Report From Camp - Week One

I just got back from a fun filled week of bird hunting up at the camp. The bird numbers weren't great but the dogs found enough each day to keep things interesting. I was especially pleased with how well the Setters were doing, considering that I hadn't worked them at all during the off season with the exception of some light conditioning. Gunner and Gally were nice and steady on their birds and provided me with several shot opportunities. Chunk did his part during his runs and was steady as well on his finds. It was really satisfying to see all of the hard work and training we had done all year payoff now in the woods. I want to give a big shout out to Steve Church, Lori and Brice Guile and everyone at Churchie Kennel & Gundog Training for their help all year.

Heat was a factor we had to endure all week and limited us to mostly hunting during the morning hours. All of the birds we found were woodcock with the exception of a partridge that was waiting for us back at the camp, sunning himself on our dock. I spent a couple of afternoons picking away at the culvert in the road which the beavers have dammed up. I managed to get a little water flowing through it but we're going to have some serious flooding issues next Spring.

The highlight of the week was an invitation Chunk and I received to do some training with friend and fellow bird dog enthusiast, Vern Knapp, who lives nearby. We had two fun filled evenings there along with Vern's wife Chris and friends Sheryl and Jimmy Mayo as we ran Chunk on pheasants. I had a great time and learned some things as well. My heartfelt thanks go out to the Knapp's and Mayo's for giving up their time to work with me.

The week was capped off hunting with Vern as we checked out a covert I had visited the previous day. I got to hunt behind his dog Briley, an impressive Springer, who really worked hard trying to find birds for us. We managed to find some woodcock, off the beaten path, but in the end it was the heat that won the day. It was the first time I ever recall riding home from hunting with the air conditioner blowing...

Every morning the dogs would wake me around 5:00 -5:30 to start the day, so when Saturday morning found me having to wake them up around 6:30, I knew they were played out and it was time to head home. So I packed up, loaded up, locked up and bid farewell to the camp. I'll be home for a few days to hunt the local coverts, then I'll spend a few days up in Pittsburgh and then it will be right back at the camp, to pick up where we left off.

Enjoy your Autumn,

Ken Belanger