A blustery day afield in Montana

Today the wind was just shy of howling on the open prairie.  We ran 5 braces this afternoon in these cold conditions and all left the field with wind burn.  With no trees the only refuge was on the leeward side of the gooseneck horse trailer.

 It was a good day nonetheless.  All 5 braces and good wild bird contact.  The least amount of wild bird contact was one brace with 2 wild birds.  Total birds today numbered about 30.

Good dog work was had early in the day with a brace that placed my young dog Shooter as a running mate with Jason Francis’ dog 5 year old Champ.  We had a client with us today riding one of our 3 horses as we ran dogs.   We were NOT in the guiding capacity.  This client had a dog that needed some extra attention so we showed him first what a good brace looked like on state land, not block management. 

Within 5 minutes of mounting our trusty steeds Champ was found standing majestically on point … 500 plus yards from the break away in CRP, head high, tail at 11:00 o’clock.

Our accompanying client Jonathan dismounted and promptly flushed a single in which he dispatched quickly.  Champ made a perfect retrieve.  He returned to Jonathan, sat at his feet then presented the bird at 45 degrees head up for easy retrieval by Jonathan.

 At 10 (10 minutes), Shooter was found standing head up, tail at 12:00 o’clock stretched out with great intensity.  Jonathan once again walked out front and this time two birds flushed wildly into the cold wind.  Jonathan doubled.  

Shooter who is a natural retriever, not force broke, was savoring the kill though not interested in a prompt retrieve.  Champ, who had a fine back, was rewarded with the an offer to retrieve one of the two shot birds.  Champ did so as he had before with great style and enjoyment.  His eyes were bright with enthusiasm about getting a retrieve from a back.  Shooter, still deciding about the retrieve was ‘teased’ when we sent Champ for the second retrieve (the bird Shooter was licking).  Champ picked up the bird to make the 2nd prompt retrieve when Shooter decided enough was enough!  After all, it was his point!  So shooter stole the 2nd bird right out of Champs mouth and with some coaxing, decided to share it with Brandon (my son) who as assisting the novice, Jonathan.  In 10 short minutes Jonathan shot 75% of his daily limit on sharptail grouse.

The rest of the braces were fun as well. 

We ran a puppy brace in which the dogs are only up here to become excited about wild birds and to learn they can’t be caught!  A sort of natural approach I take on all of my own dogs.

Each pup found several birds and chased with great delight and very impressive ground coverage! LOL :>)

 I do love pups.  Montana brings the best out of them.  These pups will make find shooting dogs some day because they have been started right.

At days end, good training was had by all.  Jonathan learned to ride a walking horse complete with scabbard and handle bird dogs while hunting sharptail grouse.

 Guess that’s it for today.

 Y’all take care and give your dog a treat for me.

Dave