Sunday, November 13, 2005 |
It was dark and cold at 4 am. as alarms and wake up calls beckoned workers from their warm beds. Temperatures were in the 40's but a high in the mid 70's was predicted. As the caravan slowly formed in the Wal-Mart parking lot, . shivering participants quaffed steaming coffee to warm and wake themselves . The caravan left promptly at 5:30 for a 25 minute ride to the Cooper Black wildlife area. It was still dark upon arrival, but ATV's were in the field, setting up the test.
Once dawn broke,the line could be determined. It faced a large, rolling field with a dirt road running parallel to it about 15 yards from line. The road had 2-3 foot high sand banks on both sides. Once past the road, the land rolled down , then back up in the distance. It was covered with dry grass and weeds, some of which had been mowed into wide, random strips. The combined test was a land double and a blind.
Once dawn broke,the line could be determined. It faced a large, rolling field with a dirt road running parallel to it about 15 yards from line. The road had 2-3 foot high sand banks on both sides. Once past the road, the land rolled down , then back up in the distance. It was covered with dry grass and weeds, some of which had been mowed into wide, random strips. The combined test was a land double and a blind.
Series one- Land double, retired guns
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Series 2 - Land Blind (close to right of far tree stand)
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Two sets of gunners were wide spread and deep within that field, The first set was on the far left, near a stand of green pine trees. They threw a dead hen pheasant to the right, across one of the strips. It landed in the heavier cover beyond about 250 yards from line. A live bird station was to the right and closer to the line. The shot a flying rooster pheasant ridden out to the right. It fell randomly in either the strip or sparse higher cover about 175 yards away. The order was dead left mark; live flyer. As the dog retrieved the flyer, the left guns retired to the treeline behind them. Once the dog was on it's way back from the flyer, the live gunners retired behind a blind.
Test dogs were called to line at 6:45 a.m., The first was Rammin Sweet Candy, LF, handled by Mindy Bohn. She was followed bu Ebonstar Gotta Zoom, LM, handled by Burke Earley. The former did it, while the latter demonstrated some of the pitfalls dogs could encounter by handling on the left mark. It took about 6 Min. per dog (mpd).At 7:12 the first running dog, number 7 appeared on line.
The flyer falls were wide and varied, with some hard hunts required to recover them. The left, retired gun proved particularly troublesome. A light and/or down wind combined with a hen pheasant proved very challenging. Most of the early dogs would start on a good line, but then roll down the hill to the left and/or run up the closer strip. Since the bird lay across the farther one, they could not wind it. Some ran deep past it, well out ot the area and had to be handled back. Others hunted the area to the left of the retired guns. Out of the first twelve, nine were handled to the mark and it took about 10 minutes per dog. Early spirits sagged as upcoming contestents witnessed the train wreck ahead.
A second mat was to the right of the mark mat . It faced the right side of the same field. There a blind was positioned about 200 yards from the line-close to a patch of bushes and a tree.. Just passed the mat and on line to the blind was a 4-5' tall bare bush with a fallen tree to it's right. To recover the pheasant, the dog had to take a part of the bush and some of the higher cover beyond before crossing the dirt road. After, there were three telephone poles slightly angling across the field, perpendicular to the line.. To be on the correct line to the blind, the dog had to pass the closest one on the right and the others on the left. All the suction was to the left, including the slope of the land, with the wind blowing from the right. Therefore a cast away from the suction was also into the wind. The fallen tree and bush in front and to the right of the handler made casting to the right difficult. The wind switched about 9:30 and made the left mark easier, but the blind more difficult.
A number of dogs finally ducked to the left once near the end. There they disappeared into the stand of brush and had to be called out - some with more success than others. The challenging combined test was very difficult for early dogs but began to be more do-able toward noon
By afternoon the wind rose and lighting conditions improved. Although there was some excellent work, sporatic handles still occured and there were a couple of pick-ups. Unfortunately the tests could not be completed before sundown and they were suspended at 5:20p.m. after dog number one ran. There are 5 dogs left to run on Monday and there will be no partial callbacks tonight. Starting time is 6:45 a.m. for the single test dog.
A Bar B Que was being hosted at 6:30 p.m.by the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce and all were invited to attend.
Test dogs were called to line at 6:45 a.m., The first was Rammin Sweet Candy, LF, handled by Mindy Bohn. She was followed bu Ebonstar Gotta Zoom, LM, handled by Burke Earley. The former did it, while the latter demonstrated some of the pitfalls dogs could encounter by handling on the left mark. It took about 6 Min. per dog (mpd).At 7:12 the first running dog, number 7 appeared on line.
The flyer falls were wide and varied, with some hard hunts required to recover them. The left, retired gun proved particularly troublesome. A light and/or down wind combined with a hen pheasant proved very challenging. Most of the early dogs would start on a good line, but then roll down the hill to the left and/or run up the closer strip. Since the bird lay across the farther one, they could not wind it. Some ran deep past it, well out ot the area and had to be handled back. Others hunted the area to the left of the retired guns. Out of the first twelve, nine were handled to the mark and it took about 10 minutes per dog. Early spirits sagged as upcoming contestents witnessed the train wreck ahead.
A second mat was to the right of the mark mat . It faced the right side of the same field. There a blind was positioned about 200 yards from the line-close to a patch of bushes and a tree.. Just passed the mat and on line to the blind was a 4-5' tall bare bush with a fallen tree to it's right. To recover the pheasant, the dog had to take a part of the bush and some of the higher cover beyond before crossing the dirt road. After, there were three telephone poles slightly angling across the field, perpendicular to the line.. To be on the correct line to the blind, the dog had to pass the closest one on the right and the others on the left. All the suction was to the left, including the slope of the land, with the wind blowing from the right. Therefore a cast away from the suction was also into the wind. The fallen tree and bush in front and to the right of the handler made casting to the right difficult. The wind switched about 9:30 and made the left mark easier, but the blind more difficult.
A number of dogs finally ducked to the left once near the end. There they disappeared into the stand of brush and had to be called out - some with more success than others. The challenging combined test was very difficult for early dogs but began to be more do-able toward noon
By afternoon the wind rose and lighting conditions improved. Although there was some excellent work, sporatic handles still occured and there were a couple of pick-ups. Unfortunately the tests could not be completed before sundown and they were suspended at 5:20p.m. after dog number one ran. There are 5 dogs left to run on Monday and there will be no partial callbacks tonight. Starting time is 6:45 a.m. for the single test dog.
A Bar B Que was being hosted at 6:30 p.m.by the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce and all were invited to attend.
Test one, behind line
Dick Cook displaying wildlife and dog jewelery
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L to R Jim and Jackie Gonia and Jan Snow
Chris Chantland exhibiting his art work
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