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| Dipper is shot over for the first time at Drummuir on the "Glorious 12th" |
Luise's by now "famous grouse" photo taken on the 12th at Drummuir |
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| A very tired team after a really "glorious" 12th of August. The humans were busy enjoying the champagne picnic |
Shooting doesn't get better than this! Woodcock shooting in Skye in superb weather and the scenery wasn't bad too. |
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| Spot the dog!It was difficult terrain at times in Skye for both dog and guns. This is when listening for the bell is so important with-out it we would never know where Isla was when she came on point. Woodcock are incredibly clever birds and always fly in a direction that makes the shot most challenging. This one didn't make life easy as it ignored the open skyline and flew back through the thicket, but a brilliant snap shot by Alister put it in the bag. Isla is a fantastic woodcock dog, but good though he is on grouse, young Dipper has a lot to learn about hunting woodcock. |
The dogs and I had very pleasant day on Drummuir in August with Stephen Franks who, though very modest, turned out to be an excellent shot. Stephen had not shot over pointers before but was very attentive to the dogs and soon had the hang of things. Dipper, at only 14 months, produced more than half the bag for Stephen, but in order to keep him steady, Dram the Lab retrieved all Dippers birds. The four brace bag was achieved by lunchtime leaving us plenty of time to enjoy another champagne lunch. I am looking forward to Stephen returning this August. |
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| We had several days working the dogs for four delightful Danish gentlemen. At the end of the day back at the bothy, the game was saluted with a tune on the bugle. Isla showed her dislike of this musical salute by slinking off and hiding in the car. Isla may be a German dog but she is no lover of German traditions! |
Peter saluting the game with a special tune for each species |
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| Dipper with his best mate Skerry ready to go training on Drummuir with Santiago. Dipper has on his red collar which makes it easier to spot him on pont in the heather |
Here Dipper has a lovely "draw" onto grouse scent in rather nasty cold and misty conditions. The hen bird was produced but where was her mate? |
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| After a careful bit of work Dipper located him as he tried to elude us. Cock birds often run, some say to lead the danger away from the hen, I say he leaves "the Mrs" behind and legs it! |
Intensity on point! Dipper will remain on point until I ask him to flush but as I approach the dog senses that the birds are "jumpy" and he lowers his profile to the ground to prevent their flight. Clever dog! |
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| Dipper pointed this mountain hare and sat to whistle while it ran to the skyline and stopped for a better look at the dog. Mountain hares are notoriously tempting for the dogs as they always seem to stop and invite a chase! |
Another grouse point this time at Tulcan. We pointer nuts never tire of seeing the dogs come on point. After all these years it still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck! |
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| What a tongue! Isla is off hunting grouse on yet another splendid day on the Buck with Nigel and his friends. On this particular day she pointed many times but noticeably things that we don't shoot - black game, roe deer and hare! |
Isla did eventually find a red grouse that we could shoot at and Isla actually lets Dram have this retrieve (below). The most important part of the day - a wee dram in the bothy after a brilliant days sport! |
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