Dolly De Lamont 2/07Had a wonderful chat last night online with Jim Brown about the ideal hunting "range" of a class bird dog. "Jim Bob", as he was once known to our group of running buddies, was a member of my graduating class in 1957 at Hudson High School just outside Lufkin, Tx. We reconnected recently at our 50 year (!) class reunion and discovered we shared a passion for bird dogs and quail. We had not talked in that 50 years. Jim went into law enforcement and more recently 'security' while I became a Rock and Roll DJ and later a producer of commercials and music videos.
Jim owns and runs dogs that are decendents of the famed Elhew line, developed by Robert Wehle, which became the most recognized line breeding program in Pointer history. I started running and breeding Brittanys, back when they were still called "spaniels'. The Elhew breeding program became the line breeding template to which I still adhere.
"Range" to me would be loosely defined as the distance in front of the hunter that a hunting dog runs. Having competed with some degree of success for a number of years in horseback and walking stakes in both "gun dog/shooting dog" and "all age" stakes, I have to admit that its not a clear cut distinction. To me, a 'shooting dog' would be a dog that aggressively hunts the existing cover whereas an "all age" dog would push the boundaries of range, independence, endurance and desire to excel. Regardless, both types should recognize winners that 'hunt the country"...if its open, reach for the limit but if it's tight, adjust accordingly. Having said that, I am aware that not all breeders and trialers will agree.
Actually, I believe a good bird dog can be both and sense which one is called for by the cover and conditions...on horseback, from vehicle, or on foot. I had both 'all age' and "gun dog" wins with the same dogs. In both stakes, I wanted the dog to run to the limits of the cover we were hunting at the time. A dog that simply quarters a few yards in front of the hunter will find only birds that one would probably 'walk up' anyway.
A pointer we named "Lamont's Tex", given to me at 6 weeks by my friend Stephen Harwood, won the Oklahoma Derby Classic with one spectacular find a mile to the front, visible to the entire gallery during the long ride on horseback...but three weeks prior had won a 'junior gun dog' stake at a local Irish Setter club trial while handled "on foot" by my 12 year old son Eric. Incidentally, "Ten" (his call name) would also retrieve ducks, although not exactly with classic 'style"!
I still love to see a dog run...somewhere 'out there' near the limits of what the cover allows. Today, I hunt mostly from vehicles at a pretty good pace. The cover varies from tall thick sunflower in flat terrain to medium grass in 'sand dune' country. Same dogs, same hunt, and they stay with me in both while running the limits. I love seeing a find 'out on a limb'...one that requires the dog to stay on point for some time while we reach him. The adrenaline is running and it is the most beautiful site to see a point out two or three hundred yards to the front...the ride to the covey and completion of the flush is why I have stuck around this sport since I was in high school, back at Hudson.
This year, I will be able to push the dogs to range even wider thanks to the new Garmin Astro 260, a gps dog collar that allows the handler to position himself in relation to where the dog is at all times. Even tell when he goes on point! A wonderful gift from a valued friend and hunting partner! This new technology may change my concept of 'range'.
