Blaze
Blaze
Finally!!! We have had temperatures in the upper 70’s since the 18th of August. This morning the temperature was in the mid 60’s. It rained over an inch and a quarter last night so it was muddy but the dogs and I were ready to train. I thought they may have forgotten what to do but they hadn’t. We had a good session.
I put 2 pigeons in release traps about 20 yards apart and hid the third bird about 75 yards away. I heeled Blaze to the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on her flanks and neck. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay. When I got to the first birds she was already on point. She was standing where she could see both birds when they flushed. I took some pictures (I took 34 pictures this morning) then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon that was about 35 yards in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. She knew the bird she was pointing was still there. I continued to kick the cover after taking more pictures. I flushed the pigeon that was about 15 yards in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released her to hunt.
I saw Blaze’s tail start whipping when she got a little scent on the next bird and before she could point I flushed it. She stopped to flush. I walked in front of her kicking the cover and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released her to hunt. I ran her to the front then to the back and then back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I brought Tur Bo out next with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I released him and when I got to the first birds, he was on point. He was in an area where he could see both birds when I flushed them. I took pictures then kicked the cover in front of him. I said whoa and flushed the first bird that was about 35 yards from Tur Bo. His front feet danced but the back ones never moved. I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I waited until he went back on point then I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa then flushed the close pigeon. His front feet still moved but the back ones didn’t. I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
When I got to the next bird he was on point. He was a long way from this bird but he was in the scent cone. He was opening and closing his mouth like he was chewing the scent. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He never moved so I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took about three steps and stopped. I held the button, on the transmitter to the e-collar on his flanks, down on level three. I picked him up and set him back. I held the button down as I carried him back and let off when his feet hit the ground. I let him stand for a while then started the 4-wheeler and released him. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
Some of my pigeons are setting so I decided to try some young birds for Luke. I knew the pigeons were young but they were as big as the birds I have been using. I released Luke with e-collars on his neck and flanks. He was on point when I got to the first birds but he was in between the two pigeons. He was looking to the north and there was a pigeon about 5 yards behind him but he was smelling the other one. I walked in front of him kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon that was behind him. The pigeon didn’t want to fly. It came out of the trap and tried to land on a limb about 5 feet off the ground. About the time it tried to grab the limb I fired the blank pistol. It must have startled the pigeon because it missed the limb and landed on the ground. Luke never moved. I caught the pigeon and put it in the cage on the 4-wheeler. Luke could still smell the pigeon that was in front of him and he went back on point. I kicked in front of him and flushed the pigeon. This one only flew a little ways and lit in a thicket but it was 10 feet off the ground. I shot the blank pistol and Luke never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
Luke was about 5 or 6 yards from the next bird when he pointed. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. When I flushed this pigeon it flew to the nearest bush and lit about 5 feet off the ground. I shot the blank pistol and Luke didn’t move. I thought I could catch the bird with my hat but I missed but knocked the pigeon off the limb. He dropped to the ground and I bent over to catch the bird. I grabbed it and when I straightened back up Luke was standing behind me. He wanted to lend a hand to catching the pigeon. I had the pigeon in my hand so I couldn’t pick him up so I led him back to where he should have stayed. I put the bird in the cage on the 4-wheeler and released him to run. He hunted back to the kennel.
I used the young birds on the right dog. If I had used them on Blaze or Tur Bo they would have caught them, probably. It felt really good to be able to work dogs this morning. I think I will be able to work them again tomorrow then it’s going to be hot for a couple of mornings according to the weather men. It has to cool down soon and the dogs and I are ready.