Luke
Luke
Another beautiful morning. I didn’t get out until about 9:00 am but it was still nice and cool. I didn’t train Friday or over the weekend so the dogs were raring to go this morning. I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds and brought Luke out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I released him with an okay.
He was running fast when he hit the scent cone and slid to a point. He had run by the bird by the time he got stopped but he wasn’t close enough for it to make any difference. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the tall grass. I shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move and I continued to kick the cover. I 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 stroked his sides, started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
There was, almost, no wind but he pointed the next bird at about 20 yards. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he never moved. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew into a tree above him. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol and the pigeon flew to another tree. It landed in the tree then flew away. He never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt. He pointed the first bird and I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The bird flew, low right over his head, and landed in a tree. He turned around and watched the pigeon without trying to chase. I stroked his sides, started the 4-wheeler and released him.
After I released him I remembered that I had only shot the blank pistol 2 times on the first bird. He pointed the second and I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. This pigeon flew, low right back over him and he turned around but didn’t offer to chase. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times without him moving. I went to him, stroked his sides and tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run before going back to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. My routine is to say whoa to these young dogs one time when they get near the 4-wheeler, take the piggin’ string off, walk back to the kennel to hang the piggin’ string on a post, get on the 4-wheeler, start it, put it in gear then look around for 10 or 15 seconds and release them. Some of the time I reload the blank pistol while they wait. This teaches them that when they whoa they have to wait on another command before moving. I released her.
Blaze was closer to the bird than the other 2 young dogs had been but only because that was the line she took. As soon as she smelled the bird she locked up. She was 3 or 4 yards from the pigeon. I took pictures then went in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. Sometimes when the young dog is real close to the bird when it flushes they move. I kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I stroked her sides, started the 4-wheeler and released her.
She pointed the second pigeon and I took more pictures then went in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then shot the blank pistol again. She still didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides before tapping her head for the release. I let her run before going back to the kennel.
I’m hearing good things about the upcoming quail season in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. I will get some information together and report on what I learn in a few days. The weather forecast is for rain most of Wednesday and Thursday. That will give me time to get the bird reports from several states. These young dogs are coming around just in time for a good quail year.