One of the most enjoyable aspects of hunting ducks on big, open waters like the New River is watching a trained retriever making a long, difficult retrieve.
“It takes a highly trained dog to hunt at New River,” said trainer Jerry Simmons of Joromo Kennels in Castle Hayne. “It is not a place for a timid or inexperienced dog. The dog has to be able to look across the water, staring into infinity with nothing out there but water and sky, yet still have the confidence to dive in, swim out and make a retrieve that may be 300 yards or longer.
“The wind and current are moving the duck, and a ripple on the water is hiding it, so the dog cannot see it. The retriever must respond to whistles and hand signals, or you will have to untie your boat and retrieve the dog along with the duck it did not.”
Another potential problem lurks in the decoys, especially when using long-line rigs. A retriever may become entangled in the decoy lines and panic. Simmons’ advice is to take along a couple of retrieving dummies to toss in the water before the shooting begins to orient the dog to potential hazards and safe swimming routes.
“Throwing dummies to the potential fall zones will help get the dog oriented,” he said. “Throwing a bumper out beyond the decoys will help give the dog the confidence it needs, and the dog will trust you when you send him out for a long retrieve outside the decoys.”
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