I wish the season was longer

that sucks.I had to do the same thing not too long ago..Kinda like you, I took my dog everywhere, it was hard..All we can do is give them a good life while they are with us, looks like you definitely did that.
 
What an amazing set of pictures and memories you have of Axl. Many of them were "art" and needed to be on display somewhere besides HuntTalk.

Thanks for sharing those adventures and pictures with us.
 
There are no words to show how much we'll all miss your pictures of him, doing what he did. My condolences to you, and I hope he's having half as much fun in doggy heaven.
 
Sorry for your loss and feel free to help us all cope with some pictures from the past.
 
Once again, thanks much.

Bad-ass.
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Good luck getting away buddy.
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White water retrieve.
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Boring.
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Shoe wear for Pat.
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Nice pinny
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MtMiller, sorry about your loss. Here is a little something that was sent to me when I put my 1st dog down.

A Living Love

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will
always remember....

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your
young new friend.
You may have spent weeks deciding on a litter. You may have asked
numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a
breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen
that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply because something in its
eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and
watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front
room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time--it
instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the
many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later.
It will be a day like any other.
Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will
look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You
will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will
see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your
friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may
feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming
emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until
the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then
you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of
your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest
Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you--you will
feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as
they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your
circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or
comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the
many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size
than your own--seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely
days to come.

And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to
happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very very
lightly.

And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend
used to lay--you will remember those three significant days. The
memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your
heart--As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of
its own.
You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you
reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you.
Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when--along with the
memory of your pet--and piercing through the heaviness in your
heart--there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will
be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have
loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living
Love--like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals
have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to
remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave
us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we
live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave,
perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love we will always possess.

(by Martin Scot Kosins)
 
Few shots from Axl's last limit.

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Sometimes I would just wound them so Ax could have more fun.;)
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Sometimes not.
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Yesterday morning we went to the river for the last time. Though he was worn out, I asked if he saw the birds. His eyes went directly to the sky and though his body was giving up, desire was still there. Happier time 10 months ago at the same location.
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Alright, G&T's kicking in. I better call it a night. thanks for putting up with my escape....
 
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Thanks for sharing again. I am glad for you that you took the pics that you did. They are priceless.
 
Sorry to hear about this Craig. I will say I love the pictures. It's hard, but as long as you have the pics and memories of the days in the blind with a friend who never complained about the cold, or no birds in the sky he will always be with you. I love the days in the blind when it's slow. You haven't seen a flock of birds in awhile, your BSing with your buddy and you happen to look at your dog who is watching a flock go by and the next look is at you. And you just know he is saying what a dumb ass.
 
I'm truly sorry for your loss Craig. Hopefully you can look back at all the memories and remember your companion for the loyal friend he was.
 
Craig,
Nothing I can say that hasn't been already said, but thanks for taking the time to share your adventures you had with him over the years. I espically like the one from the last mt goat hunt you took him on. He was working his butt off to get to the top of the mtn.....

Ernesto
 
Craig, Just got back into town to learn of Axl. I am so sorry for your loss. BTW: Just to show what tolerance Axl had for a person, post up the Cuddle picture of Pat trying to get personal with Axl. John
 
Craig, like every person here who has posted, I really have enjoyed the pictures of Axl thru the years. Thanks for sharing his life and your collective adventures with us, God Bless, JLG.
 
We'll miss the best hunter and most photogenic mammal in Havre! Sorry for your loss Craig.
 
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