SHORTHAIR'S HUNTING SEASON Y2K!

Winchester, while still too young to hunt, sure looks good with his bro.

This truly was Remy's year to shine. The Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club runs "coverdog" field trials in order to select and promote the best grouse and woodcock dogs in the region.
For a complete synopsis on grouse-dog field trials, click here.

On Sunday, August 20, Remy ran in his first field trial, the 2000 Michigan Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Dog Classic, an annual event held in Gladwin, MI. This trial, like other coverdog events, is run on wild birds in natural habitat. Most grouse trials are dominated by hard going, big running English Pointers and English Setters. German Shorthairs and other continental breeds don't have the range the judges are typically looking for. Only two Shorthairs ran the event, out of 30 dogs.
Judging criteria for this trial are more aesthetically oriented than for other trials. Dogs are judged on range, biddability, drive, intensity, coverage of ground, and other relatively objective criteria. They are also judged on style, grace, animation, carriage, and other subjective criteria. Birds are not guaranteed to be in the area, if your dog gets a find, and it meets the criteria, it'll be at or near the top. One crystal clear, stylish point and flush will beat 3 average finds. There were only 4 or 5 finds that day, all in the early morning. Remy ran at 2:30 in the afternoon, 80 degrees, no wind, very tough hunting conditions. We were braced (the other dog on the same course) with a 4 year old Setter, whose owner had his kennel name graphics on the sides and back of his Super Duty Ford pick-up, which was loaded with professional dog boxes and what-not. In other words, it looked like Remy was running against a pro.
He didn't like the big brown "dogs" the judges were riding, but once on the course he got into his game. And he was great, he covered the ground perfectly, got right to the edge of his bell's range and checked back with me often. He attacked cover that I directed him into, and hit all the edges hard. Ten minutes into the course, the "pro" dog was off the course, and not till almost the end of the 30 minute race was he found. Needless to say, the once gun-shy, nervous, Suburban-eating Remy kicked the pro's butt. Out of 30 dogs, Remy placed 5th, and got an Honorable Mention and that big green ribbon for his efforts. Without a find. If he had run in the morning, in better conditions, he just probably would have found birds, and may have won the event. He was absolutely magnificent, and needless to say, I am one proud old fool.

A sunny September morning, in my favorite woodcock cover with the first bird of the year. It's just off a large pasture, in state land that was recently logged. Remy always moves 7-10 birds here, in about two hours of hunting. They say that woodcock populations are in trouble, and they don't know why. I believe it, because I don't see many on most hunts, but this spot always produces. Besides, no way can I be called a threat to the species with the way I shoot.

With the grouse populations still at the peak of the cycle, and a tried-and-true grouse champ like Remy, I couldn't avoid taking some dedicated time to chase ol' Mr. Thunderchicken. For the first time in about ten years I wasn't in my treestand with a bow on October 1st. Remy and I left the Prairie for the grouse woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He went nuts going over Big Mac, I thought he would jump out of the window and go over the rail. Poor guy never saw so much water in his whole life. Here, Remington takes a break on the UP shoreline, Lake Michigan, along US-2.

You couldn't drive along the road and not have your eyeballs burning with the fire of the October color change. Absolutely perfect timing, the color was at peak. No rain, no clouds, clear blue skys, tea-colored trout streams, just me and the dog and the birds!

My first UP grouse. Rem and I hit a good spot on CFA land near the town of Gwinn, put up a couple before I got my act together and finally knocked this one down. We averaged about 3 birds moved per hour of hunting, though in the Lower Peninsula we averaged about 4 per hour. Hey, no "Fudd" commentary, ok?

Did I mention the color?

Later in the month, I introduced my good Marine Corps pal Jim D. to the woodcock in the Pasture Cover. And wouldn't you know it, I actually got a double. (OK, not a True double. On Remy's point, and with Jim watching, I approached a small brush pile. One bird flew up and away, and I knocked it down. At the shot, a second bird flushed, and met the same fate as its mate.) Remy retrieved the first bird while I picked up the second.