Luke
Tur Bo
Blaze
Turkey season is open so I didn’t work the young dogs until about 10:00 am. My neighbor, Dave Hatton, sometimes hunts deer and turkeys. He works nights so I waited until I thought he would be getting ready for work before I went out.
The dogs get excited when I start getting pigeons, release traps and e-collars out. Luke wants to bark so after hiding 2 pigeons in release traps on my side of the training grounds I brought him out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I worked him first then put a bark collar on him while I worked the other dogs.
I followed Luke all the way to the back of my neighbor’s side then crossed over to my side. I usually ride the 4-wheeler on both sides, of the training grounds, so the dogs don’t learn to just follow the 4-wheeler tracks to the birds. Luke hit the edge on my side then crossed the back and came back up the other side. He pointed as soon as he hit the scent cone. I stepped it off and he was 10 yards from the pigeon on a warm morning with little wind. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I led him away after stroking his sides then released him to hunt.
He pointed the second bird and I took more pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover, dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then walked him toward the back.
Luke knew I wanted to throw a pigeon as he hunted down the field. He ran a few yards then stopped, watching me. I kept walking until he finally started hunting. Then I threw a pigeon in front of him. He stopped and I shot the blank pistol. This teaches the dogs to stop to flush. I stroked his sides then tapped his head for the release. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
I reloaded the release traps and brought Tur Bo out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. After I released him he hunted all of my neighbor’s side then crossed over to my side of the training grounds. As he ran down the edge he caught the scent cone and slid to a point. I took pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He watched the pigeon fly away but didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He still flinches on the bird in the release traps but he doesn’t move. I stroked his sides then released him.
Tur Bo was right on top of the second bird when he pointed. I took pictures then walked around kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He looked at the pigeon as it flew away but he knew the bird he was pointing was right in front of him. If the pigeon in the release trap didn’t fly real well it was in trouble. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew over Tur Bo’s head and he whirled around. I tapped him with the e-collar on his flanks and he didn’t chase. I stroked his sides and led him away. I released him.
I started to the back and he came in front of me. When he came close I threw a pigeon in front of him. The pigeon hit the ground and Tur Bo was after it. I held the button on the transmitter down on level 3 and said whoa. The pigeon hopped a couple of times then flew away and Tur Bo stopped. I shot the blank pistol. I stroked his sides then let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her to the 4-wheeler. I followed her as she hunted my neighbor’s side then crossed over to my side. She was deep in the brush when she pointed the first bird. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then released her.
The scenting conditions must have been getting bad because she, too, was right on top of the second pigeon when she pointed. I walked around kicking the cover after taking pictures. I dropped a pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. She watched it fly away without moving. She knew the bird she was pointing was right in front of her. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. She turned and watched the bird fly away but didn’t chase. I turned her back around and stroked her sides then led her away. I released her to hunt.
We started to the back and she did like Luke and stopped every few yards and watched me. I continued walking until she went back to hunting then threw a pigeon in front of her and she stopped. I shot the blank pistol and said whoa. I went to her, stroked her sides then released her to hunt. I let her run before returning to the kennel.
Most of dog training is doing the same things over and over until the dog does it the same each time. My dogs have never got tired of hunting and pointing
pigeons. Most problems can be worked out with birds and a light hand. I never get tired of going out my back door, hiding some pigeons and watching my dogs point.
I want to thank the people who have clicked on the ads on my blogs. I make a few cents on each click. If I get enough clicks it might keep me on the road to more bird hunting places this fall. Thanks again.
Luke
Tur Bo
Blaze deep in the brush