The
fourth was a water blind with a long angle entry
into a grassy pond from on top a steep hill. At
it's base was a curving, dike road which had been
scented part way down it on the right edge. The
bird, a dead hen mallard lay in front of a distant
mound of dirt, about 200 yards from line. A switching
wind angled from left to right or right to left
across the test. The test dogs ran shortly before
11 a.m. and both did fairly well. By 11:04 dog
50 appeared on line to initiate the fourth which
took about 5-6 minutes to complete
Dogs
would build momentum running down the steep hill
and onto the dirt dike road at the bottom left
with a grassy pond to the right. There was a low
stump on the side hill directly on line. At the
base, the line was through a small bay, then back
on to the road. The road was online for a good
distance (15+ yds?) but the line kept going straight,
into the water, where the road curved. Some dogs
would have preferred to to remain on the road
while others wanted to go "fat" into the right
hand water. There was a stump in the water to
the right just off shore, which was about
where the dogs should enter the water. At that
point they could also wind the scented shore.
Some needed a whistle or two to get wet. Others
took a big "over" and had to be cast left to be
back on line. Once on line, most swam to the far
shore of the dike with only minor adjustments.
The land beyond was rough, mucky and had brush
pile just to the right of the dike's backside.
There dogs would lose their line trying to work
their way through the cover and mud.
Early
dogs appeared to do surprisingly well with perhaps
one in five having some difficulty. By 2 p.m.
clouds had returned and a few sprinkles fell.
After about a dozen had run, a scent trail and
path had formed from the far side of the distant
dike to the bird. Once to that point dogs would
drive to recover the bird.
Series
four was hampered by strong winds and driving
rain during mid and late afternoon. Dog work remained
fairly similar to that prior to the storm. Call
backs came after dark and 76 dogs remained in
contention. Seven more had been lost. They were:
2, 10, 21, 31, 47, 59, 71, and 84.
Series
Five will be held in the same gerneral area as
test 4 at the LeGrande ranch. Dog 75 will start.
The test will consist of marks, probably land.
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