"Tough Night At The Office"

[IRISHWISTLER]

Aye Mates,
So I conducted a training session with LEXIE and TRAD tonight the humidity that hung in the air earlier today was now less perceptible. I had decided to work the duo on nose work, tracking and flushing quail as a recent NAVHDA hunt test left many live birds behind post event. On the way to the training grounds I spotted several turkeys out in a friend's agricultural field and made a quick detour to grab some photo's and spy on two really nice gobblers.

This group caught me eyes as I was on the way to the training grounds.

Two really nice Toms were vying for hens and one bird's tail had really taken a beating.

Both LEXIE and TRAD had a rather regimented weekend with little work on live birds. Tonight I let them hunt up quail and the dynamic duo put a total of seven covey in the air, one covey held perhaps the most birds I have ever seen in a single covey. The dogs worked hard plowing through heavy cover and enjoyed every minute of it, the scent of birds a driving force for both of them. Throughout the session LEXIE and TRAD were worked on field commands / obedience, whistle signals, and gestural cues. Additionally, both dogs were worked for keeping in the range limits I prefer flushing dogs to work within.

Here LEXIE and TRAD take a seat on the training table in response to me command to do so. This was just prior to putting both retrievers up for the remainder of the evening, rest well earned for hard hunting demonstrated. Had we actually been hunting during this session, lots of quail would have fell to the gun due to the diligent work of LEX and TRAD.

Training for the night now behind us with great work accomplishedI headed for me homestead and making a look o'er my shoulder toward the west, a beautiful vista had me scurrying for higher ground to make use of the last remaining light of the evening, that to be captured with me camera. I quickly made way to the top of the hay lot that I had photographed the turkeys in just a bit o'er an hour earlier.

I was able to grab this lovely shot as the sun was setting in the notch betwixt two hills. As I worked me camera taking several shots at varying settings, I had a gobbler going off due west o' me, and a woodcock peenting in the field off to the east o' me. T'was surely a serene moment o' magnificent beauty and one that would make any bird hunter beam with joy. A "tough" night at the office, but these dogs don't train themselves. Damn, how I love these wonderful dogs and the joy they bring me. LMIAO. :-)

Cheers Mates,
THE DOG WHISTLER

[barry581]

Sounds like a very product and fun time for the dogs!

[POPTOP]

Wonder afternoon/evening with faithful friends. Love the pictures.

Your story brought to mind a yellow lab I followed for a couple of years at shows. Her name was Hidden Covey, very appropriate.

[Jollymolly]

What a stunning photo the colors are so lovely. Glad you had a great time with the dogs and them running the fields.