At this time of the year I get downright giddy. Why, you ask? Well, because it’s time for the annual South Dakota pheasant hunting trip. For those of you who haven’t ever hunted pheasant in South Dakota, you may not understand my giddiness, and for those of you who have walked behind your canine hunting companion waiting for the next rooster to flush, you understand.About 10 years ago my hunting buddies and I happened upon pheasant hunting paradise near Winner, S.D. Needless to say, we have returned every year since. Over the years, nine different dogs have made the trip with us. This year, two rookie dogs will make the trip along with four veteran dogs. One of those veteran dogs is Hunter, my chocolate lab. He has been with me on all of the trips, and there are signs this year’s trip may be his last. I am looking forward to this year’s trip for — of all things — Hunter’s sake. For 12 hunting seasons Hunter and I have shared countless memorable hours in the field together. I owned both of Hunter’s parents so he has been a part of our family since day one. Hunter and I have put in a fair number of hunting hours this fall preparing for this year’s South Dakota trip. The hundred, if not thousand, miles that Hunter has logged flushing birds for me over the years have taken their toll. Yet he isn’t ready to quit. Old dogs, like old hunters, don’t cover as much ground as we once did so we try to hunt smarter.Of the six dogs making the trip this year, Hunter is the elder statesman. He’ll be the first in the field and try to be the last one out. He has learned to pace himself and doesn’t waste energy like his younger, less experienced canine hunting underlings.Yet not long into the day’s hunt he’ll be winded and will have a hard time catching his breath. As I help him back into his kennel, he’ll tilt his head up at me and we make eye contact. We pause for a moment and it’s as if he is saying, "Thanks for the help, partner." It breaks my heart to see this dog doing what he loves for what may be the last time.I can sense Hunter knows the end is near and he isn’t about to give up yet. As long as he wants to hunt, I’ll be there at the end of the day to help him back into the kennel, and this time when our eyes meet, I’ll be the one saying, "Thanks for the memories."
