It was partly cloudy, cool and breezy ar 6 a.m. The new site was at the John White farm, somewhat closer than the other two and guns were in position by shortly after 7 a.m. The line faced a gently sloping mowed hay field that had numerous large bales lying randomly within. Mowed hay still lay in several strips a short distance from and parallel to the line. To the left, the field on the left side was unmowed, but had several bales lying in it.
Four sets of guns were positioned within. Three were to the right of the road and one to the left. The left was a short distance in the cut field, near a power line tower. They shot and threw a dead rooster pheasant angled back to the left. It fell in the hay about 50 yards out. The left middle mark was the longest at 175 yds. They threw a dead duck flat to the left into the unmowed field. Closer and to the right, a set of flyer guns shot a rooster to the right. It landed in short cover between bales 150 yards from line, tight behind the right flyer guns. The right set shot a live duck, also to the right, falling about 80 yards from line. The order was: left middle; right middle flyer ; far left; right flyer. As the dog was sent for the short right flyeer, the two left guns retired. It took about 9 mpd.
Test dogs were called to the line at 7:38. Grasse did well while Eric handled on two. At 8:03, the first running dog, # 58 arrived on line.
The right and left marks were usually recovered well. The problem was that the tight configuration of the right middle flyer to the right flyer guns was confusing and possibly a bit tense for the dogs. Combined with the fact that the right middle and left middle marks were both thrown out, the area between provided a safe haven for dogs to hunt. After the right flyer a number of handlers tried for the short left bird next. Then they went for the right middle flyer. Dogs were reluctant to take the tight line behind the short flyer guns an arrived between the middle two gun stations. A number hunted their way to the left middle one, then when sent for the right middle, hunted all over, except were the bird lay. Many had to handle to it. A few successful jobs were produced by taking the two right flyers as a double, then the two left retired ones as a second double. A switching wind throughout the day would aid dogs on one mark while penalizing them on another.
The partly cloudy morning kept the dogs from overheating and for those who became warn, a kiddie pool and bucket of water was provided near the line.
The afternoon remained hot and and sunny. Dog work seemed to run in streaks. There would be an excellent group, followed by handles, pick ups or switches. An announcement was made mid morning that the fifth would be suspended at 6 p.m. so all could attend the workers party. There would probably be about 2 hours left in the morning. No partial call backs would be given.By 4 p.m 42 dogs had run with 16 that either handled or picked up. It remained brutal much of the day.
