Hunting In Missouri And Kansas

Posted on November 6, 2021 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

I have hunted the opening day of quail season in Missouri and also in Kansas for a lot of years. The weather forecast for the opener was for light rain with an accumulation of about .08. That doesn’t sound like much so Vince Dye and I went. First to a private place and then to a Missouri Conservation Area.

Luke is almost 12 and has had a stroke. I put some pigeons out for him.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Ally, Vince’s short hair.

The light rain kept coming down. Pretty soon we were wet from head to toe so it didn’t make a lot of difference. Vince had mowed part of the first place we hunted. He had seen quite a few quail at the time. It was a 160 acres of CRP next to some row crops. We made a circle next to the row crops then down an abandoned railroad track. Across the end next to harvested soybeans. Back, toward the truck, next to the road with harvested soybean fields across the road. We made it back to the truck without seeing any game birds.

We drove to a Missouri Conservation Area where I had found 3 coveys last season. The corn was still in the field where one of the coveys were found last season so we crossed the road where there is normally two coveys. We covered the area, getting wetter and wetter. The dogs aren’t in the best shape yet and were hunting closer and closer to us. We covered most of the ground where the birds were found without seeing anything. We loaded the dogs and went home.

Two days later we went to another Missouri Conservation Area. Most of these areas have a lot of bow hunters after deer. We really don’t like hunting the same areas. If a camouflaged hunter was in a tree stand and a quail flushed close and flew between me and the hunter he could be shot without me knowing he was there.

We checked most of the area out before turning dogs loose. Vince had his German short haired female Ally and his English Cocker, Maggie. I had only brought Mann and Abby. We went through some really thick, heavy weeds. As we went to the south Ally went on point. By the time we found her in the thick weeds Abby and Mann were honoring. I took a picture and we walked in.

A single quail flushed. I figured that Vince would get that bird and I waited for the covey to flush. Vince waited for me to shoot. He finally shot after the bird was out quite a way without any luck. No other birds flushed. We worked the area without finding any others.

Ally on point with Abby and Mann in the deep grass honoring.

We went on to the south. We had found some singles last year in the area close to this bird. As we searched it Mann went on point. When we got close he was right next to a draw with some mature trees. Another single quail flushed. I shot and missed but Vince dropped it on his second shot. Maggie, the English cocker, made a good retrieve.

Before Maggie made it back with the retrieve another single got up and put a tree between it and us. We worked through the draw then separated. Vince and his dogs went close to the road where Maggie flushed a couple of birds that Vince didn’t get a shot at. We got back together and started back to the truck.

About 300 yards from the truck we saw a covey flush. The wind was strong out of the south and Mann was in the area. We don’t know what happened but he was probably going with the wind and didn’t smell them until they flushed. The covey flushed across the road onto more Conservation ground. The dogs were tired from hunting the heavy grass and we were going to rest them for about 30 minutes before chasing the singles.

Abby on point.

As we came down a hedge row and were almost to the truck a single bird flushed. By the time I could shoot it was through the hedge row. I shot anyway. I heard Vince shoot just a split second after I shot. I asked if he got it. He said, “No, it was on the way down from your shot when I shot”.

Maggie saw the bird drop and went right to the spot. But the bird was gone. We got all the dogs in and tried to find the cripple. Mann went east of us and went on point. This was about where we thought the singles had flown. When we got to him all of the dogs started trailing. We never came up with the singles. On the way back to the truck we went through where we thought the wounded bird was with no luck.

As we waited while the dogs rested Vince decided to take Maggie back one more time to find the bird we had knocked down. They worked about ten minutes but still didn’t come up with the bird.

We drove to another area we wanted to try. There were deer hunters already there so we decided to go to another Conservation area. When we got to the area we wanted to hunt on the next Conservation area there were two vehicles there. We went to an area that we had passed on the way.

The big ranch that we were hunting.

We separated with Vince going through a strip of grass that was left in a harvested corn field. I went through a weed patch next to the corn field. At the end of the corn field we got back together. We went on to the south to the end of the property then to the east property line and back to the truck. We didn’t see a game bird. When we got back to the truck we gave up and went home.

Late Thursday night I decided to go to Kansas prairie chicken hunting. So I was up early and loaded dogs, Abby, Bodie, Boss and Mann, so I could miss the rush hour traffic in Kansas City. This would be Bodie’s first road trip.

I drove past a huge cattle ranch that looked like a good place for prairie chickens but might also hold a few quail. I put e-collars and GPS collars on Abby, Boss and Mann but just a GPS collar on Bodie. I didn’t really think Bodie would need a GPS but it wasn’t long before I was glad he had it. He was 4 months and 6 days old but he ran.

This was a beautiful place to run dogs. I could see Mann and Boss at 500 yards as they ran the country. Abby didn’t make 500 yard casts but she ran pretty good. The surprise was Bodie. He started trying to follow Mann and Boss but couldn’t keep up. It didn’t seem to bother him. When they got far ahead of him he just kept going. He made several casts of over 300 yards. The wind was really blowing from the south. This made it hard for Bodie to hear me call him. The other dogs are used to keeping track of me and coming in when I beep them on their e-collar.

Abby pointing a chukar.

As I walked along Bodie came in front of me, close. There was a little ditch in front of him about 18 inches deep. He isn’t used to ditches. He thought he could walk across the ditch and fell to the bottom of it. I laughed at him. He acted like it hurt his feelings but these young dogs have to learn everything. The first time he went under a barb wire fence it was a big deal but by the time we got back to the truck he was doing it well.

There was a cross fence after we got back in about half a mile. I was leaning on a pipe fence post watching Boss who was about 400 yards away running. I really enjoy these wide open places where I can see the dogs for a long way. I heard quail flushing behind me. I turned and Mann was on point right behind me and about 6 or 8 quail flushed to the west. Mann was still on point and I knew there were still birds in front of him. I took a couple of steps toward him and a single bird got up out of a small multi flora rose bush. When it flushed it flew low to the north east and about 7 or 8 more quail went with it.

There was a small creek to the north that we crossed to see if we could find some singles. Another new thing for Bodie but he handled it well. We checked around without finding any birds and went toward the area of the birds that had flown to the west. I really don’t like to make a lot of noise when I’m hunting but Bodie was off about 350 yards. The older dogs are trained to come in with the tone but Bodie isn’t plus he didn’t have a collar on that I could tone him with.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

As I called Bodie the dogs checked a small draw where I thought maybe the first bunch of birds had flown. Bodie came back and Abby pointed in front of me. Bodie went to her and licked her face. Abby was disgusted with her kid but put up with it. When I got close she moved to another clump of brush and went back on point. Bodie was still trying to play with her. I was hoping a quail would flush from the bush but they had already run off, I believe. Probably when I was calling Bodie.

Mann came by and stopped at the bush that Abby had pointed at. He didn’t stay long, though. We went on to the south west but Bodie made a big cast to the west. I called him and started to the west. I walked well over a quarter of a mile then stopped at another cross fence. I checked the GPS and Bodie was still on the other side of a ridge, over 350 yards from me. There were cows on that side so I stood at the fence and called.

As I watched the GPS he was coming closer. Pretty soon, at about 200 yards, I could see him coming. Some of the cows were moving away from him but some were standing their ground. He wasn’t intimidated, at all. He saw me as he came over a rise then dropped out of sight in another low spot. He came straight on. He came right by me and went on to the front. For a 4 month old pup he’s almost fearless.

When we got back to the truck I loaded the dogs. Bodie was more ready to get in the box than he had been earlier that morning. I started looking for another place to hunt. Prairie chicken hunting is really just a fact finding trip. I use these to find places I want to quail hunt when the season opens.

Bodie on another pigeon.

I drove by several places that I circled on my walk-in atlas. I found a pasture that wrapped around a harvested soybean field on two sides. I left Bodie in the truck and turned the other 3 dogs loose. We went into the south wind that seemed to be getting stronger. There was plenty of cover in the pasture to hold quail but we circled the soybean field and then went to the east up a good fence row and back to the truck. We hadn’t found any game birds. I loaded the dogs.

I drove by several more places before leaving to get back home without getting caught in the rush hour traffic. Having Bodie along was great. I enjoy watching puppies learn and he learned a lot. I’ve had puppies that had a hard time crossing barb wire fences. The first one was kind of tough for him but before the day was over he had it figured out. At 4 months old I don’t really want to run him for a long time but a few short hunts are good for him. And for me.

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Working Young Dogs On Chukars

Posted on October 27, 2021 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

Vince Dye had called Harden Game Farm in Ridgeway Missouri for some chukars to train our young dogs. We were supposed to pick them up at 10:00 am so that gave us time to stop by Toot Toots in Bethany Missouri for a leisurely breakfast at their buffet. We got to Harden’s a little early, about 9:15, but they had the birds ready. We transferred them into our boxes then drove to a farm where we had permission to work the dogs.

Vince flushing in front of Abby.

Ally, Vince’s short hair.

Vince in front of Abby.

I’m not sure how big this CRP field, that we were to work the dogs on, was but it was big. There was plenty of tall grass with mowed strips through out. We drove off the road into the field. I drove in over a quarter mile and turned around. I was going to show Vince how I put them to sleep to hide them and the first chukar got away. It only flew about 75 yards to a fence row and lit in a tree. We put out 2 more chukars.

I put the e-collar and GPS collar on Abby and turned her loose. Abby has been a long way ahead of me when she points pigeons at the house and she is sometimes too close to the bird. I was afraid she would do the same thing on the chukars. According to my weather app on my phone the wind was out of the south east at 17 miles per hour. That may have been an understatement. The wind seemed stronger.

We worked Abby into the wind toward the first chukar. As soon as she hit the scent cone she pointed. That was nice to see. I went to her and stroked her sides. I stood beside her, just watching, as Vince went in front kicking the cover. When the chukar flushed she didn’t move until Vince shot. Then she ran to the downed bird and rolled it around. I squatted down and called her to me. She finally came but without the bird.

She made a circle that brought her near where the chukar, that had got away earlier, was sitting in a tree. She went on point. I stroked her sides then started ahead of her. I was looking in the tree for the bird when I heard it flush. I never saw it. Vince thought I was going to shoot so he didn’t. That bird got away. We didn’t see where it flew.

We still had another bird out so we worked her into that area. As soon as she hit the scent cone she pointed. This time I walked in front of her kicking the cover. Vince said she stayed, without moving, until I shot. Again she ran to the bird and rolled it around. This time she picked it up and started toward me. She dropped the bird and went back to hunting. We worked her back to the truck and loaded her in the box.

We put out 3 more chukars and I drove the truck ahead about 75 yards. I put the e-collar and GPS collar on Boss. I suspected that Boss was flushing birds when I ran him on wild birds. He points the pigeons as soon as he hits the scent cone but he hasn’t pointed a wild bird in quite awhile.

Sure enough. He hit the scent cone and moved toward the chukar. I whoaed him and he stopped for just a second then flushed the chukar. I didn’t shoot. We watched the bird fly about 200 yards south, follow a hedge row around then fly back to just across the field from us.

Boss on point, Allie and Abby honoring.

We worked him toward another bird. This time as soon as I could tell he hit the scent cone I whoaed him. He stopped and let me get to him. I stroked his sides. As Vince started in front of him he took a step. I picked him up and set him back. Vince kicked in front of him for several seconds before flushing the bird. When the bird flushed Boss was after it. When it hit the ground he was right there. He rolled it around but didn’t pick it up.

We continued on toward the third bird. When he hit the scent cone he pointed. I whoaed him then just stood and watched. Vince went in front and flushed the chukar. It hit the ground near a fence row and Boss pounced on it. On this bird he was a little possessive. He held it when I reached for it. I kept my hand on it and blew in his ear. He dropped the bird.

We went along the tree line where we thought the bird that he had flushed flew. Boss pointed a couple of times but we never saw or heard the bird. After a few minutes we went back to the truck and put him in the box.

We put out 3 more birds and moved the truck ahead about 75 yards. Vince put the e-collar and GPS collar on Ally and turned her loose.

Abby is pointing. Boss came in front and stopped on my whoa.

Ally made short work of her first bird. She went straight to it and made a nice point. Vince watched her as I walked in front, kicked the bird up and shot. When the bird hit the ground Ally was right there. She started to Vince then turned away. He called her and after a couple of prompts she brought it to him.

We went on down and she pointed again. I walked in front of her and rolled the chukar over to wake it up and it just ran a few feet. I chased it and then Ally was helping. She ran past the bird and I reached down and picked it up. Vince wanted to put it in the grass, so when Ally went on, he could bring Maggie, his English cocker spaniel, down to retrieve.

He hid the bird and Ally found her third bird. Vince and I both went in front of her kicking the cover. When it flushed Vince hit it with the first barrel but it was still flying until he fired the second barrel. Ally pounced on it and brought it most of the way back to Vince. We put her in the truck box and let Maggie out.

Maggie is a really neat dog. When she’s happy, which is most of the time, she wags from the ears back. Her whole body gets into motion. Her little short legs were just a blur as she went back and forth in front of us. She was going into the wind and hit the scent cone and had the chukar before it could do anything. As soon as she got it she headed right to Vince. He took the bird and threw it a couple more times for her. We put her in the box.

Abby pointing a chukar.

We drove to the other side of the field. We put out 3 more chukars and turned Abby out again. She moved down wind until she hit the scent cone and pointed. She’s stopping at the first hint of scent, I think. Vince and I went in front of her and when the bird flushed it was closer to Vince but it flew right toward my truck. Vince couldn’t shoot. Then the bird turned and flew back toward me and Vince couldn’t shoot because of me. Finally, it dawned on me that maybe I should shoot. By this time the bird was 50 yards away or more. I missed.

We worked Abby toward another bird and she pointed. I went in front of her and flushed the chukar. Abby picked the bird up and came close enough to me that I could touch her but I couldn’t stop her. She went on toward Vince but didn’t stop. A little past him she dropped the bird. When I got to her she held the bird while I petted her. Pretty soon she turned loose of the bird.

She made a circle toward where the bird that escaped was in a tree or near the tree. We followed her. As she went down the tree line she pointed. The chukar was sitting in a tree, not very high off the ground. When it flushed Vince dropped it into the brush on the far side. Abby went to it and I tried to get her to pick it up but she just rolled it around. The brush was really thick so I used my gun barrel to drag the bird toward me. Just before I got it to me Abby saw me and came back and grabbed the chukar. I was afraid she was going to take it farther into the brush but she took it out of the brush where we could get it.

Another picture of Abby pointing a chukar.

We still had one bird out. As we started toward it Vince said, “it wasn’t her fault.” When I asked what he meant he said the bird had flushed way ahead of Abby. He said she wasn’t even close. I hadn’t seen the bird, at all. We followed the direction the bird had flown but never found it. We put her in the dog box.

We hid 3 more chukars and moved the truck ahead. I turned Boss out again. From the birds before and the shooting he could hear he was really wound up. It took a few minutes to get him to come in front of us. He should figure out we set the birds, we know where they are. As he came in front of us he went on point. He was close to the bird but only because that’s where he first hit the scent cone. I stood beside him as Vince went in front, kicked the bird out and shot. Boss was on it quickly. When he picked the bird up, he laid down. I petted him until he turned the bird loose.

Boss was ahead of us as he went on point. He didn’t seem real solid so I stood by him as Vince tried to flush. Vince kicked for a while without flushing anything so I tapped Boss on the head. He moved up about 15 yards and went back on point. Vince went back in front but couldn’t flush anything. I tapped his head again and he moved about 10 yards and went back on point. This time I started around to help flush when we saw the chukar running ahead of us. When it flushed it came my way. I hit it with the first barrel but it kept going. I shot again and the bird came down. Boss saw it hit and he was right behind the bird. The chukar tried to run but he caught it. It got away for just a second before he had it again. He held the bird until I blew in his ear. He went back to hunting.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

The next bird held good. Boss pointed it and Vince kicked it up and it dropped at his shot. I think Boss is starting to understand that if he will point the birds someone might shoot it for him to catch the dead bird. Boss was on it quickly. We put him in the truck.

Vince put one chukar out for Maggie. He had to walk a big circle to get the wind right so Maggie didn’t just follow his foot prints to the bird. Maggie was fast as she went in front of us. When she got close to the chukar she almost caught it but it got away. She was still right behind it when Vince shot the bird. She grabbed it and made a Bee line for Vince. We put her back in the dog box.

We put one bird out for Ally. Vince’s dogs are older and he had only wanted 5 birds, 3 for Ally and 2 for Maggie. I had bought 15 because my dogs needed more birds. Ally went ahead of us and found her bird. She made a nice point and Vince walked in front kicking the grass. When the chukar flushed he dropped it and Ally retrieved it all the way to drop it in Vince’s hand.

We had 3 birds left. I drove down a ridge stopping for Vince to hide the birds about a hundred yards apart. We turned all 3 dogs, Ally, Abby and Boss out. As we came down the ridge Boss went on point about a hundred yards ahead of us. Abby and Ally honored. When we went in front the bird flushed into the wind then turned and went with the wind. Abby and Boss were chasing and when Vince shot the chukar almost dropped onto Boss. He grabbed it. I took it from him after a little petting.

Mann on point.

Ally and Abby were on down the field when I saw Abby go on point. Actually Vince said, “she should on point, now”. And as soon as he said, “now” she pointed. Usually, Boss honors as soon as he sees a dog on point so I didn’t whoa him until he was close to Abby. When he stopped he was between Abby and the bird. It looks like she’s backing him but he stole the point. Vince went in front kicking the cover. I was close to Boss and saw he was looking right in front of himself. Vince came over flushed the bird and shot. Abby grabbed this one. I petted her until she dropped it.

We went on toward the next bird but never found it. It may have got up because of the wind or even us shooting on the others. We followed a hedge row back to the truck, loaded dogs and headed home. It was a good day for us and for the dogs. I think Boss is starting to understand what his job is but I would like to run him one more time on some chukars, just to give him a little more confidence and knowledge. It might help me, too.

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Hunting Season Is Close, 10/24/21

Posted on October 24, 2021 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

It’s just a week until the Missouri quail season opener. Some of the close states open this coming Saturday but I will wait for Missouri’s opener. Kansas opens on the second Saturday of November each year. I have done the opener in both states, Missouri and Kansas, for a lot of years. It’s still hard for me to sleep the night before each of them. I hope it, my excitement, never changes.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

Bodie on another pigeon.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Monday morning there was a good breeze from the south west and when I hid 4 pigeons for Bodie he worked the wind really well. I had staked him out while I cleaned kennels then took him to the chain gang by the training grounds. I hid the 4 pigeons then turned him loose. He pointed the first bird but didn’t hold very long. At his first movement I flushed the pigeon. We went on toward the back. When we got to the back he was 40 yards or more ahead of me when he pointed.

He was behind a tree and to get a decent picture I had to walk closer. I still didn’t get his tail in the picture. As soon as I could see him good I stopped and waited on him to move. He was on point for over a minute. He did slowly cut his eyes to me as you can see in the picture. As soon as he moved I flushed the pigeon. He ran to the trap. (He doesn’t chase the bird much.) I went to the tree he was beside, when he pointed, and stepped it off to the release trap. It was 19 large strides. Pretty good for 16 weeks.

Just when you’re feeling good about a puppy they will screw up. On the next bird he smelled it, turned and went right for it. I flushed the pigeon. I try to make these pigeons act just like a wild bird will do. If you get too close it will flush. If you move after establishing point the bird will fly. I want that puppy to think that any movement on his part and the bird will fly.

When we got to the last pigeon I thought he was on the wrong side but he pointed. This time he held the point for a long time. I could see him through the edge of a cedar tree and just watched until he moved. I flushed the pigeon. He went to the trap.

Bodie is afraid of the 4-wheeler and I always try to get him to either run in front or follow behind when I pick up the traps. On the way back to the 4-wheeler he was still hunting, as he should be. He went by the trap that held the first bird. I wanted to see if he would point an empty trap but he never acted like he even knew it was there. I’m convinced that a dog with a good nose knows when there is a bird in the trap and when there isn’t.

When Mann was young and I was training him he did the same thing. Sometimes I would flush a bird from the trap without knowing it. He would pass the trap without even acknowledging it. I would work him by it two or three times before I would notice the bird was already gone. I didn’t know but Mann knew. I think Bodie has the same kind of smarts and the same kind of nose.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I have been heeling Abby and Boss around the yard whoaing them pretty often. Some of the times I put a pigeon to sleep right in front of them and make them stay on whoa as I wake the pigeon and watch it fly away. The last post Abby chased both times when I flushed birds from the release traps.

This time I put two pigeons between the raised bed gardens and heeled Abby close. I put her on whoa, put a pigeon to sleep in front of her and kicked the grass. I stroked her sides then walked back in front. I kicked the grass some more then held the end of the piggin’ string. I flushed one of the pigeons in the release trap. Abby didn’t move. I walked back in front kicking the cover. I stroked her sides then held the piggin’ string and flushed the second pigeon. Again she stayed.

I made a big deal out of this stroking her sides and telling her what a good girl she is. The pigeon was still asleep in the grass in front of her. I walked in front then held the piggin’ string while I woke the pigeon. It stood in front of her for several seconds before flying away. Abby didn’t move but she whined as the bird stood in front of her. I heeled her away and let her run.

Feathers where a hawk caught one of my pigeons.

I worked Boss on the same exercise. In some ways he’s more steady than she is but not always. I put the pigeon to sleep in front of him, walked in front kicking the grass and flushed one of the pigeons in the release traps. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then went back in front kicking the cover. I flushed the second bird from the release trap. He took a half step. Actually just moved his front feet. I moved him back and stroked his sides. I woke the pigeon in the grass and he watched it fly away. I stroked his sides then released him to run.

All of these exercises are great for giving the dogs the right idea but soon I need to turn them loose and let them go. So after working Bodie, the next day, I put all 4 release traps in one spot on the very back of my neighbor’s side. There was 10 or 15 yards between each trap.

I turned Boss out first. These dogs are amazing. I had driven the 4-wheeler to the back on my side and to the back on the neighbor’s side, trying to make the dogs hunt for the birds. Although Boss was first and he went part of the way to the back on my side. When I got to the back on the neighbor’s side Boss was on point.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

He was about 10 yards from the bird he was pointing. I stroked his side then went in front of him. I flushed the pigeon that was farthest away. He turned his head and watched it fly away. I kicked in front of him. I flushed a bird that was closer and he took a couple of steps. I grabbed the piggin’ string and stopped him. I set him back.

One of the first two pigeons took this time to fly out of a tree close. He tried to see it. After several seconds he acted like he was smelling the pigeon he originally pointed. I stroked his sides then walked in front of him. I flushed another pigeon leaving only the pigeon he was pointing. I stroked his sides then held the piggin’ string. When I flushed the pigeon he was pointing he didn’t move. I stroked his sides then heeled him away. I let him run in front of the 4-wheeler back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps and brought Abby out. I was riding the 4-wheeler but by the time I got to my side of the training grounds she had already headed to the neighbor’s side. When I got to the back she was on point. I don’t know whether she had moved up or that was her original point but she was closer than Boss had been. I stroked her sides.

Mann on point with Goofy honoring.

I held the piggin’ string as I flushed the first pigeon. She turned her head then right back to the bird she was pointing. I stroked her sides then walked in front of her. I held the piggin’ string and flushed a closer pigeon. Again she just turned her head then right back to her bird. I stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is.

The first two birds had been to her left. The next bird was to her right. Again, she just moved her head to watch the pigeon fly away then right back to her bird. I stroked her sides then flushed the bird she was pointing. She wanted to chase but I held her with the piggin’ string. I heeled her a short distance then released her to run.

All of my dogs like to run in front of the 4-wheeler except for Bodie. He’s getting faster to the birds I hide for him and pretty soon I will need to be on the 4-wheeler. I’m hoping that he will be okay with me riding the 4-wheeler behind him. Time will tell.

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Another Kansas Prairie Chicken Hunt

Posted on October 15, 2021 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

I made another trip to Kansas in search of the wily, elusive, unapproachable prairie chicken. I usually admit that I wouldn’t shoot at one given the chance but now I might. All of the driving and looking at places without firing a shot is getting exhausting. From my house I drove a long way into Kansas. Then spent most of the day driving and looking. The area I was in had large pastures that mostly had cows on them or were grazed down to nothing.

Mann on point.

Sally on point.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I left my house really early (4:15 am) to get to this area before it got too warm to run dogs. I had an area in mind to start my hunt on but drove by another on the way. It looked really good but I drove a few miles to another area. As I drove along the edge of a huge pasture I saw cows on the east side. I went on around to the north side and at first didn’t see any cows. As I eased down the road to make sure no one else was hunting this, I saw more cows. I don’t like to turn my dogs loose close to cows.

Part of the reason for not turning them loose close to cows is Boss will honor them. To him they look like big dogs on point. Last year I had to walk to him and lead him away. Some of the time he would be a quarter mile from me. I had to walk the quarter mile, grab his collar and lead him back away from the cows. After a few yards I could turn him loose but I had to walk the quarter mile back. He’s progressed to where now I can call him away. Sometimes I have to use the tone on his e-collar but he will come. The main reason is the farmer doesn’t want the dogs close to the cows.

As I drove beside one of the walk-in properties a prairie chicken flushed from the CRP. I was sure there were more chickens in the tall grass so I drove to the end and parked. There was a sign for the walk-in that said this property good from November 1 through January 31. There were several in that area that were marked like this. But this one and some others were also bow and arrow or shotgun only. With the red stripes through the place on the atlas it’s hard to tell the color of the area.

We drove on to look at others. One of the large pastures I passed had some cows feeding on a large bale of hay. If the farmers are already feeding hay there isn’t much grass growing in this area. I did see some good looking pastures but they had cattle on them. I also saw some that had been grazed to where there was almost nothing left. This doesn’t bode well for the upcoming quail and pheasant season.

I was about 20 miles from where I had seen the first place and thought it looked good. Since it was getting warmer decided I would go back and turn the dogs out. I drove all the way back to find out it was a November 1 to January 31 place, also. Being color blind and not recognizing the color of the underlying walk-in property, doesn’t make life easier. I drove to another place.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

We had a pretty strong wind from the north north west so I parked on the south east side and turned all 4 dogs (Mann, Abby, Sally and Boss) loose. They all had GPS collars and everyone but Abby had e-collars. I put an older collar on her so she would think she had one. There was a wheat stubble field on the north side and we went in to the wind toward it.

When we got close to the stubble field there was a good brushy fence row that the dogs ran from end to end. As we got close to the end I saw a coyote run from the dogs heading south. We went on to the west side then turned south down a small draw and finally the fence row. We worked back to the truck without seeing a game bird.

The dogs were all thirsty and drank from the bucket full of water I had with me. As I loaded dogs in their boxes Boss went back across the fence and laid down. He hates to ride in the truck. I’ve dealt with this his whole life. When I’m not in a hurry it’s comical. I called him and he raised his head to watch me. I hit the tone on his e-collar and he stood up. He slowly started toward me. Then he forgot where he was going and started down the ditch. I tapped the tone and he meandered toward me. The water bucket was still open so he dipped his muzzle in the bucket without drinking. I hooked a finger in his collar and said, “up” and he jumped onto the tail gate. I took the e-collar and GPS collar off and put him in his box.

It rained Monday but I was able to work Bodie, Boss and Abby last Tuesday. Then it rained again on Wednesday. I took the dogs to Kansas on Thursday and it’s raining again today. Oh well. Life of a dog guy.

Pigeons don’t go back in or I will use them again.

I hid 4 pigeons, in release traps, out on the training grounds. I had Bodie (the pup called Buck before) on the chain gang close to the training grounds. If I stake him out near the kennels he beats me to the birds. Since I first started putting him on the stake I wait for him to sit before I turn him loose. If he’s jumping around I just wait. I don’t say sit or anything. I just wait. I unsnap the chain and drop it but hold him and pet for a short while. I don’t want him to use the sound of the chain hitting the ground for a release. I want to release him myself.

I have hidden quite a few birds for him and he remembers most of the spots. He checks most of them and before he finds the first bird he sneaks up on some of the spots. He even points some places but I keep walking, without saying anything. He will quit and try to stay in front of me.

There wasn’t much wind but he was a good distance from the first bird when he pointed. I stood, without saying anything, and watched. At his first movement I flushed the pigeon and said, “get that bird, get that bird”. He chased but at his age, 14 weeks, he didn’t chase far. We went on to the neighbor’s side where I had 3 pigeons hidden.

The puppies like the loose pigeons.

On both sides I usually put a bird close to the end but this time it was about 30 yards from the end. Bodie started along the back, slinking. He slowly hunted the back without smelling a bird then started moving faster. When he hit the scent cone he just turned and started toward the pigeon. I flushed it. He went to the release trap then went on.

He was going fast for a young pup as we went back through the training grounds. He hit the scent cone on the next bird and turned toward it. I flushed the pigeon. This is the way wild birds will act. He went to the release trap then went back to hunting.

He was still a good distance from the pigeon when he the scent cone and pointed. I was about 20 yards from him and I didn’t move or say anything. He held this point for about 45 seconds then took one step. I flushed the pigeon. I want him to think any movement on his part and the bird is gone. We went back to the kennel.

I hid 2 pigeons in release traps where I was going to heel the other two dogs. I put one pigeon in between two raised gardens and the other behind a stump. I heeled Boss out, an e-collar around his neck, with the piggin’ string. We went toward the front of my house, across the front then back toward the training grounds. Beside the house I whoaed him and put a pigeon to sleep about 20 feet in front of him.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

The birds have been close enough for me to hold the piggin’ string when I wake the pigeon. With the bird out this far he will have to stay on his own. I kicked the grass close to the pigeon then walked back and stroked his sides. I went back in front and woke the pigeon. I was partially blocking his view and he moved enough to see the bird fly away but he didn’t try to chase. I stroked his sides then heeled him away.

I whoaed him close to the raised gardens but not where he could smell the bird in the release trap. I put another bird to sleep about 15 feet in front of him. I stroked his sides and walked in front kicking the grass. I flushed the pigeon in the release trap. His head came up but he didn’t move. I stroked his sides then kicked close to the pigeon that was asleep in front of him. I woke the pigeon and he watched it fly away.

It was quite a ways to the next bird so I whoaed him a couple of times with no bird before we got close. Then I whoaed him, placed a pigeon about 15 feet ahead of him and stroked his sides. I walked in front kicking the grass and flushed the pigeon in the release trap. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then walked in front kicking the cover. I woke the pigeon and he watched it fly away. I heeled him close to the 4-wheeler. He ran in front of the 4-wheeler to the back then back to the kennel.

Tur Bo, the puppies great grandfather.

I replaced the pigeons in the release traps. I heeled Abby out, an e-collar around her neck, with the piggin’ string. I whoaed her several times before I put a pigeon to sleep in front of her. The bird was about 20 feet in front of her. I stroked her sides then walked in front of her kicking the grass. I went back and stroked her sides. I walked back in front, woke the pigeon and had to grab Abby. She wanted to chase. I carried her back and set her up. I kicked in front, again. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

When we got to the raised gardens I whoaed her. I placed a pigeon about 15 feet in front of her. I stroked her sides then kicked the grass around the pigeon. I flushed the pigeon in the release trap and Abby was gone. She chased the pigeon with me holding the button on the transmitter down on low 2. Abby went all the way to the back. She passed the bird in the release trap by the stump and just kept going. I waited until she came back to do anything.

When she came back close to me I toned her with the e-collar and called her to me. She knew she was in trouble. She stopped about 15 yards from me and waited. I went to her, grabbed the piggin’ string and heeled her back to where she should have stood. I stroked her sides then went in front kicking near the pigeon that was still asleep in the grass. I rolled the bird over and it flew away. Abby took a step and I set her back. I stroked her sides and went back in front kicking the grass. I came back and stroked her sides then heeled her away.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

When we got close to the stump where the other bird, in the release trap, was I put her on whoa, put a bird to sleep in front of her and kicked the grass around it. I went to her and stroked her sides. I went back in front of her kicking the grass and flushed the pigeon from the release trap. She, again, chased. This time I held the transmitter button down on 2 high. She stopped just past where the release traps was.

This time I carried her back, shook her 3 times, set her down and said, “whoa”, once, loudly. I went in front of her kicking around the pigeon lying in the grass. I went to her and stroked her sides then walked in front kicking the grass and rolled the pigeon over. This time when it flew away she didn’t move. I let her run in front of the 4-wheeler before putting her back in the kennel.

The 6 quail from a Kansas quail hunt and the W.R. Pape. Last year. Come on this season.

Abby is a lot like her grandpa, Tur Bo. If anything she is a little more hard headed, which isn’t all bad. I was never able to get Tur Bo to not take a step on his birds. I think Abby will get steady but it’s going to take a lot of birds. She holds her pointed birds until they flush. That’s really all I require on wild birds. This exercise is to make them understand that as long as the bird they are pointing stays put, they must also.

Mann and Luke will stay on point while I shoot another dog’s bird if their bird doesn’t flush. That’s what I’m wanting these two dogs to do, also. With enough birds they will too.

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