Sunday, November 12, 2000 |
|
|
Tests 1 & 2 - Land Double With retired Gunner and a Blind
Sunday began with temps in the 40's and a light rain. The first site was located at the Sea Ranch, about 5-10 minutes from HQ. Cloudy skies delayed dawn and the first test dog ran about 7:15, a half hour later than announced. The test was a wide spread land double with a retired gun and a blind run from on top a hill. Terrain was rolling pasture with some rain filled ruts and depressions.
The first mark was deep to the left of the line, about 200+ yards. It was a dead hen pheasant thrown angled back to the right where it fell into a patch of medium cover. The down wind fall was well placed as it lay at the end of a stand of trees with a 3-4 slope behind it. The flyer was then shot on the far right, nearly straight out from the line. It was also a hen pheasant thrown left and landed about 185 yards away in mixed pasture grass. As the dog was sent, the left guns retired to a blind The blind lay deep to the right of the flyer guns at the edge of a tree line. It, too was a dead hen pheasant at least 250 (?) yards away. The line was not tight to the guns, but went though a set of small trees to the right.
Early dogs had poor lighting conditions and there were several handles although the first dog did well. Terrain deflected dogs from their way to the marks. The left, retired mark could only be winded fro the deep left most of the day. A number of dogs broke right and drove the pasture hill instead and there was a good deal of hunting on that mark. A small rise behind the fall and down wind conditions added to the difficulty. As usual, mixed flyer falls and challenging terrain also produced hunts and a handle or two. Sporadically, the rain would cease and there would be a bright, nearly sunny period (short). Dog work improved somewhat with better lighting conditions and scent build up.
Because of poor light early and late, the combined test could not be completed on Sunday. The series was suspended at 5:13 after dog 52 ran; nine dogs remained to finish Monday morning. Number 53 would be first to run and no partial call backs would be given.
Callbacks will be given immediately after the series is completed. The third test will be a water triple with two retired guns and will consist of two dead pheasants and a flyer duck . It will be held on the Judd Little ranch and will begin with dog #83.
The first mark was deep to the left of the line, about 200+ yards. It was a dead hen pheasant thrown angled back to the right where it fell into a patch of medium cover. The down wind fall was well placed as it lay at the end of a stand of trees with a 3-4 slope behind it. The flyer was then shot on the far right, nearly straight out from the line. It was also a hen pheasant thrown left and landed about 185 yards away in mixed pasture grass. As the dog was sent, the left guns retired to a blind The blind lay deep to the right of the flyer guns at the edge of a tree line. It, too was a dead hen pheasant at least 250 (?) yards away. The line was not tight to the guns, but went though a set of small trees to the right.
Early dogs had poor lighting conditions and there were several handles although the first dog did well. Terrain deflected dogs from their way to the marks. The left, retired mark could only be winded fro the deep left most of the day. A number of dogs broke right and drove the pasture hill instead and there was a good deal of hunting on that mark. A small rise behind the fall and down wind conditions added to the difficulty. As usual, mixed flyer falls and challenging terrain also produced hunts and a handle or two. Sporadically, the rain would cease and there would be a bright, nearly sunny period (short). Dog work improved somewhat with better lighting conditions and scent build up.
Because of poor light early and late, the combined test could not be completed on Sunday. The series was suspended at 5:13 after dog 52 ran; nine dogs remained to finish Monday morning. Number 53 would be first to run and no partial call backs would be given.
Callbacks will be given immediately after the series is completed. The third test will be a water triple with two retired guns and will consist of two dead pheasants and a flyer duck . It will be held on the Judd Little ranch and will begin with dog #83.
Judges ( Lto R) Chuck Kimbrel, Dave Vega
John Thomas (L) and Gene Anderson
|
"Pressbox" - (L) Marilyn Fender,
(R) Vicki Lamb and Jan Anderson 
Pick up point
|
