Blaze
Blaze
This morning was warmer than what we have been having, in the upper 60’s. This is for cast to be the warmest week this year. I hid 3 pigeons in the cover on the training ground then came back and heeled Blaze out to the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and waited about 15 seconds before saying okay to release her.
When I got to the first bird she was already on point. I walked in front of her kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon. She never moved. I shot the blank pistol, then shot it again, and she never moved. I wrote on the note pad then started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her.
She hunted on through the cover and pointed the middle bird. I took pictures then kicked in front of her. I flushed the pigeon. She never moved but the pigeon lit, on a limb, right above my head. I took my hat off and waved it to flush the bird. When it flew the second time she took 3 or 4 steps then stopped. I set her back then walked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She never moved even when I shot the blank pistol the second time. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her.
When she pointed the last pigeon she was real close. I started to set her back but decided to see what she would do. I kicked the cover then flushed the pigeon. She took a step and stopped. I set her back and shot the blank pistol then shot again. She didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her. She hunted back to the kennel.
Luke waiting for me to say okay
Luke
I took a picture of Luke after I whoaed him next to the 4-wheeler. I hope the picture shows what I saw. He was tensed up waiting for me to say okay. When I saw him I had to reach in my pocket and get the camera. Then wait for it to come on, take a picture, turn it off and replace it in my pocket. While all of this was going on he never looked at me. His eyes was looking where he knew the birds were hid. All of these young dogs are ready to go when I say okay.
After releasing Luke, I rode past the first hidden bird and when I got close to the second pigeon he was on point. I walked in front of him kicking the cover after taking pictures. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol again and again he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He hunted to the back and pointed the farthest pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. I shot the blank pistol again and he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
Luke rimmed the back of the field then started back through the grounds. He was on the other side of some brush when he went on point and I could see only his tail sticking up. I went in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol again. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him. He hunted back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I released Tur Bo with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. When I got to the first bird he was on point. Just a few weeks ago he wouldn’t let me walk in front of him but now I’m sometimes getting in front and he’s steady to wing and shot. I took pictures then walked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and he never moved. I shot the blank pistol then shot again. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
He went from the first bird to the back of the training ground to point the farthest pigeon. I took more pictures then walked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon. It came out low and right over his head. He turned completely around and watched it fly away. I turned him back around. I walked in front of him kicking the cover and shot the blank pistol. I shot the blank pistol again. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He hunted back through the middle of the field. He was coming toward me when he hit the scent cone and slid to a point. I walked in front of him then flushed the pigeon. The pigeon hit some weeds on his way up and Tur Bo took a step then stopped. I set him back then kicked in front of him. I shot the blank pistol then shot again. He never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him. He hunted back to the kennel.
I enjoy working these young dogs on the pigeons. The more we work on these birds the more experience they get. The pigeons don’t fly as well as wild quail do. The dogs get to have birds fly over their head or get tangled in weeds or limbs. Hopefully, this will make them steadier on wild birds.