Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
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Test 5 - Land Quad, 2 Retired Guns and an Honor
What a difference a day makes! Wednesday arrived clear and cool with little wind. The site of number five was less than 5 minutes from the Shilo Inn. Parking was available in a hilly field full of loose stone (some huge) ditches and drop offs. The view was beautiful. Getting to line was another matter. Designed for mountain goats, the hike up the steep incline to the line and gallery took either prime condition or a rest stop. Those unable to make it were ferried to the line by 4 wheelers. The wind was strong on the high hill and down jackets were very welcome.
Once on top the hill the view in all directions was magnificent. It was well worth the effort.
The test was still in preparation as participants arrived. Unfortunately, the owner of the first running dog, Sandi McCourt had fallen and painfully injured her knee. She was taken to the emergency room for treatment and work was resumed.( Later she returned with a splint and crutches - she will run last, if possible). The test was a land quad with two retired guns and an honor.
The running line was located just to the left of a dirt road and faced a sparsely covered field of grass, wild flowers and sage patches. It was a picturesque setting for the series and the gallery, located parallel to and above it, had an awesome view. The hill descended a short distance, then rose steeply beyond. On the far hillside, three sets of guns were positioned in an in-line configuration. To the deep right a fourth set was located nearly straight away from line. All were located a good distance from line making the marks quite long. First, the right gun threw a dead rooster angled back to the left landing about 175+ yds (guess) from line. Next, deep to the left of them a set of live bird guns shot a flying rooster to the right (250+ yds?) . Third, the next set, closer to line, threw a dead duck to the right where it fell in some low sagebrush about 175+(?) yds out. The last mark, on the left, was a flying mallard shot to the right about 200 yards (?)away. All fell in the sagebrush/ grassy cover. As the dog was sent for the left flyer duck, the left middle and right guns retired (both dead birds). It took 7-9 mpd to complete. There was an honor to the left of line
Shortly after 8 am each test dog was pressed into duty. King and Willow did well while Glen and Willy had to handle.
The in line triple configuration with a shorter middle mark combined with a converging dead retired bird on the far flyer tested both the dog's marking , memory and perseverance while challenging the handler to set up and direct his dog to his/her fullest advantage. Currently, all handlers took the left flyer first. Then it got dicey. Many tried for the left, shorter middle retired mark second, but when several drove through it, others tried for the long flyer second. Both methods produced mixed results. Others tried "outside/outside" - not real successful, either. Those with the most consistently successful results seemed to take the left flyer, middle left retired, then far right retired and long flyer last.
If dogs blew through the left retired mark, it was difficult to get them to return to it after recovering the long, very obvious flyer. Similarily, some dogs, when sent for the far right bird, would miss it and hunt their way to the far flyer. A number of handles were required to recover those birds. In some cases the dog would not handle or could not hear the whistles and a few were picked up.
By mid morning it became apparent that the test could not be completed the same day and would continue on Thursday. Because of the workers party this evening, test 5 would be suspended at 5:30 (no partial callbacks) and resume in the morning. Rumors were that a land blind would follow the quad in the same area after it's conclusion Thursday morning.
The test was suspended at 5:30 and will resume on Thursday with dog 67. Test dog at 7:30, first running dog soon after.
Once on top the hill the view in all directions was magnificent. It was well worth the effort.
The test was still in preparation as participants arrived. Unfortunately, the owner of the first running dog, Sandi McCourt had fallen and painfully injured her knee. She was taken to the emergency room for treatment and work was resumed.( Later she returned with a splint and crutches - she will run last, if possible). The test was a land quad with two retired guns and an honor.
The running line was located just to the left of a dirt road and faced a sparsely covered field of grass, wild flowers and sage patches. It was a picturesque setting for the series and the gallery, located parallel to and above it, had an awesome view. The hill descended a short distance, then rose steeply beyond. On the far hillside, three sets of guns were positioned in an in-line configuration. To the deep right a fourth set was located nearly straight away from line. All were located a good distance from line making the marks quite long. First, the right gun threw a dead rooster angled back to the left landing about 175+ yds (guess) from line. Next, deep to the left of them a set of live bird guns shot a flying rooster to the right (250+ yds?) . Third, the next set, closer to line, threw a dead duck to the right where it fell in some low sagebrush about 175+(?) yds out. The last mark, on the left, was a flying mallard shot to the right about 200 yards (?)away. All fell in the sagebrush/ grassy cover. As the dog was sent for the left flyer duck, the left middle and right guns retired (both dead birds). It took 7-9 mpd to complete. There was an honor to the left of line
Shortly after 8 am each test dog was pressed into duty. King and Willow did well while Glen and Willy had to handle.
The in line triple configuration with a shorter middle mark combined with a converging dead retired bird on the far flyer tested both the dog's marking , memory and perseverance while challenging the handler to set up and direct his dog to his/her fullest advantage. Currently, all handlers took the left flyer first. Then it got dicey. Many tried for the left, shorter middle retired mark second, but when several drove through it, others tried for the long flyer second. Both methods produced mixed results. Others tried "outside/outside" - not real successful, either. Those with the most consistently successful results seemed to take the left flyer, middle left retired, then far right retired and long flyer last.
If dogs blew through the left retired mark, it was difficult to get them to return to it after recovering the long, very obvious flyer. Similarily, some dogs, when sent for the far right bird, would miss it and hunt their way to the far flyer. A number of handles were required to recover those birds. In some cases the dog would not handle or could not hear the whistles and a few were picked up.
By mid morning it became apparent that the test could not be completed the same day and would continue on Thursday. Because of the workers party this evening, test 5 would be suspended at 5:30 (no partial callbacks) and resume in the morning. Rumors were that a land blind would follow the quad in the same area after it's conclusion Thursday morning.
The test was suspended at 5:30 and will resume on Thursday with dog 67. Test dog at 7:30, first running dog soon after.
Aussie visitor Julie Cramond and Bill Eckett
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Gallery Test 5
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(L) Gary Ahlgren and Rich Fenner
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(L) Rodney Glaze and Steve Faith
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