Southern Tier NAVHDA
Chapter Newsletter
June, 2006
Spring Test: James Morby got it right when he switched from Sunday to Saturday and hung around to volunteer as well. Saturday was overcast and cool with a threat of rain that never came. Five dogs ran earning the following scores: James Morby and Amous, 112 NA prize I; Peter Paradise and Gracie, 106 NA prize I; Mark Bull and Bell, 104 NA prize III; Tom Brougham and Gus, 189 UT prize II; Rob Menotti and Quill, 162 UT prize III. Sunday was even colder with wind and driving rain.The rain stopped just long enough for the lunch break, then resumed with a miserable vengeance. Four dogs ran earning the following scores: John Swider and Cosmo, 107 NA prize I; Paul Nadolny and Woody, 57 NA and no prize; Larry Lawton and Elvis, 100 NA prize II; Bill Washer and Holly, 70 NA and no prize.
The club wishes to thank the large number of people who came and volunteered their time, some of them for the entire weekend. So many heeded the call from test coordinator John Swider that space does not permit me to name all of you.We could not have put on such an event without this kind of effort. I would like to thank the Lawtons who acted as a host family for the judges saving the club the lodging expense as well as providing a base to work from. I would also like to thank Scott Phelps who came on dismal Sunday to pick up the tent so it could be hung up and dried. Tom Snyder thought that Scott hada chucker drive him home, but that is onlya rumor.
There was one casualty from the weekend: the H&R 12 gage single shot blank shotgun belonging to Don Rottmann can not be found. We think it got stuffed into a miscellaneoustruck, and I would ask anyone who was there on Saturday to please look around their vehicle for this item.
June seminar: There is still room for the seminar on the 10thand 11th. The price for club members is still $40 sent to Dick Mider, 456 Silk Street, Newark Valley, NY 13811. There are flyers out and newspapers have been notified, so the places could fill up quickly.
Ugly Dog Hunting: The following is an unauthorized reprint from theDecembercatalogue of anew NAVHDA sponsor from Vermont: Mid afternoon one day about this time last year, I got a call from my wife. She’d found her shorthair, Harley, on point in the living room. I got there a few minutes later and, sure enough, he was locked-up solid, head low, tail motionless. Judging by the direction of his nose, if we were in our usual covers, I’d figure the bird was no more than 10 yards out, maybe a late winter grouse loafing under a broad white pine. In the living room, however, it was hard to tell. I hadn’t had much experience with residential covers. My first guess was that the bird might be moving north past the bookshelves, seeking cover in the thick green upholstery of the couch. On further inspection, I realized the object of his point had to be closer-west of the coffee table but no further than the fireplace. Bingo. A chucker was standing back to the bricks, just behind the wire screen. I’d like to think he wore an expression of astonishment comparable to my own, but with pen-raised chuckers being none too bright, it was hard to tell. We’d hired a half dozen chuckers to help train my wife’s young shorthair. Of course, these birds would be terminated long before their first paycheck, but if Rimfire bumped a bird or if I missed a shot, the chucker was free to fly. Such was the case with this avian chimney sweep. The day before, two birds had gotten away. This one had probably roosted on the roof by the chimney where it was warm. How he took the dive, though, I’ll never know. But the situation called for finesse and strategy, since the standard option of a 20-gage load of 71/2’s wasn’t practical given the brick hearth, glass vase of tulips and nearby television. I’ll leave the solution to your imagination but give you the point of the story: training season can be just assurprising, entertaining and challenging as the hunt itself. With a good six months ahead of us before hunting season, I encourage everyone to get out there and have some fun, whether you’re prepping for a NAVHDA test, practicing for a field trial, or just tuning up skills needed next fall. Ugly Dog has lots of great dog training gear to help. Check out our selection of dummies, scents, e-collars, leads and whistles. And, with our fireplace chucker in mind, a few words of advice: when it comes to bird dogs, always expect the unexpected. PS: if you are looking for doggie hair ribbons or cute plaid doggie coats, Ugly Dog can’t help. It is a matter of principle.