Thread: Pointer and Setter Trials

heheehehehhee

Plenty of birds, but a lot more bunnies,

Originally Posted by Smallfry

In fact when Bendigo were releasing pheasants a strong NI contingent did come down. The verdict: impossible to run a game trials too many rabbits. Yes there were plenty of quail and pheasants in the area, but I can still see one of the countries top Irish Setters disappearing over a ridge hard on the heels of yet another rabbit.

Trialing at Waitotara, there are more rabbits than pheasants and quail, yet results are still achieved. In fact the Working Spaniel Club, whose mainstay is rabbits, compete there just as regularly as the P&S crew.

I think the P&S Club flagged the area for now as it was shot to shit with little game in it nowadays .I think it was once stocked by the clubs but given the public could decimate the population quickly it was decided to cease P&S trials there currently.
Even if there are bunnies one can still run a trial effectively providing the rabbit proofing has been done -my dog is good with rabbits but even so still like the little bastards

Originally Posted by el borracho

I think the P&S Club flagged the area for now as it was shot to shit with little game in it nowadays .I think it was once stocked by the clubs but given the public could decimate the population quickly it was decided to cease P&S trials there currently.
Even if there are bunnies one can still run a trial effectively providing the rabbit proofing has been done -my dog is good with rabbits but even so still like the little bastards

The birds were provided by Rathmoy and looked after by Tony Connor. However, since the Connor's moved to Rotorua, there is no-one to take up the job.

Despite the public access to Waitotara, there were less contacts with birds on the Far North trip last year.

Not to mention the inter-club politics and certain members of both clubs bombing it up

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

You don't need that big of an area to run 7 dogs and get them all onto good numbers of birds, but some of the ground is steep. However I can think of maybe 5 offhand.

Wire, we know steep!!!!

Whats with rabbits for pete's sake....Rathmoy for one is crawling with them and possums...how many dogs have been eliminated through treeing/barking etc a possum at Rathmoy and Titoki for that matter...and anyway, creatures other than gamebirds are a test to both handler and dog...so why not enjoy the challenge the possible hiccup or two...

No one has given me even a half ply reason not to trial on rabbits.

It probably dates back to rabbits being vermin in England, while pheasants etc are game.
Also it is a lot easier to teach a dog not to chase flying game, rather than running game. There is something about a rabbit or hare running in front of a dog that just makes them want to chase.

tisk tisk. One of the best days I ever had shooting was over a GSP pointing rabbits. I thought these flash dogs would be good at it and hold.....
Interesting the dog world still can't break from motherland.

Originally Posted by stug

There is something about a rabbit or hare running in front of a dog that just makes them want to chase.

Which would really sort the dogs and trainers out fast. Must be to hard

the whole game list is warped, the purist pointer/setter needs big ground to run in pursuit of a swamp dwelling chinese ring neck.
some where along the line they forgot even the pheasant was a ring in.

I think the real purists run their setters on the grouse moors.

exactly............ for everything else theres spaniels.

and GWP's