Youth Hunt Results

[Lance]

We ended up having a very nice morning. I met up a nice group from Streetsboro on their first pheasant hunt, the 3 boys were Luke, Clayton and Nick and their parents. Although the day started a bit slow in the first couple fields with only 1 woodcock flushed(unpointed) things picked up after a quick break at the Pheasants forever booth. We got a tip on where a bird had landed withing sight of the booth and off we went. Within 5 minutes Otto had a point on it and Luke had his first bird in one shot from his 20 gauge. We thought it must have been the donuts! ;) From there we were off to the big fields. After a bit more walking we bumped another woodcock. Everyone learned about how much the long grass can take out of your legs and Clayton ran out of gas and headed back to the car with mom. We continued on and caught a pheasant sitting out in the open. I tried to keep Otto on the downwind side of the narrow grass strip so he could wind it and not flush it but it was not to be. He cut over about 10 feet before the bird and off it went. Luke gave it a salute but it was quite a long shot even for a 12 ga. A lesson learned as the bird flew off unscathed. On our next pass back up the field was an eventful one. As we were making our turn they spotted a bird landing in the field about 2 yards out straight ahead. We started working the field and after about 150 yards Otto went on point. Two repositions latter he had it pinned and here where things got interesting. Just as I'm moving in to flush the bird I hear one of the boys shoot, startled heck out of me and I wondered what was going on! :eek: When the shot rang out up went the pointed bird. As it flew up across came another bird flushed by another group at the other end of the field! Nick had seen it coming across and shot, after the birds crossed in mid air Nick took another shot at the crossing bird while Luke stayed focussed on the pointed bird. One shot and down it went. Very nice shooting, two shots two birds they definitely had some practice time in! We no sooner picked up the bird and walked 20-30 yards and Otto was on point again! This time it was Nicks turn and he didn't let Otto down. I flushed the bird and two shots later it was on the ground. 3 points and 3 birds and we called it day as Otto and everyone else was pretty bushed at this point.

Everyone had a good time and I'd be happy to have them hunt over my dogs again, VERY well mannered and safety conscious!

I took pictures after the hunt I will be posting them here as soon as I get them back. Had some minor trouble with the camera(low battery) so I hope they turn out!

[CritterGitter]

Sounds like you guys had a great time. I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't deer hunt on the edge of the dog training area the night before a youth hunt. Also, seems like some guys do way to much yelling at their dog? It should be fun for the dog too! Anyway, I hope you guys have fun the rest of the season.

CG

[Lance]

10/25 youth hunt at Berlin!

http://www.ohiosportsman.com/photopost/data/526/33youthhunt10-25.jpg?7097



Sorry guys, this is the only picture that turned out from the hunt. New batteries in the camera now. Hope to see you again, you guys were great to hunt with!

[Lance]

Spent another great morning with the family from last week.

It was kind of a drizzley morning and we took Chief out first. Several other parties had gone out before us direction wasn't all that important so off we went. As we walked the first strip the boys got a great example of how beneficial it is to have a dog. There was a strip of fairly short grass running between the two narrow field sections we were walking and as Chief cut across it he broke to a rock solid point out in the middle of the short stuff. The bird held tight and we got Clayton in position to get the first shot. As I moved in the bird came up from under the grass, Clayton's shot missed but Nick took it down. 1 for 1 to start the day! This bird would have surely been passed up if it had not been for the dog. After this everyone regrouped and started off again. About 40 yards further up the field Clayton flushed a bird and this time he got it on one shot. We worked chief a while longer getting a point on a quail that I'm sure had been released by someone training dogs. As we worked up the last portion of the field on the way back to get Otto out of the truck a bird walked out of grass right in front of Luke and his dad and proceeded to walk the trail in front of them. After about 20-30 yards of this the bird ducked into the grass just as Chief hit the trail. Chief caught the sent and quickly got a point on the bird. After a relocation on the running bird he locked up again and we went in to flush it. This turned into quite a adventure cause this bird wanted no part of flying. The bird headed for the woods across a short opening for the road and Geno(their dad) promptly cut it off and forced it back towards me. this time he took flight and was promplty dispatched at very close range by Luke. Great shot for a bird that was so close, he didn't even hurt the meat all neck and back! After this we went ans got Otto out for an hours run. While we didn't find anymore birds everyone's legs held up MUCH better this trip. :)

The coolest thing they said was that they were hearing the sounds of the beeper on point mode in their sleep all week. I guess I can safely say they had a good time!

:cool:

Thanks guys!