Farewell Wolf–My Hunting Partner Since ‘95
PF Editor Mark Herwig and Wolf, his PF hunting companion of over 14 years, near the end of the trail this summer.
Last fall, while hunting on southern Minnesota’s Lake Geneva, I dropped a wood duck over the decoys. I gently pulled my springer, Wolf, from the canoe and pointed him toward the wood duck. Off he swam without hesitation. He made a perfect retrieve, as Wolf has for over 14 years. It turned out that was his last retrieve.
Appropriately, Wolf’s first retrieve was a mallard in North Dakota. He was seven-months-old then a full of vinegar. That dawn, Wolf leaped into the lake and broke thin ice all the way out to get that duck. On shore, his eyes were wild with predatory lust and he wouldn’t bring the duck to me! Wolf was more wild than domestic, I often said, as did others.
Wolf hunted with me from Washington State to New York; from Kansas to Montana and everywhere else in between. He once sat patiently as I drove over 5,500 miles on one three-week trip for the Pheasants Forever Journal. He likewise sat patiently in his kennel many days and nights waiting for me to come home from work.
Wolf had three great retirement years, kept company by my new wife of four years, who doted over him, and a new springer, Hunter, who kept him challenged.
The retrieves are over now. Wolf is at rest in my backyard. I dug his grave last Tuesday, sat down and just sobbed. His life was over and a chapter in mine was done too. At 55-years-old, I spent my best years hunting with Wolf. I laid his head to rest on a Pheasants Forever t-shirt in tribute to his service.
This summer I could see the writing on the wall and poured some concrete in a shoebox and pushed Wolf’s fat front feat into it. I them scrawled his name in the concrete. The makeshift headstone will mark his grave long after I’m gone. I also put an old duck decoy on his grave; he and I just loved duck hunting. As I was wont to say of my old buddy, the last thing many a pheasant or duck saw in this world was Wolf bearing down on them. He was a singularly relentless retriever.
I put some brown-eyed Susans from our front yard on his grave too. They are fading now, but my memory of him never will.
I thought it appropriate that Wolf went off to the happy hunting grounds in autumn, our favorite time of year. Farewell Wolf. Thanks for everything.
18 Responses to “Farewell Wolf–My Hunting Partner Since ‘95”
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That’s a sad story but a fact that all of us must eventually deal with as our pets and hunting partners move on to the after life.
Sorry for your loss My dog is only 3 hope to get as many years as you
Are dogs are family not animals
Sorry to hear about your loss with Wolf as I lost my Springer Remington. I have one of his pups Max but it just isn’t quite the same.
My condolences – I have three faithful companions buried in the back yard. Great friends and family members – in field and out of field. There’ll be another I’m sure as I currently have two labs. You simply move on – and if they lived forever you would not enjoy the opportunity to create a new friendship. And the cyle continues. But I sure wish they could stick around a little longer.
Wolf sounds like he was an amazing member of your family, I only recently got into gun dogs with a little Boykin Spaniel named Finn. He is the best thing to happen to me in ages. Sure my training could be better, hes already a year and behind a lot of other Boykin pups I have met but he seems to be ok with that. Training out back or fetching for hours inside he has that same wild look you spoke of Wolf having. My condolences to you and your family, and thank you for the touching tale.
I am sorry for your lose, i lost 2 springer since i been bird hunting with dogs. reading your story brought tears to my eyes and brought back memorys of my boys. you are correct they are my hunting Buddy and 45 pound lap dogs.i found this poem that pretty much sums it up I wonder where dogs go when they die.
Do they find a kennel up in the sky
A place where they can rest
After living on earth and giving there best.
I lost my dog a dear old friend
Willing and able to the end
A good companion trusty and true
Oh..Old friend I do miss you.
When out shooting pheasant or hare
If I looked round your always there
To do my birding so willing and able
We always took something back to the table
When I worked in the garden mowing or weeding
Your eyes full of begging and pleading
To go for a walk by the river
At the sound of my voice your body would quiver
No more can I look in your faithful old eyes
But perhaps if I look in the grey winter skies
Memories will come of the day that I treasure
Of days spent together when you gave so much pleasure.
I know how you feel. Every year I take my boys out hunting I know we are closer to that day when they will not be there with me. They really are our best friends….
I laid my 14-year old Springer – Rockyfeller the Fifth – in my yard this past March. We hunted hard in New Jersey and California. He never knew the word stop as we hunted in waist deep snow, freezing rain, or the warmth of California winters. I still remember huge snow balls on his ears, neck, and chest hairs. Ne never retreived to hand but would sit about five feet in front of me with the same stupid, wide-eyed grin on his face as though telling me I was a great shot and let’s do it again. We spent hours with a retreiving dummy in the back yard. After a few retreives he would take a victory lap around the yard, then we would start all over. He was my last Springer as my 60-year old legs decided I needed a small pointing dog now. My not yet conceived French Brittany will be G Rockyfeller. G because that is the naming process for 2011, Rockyfellar the Sixth for me.
Hunt long, hunt hard, love your memories and build new ones with your new buddy.
It is hard to see them go but the memories of those days afield that you have of Wolf will last forever. There will be a lot of “remember when’s”. My condolences. Chip
I am the editor’s wife and Wolf’s other owner. It has been comforting to read all of these wonderful comments and stories. Wolf was my first dog and I love him very much. We had a lot of fun together and he made smile everyday. He loved his dog bones and going on walks. Wolf is missed as our beloved pet and family member. He will be in our hearts and memories forever. Love you Wolfie!
Mark & Terri – my condolences, I understand how you feel, a few years ago we lost our Irish Setter “Kulta” of old age at 14. She hunted with me every fall for 14 seasons, I could fill a book with stories and experiences with her. I’m creating new memories now with our young English Setter “Tuli” but will cherish the memories of all our canine companions for their special traits and characters. Best wishes.
Sorry for your loss…It has been 2 years since I lost my hunting buddy Sadie…a golden retriever crossed with an english setter. Sadie fought a hard battle with cancer. A type of cancer only found in cats….this was the second case ever reported. We donated her remains to the Iowa Vet College in Ames so that they could study this cancer and try to understand why it showed up in dogs. There was never a time that you went by her with a gun that you didn’t get the look…:Where you going with that?” look. Sadie was a natural born bird dog…I think we all get one only once in a life time.
Thanks everybody for the kind words of sympathy and support — it has meant a lot to me and Terri. The blog “Farewell Wolf” has been the second most read since PF started blogs last year — a fitting tribute to a great gun dog and your love of hunting.
Yes, this is going to be a bittersweet Hunting season. I recently had to put my “Narco” to final rest. He was a great companion and truly loyal hunter. The tracks and trails and numerous retrieves will be etched in memory forever. I have already spread his ashes over many of my local hunting spots however in mid-October, I will travel to the site of some of his greatest feats. Rest well old friend (Jun 1998 -July 2010).
Wolf was a lucky dog to have you folks to hunt with him and love him. My springer and I will flush one in his honor this season. Condolences.
Awesome Matthew…….what a wonderful gesture to Wolf! He would greatly appreciate it and so will I. I miss him everyday.
MARK,
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, I JUST READ YOUR STORY AND LIKE MOST HUNTER’S, WE TO WILL HAVE A TOUGH DAY OR TWO IN THE FUTURE. I LOST TWO HUNTING PARTNERS LAST YEAR SERRIA/7 & CHEYENNE/14. MY “SYDNIE CHENNEL # 5″ HAD TWO GREAT BIG SISTERS TO TEACH HER THE JOY A ROOSTER HUNT CAN BRING. TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS, AND KEEP A PICTURE OR TWO AROUND FOR THE LONGER WINTER AHEAD.
DINGER
Hey Mark,
Sorry to hear about Wolf! You have my deepest condolences. As we all know these “Dogs” become much more than a pet. They are our companions, friends, and family members. 2 years ago I lost my hunting buddy “BEAR”, I was not sure how the next hunting season would be without him, at first I was not sure I even wanted to go afield that Fall, but as I hunted with his young son “BULL” I found myself filled with great memories of my dear friend “BEAR”, more so than sorrow. I’m sure you will have the same experience. People say you only get 1 great dog, I do not believe this.
MURPH