Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Fin

Just a few pics from the last two weekends.

Odd looking snow.

Doc originally found a large late-season covey that tried to run out from under his point. Here he is on a single.

Ike backs...

The bird was dug in under some grass and flushed low into the wheat stubble. I had a clean shot and winged the bird. Both dogs raced in to scoop up the cripple and they clobbered eachother pretty well; I couldn't help but laugh.

The following Saturday I finished up the season much like I started it; hunting with Ted. We hit some old haunts and found the quail coveys to be in great shape going into the spring; we'll keep our fingers crossed for a mild February.

Here's Dottie on a single.

Later in the day Wes and Doc met up with us. While I think bird numbers in Kansas were generally down compared to the 5-year average, the more experienced dogs found more, and handled birds better than last year. It was good season.

5 comments:

Shawn K. Wayment, DVM said...

Great photos! Looks like you had a great gunning season with your dogs!

Shawn

Albert A Rasch said...

I second the Doc! Great photos and wonderful commentaries.

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Proud Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Southeast Regional OBS Coordinator

Mntmaniac said...

Yes...a trip through Kansa would have been nice...tried! Failed...Next year?

bill gilchrist said...

Sure glad I ran into your blog. Great stories and photos. John, I've had 2 Llewellins, love them, but am thinking of bringing up a coverdog pup, who would hunt together with my 4 year old Genie who'll stretch out to 300 yards in scalie country but closes in to w/in 100 in thicker Gambels and Mearns country. How does Doc work together w/ Ike and/or Sage in terms of range and contact (checking in)?

Bill Gilchrist
Cave Creek, AZ

Jon Uhart said...

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the kind comments.

Doc really handles like a dream. He has the speed and power to disappear over a ridge 500 yards, hunt it forward a half mile, and then appear to the front, but I still think it'd be hard to lose him, even if you tried. He's good at tailoring his range to the cover. I think his best attributes are his endurance and his feet; he's the kind of dog you'd want if you could only have one, or for long trips in rough terrain.

Doc could use some backing training, but Sage even moreso.

I'm by no means a setter expert, but I've been doing some research for my next puppy. I think if you could get the frame and endurance of Doc and couple it with a bigger running western style dog you'd have quite an animal.

Take it easy,
Jon