Is it typical to see baskets/launchers used?
Upland series at the Grand
Dave Flint
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Is it typical to see baskets/launchers used?
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That's disappointing.
I can't see how that can not continue to influence the regular Upland Hunts. Am I the only one who thinks the use of baskets or launchers makes a mockery of a flushing dog test?
I can't see how that can not continue to influence the regular Upland Hunts. Am I the only one who thinks the use of baskets or launchers makes a mockery of a flushing dog test?
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Disappointing yes but it may be for a reason.
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I thought you meant used by the shaggers...:wink: Not good, regardless of "having a reason." Next question: What if you're - sorry, What if your pro - is running a pointing Lab?
MG
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If it wasn't a pointing lab when you started, it likely will be afterward.
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No, it is no longer typical to see baskets or launchers at the Grand. The birds are now placed in remote release boxes. At some distance, the box lid is remotely opened. The bird simply steps out of the box and walks away into the cover,..well before the dog reaches the area. Usually, the bird is a significant distance from the box. The dogs truly flush the bird. The bird is not "bumped" from a basket, and it is not launched from a launching devise. Often, when chukars are used, the bird is simply released into the cover.
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Why, if it were the Great Britain Grand, yer out! Pegging ain't cricket.
Now that's a novel idea - Dave, wonder if the ESS R&D committee tried it on for size this week at the NC over in Cambridge? Using say muscovy ducks?
MG
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The boxes have helped with birds that just won't plant well, when a dog and handler reach that point in the grand the last thing you want is to spend more time than needed looking for a bird that has flushed wild. If a bird is trapped, which isn't too often, the bird planter will dizzy another bird and plant in another area of cover.
I would like to see natural plants and flushes but I truly understand why the use the boxes. The intent is that the bird is walking away from the box when the dog gets into the scent cone and we can watch a natural flush.
At our local hunt we are blessed with very good bird planters from the spaniel world and we always have natural plants without baskets, pop boxes or the boxes, which we don't own any of the latter. We have a bird planter that will follow the judges and handler and if we get traps the bird planters change the way they plant the birds. A bird that is planted too hard or in too heavy a cover will not be able to escape a fast flushing dog and that is what we are testing not a pointing dog, so if they point you better be able to encourage them to move in and engage the bird or you are out.
I would like to see natural plants and flushes but I truly understand why the use the boxes. The intent is that the bird is walking away from the box when the dog gets into the scent cone and we can watch a natural flush.
At our local hunt we are blessed with very good bird planters from the spaniel world and we always have natural plants without baskets, pop boxes or the boxes, which we don't own any of the latter. We have a bird planter that will follow the judges and handler and if we get traps the bird planters change the way they plant the birds. A bird that is planted too hard or in too heavy a cover will not be able to escape a fast flushing dog and that is what we are testing not a pointing dog, so if they point you better be able to encourage them to move in and engage the bird or you are out.
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Dave,
Wish I could tell you BUT I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SEE A MARK AT THE GRAND! Good luck at the Grand. You can have my spot it is vacant.
Lonnie Spann
The baskets and launchers help keep the dogs from catching them. If you have limited time you don't want a lot of repeat runs. I don't see a big problem with the baskets as the dog smells the bird and goes in for the flush. Using a launcher the dog may not smell the bird before it is launched and another negative for the launcher is that the dog doesn't have to make the bird flush.
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I was under the mistaken impression that it was a test to evaluate upland hunting retrievers. I have come to understand it's just a steadiness test so I guess it doesn't matter. I think they should use dead birds though to speed things up & save money since that's the reason I've heard for the baskets or launchers.
If they are concerned about birds running off try these : http://www.birdbreaster.com/product.sc?productId=2 . Placing birds in baskets and launchers is an excellent way to ruin a dog's flush and start it pointing. Running a little piece of duct tape between the birds legs would also work.
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