Well today started off great got up about 6:30am and I got ready for one more quail hunt with my best buddy. We got into birds right away but they flushed wild because we were on the wrong side of the wind. We moved on and Hawk hit scent of a HUGE covey.
We worked those birds for a bit then moved on to a place down the mountian. Bam another monster covey. We worked those for the rest of the morining and well into the afternoon. So now it is time to pack up I was a few short of a limit but it was getting late and hubby wanted to eat. So we start back to the truck and Hawk runs up on some smashed down tullies by a small lake. I thought he might want to cool down a bit so I think nothing of it.....until I hear him yelp out in fear.
So I run out on to the tullies and start to sink.
I couldn't get to him. I was like in a cartoon trying so hard to move but I couldn't.[
] My legs were quickly turning into jello so I crawled out on my hands and knees. I ran my hardest to the other side of the lake but I still could not see him. I called out and fiqured if I don't do something fast he is going to drown.
So I took off my clothes and swam across the lake to where I heard his last crys. The water was ice cold but I didn't even feel it. I pushed throught the reeds and saw that only his head was above the water. I yanked him out from where his was stuck and helped him get his feet under him to swim back. When we finally got back to the shore he was so exhausted and cold that he could not walk. I had to carry him to the truck and put the heater full blast. Our six hour hunt did not end the way I would have liked but at least I didn't lose him. Only now that I have time to reflect back on it do I realize I could have been a casualty as well. I guess my adreneline must have kick in big time. I mean I jumped into a lake, in the mountains, during winter. When I got out of the water my skin was red from the cold but I would have done it again. After all he is more than just a dog to me and I had to save him no matter what.