| WEDNESDAY,
DAY 4 Dawn arrived
clear and cool with little wind. Test #5, a land
triple with two retired guns and an honor, was held in
a field a few mile south of McCall. There was considerable
ground fog and a heavy dew as the test materialized.
However, it burned off and warmed up rapidly as the sun
rose. Three sets of guns
were positioned in a rolling, grassy pasture which had
several dikes, ditches and low spots winding through
it. All birds used during the test were ducks.
A set of guns on the left angled a dead bird back to
the right falling on a knoll 220 yards from the line.
Next, a set of guns nearly 180* to the right, threw
another dead bird to the right, near the base
of several tall bushes, 162 yards out. The third
set was located between them, but tight to the left
set. They were on a dike to the left and shot
a flyer to the right over a water filled ditch where
it fell in a pasture 188 yards away. As the dog
was sent from the line, the outside guns retired.
There was an honor to the right.
Early dogs fared well without wind,
but later dogs had difficulty winding the falls as variable
winds did not aid them. Most handlers took the
flyer, left bird, then the right; but there were variations.
Changes in cover, winding ditches, and retired guns
challenged dogs and several handled on a mark.
There were NO breaks on the honor.
The picturesque test concluded
at 7:00 pm with dog number 81. In all, 19 dogs(25 percent)
handled on these marks. Later callbacks
listed at headquarters and the workers party.
The following dogs were not called back for the 6th
Series: 1,4,9,23,33,35,45,57,69,104 and 105 leaving
62 dogs to run the Sixth, a water blind in the area
of the first series. The first dog for series
6 will be #15.
GALLERY COMMENTS :
"Early dogs did well today, only
one handled."
"Consistent flyer."
"Many "banana'd" the left mark,
several others took the channel on as well."
"Judy Spitz (Judy's Cook House)
provided a wide variety of breakfasts, lunches, and
snacks from daylight till dark. Definitely one
of the best in recent years. She has been invited
to do the NRC Trail this fall."
"Didn't hear anyone suprised by
the callbacks. "
"Five of the ten dogs dropped during
the water blind had not handled before."
"The gallery Tuesday was treated
to a show by a master "Fisherbird". A local Osprey
caught repeat fish out of the water blind.
Idaho is like that!"
"The crew four-wheeled the dew off
the grass in the morning after the test dogs.
Perhaps more of an excuse to race the quads around before
the start of the test. Good time to lighten the
mood."
"Mountain winds have been light
and variable. Luck will always be a factor in
this game!"
"This would be a good one to win,
there is no bar in the hotel!" |