Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Yesterday it rained most of the day so I didn’t work the young dogs. This morning the temperature was about 60 degrees with almost no wind. I thought the dogs would have trouble smelling the birds but they did just fine. None of them were right on top of the birds.
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay. He was about 20 yards from the first pigeon when he went on point. I took pictures then walked 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 tall grass and shot the blank pistol again. He still didn’t move. I shot one more time then stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
He hunted toward the back of the training grounds and I saw him slam on the brakes when he first smelled the bird. I started kicking the cover after taking more pictures. He kept leaning forward and I thought he was going to move so I kept kicking. He took a step before I flushed the pigeon. I set him back and continued to kick the tall weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the pistol 2 more times and he didn’t move. I went to him and stroked his sides. I tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released her to hunt. When she pointed the first pigeon she was closer than Tur Bo had been but not much. I took pictures and walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the tall grass and shot the blank pistol two more times without any movement from her. I went to her and stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is. I started the 4-wheeler and released her to hunt.
She was about 25 yards from the second bird when she pointed. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. After having Tur Bo move before I could flush his second bird I decided to spend more time kicking the tall grass. Finally, I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. The pigeon flew to a nearby tree. I was hoping that it would fly when I shot the blank pistol but I shot two times and it was still in the tree. Blaze didn’t move on the shots. I went to her, stroked her sides and tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I brought Luke out with e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and waited about 20 seconds before releasing him. He usually beats me to the first bird but this morning he was too far to the south to smell the first one so we on to the back. He pointed from about 20 yards away and was on the opposite side than the other 2 dogs had been. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. When I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol he never moved. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times and he didn’t move. I went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
We went back toward the front and when I came through a line of trees he was on point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall weeds. I spent more time kicking the cover than normal then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times and he didn’t move. I went to him and stroked his sides then tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Prairie chicken season is open in Kansas and I should be hunting them with my dogs but I have some things to get finished before I can go. I should be freed up to go next week. I seldom see any prairie chickens but the dogs get to hunt and I find out if there are very many quail in the places I hunt. The first of October, turkey season opens in Kansas and they allow fall turkey hunting with dogs. This gives me and the dogs a chance to get in shape and a check on the upcoming season.