast and everything like that before. But, um, a, a warden told me one day he goes yeah, I, I have, like you know, this guy's clothes and the evidence, because he was, he was pheasant hunting. So we had a guy at the bottom of the hill, there was a bird at the top of the hill, but there was another guy at the other side, at the bottom, so the one guy shot up.

Speaker 2: 40:51

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 40:51

Hit the guy in the ass. The guy turned around. Oh my God, the other guy pumped another shot and it hit him right in the face. Wow.

Speaker 2: 41:02

Oh my God, that's yeah, no, and it's like it's so avoidable too. So it's a little scary out there.

Speaker 3: 41:09

Yeah, I mean, I've been, I've been rained on tons of times from pellets. You know, you're just walking, you hear the shot, and then you just hear everything, just you and you hear the shot, and you just hear everything.

Speaker 2: 41:22

Just you're like you're like, oh, is this worth it? Yeah, exactly, no, exactly, I totally agree. So who knows how next pheasant season will go, if we're even really interested in it at that point.

Speaker 1: 41:31

But yeah, I mean, it's the one thing that I wish um obviously like you, and you can buy birds, like I know a lot of um hunting clubs do it, where they they'll privately stock birds and stuff like that, which is a much different situation. Like I, I want a oh yeah um a two hunts for for pheasant hunt. Unfortunately, um the this year was the last year that that um hunting uh property was was open, so I missed out on on two pheasant hunts, but like that's probably the only way, unless, like I traveled to the midwest or something like that at this point that I would do a pheasant hunt in like anywhere around here.

Speaker 1: 42:15

I know maine, the partridgesridges and stuff like that, so there are certain states where you can go to I'll do that, but no more like the whole stocking thing and everything like that to me, it's just it's not worth it it's just utter chaos.

Speaker 3: 42:32

Everybody's like in competition with each other. It's not nobody having fun. It's like you know, people are running in front of you and it's just like, all right, I'm over it yeah, no, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 42:45

That's actually like before we went pheasant hunting. We did have a buddy and we split. It was like eight pheasant or whatever, and we did it on a private property. I'm like this is fun, this is how it should be. It's so much easier. It's just our dog, it's just the four of us that you trust and you know aren't going to shoot and get all hyped up over the bird Cause. It's like we know we put that bird there, you know, cause it was. Yeah, that was a lot safer, a lot more fun.

Speaker 3: 43:15

No, I bet, I bet, no, I was. I was going to ask you what's your go-to gun for pheasant hunting, you and your boyfriend.

Speaker 2: 43:26

Um. So my favorite one right now I have an American tactical 20 gauge. Um, I love that gun. It's comfortable, it feels like a toy Honestly, like I. It's so simple. Used it's literally the kind of dream gun. It's so simple, it's perfect. I don't get tired carrying it around the field if there's no birds out there and I have to walk around. So I do like that gun. I also do have an 1187. I like that gun as well. It's just a little heavier for me. It's not that it's even heavy, I'm just weak. So I don't like having to carry something heavy and trudge through the woods. That you know it's not for me and it's like you know, my boyfriend has his gun. He's not going to carry it for me. So that's what I did like when we went. Oh, here you go. You know you'd be my backpack now, as simple as I can.

Speaker 3: 44:31

Yeah, no, sometimes that's the best way you know, I would think, but I was going to ask you. What did you? What do you think of New Jersey's two bird limit for pheasant?

Speaker 2: 44:47

Do you agree with it? Do you not agree? I guess I'm very 50-50. I know they had like a petition this past fall as well about changing the stocking and the limit and everything like that. I guess it really depends on them. I feel like like what they can produce for us and how many birds they can stock for us. I feel like two is somewhat fair, realistically. When you are having a good day and you're out there getting them and stuff like that, you kind of are just like wow, I wish I had more. So that aspect as a game, I wish it was more. But realistically I do feel like two is fair. Especially, we'll bring our home our soul cook with them and everything like that, and it's like I feel like we get enough of them to make something fun and everything like that. So I feel like two is fair.

Speaker 3: 45:40

But yes, I do wish it was more game wise, like I wish that we could spend the whole day out there just shooting them and yeah oh, I would have to agree with you on that, especially when you're when you're on fire and you're like, ah, this is, this is great, and there's birds everywhere.

Speaker 2: 45:56

You're like, ah, there's two limits, this two limit thing sucks yeah, we had like one perfect day and like one was like just like the perfect, like it was just so. Like there's like out of a movie, I'm like, oh my god, this was like great, like I want to shoot another, but I'm like, well, I can't like I'm done, like you know, not get this perfect little shooting again and everything's like the birds now. So it's like, in that aspect, I do wish that we could shoot more, but, um, I guess it's fair.

Speaker 3: 46:26

Um, it is what it is no, I hear it um, but I guess it depends how many people you go with, like you know, if there was true me, my boyfriend and two of our friends, and it's just huck and that aspect.

Speaker 2: 46:41

I'm fine with the limit too, because like he's still getting more birds, you know, but me personally, like I'm fine with two yeah, no, no, I mean, that makes sense For my next Go ahead.

Speaker 1: 46:54

Yeah, real quick on the water, you know, before we move. If you were for moving out the waterfowl topic, you know, have you thought about getting him on on any geese? I mean, goose hunting is just absolutely a whole nother thing, and it's so much fun.

Speaker 2: 47:08

Yes.

Speaker 1: 47:09

Bigger, bigger of a bird. Has he just absolutely a whole nother thing, and it's so much fun. Yes, uh, bigger, bigger of a bird, um, has he done it yet, or do you? Is there any plans on him? Uh, getting on some, um, some geese coming up?

Speaker 2: 47:17

um, my last thing, what I heard you saying about the goose hunting um, we did take huck on a goose hunt with us, um, once this year. Um, he's probably about like seven months old. Um, we were with buddies on private land and it was just there was one other dog there but we didn't want huck to like go because he's never been on one yet, so it was kind of just for him to like shadow, because there's probably about like eight guys there, um, so you know it's a lot of gunfire and everything going off too. So that was his first time being in something loud like that. So pretty much like I was there, my boyfriend was, then a couple of his buddies and the other dog at the other end, I pretty much just held him the whole time like in our blind and like we got him used to hearing like the the goose calls and everything and watching like the flocks come in and land and stuff like that.

Speaker 2: 48:01

And he got nervous at first because you know there's a lot of gunfire going off and everything like that. Um, but then I showed him like I literally picked him up and I was letting him watch the other dog go out and retrieve the birds and he started doing like that excited tremble. I'm like I was telling my bird, I'm like he wants to go. Like you know they're all dead. Like there was no, like um, crippled. So I'm like let's just let him go. Like let him go sniff the birds, watch the other dog pick them up. So we and an eight month old puppy really cannot pick that up. So it was the funniest thing. He was trying so hard. I have a video of him like dragging one back, like partial, like you know what he's got the right idea, so I think he understands what his job is.

Speaker 1: 48:40

Yeah, that's I'm I'm excited, that's the goal right there. That, yeah, unfortunately, I mean and you guys might be good in in the northern zones um, I am hearing early rumbles that they're dropping back your limit to one.

Speaker 2: 48:55

I did hear that as well, yeah.

Speaker 1: 48:58

But in the northern and the extended or late zone up in the north, everyone's good and it'll be five still, which is a huge bummer because all our zones are are, you know, on the southern part. I mean, I don't.

Speaker 1: 49:14

To me it doesn't make sense, but whatever, I'm not gonna get on that now because I'm just gonna get frustrated and angry, so, um, but it's just like I don't know, like I've, I've, I've gotten big into, uh, waterfowl hunting, especially goose hunting and everything like that. And though they're goose are no joke, especially come winter hunting and everything like that, and though they're goose are no joke, especially come winter time and everything like that when they got that extra fat and everything on them. You know, and we've done it, we don't. We don't have a dog. So like we're, we're chasing birds. Like you know, we're trying to grab birds and everything like that. And I will say, like they, they're big and they're not as easy as as what people really think they are to to get even on the ground and everything like that.

Speaker 1: 49:55

And yeah, for some seven month old dog like it's a, it's a tall task but yeah, coming I imagine this year and everything like that, he'll you'll probably love it. And I don't know. I feel like, as a dog, like it's more exciting because it's a bigger animal. You know, it takes probably a little more effort. I think it's more of an exciting like. I don't know me thinking about it like, yeah, as a like. Yeah, ducks are fun, but ducks are. I love ducks, don't get me wrong. But something about geese because of their size and everything like that does make it more exciting. I wonder if, if dogs like have the same thing, they they're like. Oh my God, like this is like a whole other chase. Oh, I feel like they have to.

Speaker 2: 50:35

Like when we went that one day like watching the other dog work and everything, like he was so hyped up and, like you know, chasing the crippled ones jumping in the air, kind of get it back down. Like I feel like it becomes literally like a game to them, like no, you're mine and like I'm bringing you back, like coolest thing ever. And yeah, they're birds, so it's being able to like carry that thing back is like amazing. Like I props to the dogs, like it's really cool. I'm really excited for this year with huff yeah, it's probably amazing just to see them.

Speaker 3: 51:02

You know, half the birds in his mouth, the other half is dragging. He's like I got it, I got it yeah exactly.

Speaker 2: 51:11

Yeah, we, um, we train. We have like a, um, a goose bumper. This thing's heavy, like you know. When I'm trying to wing it out there for him, I'm like grunting, I'm like this thing is huge. And he drags that back, like he picks it up no problem. Now carries it back. So I'm like, all right, you know, you got a little stronger, your jaw got better. Let's see how this season goes now. So I I think he's gonna do great. I'm really excited to see how he does with a live goose. And we do, like you know, when we did go like we kept playing like fetch with the one and everything and he's like he would pick it up for like two seconds and drop. I'm like it's fine, you're gonna do great next year now?

Speaker 3: 51:46

do you have any plans like in uh this upcoming season to hunt like different states, or are you just going to stay in Jersey?

Speaker 2: 51:53

Yes, actually, we have a trip to Montana planned in December and Huck is going. I think there's going to be about six or seven of us and three or four dogs. So this is going to be his first like out-of-state hunt. We're going to do two waterfowl days and one upland day. So I'm really excited, um, from what like we've talked about, like we're going with Ben and a couple of our friends and they do this almost as like a yearly trip.

Speaker 2: 52:17

It's like the for the waterfowl. They go to like a pretty heavy river where the ducks come in and everything, and Ben, like your dog's got to know his job. Like he has to be confident to get out there, swim fast, get that duck and come back because Because if not, the duck is washing away, he could wash down the river. Like you know, it's all about speed and timing and everything. So we're really excited to see how he does this winter Because we've been working with him. Because you know, the Wallkill River is right here up the road, so like we'll go to public areas and where it kind of gets pretty rough in some spots, like you know, we'll throw those bumpers out there and kind of build us confidence because we're, like you know, you got a big thing coming in december, so we're really excited for that. It's gonna be my first time heading out west, so it's gonna be really cool. Yeah, that's pretty sick.

Speaker 3: 53:02

I love that. That is sick man. It sounds like a blast.

Speaker 2: 53:05

I'm jealous the second we got invited. I'm like I don't even care what my plans are that week. I would cancel everything and I'm going to Montana. It's such an experience for me to get to bring my dog and go with my boy. Who could say no to that?

Speaker 3: 53:22

Yeah, no, exactly, I don't even know who would, but that's you know right, Exactly. That's definitely awesome.

Speaker 1: 53:36

I would love to do something like that, but first I got to get into more waterfowl.

Speaker 3: 53:40

Yeah, I'm hoping this season I can get into it because I've done the upland and stuff. So you know I'm watching mike having all the fun and I'm just like I got got guns Like come on man.

Speaker 2: 53:52

I could do this. You got us right up the road now too, you know, especially with us getting more into it. You're more than welcome to join us. We'd love to get together.

Speaker 3: 54:01

Yeah, no, absolutely that's, it Just hit me up and that's the thing Like.

Speaker 1: 54:06

This is the one time where it's like you want as many people coming with you in your blinds or whatever, because it just increases the limit, increases the fun, like with deer hunting, and that's what I always tell people like. There's just a complete different. And don't get me wrong, nothing to me compares to deer and bear hunting and everything like that, but it's a grind. It's a complete grind. I don't want to be bothered by anyone, I don't want to see other hunters. I I get it. I love hunting with my buddies and stuff like that, but I go on my. We all go on our own. We meet up at camp or something, but we go on our own way.

Speaker 2: 54:39

Waterfowl hunting is the opposite. Yeah, yeah, I totally agree. I know it's like we went um. Since we live right on the border of new york, my boyfriend also has his New York hunting license, so we went on public land and something about. I forget what day it was or whatever it might have been opening day. Honestly, where we went, I'm like there's orange. There's orange, like you know, you see, like a little hat or something like that. You see all these guys getting out of the trucks. Like this I'm not enjoying, like this deer hunting. It's like I don't want to see people. But yeah, bird hunting, you can come, the more the merrier. Get everybody in the blind. More birds, more work for Huck. That's the way I look at it now.

Speaker 3: 55:18

I feel that let's do it Like I said. I'll hit you guys up. Hopefully you can teach me a little something. Hopefully Mike can get up and join us too. Listen at that blast rate, and you know, hopefully mike can get up and join us too.

Speaker 1: 55:31

I mean, listen right with with only one freaking bird in the southern zones, and you know by the season ends I'm gonna have to be going up north anyway to hunt, because, like I, I just generally can't believe it yeah, yeah, now you have to come join us no, no, definitely definitely.

Speaker 3: 55:55

But, you want to stop there, Mike? I mean, I could talk about waterfowl all day.

Speaker 1: 55:58

Absolutely we would be here another hour, but we definitely. I think the game plan would be to, you know, get you back on, especially like if we all go out and do a group hunt and everything like that. We can. We can all do a podcast like together and everything like that. You know, the dog be there, the boyfriend be there and like everyone who is who is hunting and just have like a.

Speaker 1: 56:21

You know, maybe if I could, figure it out do a podcast in the blind, exactly so, like that is like I I've've, I've had a blast, like, and you know, and this is too like you know, learning now getting into the waterfowl, like like we me and frank and like a lot of our guys were diehard, um, deer hunters, you know, bear hunting, um, all those other stuff.

Speaker 1: 56:51

Waterfowl for me, like has become another, like huge passion of mine. But not doing, not having a dog, knowing nothing about having a dog, doing the training, everything that goes into it, this was very like eye-opening and like it now makes me even more excited to get a dog. But also learning that like it's not just like, yes, you have a pet and everything like that it's part of the family and everything, but it's a full-time job, training this dog to be able to perform and everything like that. It's not just like, hey, I'm getting this dog, you know we're gonna go on walks and everything like that. Like this is it's a fully trained hunting dog and it's a completely different step, but it's a step that a lot of people, I imagine, want to get into it at some point yeah, no, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 57:41

It's like. Yeah, if you ask me all these questions a year ago, I would tell you I have nothing to talk about and I don't know a thing about any of this. If you asked me six months ago, I'd be like, yeah, like I have a dog. I think he knows how to retrieve. Then asking me today it's like you learn so much that you don't know about this stuff that exists. Like it's like almost funny, like you wouldn't know. Like a year ago I didn't know anything about waterfowl hunting. I didn't know anything about training a dog. Like this is literally just what I do in my free time and this is how much I've learned. Like there's so much to it and it's like and if you talk to me in a year from now, I might know even more than this it's like insane, like there's just so much to it, you know.

Speaker 3: 58:15

Yeah, no, absolutely. And like the knowledge that you, that you have, you know like that quick is like amazing, like I don't think I I could have did it. Like I said, like I tried it didn't work for me, but I mean you, you taught me and you open, actually opened my eyes to like a lot of things that like I never even thought about, like training a dog and stuff. So you know, I appreciate your knowledge, I appreciate you coming on, it was uh, it was a real pleasure oh, thank you.

Speaker 2: 58:41

No, I appreciate it. Yeah, I'm so glad you reached out. It was fun for me too. Of course, I'll never say no to talking about my dog, so that's how I knew I was going to get you.

Speaker 3: 58:51

I was like, yeah, I was like we'll talk about Huck now.

Speaker 2: 58:55

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 3: 58:58

But definitely, hey, listen, I'm probably going to take you up on that hunt one day this year. We'll have to figure it out, but before then we'll have to get you back on with the boyfriend. Hopefully Huck could be here. We'll get him on too. Yeah, but we appreciate you coming on.

Speaker 2: 59:20

No, thank you. I appreciate this a lot. I'm sorry that my Wi-Fi wasn't the best tonight as well. Listen, it happens.

Speaker 1: 59:28

No, we did one a couple weeks ago where we couldn't even get through the full episode and it wasn't like he would look randomly, just like things were good, and then all of a sudden, yeah, you couldn't hear anything coming from him, so like we had to stop.

Speaker 1: 59:44

At least, I think, like 10 times where we really only got about I think 37 minutes through like and listen technology up in a day, like it happens, like there's it's yeah after doing this podcast for five years and now you know starting to I mean listen and frank frank is starting to see, like you know now that you know, frank has taken over like he started. He's like man, he's like now I know the things that you're going through.

Speaker 1: 1:00:09

I'm like yeah like I had one episode when I first started and it's like it was one of my favorite episodes I've ever done. Like I got the um you go by, obviously outdoors, but now, and everything like that big hunters, but um, we got his mom to come on and his mom killed like a giant bear, everything like that loves bear hunting and it was this phenomenal episode. But, holy hell, it was so messed up with the wifi and like all these different, like a huge echo was coming.

Speaker 1: 1:00:40

I was, I lost my mind I was like you've got to be kidding me. A full lost episode.

Speaker 2: 1:00:47

It was a huge pain in the butt, it's always how it is yep 100%, but whole loss episode. It was a huge pain in the butt it was the best one.

Speaker 1: 1:00:53

It's always how it is Yep, 100%, but it was an absolute pleasure getting you on. We'll hopefully link up for some hunts and everything like that.

Speaker 2: 1:01:03

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 1:01:05

We'll be following along and can't wait for to see all the progress pictures, videos of Huck and everything like that during this season and definitely looking forward to it.

Speaker 2: 1:01:16

Yeah, definitely. If you guys follow him on Instagram, it's LifeWithHuck. That's where I post everything. I try to post a lot all the time of his training and videos, so definitely keep up with that. My Instagram's boring, so his is the better one.

Speaker 3: 1:01:28

I think all ours are. But I did send you a follow from my Broadside Ambush account too, so you know that way. You know, hey, listen, don't be a stranger, you're only right down the road. You know we'll make this happen. But again, it was a pleasure having you on.

Speaker 2: 1:01:44

Thank you so much. It was so nice meeting you guys. Have a great night. Have a great night.

Speaker 3: 1:01:47

All right, you too Appreciate you guys tuning in no-transcript.