wings on dummies

lou · wings on dummies

hi there

I have been taking Connie out on a local shoot. she has absolutely loved it and as a result (I think) she is much sharper retrieving her dummies. she just seems to have more drive about retrieving. perhaps its a coincidence i dont know. Anyway, I've come home with a pheasant today. I was thinking about fastening its wings to a dummy but before I carve it up is there anything useful I could do with it training wise? Or are there any other parts of it that I can use to help shift her on from dummies to birds?
Im pretty sure I will get her on birds by next season, but then again I can be an optimistic soul!

The shoot isn't really best suited to Connie (its mainly spaniels chucked into dense cover) but she has had the chance to show the blokes what her nose can do.she was offlead inbetween drives the other week when she curved her whole body round to point a bird. we were all about 5m away from her and it was great to watch. I encouraged her to flush it and off it flew. she was in her element.

so, any ideas about using the bird that I have aquired?

thanks
Louise

tashap

you could eat it... I freeze mine that aren't edible and use them for training with the pupsters. One bird can last for ages that way.

DesO'Neile

I don't know what stage your retrieving is at but if it is a hen pheasant it may well not be suitable for an inexperienced retriever. A cock pheasant should be OK but mallard wings that are hard feathered would be ideal.
I never had much sucess with cold game, I would eat it. Spatchcock it. Olive oil, thyme, rosemary and a clove of garlic.

windem bang

Iwould take its' wings off at the last joint (not beside the body) dry out the raw ends then attach to a dummy. The wings will burst and twist off the bird ,you don't need a knife.

Bill T.

lou

thanks!
I have the wings and the bird was eaten - yum!
I just wondered if there was anything else I could have used it for. I was going to keep the tail feathers too but my neighbour helpfully plucked and cleaned it for me so i didnt get to keep them.
Louise