Blaze
Blaze
The young dogs and I really enjoy these cool mornings. The pigeons, not so much. The temperature was about 50 degrees with almost no wind. On the 4-wheeler, it’s necessary to wear a jacket on these cool mornings. I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds.
I heeled Blaze out near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay. The dogs haven’t been worked on birds for a couple of days and they were ready. She ran through the training grounds to the back then to the front where she pointed. I took pictures then went in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol. I continued to kick the cover then shot the pistol again. She never moved. As I continued to kick the cover I tried to flush her pigeon but the transmitter was on the other release trap and I flushed the wrong bird. I continued to kick the cover, flushed her pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol again. She didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run for an extended period to make up for flushing the wrong pigeon then we returned to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I led Tur Bo out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. He wanted to lead me this morning so we reversed our direction several times before i whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay. When I got near the first bird he was on point. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the tall weeds. I shot the blank pistol then shot it again. He never moved. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He took a step with his front feet without moving his back legs. I set him back then kicked the cover again and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move this time. I went to him and stroked his sides then got on the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
He hunted to the back and missed the next bird on his first pass but slammed into on point on the next round. I took more pictures then went in front kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and continued to kick the cover. When I flushed the pigeon he chased about 7 or 8 steps and stopped. I picked him up and carried him back. I had a hold of his regular collar on his neck and my other hand was holding the e-collar on his flanks. Before I set him down I shook him about 4 times and said whoa one time. Sometimes, if you say whoa several times, loudly, a dog will shut down or turn you off. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I brought Luke out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. He always gets slower and slower as we get near the 4-wheeler. He knows the quicker I put him on whoa the quicker he will be turned loose to hunt. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
He passed the first bird and hunted to the back of the training grounds and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he never even flinched. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the tall weeds and shot the blank pistol. He still didn’t move. I went to him, stroked his sides and told him what a good boy he is. I got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He hunted back to the front and whirled into a point. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall weeds. I shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move even when I shot the blank pistol. I kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol again. He didn’t move. I went to him, stroked his sides and told him what a good boy he is then tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run before returning to the kennel.
I’m hearing good reports on the quail in Missouri and Kansas. I’m enough of an optimist to believe every story of lots of quail. I want them to be true. Hopefully, next week I will be able to go “prairie chicken” hunting to find out about the quail in Kansas. Real soon the fall turkey season will be open in Kansas, also. That will give me 2 excuses to be hunting before quail season starts.