Tuesday, November 12, 2002 |
Tuesday's weather was a duplicate of Monday. It was cloudy in the 30's with sun (and warmth) arriving by mid morning. The third was a land water quad set up around the left side of lake 35.
The line was located behind a winding gravel road and a good distance from the water. In front of the , the land dipped down to the shoreline edged by sparse, varied brown cover. To the left was a bay and curving shore culminating in a point protruding into the water from the left. A small, tree/brush covered island lay to the right. Between it and the point was a channel of lunging water. Deep of the site lay a large expanse of big water.
The line was located behind a winding gravel road and a good distance from the water. In front of the , the land dipped down to the shoreline edged by sparse, varied brown cover. To the left was a bay and curving shore culminating in a point protruding into the water from the left. A small, tree/brush covered island lay to the right. Between it and the point was a channel of lunging water. Deep of the site lay a large expanse of big water.
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Test 3 - Land/Water Quad with Three Retired Guns
One set of guns was positioned on the far left, on top a fairly steep ridge with trees and brush covering the slope beneath. They threw a dead rooster to the right where it fell in grassy cover near or between the trees near the base of the ridge about 100 ids. out. A flyer station was positioned on the far right, in short grassy cover. The shot a flying drake to the right landing in the grass 90 yards away. Between these two marks there were two other sets of guns. One was on the island a short distance behind and tight to the flyer guns. They threw a dead duck to the left where is landed in front of a small reddish oak tree near the left shore 150 yards from line. A fourth group stood on the far point between the island mark and the left ridge guns. They threw a dead duck across the channel to the right where it landed in the island shore 180 yds away. The order was: left, middle right, middle, left, and flyer last. As the dog was sent for the flyer, the other three gunners retired to blinds very close to them. Just beyond the road and on line to the 3 right marks lay a pile of big branches that could deflect dogs from a line.
It took a bit of time to organize the quad, so the first test team Joanne and Ryan came to line at 7:05. They did an admirable job and were followed by Marty who needed a handle to recover one bird.
After, judges moved the live guns farther to the left, tightening the line to the right middle mark. At 7:26 the first running dog, #69 appeared on line.
The close flyer was exciting and could dim memory of the other three Some dogs did run past it and a few hunted the water with one handle up to noon. Most handlers took the far left pheasant second. It's placement on a side hill combined with the fact it was a pheasant, caused some "shopping" hunts. The last two converging marks caused the most difficulty. Many sent for the short, middle right bird third, only to have dogs slide down the left shore and hunt the far point. Some also sent for that bird second possibly hoping to leave an "alley" between it an the right middle mark to avoid a switch on these two relatively close marks. In either instance, dogs would go to the left point, hunt it and eventually lunge across the channel to where the duck lay. Others either hunted the water and would not come back while others viewed the channel '"picture' and drove between the 2 shorelines on their way to the distant big water shore. A number of handles occurred on that mark.
The short right middle bird also proved dangerous. A few seemed to think they had recovered that bird and lined into the water to the right of the island. Very few, if any, recovered from that position and had to be handled. Others would channel down the left side of the island. A few recovered, but some handled. The series took between 9-10 minutes per dog and there was some doubt if it could be finished by night fall.
Changing light and switching winds affected the test to some degree, but the results remained fairly constant. By 4:55 p.m., lengthening shadows and waning light began to obscure the marks. After dog 60, the test was suspended until Wednesday morning. 4 dogs remained to run the third. No partial call backs were given and the test will resume with a test dog at 6:45, running dog #61, no earlier than 7 a.m.
The fourth test was rumored to be a land quad in a different area after the third was completed.
Eukanuba Dog food, Roy Pelton rep, hosted an wonderful dinner at a fine facility right on the way home from Weldon Spring. Weary participants welcomed the casual dining experience. The food, conversation , and company was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Kudos to Eukanuba and all involved.
It took a bit of time to organize the quad, so the first test team Joanne and Ryan came to line at 7:05. They did an admirable job and were followed by Marty who needed a handle to recover one bird.
After, judges moved the live guns farther to the left, tightening the line to the right middle mark. At 7:26 the first running dog, #69 appeared on line.
The close flyer was exciting and could dim memory of the other three Some dogs did run past it and a few hunted the water with one handle up to noon. Most handlers took the far left pheasant second. It's placement on a side hill combined with the fact it was a pheasant, caused some "shopping" hunts. The last two converging marks caused the most difficulty. Many sent for the short, middle right bird third, only to have dogs slide down the left shore and hunt the far point. Some also sent for that bird second possibly hoping to leave an "alley" between it an the right middle mark to avoid a switch on these two relatively close marks. In either instance, dogs would go to the left point, hunt it and eventually lunge across the channel to where the duck lay. Others either hunted the water and would not come back while others viewed the channel '"picture' and drove between the 2 shorelines on their way to the distant big water shore. A number of handles occurred on that mark.
The short right middle bird also proved dangerous. A few seemed to think they had recovered that bird and lined into the water to the right of the island. Very few, if any, recovered from that position and had to be handled. Others would channel down the left side of the island. A few recovered, but some handled. The series took between 9-10 minutes per dog and there was some doubt if it could be finished by night fall.
Changing light and switching winds affected the test to some degree, but the results remained fairly constant. By 4:55 p.m., lengthening shadows and waning light began to obscure the marks. After dog 60, the test was suspended until Wednesday morning. 4 dogs remained to run the third. No partial call backs were given and the test will resume with a test dog at 6:45, running dog #61, no earlier than 7 a.m.
The fourth test was rumored to be a land quad in a different area after the third was completed.
Eukanuba Dog food, Roy Pelton rep, hosted an wonderful dinner at a fine facility right on the way home from Weldon Spring. Weary participants welcomed the casual dining experience. The food, conversation , and company was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Kudos to Eukanuba and all involved.
Purina Reps, (L) Bob West,
Lisa Brooke, Pat Lamantia 
Handlers viewing the test
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(L) Jan Bunn and Dennis Bath
Eukanuba Rep, Roy Pelton
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