A Bird In The Hand....

[Sirius 1,391]

The morning exercise is coming to an end on another late winter morning.

As we go down the track with thick hedges each side of us we pass a gateway to a small paddock with a gradual incline leading up a small hill.

 

Three feathered heads bob down into the long grass around 100 yards out into the paddock as we pass the gate, and the older of the two dogs goes on point shortly followed by the younger dog. The dogs hadn't seen much on the walk, so I figured it's best to let them have a run and see what comes of it. With the command 'get on' that they are waiting for, they vault the 5 bar gate and are on their way out to the birds who now out of view. The first two cock birds flush into the air just inches ahead of the dogs jaws, then the third cock birds away as well but flying no more than a couple of feet above the grass. Both dogs are running in its shadow below the bird as it heads ever closer to the bramble of the hedge which is fast approaching. The older dogs sees it chance and launches into the air and tumbles into the grass with nothing for his effort other than a mouth of long tail feathers while the youngster looks on as the bird flys away with all the grace of a damaged byplane after a dogfight.

Now is the time where experience and determination come into play. As the youngster bounces back toward the gate and assumes defeat the old lad hunts on, pushing through the bramble of the hedge again and again, nose down and stern up he knows there's still a chance. While the youngster is panting by my feet I see the old fella pick up pace and disappear across the field. The thought runs into my head as he disappears from view 'here we go he's seen something else' I quicken my pace down the track leaving the gateway and as I round the bend in the track there he is with bird in mouth heading towards me! With the bird delivered safely to my out reached hand, I can see its bird number three as he's missing his tail feathers. I feel proud of the dog as he continues walking down the track in his usual relaxed manner. In the 8 years we have hunted together he's always been the same after a catch, no fuss.

 

I think to myself, that is what it's all about, a dog that try's that little bit harder when all seems lost, still believes he can win. You cant pay for that in a dog, thats the 'thing' that separates a good dog from the average the bit you want to be breeding for... You can breed for type, looks, colour, but that 'extra' is what makes a 'good hunting dog'.

 

Good hunting

Sirius

Edited May 4, 2015 by Sirius

[socks 32,253]

Spot on mate that bitch Tilly of mine is exactly like that ... Very unassuming but by fukc if there is something to be caught unless you kill her she is catching it .........

[Sirius 1,391]

That's what it's about for me, that's what impresses me in a dog. Yes it was just a old cock bird but it's the way the dog worked that counts.

[socks 32,253]

That's what it's about for me, that's what impresses me in a dog. Yes it was just a old cock bird but it's the way the dog worked that counts.

Spot on mate there are quitters and there are winners and the dog that refuses to quite will win most of the time .......

[Fat-Ferret 857]

A genuine lurcher...

[skycat 6,174]

Lovely read: such a shame they have to get old, but even an old 'un pulls off something special now and again.

[Sirius 1,391]

Lovely read: such a shame they have to get old, but even an old 'un pulls off something special now and again.

The week after I collected him.

He's come along way since this picture Skycat!

Edited May 5, 2015 by Sirius

[skycat 6,174]

Such a serious little pup

[Phil Lloyd 10,739]

Well done to the old'un...

Ideal for a Pheasant Jalfrezi !

I've always felt that taking birds is part and parcel of a Moucher's companion...

It can get you into trouble occasionally,..but there ya go,...it is the nature of the beast...

[FUJI 17,623]

Excellent stuff..

[tb25 4,627]

Best thing I have read on here in a long time.spot on.

[skycat 6,174]

Reminds me too of the time when his sister nailed a pheasant: most of the birds we see are flying high. Nothing sits on the ground where I exercise the dogs: learned their lessons. But this one tried to get back in a hedge after the Airedale put it up from the far side of the hedge: it came over, started flying out into a every big field, then turned back to the hedge. What made Sparrow see a possibility there? Was it slightly under par, pricked? Who knows, but she ran along under it and at the last moment it came lower to try and get in the hedge, and she leapt up and nailed it: both ending up about halfway up a 6 foot hedge, only her bum sticking out Older dogs that have learned to read prey are worth their weight in gold.

[Sirius 1,391]

Aye Skycat they love birds alright! Maybe it's the names Sparrow and Hawk lol

 

I knew something was a foot when he was a pup he took this poor chaffinch out the air in front of me, little shite. Then he moved on to partridge out the seat and on the wing and he's been the same ever since.

 

Edited May 5, 2015 by Sirius