Blaze
Blaze
Today was a nice, cool day. I had helped a friend work his young dog on pigeons this morning. The pigeons we used had flown over the kennel to return to the coop. This kept my dogs excited and when I came to get more pigeons they were all standing on their houses saying, “Pick me! Pick me!”
I brought Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I heeled her out near the 4-wheeler and whoaed her. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay. She didn’t come close to the first bird so we hunted on to the back. She knew there was a bird close but in the swirling wind it was hard to pinpoint but she finally went on point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol again. She didn’t move. I went to her stroking her sides and telling her what a good girl she is. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay.
She hunted back to the front and when I came around a line of trees she was on point. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I went to her stroking her sides and telling her what a good dog she is. I tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run for a while before going back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I brought Luke out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay. He went past the first bird without getting close and hunted on to the back where he pointed the bird on the back fence row. I took pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He still didn’t move even when I shot the blank pistol again. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
He hunted back toward the front and was buried in the brush close to the pigeon when he went on point. I tried to take pictures but he was hidden in the brush. I kicked the cover, dropped a pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed the pigeon in the release trap. I shot the blank pistol then shot it again. He never moved. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I tapped his head to release him. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out of the kennel. Robin Barrows wanted to see me work Tur Bo and he was on his way over so I heeled Tur Bo around the yard while we waited. Tur Bo knew which way we were supposed to go and I wasn’t going in the right direction. He stayed by my side but was walking sideways by side me. Robin showed up and Tur Bo heeled properly to the 4-wheeler. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler, started it and released him with an okay. When we got to the first bird he was on point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and stopped. I set him back then continued to kick the cover. I dropped another pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He was steady this time. I continued to kick the cover and flushed the pigeon in the release trap. The bird came out, hit a limb on a bush and fell to the ground. Tur Bo pounced on the pigeon. I led him out of the cover, told him to give and he released the pigeon. I tossed the pigeon in the air and it flew back to the coop. I set Tur Bo back where he was on point. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He hunted to the back and pointed the pigeon on the back line. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then released the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew back over his head and he turned to watch it fly away. I continued to kick the cover, dropped another pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I tapped his head to release him. I let him run before going back to the kennel.
Quail season starts Saturday in Missouri and a week later in Kansas. I have been working these young dogs all summer getting them ready for the season. Hopefully, they are ready. I know that I will have to keep an eye on them. It will definitely be more fun to be hunting.