This is Kate at the Matador ranch years ago, best bird finder I ever walked behind. Natural retrieve, always came around and plenty of bottom. Lost her at 8 from two ACL injuries and Addisons. Still miss her.
If I had to choose one from the past it would be Rock N Roller... Mikey. My first ever trial dog. He was exciting and was thrilling to watch. He would also aggravate the heck out of you. About 57-59 minutes in to a hour long stake, he'd have it won and then would take a bird out or try to kill an armadillo or something. But he would be the happiest dog in the world doing it. I loved him. The picture is his first win at 7 months old. He ran a heck of a race and had 2 finds. He is on a leash in the picture and good thing since Charlie Collier or Dickie Sorrels flew a bird right down in front of him right when they were taking his picture. LOL
Right now it's Buster my mischievous Cocker that retrieves birds for me.
This was Cookie. She was out of the winningest NSTRA female of any breed, by Honky Tonk Attitude. She pointed over 50 coveys her first year and bumped only one. She was the fastest dog in NSTRA She won our regional NSTRA trial at two. I don't remember one time she was ever beaten on wild bird.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
I didn't even own a camera in 1967, a setter named Lancer, won the verdigris field trial at Coffeeville Ks., 105 dogs, only trial I ever took him to. couple times a week I would take him by myself and hunt hedge rows, birds start running, he would loop out around and come back towards me.
I didn't even own a camera in 1967, a setter named Lancer, won the verdigris field trial at Coffeeville Ks., 105 dogs, only trial I ever took him to. couple times a week I would take him by myself and hunt hedge rows, birds start running, he would loop out around and come back towards me.
I had a brace of pointers that would do that. Peaches stayed on point while Sis made the loop. A non bird dog friend was with me on one occasion. He pointed it out to me.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
These two are the best brace of hunting dogs that ever lived as far as I’m concerned. Bo and prince were the best two dogs Mr. Bill Day ever had. I had some awesome dogs but I’ll give props to these 2. We hunted every day of season but we’d get dogs and stick with them. Mr. Day gave me the best advice I ever heard about dogs. “You cant have great dogs if you keep the good ones.” He would go through a LOT of dogs and only keep the best. He’d shoot a dog if it couldn’t keep up with his everyday hunting regimen. He was truely the best dog man I ever met. When he was in his 90’s he would say that Bones was the best dog he ever had in his 70 year bird hunting career. But he never had a pair that could hunt all day every day like these two. Bo was a high bred dog that he traded for but I think Prince came from the pound. Ask Tigger, he hunted with these mutts. Bo is on the left. He’d find all the coveys and Prince would clean up the singles. This pic was 25 years ago but I remember these mutts like it was yesterday.
Well after a couple of days feeling bad about it I have to call a virtual tie between Kate and Ace. Ace was a heck of a bird finder. Natural retrieve and looked as good backing as she did on birds. Robin Gates liked her, good enough for me.
A spinone who was unbelievable!!! maxed out in NAVDA at 11 months more importantly was the most loyal and loving dog I ever owned. Figures I'd loose such a great animal at less than 3 years old to a freak accident.
Favorite one I have owned was a lab. Best nose of any bird dog I've had. Not a quail dog but on the prairie she was hell on wheels. She had an uncanny knack for hooking running birds right in my lap. She was also an exceptionally talented retriever with a winning personality. If you missed a bird she would wrinkle her lips up and show you her teeth then give you a low belly growl.
I had deep enough confidence in her that I often carried a 410. She died last winter at age 17.
Bess aka the best dog. She was lucky enough to be a puppy when we had a lease on a part of the King Ranch when there was a quail under every bush. She could do it all and would run as pretty a pattern as any dog I have every hunted with. When she pointed a covey if they started to run on her she would sprint wide around them and hold them until you got there. Lost her at 9 to cancer but in those 8-9 seasons we had many a great day with her. I didn't have a camera phone back in the early 90's so the photo does not do her justice. Bess was a black and white llewellin setter. Only time I ever saw her make a mistake was she she pointed a turkey when that big sucker took flight she chased him for half a mile or more.
Bess aka the best dog. She was lucky enough to be a puppy when we had a lease on a part of the King Ranch when there was a quail under every bush. She could do it all and would run as pretty a pattern as any dog I have every hunted with. When she pointed a covey if they started to run on her she would sprint wide around them and hold them until you got there. Lost her at 9 to cancer but in those 8-9 seasons we had many a great day with her. I didn't have a camera phone back in the early 90's so the photo does not do her justice. Bess was a black and white llewellin setter. Only time I ever saw her make a mistake was she she pointed a turkey when that big sucker took flight she chased him for half a mile or more.
Ever hunt the Truchard leases in the Sealy, Columbus area?
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
I did 11 years ago. Didn’t get invited back because I hunted too much. Killed 5 birds in 2 months.
Ha. Me too. I even told Truchard I would leave the gun at home just to run the dog on quail. He still turned me down. Said he didn’t want to pressure the birds. I told him good luck looking for a hunter to fork over money with that criteria
My fave was a yellow male Lab named Major. His desire was off the charts. He pointed, fetched, and did anything needed for a good hunt. Once during the summer he grabbed a box of shotgun shells and brought them to me, letting me know he thought it was time to go hunting. Sure miss him. Coincidentally since he was the house dog, my daughters first word was ¨major¨.