Sunday, June 18, 2000 |
Tests 1 & 2
Sunday morning was cool and cloudy (upper 40's) with a threat of rain. The first two tests; a combined land double and a blind were at the LeGrande Bison ranch about 40 minutes south of Cheboygan.
The line faced a long, fairly narrow bowl and was located on a shallow slope. The first set of guns was on the right fern covered sloping side of the bowl. They threw a dead hen pheasant back to the left. It landed in the ferns about 130 yards out. A second set was located on the left side of the bowl, somewhat deeper. They shot a flying hen pheasant flat to the right where it fell in grassy cover amidst widely spaced small (3'- 4') pine trees 150+ yds. form the line. When the dog was sent for the flyer, the right guns retired to a line of trees a short distance behind them.
The blind was deep between the converging marks, about 180-200 yards away and was marked with a red stick. The bird, a dead hen pheasant was planted as the dog returned with the last mark.
Early dogs had cloudy skies that hampered visibility of the falls. Several dead fall logs lay in front of the line That, along with the slope, and a wide sparse patch of blackberry stalks deflected dogs from the varied flyer falls. Throughout the day there was a good deal of "shopping" to find the faint scented hens. The similar sized pines and dark background made a pinpoint mark challenging.
The line to the retired fall angled down the slope, through the blackberry stalks and across a dirt road which curved to the right, just past the mark and to the right of the blind. Some dogs paralleled the near side of the road and arrived at the blind area, while others squared the road and visited the retired gunners in the woods. Most recovered after varying hunts, but a few did not and were handled and/or picked up.
The blind was very "do-able" and a number lined it. Some had trouble on the end and were "boxed" around before recovering it.
By early afternoon it was sunny and warm, paths formed, and as scent and wind built the work improved. Comments from the gallery were that it was a good opening series for a National Amateur. They also had a nice view from a hill behind the line.
The test took approx. 7 MPD and ended about 8:30 p.m. Callbacks came about 10:15 and listed 95 dogs for Test 3, a water triple at Magnussons Tuesday. Those lost (excluding scratches) are: 9, 57, 76, 91 and 100. Dog number 25 ,FC-AFC Trumarc's Super Pursuit is scheduled to begin the series.
It was also reported that Karon Richardson was flown to Peoria for additional treatment and/or surgery. Harvry Peterson is handling her two dogs.
The line faced a long, fairly narrow bowl and was located on a shallow slope. The first set of guns was on the right fern covered sloping side of the bowl. They threw a dead hen pheasant back to the left. It landed in the ferns about 130 yards out. A second set was located on the left side of the bowl, somewhat deeper. They shot a flying hen pheasant flat to the right where it fell in grassy cover amidst widely spaced small (3'- 4') pine trees 150+ yds. form the line. When the dog was sent for the flyer, the right guns retired to a line of trees a short distance behind them.
The blind was deep between the converging marks, about 180-200 yards away and was marked with a red stick. The bird, a dead hen pheasant was planted as the dog returned with the last mark.
Early dogs had cloudy skies that hampered visibility of the falls. Several dead fall logs lay in front of the line That, along with the slope, and a wide sparse patch of blackberry stalks deflected dogs from the varied flyer falls. Throughout the day there was a good deal of "shopping" to find the faint scented hens. The similar sized pines and dark background made a pinpoint mark challenging.
The line to the retired fall angled down the slope, through the blackberry stalks and across a dirt road which curved to the right, just past the mark and to the right of the blind. Some dogs paralleled the near side of the road and arrived at the blind area, while others squared the road and visited the retired gunners in the woods. Most recovered after varying hunts, but a few did not and were handled and/or picked up.
The blind was very "do-able" and a number lined it. Some had trouble on the end and were "boxed" around before recovering it.
By early afternoon it was sunny and warm, paths formed, and as scent and wind built the work improved. Comments from the gallery were that it was a good opening series for a National Amateur. They also had a nice view from a hill behind the line.
The test took approx. 7 MPD and ended about 8:30 p.m. Callbacks came about 10:15 and listed 95 dogs for Test 3, a water triple at Magnussons Tuesday. Those lost (excluding scratches) are: 9, 57, 76, 91 and 100. Dog number 25 ,FC-AFC Trumarc's Super Pursuit is scheduled to begin the series.
It was also reported that Karon Richardson was flown to Peoria for additional treatment and/or surgery. Harvry Peterson is handling her two dogs.