Like wing shooters, dogs have good days and bad days.
I consider myself a slightly better-than-average wing shot. But I'll guarantee you there are days I couldn't hit my own fanny with a handful of sand.
Why then should I expect my dogs to be able to bring their A-game to every outing?
I learned this lesson on my own small acreage in Washington County. I had raised some bobwhite quail for use in dog training. I invited friend and neighbor Jerry Kolter to bring a couple of his dogs over to train with me. Today, Jerry owns Northwoods Bird Dogs and has a long track record of breeding and training champions.
We placed several quail in spring traps and armed ourselves with starter pistols. Jerry released one of his better dogs and told him to "find birds." His setter raced right past a couple of the caged quail and ran out of sight. Jerry called him back in and tried again. Same result. He then called his dog to heel, lifted him gently into his travel kennel and released another dog.
"What's up?" I asked.
"This just isn't Chief's day," said Jerry. Wow, I thought, remembering the days I had bellowed at my own dog for acting the same way Chief did that day. Lesson learned.
Relationships with hunting partners are more important than any single duck, pheasant, deer and, maybe even gobbler.
