June 2, 2019
At the Annual Meeting on April 27, we had a discussion about dog training with wild quail coveys on club property. The Board would like to propose two changes that will allow us to simulate wild coveys, challenge our dogs, and make training faster and more effective. In the past, we have had quail coveys on the property. These birds were training birds that were shot at, but deliberately not killed. This scenario simulates a hunt test, when the gunners often miss birds and the dogs, mistakenly, go on shot, rather than stand. These quail stick around, despite the dog pressure, as long as they are not shot. Food is available and the cover is good. Training dogs on these free range birds is wonderful. Like their wild brethren, the birds are nervous; they flush easily if the dog moves even slightly. The explosive flush of many birds unnerves the dog, providing a continuing training opportunity, as long as they are not killed. We believe that we can keep training coveys on the property if we make two changes. The first change will be to institute a “If you plant it, you can shoot it.” policy. We are discouraging members from opportunistically hunting and killing birds they find on the property. Henceforth, the only birds that can be shot are the birds that members purchase and plant for their dog. Members can search for the resident coveys with their dog, but they cannot take any of these birds. As a second change, we would like to put a quail recall house in the woods near Field #6 with an electronic caller. Tim Key has finished the house with a built-in food and water supply. We will fill the house with 30 birds in early October. A member would sign and date the log, release birds from the house, wait 30 minutes until the birds have dispersed, and then work the dog. Again, these birds cannot be shot. The dog would point, the handler would flush and cap off, and then heel or check cord the dog away to the next bird. Like wild birds, there is no human scent on or near the bird and the birds are nervous and susceptible to flushing if a dog moves while on point. The only exception to the “If you plant it, you can shoot it.” rule will be after a hunt test weekend, when there are too many birds in the fields to permit productive training without some culling. The club will allow hunting of left over test birds for two days after the test, limiting the take to four birds per day per member. Hopefully, these two changes will allow us to simulate wild coveys, challenge our dogs, and make training faster and more effective. Regards, Charles ___________________________ Charles W. Tuttle 4 Checkerberry Square Greensboro, NC 27455 Cell 336-202-4592 tuttlecw@triad.rr.com