Think about this as you mentally prepare for the coming season:
Dog points. You marvel. Then the fun begins, because you should flush the bird, not your dog. But how do you do that without buggering up your shooting?
- Choose your route with care. When approaching the birds, swing wide around the dog and you’ll cut off one of the bird’s escape routes.
- Two gunners performing a pincer movement means even fewer bolt-holes for a cunning rooster more inclined sprint than fly.
- If you can put the bird between you and the dog there’s a good chance it will fly, not run.
Flanking your dog also minimizes his chance of breaking point. “Allelomimetic behavior” is a highfalutin’ word for that flock of birds that jinks in unison, or pair of wolves on the hunt, trotting in parallel. Sauntering close alongside a pointing dog is an invitation to follow you into the flush – that’s how we teach “heel,” after all.
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