Mugi
|
Bunwell 26th and 27th.John A managed to organise a couple of shotover training days at Bunwell - sadly at fairly short notice so in the event only John and I managed to attend. Between us we had four dogs, two youngsters who had never been shotover before (Chase and Chrissie) and then Archie and finally Mugi - out for his first ever walked up shooting aged 12.5  . The days were sorted that we would do mornings with the young dogs and afternoons with the older pair.
So monday morning found us heading to the sugar beet with Chase, Chrissie and two guns. Chase was first to run and he did 'ok' initially but it all went pear-shaped as he bumped his first pheasant and I saw my pocket rocket disappearing over the horizon - birds were scattering everywhere and I trudged depondently after the lad. In catching him up we disturbed two nice birds that were shot and Chrissie was sent to retrieve her first pheasant - she was keen to go look, pick it up but apparently she was then not really sure what to do. She was working her first pheasant so John was happy to just have the interest. Once an unrepentant Chase returned Chrissie was off hunting - fast and a really nice pattern but a similar (although less extreme) reaction to her first pheasant.
After a time out to chill them we ran Chase again - quartering fairly well until he raised a pheasant again and off he went  off I trudged   . Chrissie similar to her first run, much more stylish than Chase and more prepared to listen to John although still she too 'lost it' as the bird got up.
Another break and we were ready to work the field back. Chase stayed responsive longer - flushed a bird and chased BUT he eventually came back after not running as far and I was happy he had returned!!!! Chrissie again was off and she hunting really nicely but her final flush of a bird saw her become quite OTT running round and dancing just out of reach.
So we chose an early lunch and the youngsters were given a chance to chill.
To be continued 
|
Mugi
|
Afternoon and Mugi was running first. He had a ball, he hunted and flushed up a pheasant that was shot and Archie had the retrieve. We carried on working through a mix of maize, hedges and woodland. Mugi primarily worked hedges and woodland and prob did a scant quarter of the work Archie did in terms of time but it was enough. He produced three pheasants in total, had one lovely point and he did three blind retrieves!!! Two rabbits, the first he was very hesitant and he needed to be physically guided onto the bunny (remember I can't handle with whistle or voice now he is deaf). The second bunny was over a ditch and actually he had to pick it out of a rabbit hole , he was much more confident!
Then his fabby retrieve............................. Archie had produced a hen pheasant which had dropped on one side of the pond. Archie was still on a retrieve and so I asked if Mugi could retrieve the hen as he really is too old to pick the cock birds. We were sure the bird was killed and so I set Mugi up and sent him. He got almost to the bird and she came to life and was off into a ditch behind a large bramble thicket with Moo in hot pursuit. All I could hear was Mugi's laboured breathing and cough but there was little I could do to help.
What seemed an age later out comes Moo with the bird in his gob , he had to work hard for that bird and I was so proud of him.
Sadly the picture is poor as light was bad in the wood but you can see his attitude heading for the bird just ahead even if he is a bit blurry.
Archie carried on working but Mugi and I took the easy route back to the lodge as he was looking tired (and happy).
Bag for the day was 4 cock pheasant, 4 hen pheasant, 2 rabbits and 2 doves.
|
Mugi
|
Tuesday morning and we had a similar plan. Young dogs having the morning on beet and then the older guys having the afternoon.
Well all I can say is what a difference a day makes....................
Chase running first and really working with me. Quartering slowly and he kept stopping to check the wind, he knew there were birds ahead but he didn't chase. I can't say he truly pointed although he was indicating well (tbh the birds were not wanting to hold anyway).
So he flushed a cock pheasant, sat to flush, watched it shot and once I was sure it was dead he was sent to retrieve. He ran out fast and true and picked up the bird - I was following slowly behind as he had needed to run a longish way and I was sure he wouldn't come back that far. He wasn't great about giving up his prize but boy was I thrilled. He was caught up (I didn't want to run him straight off again as I wasn't sure if he would run off) and Chrissie had a turn. She ran well but didn't produce a bird that time so Chase was on again.
Second run and again he produced a bird, he started to run in but the bird was flapping and I stopped him and walked up to him. We waited and watched, the gun then went to ensure the bird was dead - it wasn't so he dispatched it and Chase was sent to retrieve. Again he ran really well on his retrieve and then we had a minor disaster cos the bird started flapping - Chase ragged it a bit and he did break ribs. When I took the bird from him I was chilled and relaxed about the damage and praised him. This time I worked him on for a minute or so and then handed the reins to Chrissie.
We were following behind and Chrissie produced a nice cock bird. She was sent for the retrieve but she was not keen - Chase had marked well and even though we were a fair way back I was invited to send him. I felt it better to send him from where he had marked it than moving him forward so off he went on a good line - he fell short but then moved to his right. Heart in mouth moment as I wondered if he would go into hunt mode but no - he worked onto the bird and picked it up (very badly as it happened as he was trying to carry it by its neck ). Still he kind of started back then dropped it, then ended up with a gobful of feather and it went a tad wrong I got the bird of him as quietly as I could and retired back with him so Chrissie could continue her run. She produced another bird and it was shot landing in the next field. John asked me if I wanted the retrieve for Chase but I felt he had had enough and I didn't want mouthing to become a habit.
Final run and Chase produced a bunny (we weren't shooting ground game with the youngsters) and he didn't chase it!!!! At the same time the gun on the other flank flushed a pheasant which he shot. We didn't mark it well and so I declined the retrieve as I felt Chase would probably fail and he had done so well. The gun went for it but either everyone mismarked or it was a runner.
Chrissie had the final run and she also found a rabbit and one final bird that wasn't shot.
What a great morning and so much better than the previous day!!!! Hopefully also there will be photos to follow as we had an official photographer for the day .
|
Mugi
|
Final afternoon for Mugi and Archie.
Mugi had a nice but easy time as he had worked the previous day. He worked some scrubby bits and some woodland while Archie took on all the more physical ground.
Highlight for me was Mugi really working a bird out from under a holly bush - he had to figure it out and push the bird but when it flushed it never got up high enough to shoot.
Archie was great, he worked for ages on a pricked very strong runner which was shot more than once in the attempt to catch it and dispatch it humanely!! Archie had to work out a long strip of maize to find and 'trap' the bird and he worked steadily for approx 10 mins before appearing with the bird that was still alive!! Talk about him being determined!!!!!!!!!
While Archie was working that bird I took a couple of photos of Mugi.
A luxurious stretch!
Hunting dog
Pointing dog (and yes he found a bunny there)
|
guy
|
Sounds like a good time was had by all. A nice way to end the season.
|
doganjo
|
Sounds great, Sue. Not enough notice to put it on here I presume? No use for me, but some others might have been able to take it up.
|
Mugi
|
John rang everyone he could think might have been interested - sadly for most work commitments were in the way as we didn't have the dates confirmed in time to give better notice.
|
doganjo
|
I know John isn't keen on the Forum, but I usually post any training events on here as well as sending out to all my email list. Someone on here might have been able to arrange a day off ( or oh, maybe feel a little too under the weather o work and needing fresh air)
Maybe next time.
Glad you and John had a great day, looking froward to our last outing at the end of the week.
|
Dave A
|
Hi Sue
It looks like you had a great time and the dogs (young) got onto to some proper ground with scent, You also had a lot of firsts for both you and the dogs well done.
Dave A
|
guy
|
| doganjo wrote: | | I usually post any training events on here as well as sending out to all my email list. |
We mustn't confuse private days offered to guests with club training days,
|
Mugi
|
Thanks for that Guy, I was trying to word a reply and couldn't figure out how to .
Annie, the Gundog Working Experience Days have never to the best of my knowledge been advertised as such but John always pops in a bit on his FT Sec Reports in the Newsletter asking people to register interest if he is arranging anything. He then undertakes to phone people and offer them the opportunity to join in. Obviously by virtue of the type of day the dogs already need to be steady in training situations and should be tested on shot before being taken out as it would be enough 'ruin' a dog if it wasn't ready.
|
doganjo
|
Are these the same as 'shot over days' - there were two on the BCGB website calendar.
|
|
|
