Ashd13ntt

It certainly was a great day to be out in the Lincolnshire wolds, the conditions were ideal and having four guns in such a close proximity really did assist in keeping the birds on the move! The other two guns mentioned in this thread accounted for a nice bag of 84. A job well done by all!

Everyone is different and we all have different training methods but my advice is your dog is very young to be doing more than ten minutes training in a single session. At the age he is, I would concentrate on sit, stay, recall and walking back to your dog. 10 minutes a day, twice a day is ideal. A 100 yard retrieve at seven months is a great achievement but remember the dog is growing and his bones will not have fully formed properly, I would be concerned of damage to his joints (my opinion). Good luck and remember he is a pup with at least 10 years of service to you, don't rush the early days.

I recommend "the working springer spaniel" by Keith Erlandson. I have used some of his training methods in my training and I turn out good working dogs (generally)! I have read Joe Irvings book and it is very good also. Both books give a very good insight to the breed.

YTD - 6 2 this week which were young. All trapped using a tunnel trap at the base of a silver birch. Total 527

The wolds part of Lincolnshire has always had a healthy Hare population for as long as I have been shooting (some 19 years). The area where JDog and I have permission on is well keepered and I believe that it helps massively. A healthy population which is controlled and, at the same time protected from predators, will always thrive. The estate that I pickup on has always taken around 50% of the hare population by shooting during November when all late litters of leverets can fend for themselves. During lamping in September and October I regularly see leverets not even half grown. They are a wonderful creature to watch when courting.

If you shot at the fox in natural light get back out at it again ASAP, the fox will not think that anything was specifically wrong, with that place, at that time. My suggestion is not to use the same call, I would not use one at all if this fox is "doing the rounds". This time of year they are feeding cubs and will be out hunting at all times. It will turn up eventually! If you shot using a lamp....... Good luck as generally speaking they won't tolerate one again, if it does, usually it's not at a sensible range. Good luck in getting the critter but please be mindful if it is the vixen you will need to look for and deal with the cubs!

I too are from the same area as JDog, and can confirm that the birds are on buds big time with a few returning to rape that has been hammered throughout the winter. I have peas, probably the same ones as JDog, that are chitting but I haven't seen a bird on them since they were drilled. I expect that the peas will come good in the next 3/4 weeks.

It's good your dog is coming on well, each dog, as we are, are individuals and react differently to training. One thing that I have always used in my training (although I don't consider myself a pro) is when retrieving, I always use the same place. The dummy, ball or whatever is used is always in the same area. The dog must become confident with you as the handler and the area it is hunting in during its early lessons. It is all about confidence, if your dog is trained in the same area in the early days then it knows whenever you send it there will be a reward in the way of a retrieve. I always start with a "seen" retrieve using a soft tone in my voice, then I build up to "memory" retrieves and build up the distance, the further the retrieve the firmer my command becomes. Once I have built up to 100 yards and the dog is confident "flying out to the retrieve" then it's time to introduce a blind and I always reduce the retrieve to 50 yards or so, again using a firm command. This may take weeks, it may take months, only move on when your dog is ready and is 100% successful. I have trained all my dogs in the same way and not come across any issues with sending a dog back out on a retrieve, even my spaniel would go back on a blind in excess of 200 yards. The key is using the same piece of ground and building up confidence to the blind. Once you have cracked it you can then build up your distances and obstacles. Whichever advice you take, good luck and I hope it works out for you both. There is nothing better than a loyal and well trained companion!

Oxfordfowler, I and best bud was up there for our annual jaunt on the 14th, 15th and am of the 16th. We finished up with geese in the bag but there was so much flood water around that numbers were limited. That was until it froze up on the Thursday and Friday night, wow..... Did that make a difference, I was walking the dog at 2045 hrs on the last night after tea and could hear skein after skein coming back to the marsh. It promised to be a good flight however we didn't get a shot on the last morning as they were far too high. Never mind, when you plan these trips months in advance you can't plan for the weather and after all, that is wildfowling. I have a friend up there that states there are good numbers using the marsh and fresh birds arriving daily. Good luck and I hope you are fortunate to bring down a bird or two.

Sounds like a special flight, the type that happens every now and then. Great write up, thank you for sharing it! I'm new to PW and fowling in the wash area but I have enjoyed witnessing some spectacular morning flights of waders, ducks and geese. It is always a pleasure to be out and be part of the marsh as it is awakening. Just like 6.5x55SE states........ Luck, gun, dogs and nature, it takes some beating!