You may remember me telling you about my old classmate/friend Dave. In this forum I will refer to him as Dave2. That’s not to say he occupies a position lower or behind me, it’s just to eliminate any confusion. Dave2’s hunting and fishing partner is Falco, a small Munsterlander bird dog who is as comfortable in the boat as he is in the woods.

I met Falco a couple of years ago on a woodcock hunt in northern Wisconsin. Although I liked him from the get-go, Falco was not a fan of my poor shooting. He seemed to give me “the look” several times after I missed, no matter how hard or easy the shot was. In addition to being a world-class birder, Falco is also opportunistic when it comes to a warm place to sleep. If a bunk is vacated for any reason, Falco is pretty quick to claim the spot. 

Falco’s unique habit in the boat is (gulp) licking fish. Yes, you read that correctly. Falco rushes to whatever end of the boat is reeling in a fish, puts his paws up on the gunwale of the boat, wagging his tail relentlessly while waiting to greet a fish. He a acts like it’s a melting soft serve ice cream cone.  

Yes, Falco is a fish licker, and not only that, has very specific tastes and dislikes. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and have photos to prove it. His favorite fish to lick is a northern pike. Seriously, you can actually see how much Falco enjoys it. I’m not sure what it is but the but when a pike is brought on board, his tail wags faster and the licking goes on and on and on. My only guess is that pike tend to have all other fish beat when it comes to slime. 

I’m guessing here but I think walleyes are second on Falco’s list of favorite fish to lick, with bass (largemouth and smallmouth) being in a tie for third place. I would rank walleyes first and pike second, but I’m guessing because I have never licked a fish.

Fun facts about Small Munsterlander dogs: they originated in the Munster region of Germany. They were initially kept by elite families and used alongside falcons for hunting. They have webbed feet and a water-repellent coat, making them adept swimmers. They are also known for being calm and easygoing in the house, despite their high energy levels in the field.

It's pretty clear what fish Falco prefers and the same goes for the fish he does not. When a big sheepshead (freshwater drum) was landed Falco took one lick and that was it. He retrieved to his spot in the corner of the boat and curled up to wait for something better to be brought on board. When a red horse sucker was caught Falco bounded up to the fish, took a whiff, gave it a “look,” and then backed away. I know that “look.” I’ve seen it before. 

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal