Took Ollie out for the opening day of Mearns season yesterday. It was hot and dry with tough scenting conditions unfortunately.
I always take my new dogs for their first Mearns quail hunt to a place where 2 of my dogs ashes are scattered.
Hunting was a little tough there but about 30 minutes in my dog Scout whom I was running Ollie with went on point.
I let Ollie work her way up and back Scout, then walked in for the flush.
Nothing there. I Released the dogs, Scout went up and Ollie down the hill.
A few seconds later Ollie locked up. I started down the hill and 8 to 10 quail flushed.
I picked a bird that was turning Sharp behind a tree and fired. It did come out the other side.
Another bird cut around behind me and I made a clean shot with my Parker 20 gauge Skeet Gun.
Ollie never moved. A tweet on the whistle and some hand gestures and she hunted the downed birds. Scout came over and picked up the second bird I had dropped and with a little coaching Ollie found and retrieved the first bird I had shot dropping it in my hand.
Could not be happier.
4 hours of walking and only found two coveys. Ollie and Scout both had another point and retrieve after a covey flushed wild and I missed the first shot.
Was able to circle back around later and picked up two more quail over the dogs.
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