| Sunday morning was cool
and cloudy (upper 40's) with a threat of rain. The
first two tests; a combined land double and a blind
were at the LeGrande Bison ranch about 40 minutes
south of Cheboygan.
The line faced a long, fairly
narrow bowl and was located on a shallow slope.
The first set of guns was on the right fern
covered sloping side of the bowl. They threw a
dead hen pheasant back to the left. It landed
in the ferns about 130 yards out. A second set
was located on the left side of the bowl, somewhat
deeper. They shot a flying hen pheasant flat to
the right where it fell in grassy cover amidst
widely spaced small (3'- 4') pine trees 150+ yds.
form the line. When the dog was sent for the flyer,
the right guns retired to a line of trees a short
distance behind them.
The blind was deep between
the converging marks, about 180-200 yards away
and was marked with a red stick. The bird, a dead
hen pheasant was planted as the dog returned with
the last mark.
Early dogs had cloudy skies
that hampered visibility of the falls. Several
dead fall logs lay in front of the line That,
along with the slope, and a wide sparse patch
of blackberry stalks deflected dogs from the varied
flyer falls. Throughout the day there was a good
deal of "shopping" to find the faint scented hens.
The similar sized pines and dark background made
a pinpoint mark challenging.
The line to the retired fall
angled down the slope, through the blackberry
stalks and across a dirt road which curved to
the right, just past the mark and to the right
of the blind. Some dogs paralleled the near side
of the road and arrived at the blind area, while
others squared the road and visited the retired
gunners in the woods. Most recovered after varying
hunts, but a few did not and were handled and/or
picked up.
The blind was very "do-able"
and a number lined it. Some had trouble on the
end and were "boxed" around before recovering
it.
By early afternoon it was
sunny and warm, paths formed, and as scent and
wind built the work improved. Comments from the
gallery were that it was a good opening series
for a National Amateur. They also had a nice view
from a hill behind the line.
The test took approx. 7 MPD
and ended about 8:30 p.m. Callbacks came about
10:15 and listed 95 dogs for Test 3, a water triple
at Magnussons Tuesday. Those lost (excluding scratches)
are: 9, 57, 76, 91 and 100. Dog number 25 ,FC-AFC
Trumarc's Super Pursuit is scheduled to begin
the series.
It was also reported that
Karon Richardson was flown to Peoria for additional
treatment and/or surgery. Harvry Peterson is handling
her two dogs. |
