Back To Dog Training

Posted on February 8, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

Vince Dye and I wanted to work our young dogs on some chukars. After calling everyone that we thought had them we came up dry. This late in the year most people have sold out. I still have pigeons so I worked all 5 dogs on a couple of pigeons each. It’s really nice to be able to go in the backyard and get 10 points. It’s not as good as wild birds but it’s close.

Mann after the pigeon had flown.

Bodie watching a pigeon in the tree.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

Bodie broke his leg on the December the 14th. I wanted to shoot some chukars over him then but he was in a cast for 21 days then another cast for another 10 days. He wasn’t supposed to get them wet. So that took care of any training I could do with him. He stayed in a cage and I let him out several times a day on a leash. Normally, during this time I start my pups on heel and whoa. I couldn’t even do that.

When I would bring Bodie out of the cage to pee and poop he would run circles around me. He’s a big strong pup and with the cast on his leg I didn’t try to slow him down. This morning was the first time I have really tried to control him. I have used a piggin’ string on most of my dogs but while I was waiting for him to get out of the cast I ordered a Wonder Lead. It’s a little longer than my piggin’ string and has the rubber washers to keep it from coming off.

Most of the snow and ice has melted except for right around my kennels. When I brought Bodie out with the Wonder Lead I didn’t want to be slipping and sliding so we got away from the kennel before starting. When we first start I don’t say “heel or whoa”. When Bodie tries to go ahead of me I just turn and go the opposite direction. He still wants to run circles around me or get on my right side. I tighten the Wonder Lead with a sharp jerk and let off. When he’s right beside me the lead is loose.

After just a few minutes he was doing better and we started toward the back of the training grounds. He still tried to go ahead of me and I turned and went the opposite way. I walked a few yards and stopped. Each time I stopped he was ready to just stand and look. When we came around the back and started back toward the kennel he did better. He still messed up and I corrected him with the Wonder Lead but he was better.

When we got to the retrieving bench I had him jump up. I hooked him to the pulley system and petted him as he walked back and forth. I had made a retrieving dummy out of a one inch dowel. I opened his mouth and made him hold the dowel for a few seconds, telling him to “hold”. After a few seconds I said, “give” and took the dowel. I had him hold the dowel 3 times before setting him on the ground and heeling him to the kennel.

Up to this point everything he’s done has been his decision. Now he’s having to do things my way. I put him back in his kennel and went to the house for a coffee break to let him think about this a little while.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

All of the dogs really like to point the pigeons. I put two birds, in release traps, out on the training grounds. The last time I hunted Sally she got too hot and I think her legs were cramping. I wanted to watch her for any movement that wasn’t right. I heeled her out and put her on “whoa” next to the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and said, “okay”. She was good to go this morning. It’s been quite a while since she had a problem but this morning there was no soreness or any problems. She ran good.

The day she got too hot I had a vest on her and we were in really thick CRP on a 60 degree day. Today the temperature was in the 40’s without the vest and short grass to go through. Today when she pointed her two birds her tail was up and she looked good. I should have been aware of her problems before it got bad but I didn’t. I’m glad there was no lasting effects. I took her back to the kennel.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

I reloaded the release traps and heeled Abby near the 4-wheeler. I whoaed her, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and said, “Okay”. She was away in a hurry. Abby has usually pointed with a good tail but when she came in heat, during the quail season, for some reason, she started throwing her tail to the side. Even when she was no longer in heat she was still pointing with her tail to the side. Until this morning. She finally pointed with her tail up. That’s a relief. I wasn’t sure how I was going to train her out of that. After she pointed her 2 birds I took her to the kennel.

I put birds in the release traps and brought Boss out. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler while I started it and put it in gear. When I released him he wasted no time getting to the back. He was on the wrong side on the first bird but went all the way to the back and pointed. I stroked his sides then flushed the pigeon. These birds aren’t flying real well. This one just lit right above the release trap. He didn’t want to leave. I had to lead him away to get him to hunt for the next bird.

As he hit the scent cone on the next bird a pigeon flew right over the top of him. He chased that bird for several yards then came back and pointed the bird in the release trap. I stroked his sides then flushed this pigeon. It only flew a few yards and lit on the ground. Boss grabbed it. I tried to call him to me but he just laid down, in the brush, with his bird. I knelt down and he pushed the pigeon forward with his nose. He inched forward a little and pushed the pigeon with his nose as he held it down with his foot. He must have pushed that pigeon 6 or 7 times before it was close enough I could grab it. The bird was wet from snow and saliva but unhurt. Before I put him in his kennel I returned the pigeon to the coop, unhurt.

Bodie on the retrieving bench.

The last time I worked Bodie on pigeons he had jumped for one and landed wrong when he came down breaking his leg. I wasn’t sure what to expect today. He really doesn’t like the 4-wheeler either. I heeled him out with the Wonder Lead. I got on the 4-wheeler and he followed for a short distance then went ahead of me. I thought he was on the wrong side of the first bird when he pointed but he had the scent. I took some pictures before getting off the 4-wheeler. When I got close to him he moved and I flushed the pigeon. He chased but when it lit in a tree he didn’t jump for it.

I had the blank pistol and wanted him to chase a bird so I could shoot. The first bird only flew a few feet and so did the second. There will be plenty of time to shoot the blank pistol between now and next season. But I was happy that he pointed both birds without any reservations. No real bad effects from the broken leg. I took him back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps and heeled Mann out. Of all of my dogs Mann is the bird craziest. When I turn them all out to clean pens he watches the pigeon house until it’s time to go back in his kennel. The other dogs go play but not him.

Boss honoring.

I heeled him near the 4-wheeler. After I started it and put it in gear I said, “Okay”. He was gone. He pointed the first pigeon but he was on the wrong side. About in the same tracks of Bodie. The wind must have shifted. I stroked him then flushed his bird. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

He pointed the next bird from a good distance. I stroked him then flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until I said, “get that bird, get that bird”. He chased a short distance then we went back to the kennel.

I’ve been slowed down some by the Covid and wasn’t sure whether my energy level was such that I could work dogs or not but I had a good morning. As I said, it’s nice to be able to get 10 points in my own back yard. It’s not as good as a wild bird hunt but it’s close.

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The 21/22 Quail Season

Posted on February 1, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

The 21/22 quail season has come to a close in Missouri and Kansas. Just writing that statement is kind of depressing. But everything comes to an end, I guess. Missouri and Kansas both were going through drought conditions this year. The scenting conditions were tough for the dogs. Toward the end of the season there was dirt lying in the grass that boiled up as we walked through.

Abby on point.

Boss pointing Abby honoring.

Boss honoring.

I like to take a trip to a new place each year before the season opens. This year I had a litter of puppies at the end of June. They didn’t go to their new homes until September. Then the weather, almost everywhere, stayed really warm. Occasionally, there would be a couple of cool days but not long enough for a hunting trip. So I didn’t take a trip.

I was still wanting to take a trip as the season went along but all of the reports were dismal. The birds in western Oklahoma were non existent. There were a few but not enough for a trip. We checked out south western Kansas and it wasn’t good either. A friend had some friends hunting in New Mexico. After two days they hadn’t seen a quail. So I never made a trip other than one over night hunt in central Kansas.

Then I was working my puppy, Bodie, on some pigeons. When I flushed one pigeon from the release trap it only flew to a low limb in a close tree. Bodie leaped into the air to catch the pigeon and when he came down there was a snap like breaking a large limb. He yelped but didn’t try to move.

I started carrying him out of the field but had to sit him down and go get the 4-wheeler. I took him to the vet and they found his leg broken. They put him in a cast and I kept him in a cage in the basement, letting him out on a leash several times a day. With him in a cast there was no way I could make a trip. He wore the first cast 21 days then the vet put another cast on for 10 days. After that cast come off I couldn’t run him for two weeks.

Vince Dye and I had some decent hunts in northern Missouri on some private land. Vince has a couple of friends that are big farmers. They own a lot of land and allow him to quail hunt. Since the season has closed Vince has walked some of the places, coyote hunting, and found several more places that we should have hunted with the bird dogs.

Don Hansen and I had a really good hunt on some walk-in property in mid January. These birds were flushing far enough ahead of us that we never hurt them. We found 4 or 5 coveys and each covey was large. Close to twenty birds in each one. I just knew we could go back a couple of times.

Abby really concentrating on this honor.

Then tragedy struck. My sisters husband, Lenval Woodruff, passed away. They had been married almost 65 years. Lenval had been an important part of our family for most of my life. I went to Oklahoma for his funeral and came home with Covid 19. I not only got Covid but I also gave it to my wife, June. So that took care of the last part of the 21/22 quail season for me.

Now I’m sitting home waiting on a big snow storm to hit thinking about the season past and looking forward to next year. If the Lord’s willing I will be going somewhere and hopefully more than one place. I really enjoy hunting new places and would like to hunt some new kinds of quail.

Enough of the doom and gloom. Boss, Abby and Bodie need lots of work before next season. I’m looking forward to doing the trained retrieve with them as well as working them on pigeons. Boss and Abby, both, hold their birds well and let me walk in front of them. Normally, they don’t move until the bird does. We will continue to work on that along with the trained retrieve.

Mann on point with Sally honoring.

Bodie needs a lot of work. Usually by the time they are 6 months old I have them heeling and whoaing on a lead. And holding their birds, allowing me to flush. With his broken leg I wasn’t able to work with him. When my Covid clears I will take him back to the vet to make sure he’s ready to run and be trained. Then we will start in earnest.

For me, being able to work the dogs in the back yard and get several points, on the pigeons, is about as much fun as a successful bird hunt. So the open season is the top but the off season isn’t far behind.

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Another Hunt In Kansas

Posted on January 20, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

The season is closed in Missouri and is winding down in Kansas. It’s been hard for Don Hansen and me to be able to hunt together. We both are retired but life gets in the way. Yesterday we finally were able to get together. I met Don and Linda at a convenience store in Kansas. Don’s dog, Goofy, was in the front seat while they were in the store. He looked like, “if you don’t come back soon, I’m leaving”.

Come on or I’m leaving.

Don and Linda near Sally’s point.

Goofy

On the walk-in properties I like to hunt them different than what I think the last guy did. Instead of just going the easy route I like to go to places that some of the people will miss. After we turned our dogs (Don just brought Goofy but I had Mann, Sally, Abby and Boss) loose we went along the side of a winter wheat field, but we were out in the CRP.

We had only gone about a quarter mile when the GPS handheld vibrated showing Mann on point. By the time we got there the other dogs were honoring. He was looking into a long plum thicket. When we got close to him a large covey of quail flushed about 40 yards ahead of us out the end of the plum thicket.

We couldn’t tell where they went down but we followed in the direction they flew. As we went along Don had a single get up right in front of him. We don’t shoot unless the bird is pointed but we got the dogs in to hunt for more singles. No luck.

We came on around the end of the property and started back to the north. Suddenly there was another covey in the air flying the way we were going. We were able to mark this covey down by an old dead tree. Two coveys of quail in the first 30 minutes and not a shot fired. We went toward these birds.

Before we got close to the tree the GPS vibrated and Mann was on point to the east. We got close and he was moving. Then Sally was on point in the same area. When we got close to her she was moving. We let the dogs work this area for a little while and started toward our dead tree.

Again the GPS vibrated and Mann was on point back close to his other point, only about 35 yards from us. We went back to see him twisted into a point. It looked like the bird was right under his nose. A bird exploded right in front of him and just as I shot went around a cedar tree. Another quail flushed from behind me and Don dropped it into a plum thicket. As we stood there with me congratulating Don on his shot Mann brought the dead bird to me and dropped it in my hand. It was kind of slimy from Mann’s saliva but we didn’t mind.

We were closer to another edge of this property than the old dead tree so we decided to hit that first. Out in the CRP, 75 yards from the end of the property, Goofy pointed. When we got to him a single came up and went my way. I missed with the first barrel but dropped it with the second.

Boss pointing Abby honoring.

We got the dogs in to hunt dead. I saw Boss point and encouraged him to jump in. It didn’t take much. He grabbed the bird and wanted to run. I grabbed him and started petting. In just a few seconds he was ready to get rid of the bird. I took it from him. We started to our tree, again.

We hadn’t gone far when the GPS handheld vibrated again. Mann was on point 200 yards behind us along the edge of the property. When we started toward our old tree, he hadn’t come with us. I could not hunt without GPS collars.

When we got close the other dogs were honoring. He was looking into a plum thicket. There was a small clump of plums near him that he was looking into but as we got in front of him he turned his head toward the real long thicket. As we took a step or two about 65 yards ahead of us a huge covey of quail flushed, without us getting a shot. These flew to the south over a small rise. We followed.

Abby honoring Sally.

With all of the dogs off to the south west, about 50 yards ahead, about 10 quail flushed from a small thicket and flew west. We got the dogs in to hunt where those flushed and where we thought they had flown. As the dogs were hunting close to us another huge covey of quail flushed about 150 yards ahead of us. No dogs or people near.

We hunted around for the ten birds for a little while then started following the big covey that had flushed. All of the dogs were really birdy as we followed. We had several points. When we got close the dogs would trail. We were almost to some plowed ground when Sally and Abby pointed at the same time close to us.

Sally must have lost the scent because she trailed on off. Abby didn’t move. She knew the bird was right in front of her. When the bird flushed it curled around Don and put a tree between them really quick. He shot but didn’t have a chance. There was almost no cover left as we got close to the plowed ground and another quail flushed coming back past me. We weren’t shooting at birds not pointed.

Abby pointing.

As we come along the edge another quail flushed. It had to almost be standing in the plowed field. Still no shot. We came on around and started one more time for the old dead tree. This time we made it but it had been a couple of hours since we had seen the birds land close. The dogs worked around the area but we never came up with anything.

It was pretty warm, 57 degrees when I got in my truck to go home, so we started to the truck. When we got close to where we had seen the very first covey the GPS vibrated. Boss was on point. Just a few seconds later Mann was too. Mann was honoring Boss or he had come between Boss and the birds without seeing Boss. As we went toward them they both moved. Then they were on point again.

When we got there Mann was ahead and Boss was honoring in the very same plum thicket where the original covey had been. When we went in front of Mann a quail flushed and I shot but missed as it flew around the plum thicket. Another quail flushed and Don knocked it down. Abby found the bird and I petted her until she gave it up.

Boss honoring.

We went just a little farther into the CRP and Sally pointed. When we got in front of her a single quail flushed. When I shot it folded. Sally made the retrieve. I tried to feed her the head but I think she dropped it. We let the dogs work the area. About the time we started to leave the GPS vibrated. Mann was on point about 35 yards from us. When we got close I saw he was sitting down. When I got in front of him he stood. A quail flushed and hit the ground on my second shot.

In the heat the dogs were hot and tired. Once more we started toward the truck and Sally went on point just a few yards in front of us. When we walked in a single quail flushed. Again, on my second shot it came down. Sally found the bird but was just walking back to me. I hit the tone button on her e-collar and she ran back with the bird. This time she ate the head from the bird.

Boss

That made 4 birds out of this covey so we started to the truck, again. Linda had already taken Goofy to the truck. As we came by a plum thicket I saw all of the dogs on point. I think Mann had pointed in a plum thicket and the other 3 had honored. I took pictures of them all. When I went to Mann he started moving. Then all of the dogs were moving. When Sally came by me I could see something was wrong.

She wasn’t running right. I thought at first she had a stick inside the vest I had her wearing but that wasn’t it. She was staggering around in the plum thicket. I couldn’t get to her so I called her to me. When I started petting her she was moving her left back leg up and down. I took the vest off and grabbed some snow and rubbed it on her chest to cool her down. In just a few seconds she seemed better.

Sally with her leg straight out.

We were 300 yards from the truck and she stayed closer than usual but she still hunted back to the truck. When I loaded her in the truck she seemed fine but tired. Later when I saw the picture of her when she was honoring Mann she had her right front leg pointing straight out. I’ve never seen her or any other dog do that. Looks like a cartoon dog pointing at the dog on point.

I think she was having cramps but I don’t know. Today she is sore but much better. I will watch her for a while and if she needs to see a vet I will take her.

We were out from about 10 am until about 2:30 pm and saw 4 coveys and possibly part of 5 coveys. We didn’t kill a lot of birds but all 5 dogs pointed and that’s what we came for. This was the best day of the season for us. We were in birds most of the day. That had to be really good for the dogs.

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Another Kansas Quail Hunt

Posted on January 16, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

It’s been a while since I have written a post for the blog. Life sometimes gets in the way of what we want to do. I’ve had some business that kept me from the field and the weather hasn’t really cooperated like I would like. But I did finally get to go last Wednesday.

Boss on the right pointing a single and Ben’s Brittany on the left honoring.

Ben’s Brittany pointing a single.

Sally honoring.

I had some business that kept me from leaving home before about 9:30 am. When I got close to a huge walk-in property there was no one on the first side I drove down. It is a big property so I decided to check the other side to make sure no one had come in from the other side. When I started down the dirt road on the far side there was a pickup truck driving, slowly.

I followed him slowly down the road. Slow is okay for me because I like to look, too. When we got to the dead end he pulled to the side and I drove up beside him. We talked for a while. He had just got there too. After a little while I told him I was going back to the other side and turn the dogs loose. If he wanted he could hunt with me. He said he really hadn’t wanted to hunt alone. He would follow me to the other side.

His name was Ben and he had a young Brittany that he turned loose. It took me a few minutes to get the e-collars and GPS collars on my four dogs, Mann, Sally, Abby and Boss. I had put the collars on Mann first and as we started to cross the road to hunt I looked 200 plus yards to the north and he was on point along the road. We were almost to him and he started moving but all of the other dogs were really birdy.

Sally and Ben’s Brittany (I usually don’t remember people’s name but I remember the dog’s name. As I write this I can’t remember his dog’s name. I remember Ben’s name because I have a brother named Ben.) both pointed for a few seconds then moved. I had planned to hunt the other side of the road but since the dogs acted like we were following running birds, we hunted this side.

We circled several small fields, through some hay fields and crossed some creeks. The dogs were hunting well and every once in a while, after we got close to where the dogs were pointed, we would see a turkey in the air. After we walked a long way we knew that the dogs were chasing turkeys. We were almost back to where we had parked the trucks when we heard a cat squall. It sounded like we may have made a bob cat mad, by chasing his turkeys off.

When we got back to the trucks, we watered the dogs and our self, then went across where we originally had intended to go. This side is huge and we walked way back. The dogs had led us the way they wanted to go, more or less. There is an old abandoned road on the side that is now part of this property. It runs about a quarter mile but is only about a hundred yards wide. The GPS handheld vibrated showing Mann on point almost at the very end.

Abby really concentrating on this honor.

We started toward him but after we went about a hundred yards he was moving. We decided to continue on down the old road. In just a few seconds I saw Abby standing in a harvested soybean field honoring. When I checked the GPS Sally was on point. We went a little faster toward them but before we got close Abby was moving.

These quail, that are still alive on walk-in properties, are not alive because they are dumb. We went on toward the end. I saw Boss on point and Ben’s Brittany honoring in the thick brush. I took a couple of pictures and Ben tried to get in front of them and drive the quail my way. As he got close a single quail flushed, going through the brush, without giving either of us a shot.

We were almost at the end when my GPS handheld vibrated. Sally was on point on the end of the old road. By the time we got close we saw that Ben’s Brittany was actually the one on point with Sally, Boss and Abby honoring. I took pictures as Ben crossed the fence to get in front of his dog. A single quail flushed and Ben made a nice shot.

Boss honoring.

We came back down the old, grown up roadway. Right where the roadway joined the other property, behind me a few feet and right in front of Ben, a single quail flushed and went around a cedar tree, without giving either of us a shot. I had hunted this property one other time this year and a covey of quail had run out and flushed in this same area. The last time, we only saw two singles. This time we saw 3.

We hunted back toward the trucks. When we got close a couple of our dogs pointed then before we could get close were moving again. We had seen several turkeys earlier and again we saw one in the air. This would be a good area for fall turkey hunting next year.

Abby on point Sally honoring.

I can’t ever remember asking someone to hunt with me that I met at a hunting spot but this one worked out really well. Ben was about my age and was more interested in dog work than shooting. We both knew some of the same people. I hunt with Don Hansen and Ben had him work on one of his shotguns. He also knew a friend of Don’s and now a friend of mine that bought a puppy from me. We were just happy to get the dogs out and get them into birds. They, the dogs, learn something each time they are out. Especially when you can get them into wild birds.

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