10th Series – Land Quad with One Flyer and Three Retired

Test 10 – Land Quad with One Flyer and Three Retired

It is a windy clear day today at the 10th Series! The temperature is still below freezing with a wind chill of 22°. We are on a hilltop facing northwest with the wind out of the west at 6-10 mph. The test is in the Siren Field. The dogs will be on the mat on the flat top of a large hill. The test spreads out along and either side of a power line field with three rows of power lines stretching as far as we can see. The near portion of the field is broom sage grass. As the dog moves farther out, it is a cut corn field. Trees line the right side of the field with a large gap 300 plus yards out and then continuing on. The left side has a grove of trees – a cut corn field – a row of timber that comes out into the field – another cut corn field and then the thicker timber line begins.

For this test – left to right across the field we have:

Bird station #1 is a Flyer station facing left, throwing and shooting a rooster left. These gunners are positioned 220 yards from the mat. (We refer to this mark as F for Flyer)

Bird station #2 is a retired gun station. They will shoot and throw a dead hen pheasant and then retire behind a bale at the left station pole. The gunners are located 273 yards from the mat. (We refer to this mark as LR for Left Retired)

Bird station #3 is the next retired gun station located at 160 yards in front of the mat. They shoot and throw a dead hen pheasant to the left and then retire. (We will refer to this mark as SR for Short Retired)

Bird station #4 is the last retired gun station on the far right, located at the far side of the gap at 385 yards from the mat. From the tree line the gunners will shoot, throw and then retire. This bird is thrown away from the mat, down the right hand tree line. (We will refer to this mark as RR for Right Retired)

This test is taking approximately 8 minutes for the dogs to complete.

10th Series Land Quad with a Flyer and Three Retired

Treeline Retired – 385 yards

Middle Retired – Hen Pheasant – 160 yards

Left Retired – Hen Pheasant – 273 yards

Rooster Flyer – 220 yards

Sketch of the 10 Series Land Quad by Official Artist Jean Wu

9th Series – Land Triple with a Flyer, Two Retired and an Honor

Test 9 – Land Triple with a Flyer, Two Retired and an Honor

The mat for the 9th Series is facing southeast overlooking a field dotted with hay bales and strips of cover. Horseshoe Field is surrounded by mature trees.

Temps currently are about 37 degrees, which feels like 31 degrees. Wind is NW at 10 mph. Clouds are continuing to thin out and lighting is improving as the day progresses.

Bird #1 is a retired hen duck located 350 yards from the mat, and is thrown right. The dog will descend into the field and need to maneuver through a number of hay bales. Then as he continues he will experience taller strips of cover leading into a harvested field to locate his bird. (We refer to this mark as MR for Middle Retired)

Bird station #2 is a retired gun station also. The retired gun comes out from a point of timber at about 180 yards from the mat. The hen pheasant is shot to the right, located about 180 yards from the mat. The dog will have a cover change. The gunners will retire when the dog leaves the line. (We refer to this mark as SR for Short Retired)

Bird station #3 is a Rooster Flyer. The guns are located about 250 yards from the mat, shooting angled back to the right. The line to this bird will follow midway along the hillside, dotted with hay bales. The gunners will sit when the dog is released. (We will refer to this mark as F for Flyer)

There will be an Honor at the end to the left of the working dog

This test is taking approximately 6-7 minutes for each dog to complete.

9th Series – Land Triple with a Flyer and Two Retired, plus an Honor

Long Middle Retired – Hen Duck – 350 yards

Short Left Retired – Hen Pheasant – 180 yards

Rooster Flyer – 250 yards

 Sorry about the delay on the sketch …  Sketch of the 9th Series by Official Artist Jean Wu

8th Series – Water Blind

Test 8 – Water Blind – Teal Pond

The mat is facing southeast with a mound directly in front. It's about 33 degrees with a 12 mph NW wind.

The line to the water is between two large trees, through a thin strip of cover, then through a winding pond with two long points of land that are on the line, and the second point has been scented. The blind is planted on the far shore by a small cedar tree, 285 yards from the mat.

The handlers are on their own, sending from the mat with instructions to shoulder the first point and get all four feet on the second point.

This test is looks to be taking approximately 6-7 minutes to complete this blind.

"SKIM IT"     "HIT IT!"     "GET IT!" 

Eighth Series – Water Blind – 285 yards

You can see the second Test Dog getting the bird on the far shore in this close-up

The view from the top of the mound

Sketch of the Eighth Series by Jean Wu

 

7th Series – Water Quad with One Flyer, One Simulated Flyer and Two Retired

Test 7 – Water Quad with One Flyer, One Simulated Flyer and Two Retired

The day is starting out cold at about 24 degrees. We arrived at the field in the dark with activity all around us! The crews this year have been outstanding! Blinking Traffic directional lights on the NRC signs lead us into the area. The Grounds crew have 4-wheelers loading equipment and the gunners and throwers in white are out in the field.

Test 7 is going to be a Water Quad with 2 Retired and 1 Flyer and 1 Simulated Flyer. The field is a flat pasture with pieces of water dotted around the area. We are bordered on the east and west by tree lines. The end is wide open.

Bird #1 is a flyer station located 280 yards from the mat. This is in front of and slightly left of the handler. These gunners throw then shoot a mallard to the left toward the trees. The line to this bird takes the dog across the field into a finger of water and then back out to the bird. (We refer to this mark as F for Flyer)

Bird station #2 is on the left at 255 yards. This Retired gun comes out of the timber and throws to the right with the bird landing near the shore in the water. This is a hen pheasant. (We refer to this mark as LR for Left Retired)

Bird #3 is another Retired gun station in the middle right of the field. This is a hen duck thrown to the left. The gunners are 250 yards out from the mat and retire behind a hay bale. The bird lands in the water across the pond. (We will refer to this mark as MR for Middle Retired)

Bird #4 is the Simulated Flyer. This drake mallard is thrown to the right landing in a small swim-by pond with decoys. There is also a sluice from these gunners who are 150 yards from the mat. (We will refer to this mark as SimF for Simulated Flyer).

It is very likely that the Left Retired bird will be missed as the dogs will be drawn to the stand-out flyer guns.

This test is taking approximately 11-12 minutes for each dog to complete.

Close up of the left side of the 7th Series

Close up of the right side of the 7th Series

Flyer – Mallard – 280 yards

Left Retired – Hen Pheasant – 255 yards

Middle Retired – Hen Duck – 250 yards

Simulated Flyer – Drake Mallard – 150 yards

Sketch of the 7th Series by Jean Wu

 

6th Series – Land Blind

Test 6 – Land Blind

The bright sunny day we were having has given way to a mostly cloudy day. The temps feel like they have dropped back into the upper 30's as the sun slipped behind the clouds. The field is the same location as the 5th Series, winds have shifted to be coming from the West.

The line has moved about 30 feet SW of the previous line for the 5th. Once sent, the dog will angle down the hill, across the road and a mowed path. The line will catch the corners of these clumps, hit the gap of two artificial trees, climb the hill, getting above the terrace going very near the mature tree near the brushed holding blind of the Left Retired station from the 5th Series. Continuing on towards a small grassy covered mound, where they will recover a rooster pheasant at about 307 yards away.

This test takes approximately 2-3 minutes per dog to complete.  

6th Series Land Blind – 307 yards

Close Up of Land Blind

Sketch of the 6th Series by Jean Wu

 

5th Series – Day 2

Wednesday – 5th Series – Day 2  
6:15 am

It's another cold November morning. It's a balmy 32 degrees, the wind is still but promises to come up out of the WNW. Clouds are predicted for later today. We have about 26 dogs left to run to complete this series. A test dog will be running shortly and then we will be on our way.

Test 5 – Land Quad with Two Retired and Two Flyers

The mat and Judges' tent for this series are on a hill facing south. The test lays in a large field with the marks running east and west. The dogs will leave the mat running down the hill – crossing a gravel road – and then dropping down another 10 or 12 feet to the field below. We are in the "Power Line" or "Siren Field" field for this test. This is a grassy field on the middle and left side. There are intermittent rows of standing cover running both north and south. As you look left, the rows are at more of an angle east to west. There are trees surrounding the field, but they are at a distance that keeps them out of play. There are also a few trees in the main field. The right side of the field is a cut corn field with strips of standing stubble. This is an Inline Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired.

Bird station #1 is a flyer station with a green head. The gunners are 165 yards from the mat shooting to the right in the cut corn rows and stubble. (We refer to this mark as RF for Right Flyer)

Bird station #2 is 240 yards from the mat and has two gunners retired behind a well-brushed hay bale, shooting and throwing a dead Rooster Pheasant to the Right. This bird lands in heavy cover radiating from the base of a large tree. (We refer to this mark as RR for Right Retired)

Bird station #3 is 245 yards from the mat and has two gunners in a well-brushed blind. They will shoot and then throw a dead hen pheasant to the right landing on a terrace that runs angle left to right across the field. A row of thick cover on the side of the terrace hides the bird until the dog comes up the terrace. (We will refer to this mark as LR for Left Retired)

Bird #4 is a hen pheasant Flyer shot to the left. The four gunners stand 270 yards to the handler's left, shooting so that the bird lands in tall cover. (We will refer to this mark as LF for Left Flyer)

The order for this test is right to left, starting with the green head moving to the retired rooster pheasant. They then throw the dead hen pheasant and the final bird on this left to right line is the hen pheasant flyer.

This test takes approximately 7-8 minutes per dog to complete.  

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (left view of test)

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (middle view of test)

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (right view of test)

Right Flyer – 165 yards – Drake Mallard

Right Retired – 240 yards – Rooster Pheasant

Left Retired – 245 yards – Hen Pheasant

Left Flyer – 270 yards – Hen Pheasant

Sketch of the Fifth Series by Jean Wu

5th Series – Land Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired

Test 5 – Land Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired

The day is starting out rainy and 41 degrees. At the moment, there is no wind to mention. The mat and Judges' tent for this series are on a hill facing south. The test lays in a large field with the marks running east and west. The dogs will leave the mat running down the hill – crossing a gravel road – and then dropping down another 10 or 12 feet to the field below. We are in the "Power Line" or "Siren Field" field for this test. This is a grassy field on the middle and left side. There are intermittent rows of standing cover running both north and south. As you look left, the rows are at more of an angle east to west. There are trees surrounding the field, but they are at a distance that keeps them out of play. There are also a few trees in the main field. The right side of the field is a cut corn field with strips of standing stubble. This is an Inline Quad with Two Flyers and Two Retired.

Bird station #1 is a flyer station with a green head. The gunners are 165 yards from the mat shooting to the right in the cut corn rows and stubble. (We refer to this mark as RF for Right Flyer)

Bird station #2 is 240 yards from the mat and has two gunners retired behind a well-brushed hay bale, shooting and throwing a dead Rooster Pheasant to the Right. This bird lands in heavy cover radiating from the base of a large tree. (We refer to this mark as RR for Right Retired)

Bird station #3 is 245 yards from the mat and has two gunners in a well-brushed blind. They will shoot and then throw a dead hen pheasant to the right landing on a terrace that runs angle left to right across the field. A row of thick cover on the side of the terrace hides the bird until the dog comes up the terrace. (We will refer to this mark as LR for Left Retired)

Bird #4 is a hen pheasant Flyer shot to the left. The four gunners stand 270 yards to the handler's left, shooting so that the bird lands in tall cover. (We will refer to this mark as LF for Left Flyer)

The order for this test is right to left, starting with the green head moving to the retired rooster pheasant. They then throw the dead hen pheasant and the final bird on this left to right line is the hen pheasant flyer.

This test takes approximately 7-8 minutes per dog to complete. 

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (left view of test)

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (middle view of test)

5th Series Land Quad with 2 Flyers and 2 Retired (right view of test)

Right Flyer – 165 yards – Drake Mallard

Right Retired – 240 yards – Rooster Pheasant

Left Retired – 245 yards – Hen Pheasant

Left Flyer – 270 yards – Hen Pheasant

Sketch of the Fifth Series by Jean Wu

4th Series – Water Blind

Test 4 – Water Blind

We're here at the same field as the 3rd Series. The bird crates have been left out and the line that was on top of the mound has been moved down and to the left side of the back of the mound.

The field is void of morning shadows and the sun is shining bright. Multiple evergreens have been placed near where the blind is at 265 yards out. The first part of the blind will include taking a left off the mound just after launch. The dog progresses to the water where a sluice has been fired from what had been the Third Series middle mark. The dog must drive on to the open field where cover is higher on the left and thinner on the right. The dog will head to the mound mat that has multiple cedars placed left, middle and right. The dog will need to go a bit to the left side of the mound to retrieve his hen mallard.

The working dog is called to the line.

The Sluice goes as soon as you hit the mat.

Gunners will stay out. And handlers may climb the mound to handle the dog.

This test is taking approximately 3 minutes per dog. 

 

Water Blind – 265 yards

Close up of the end of the blind

Sketch of the 4th Series by Jean Wu

3rd Series – Day 2

Monday – 3rd Series – Day 2  
6:15 am

Good Morning! We are back here this morning to complete the 3rd Series. It is a chilly morning! It's 25 degrees with light wind and a cloudless sky, which should give way soon to a bright and sunny day.
Shadows will lay on the left side of the field for the remainder of the test. Steam is rising from the ponds and frost has coated the grass. A little snow still remains on some of the hay bales in the field. A single test dog is running and then we will commence running dogs shortly to complete this series.

 

Test 3 – Land and Water Triple

This series will be a Land and Water Triple with hen ducks shot left to right. The handler's mat is on a mound with a road along the left framed with a tree line surrounding the field. There is little to no wind today and the temperature is about 29 degrees as we begin. The field is cut with a long winding skinny piece of water. Hay bales are set throughout the field and part of the shoreline is not cut and has medium cover.

Bird #1 is thrown to the right about 250 yards on to an island with a clump of bushes on it and the gunners retire when the dog is sent for the flyer. The line to this mark is through a small end of the water. (We refer to this mark as LL for Long Left)

Bird #2 is thrown from a hay bale to the right to the corner at 170 yards and the gunners also retire. There is a land bridge left of the line to this bird. The line to the bird is through this patch of water. (We will refer to this mark as M for Middle)

Bird #3 is the Flyer Station, shot to the right into the field at approximately 130 yards. (We will refer to this mark as F for Flyer)

In addition, there is an Honor to the left of the mound. This test is taking approximately 6 minutes per dog. 

3rd Series – Land/Water Triple with an Honor

Long Left Retired – 250 yards

Middle Retired – 170 yards

Flyer – 130 yards

3rd Series Sketch by Jean Wu