Open Placements:
(L-R) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
photos by (c) Redlion
Description
by Mitch Patterson-
Tuesday: Fog was the order of the morning for opening day of
the trial. The 8am start was on hold till about 9:30am.
First Series -
The Open first series was a combination land/water triple. The test
was shot from the left to right. The left hand bird was a retired
gun with a dead duck thrown on the opposite side of a long finger of
a pond from left to right at 250 yards. The line to the bird was a
long water entry down a sloping hillside into heavy cover along the
shoreline, then a 40 yard swim, then driving up a hill 75 yards to
the bird. Dogs had a tendency to square the water which pushed them
up the hill to the left. Most dogs recovered to pick up the bird in
some fashion. Early dogs had a lot of difficulty picking out the gun
station due to fog and lighting conditions which was reflected in
the loss of dogs in the callbacks. As the sun rose this gunner
became very visible which showed in much better work. The center
bird was a dead duck at 260 yds shot left to right up a hill, thrown
over a sandy road and into grass cover. The line to this bird was
along a rolling hill in-which the dog lost sight of the gunner
several times. Dogs that climbed the hill to the right could get
lost to the right causing difficulty recovering to the bird.
Right hand flyer: As the dogs came to the line mat they easily
picked out the right hand gunner which was a Mallard duck flyer shot
slightly angled back from left to right at approx. 75yds. The bird
landed up a gentle slope of foot-high grass cover with several mowed
strips. The closeness of the flyer amped dogs up and several dogs
had very long flyer hunts.
Second Series Land blind –
The second series was a single land blind (260 yards) run from the
same line as the first series. The bird was placed approx. 25 yards
to the left of the center gunner. The true line to the blind was
along a side of a gentle slope, onto a sandy road for 20-30 yards,
then onto a grassy area, then back across the road and a drive to
the bird. Overall work was choppy as this configuration was a “get
on and off a point” and the need to “get on the point” created
numerous whistles for the handlers and dogs.
Third Series Water blind –
The water blind (175 yards) was run from the area where the first
series retired gunner was placed. The dog came to the line was sent
to square into the pond, then swim to a long point, then back into
the water for a swim along the shoreline, past a grassy point, then
“out to sea” for several yards before a gunner was told to throw a
bird for the dog to complete the blind.
Fourth Series Watermarks with an Honor –
The fourth series was a water triple with two retired guns and an
honor. The birds were shot center, left, then right flyer. The
center bird was a retired duck thrown approx. 360 yards, left to
right. The gunner then retired into a natural brush growth. This was
a very well placed bird that tested the dog’s memory and courage as
they had a long swim followed by a long drive up a hill to the fall.
Most dogs squared the water exit which pushed them left and up the
hill to a long hunt. The left hand bird was also retired, thrown
left to right and into a tall stand of pine trees. This was also a
well place bird and the dog’s tendency was to hunt to the left of
the fall. The flyer was the last bird and was shot to the right of
the pond, approx. 100 yards and up a hillside, into mowed strips.
The flyer caused some difficulty with dogs as they hunted the mowed
strips. This was a very nice All-Age test and truly tested the dog’s
abilities.
Water Blind
Water Triple with 2 retired guns on left and center, flyer was to
the right up the hill |