BY BOB AND GINNY RIEGE

The ducks are on the wing and the leaves are starting to turn into a fiery display again. The smell of wood smoke drifts across the backyards and people are busy doing outdoor chores to make sure everything is done before the snow flies. In the distance, I can here the faint cackle of a rooster pheasant and the cutting of the red fox squirrel in the oak tree outside my window, tells me that fall has arrived.

This is the season that I like the best. The air is clean and crisp; it is filled with footballs and school bells, rather than mosquitoes and lawnmowers. The fall is special, because it allows a homecoming for families and friends as they gather to celebrate the seasons. A select group of these people gather for yet other traditions. The traditions and seasons that I am referring to are hunting seasons. One of my constant companions is my favorite bird dog. That is right, I have three of them and all three are of the same breed, but each of them have their very own characteristics. That in itself is a great advantage, because the pheasant uses a variety of cover to hide in.

The hardy ringneck has adapted to a variety of habitat cover. The types of cover can be broken down into light cover, medium cover and heavy cover.

Light cover, especially in the early season, pheasants can often be found loafing in these areas picking up bugs and gravel. Some areas to look for light cover is along fence lines, irrigation ditches, grassy terraces or thin patches of grass next to standing crops like soybeans, and corn. Most of these areas have been clipped or mowed during the year and in most cases this light cover area is long and narrow. The birds tend to run rather than sit tight in this type of area. Therefore, the conditions call for a dog that works close, but is though. Occasionally, a bird might sit tight and the dog has to check every bit of cover as they work a specific scent. Far ranging, too-fast dogs are frequently going to bump or over run birds in this cover. If you hunt places like this it is always nice to have a good retriever, but it isn’t absolutely critical as it would be in other cover.

I prefer a pointing breed of dog, like my field Irish setter or and English setter. The reason I like this breed is that if they are properly trained they will develop all the qualities that you need in all three types of cover. The dog you select must be well trained. I train my dogs to work close and to watch me and my hand signals. If a rooster starts to run, you better be prepared to put on your track shoes, if you don’t have a well disciplined dog. My male Irish Setter, Laddy Boy, has more cat like characteristics, because he excels at this type of cover.

Big grassy areas, moderately heavy wildlife management areas and some draws, waterways, are a good example of medium cover. Here birds are a little more inclined to sit. Much of this cover lies in broad blocks rather than narrow strips. CRP, and set aside land is a perfect example, and here a dog can range out a little further from you. A dog in this type of cover will be expected to cover a lot of ground. This is the type of cover you don’t want to work over hastily. I can remember, one of the first times I thought all the cover had been run except a small tuff of grass about the size of a washtub that remained. My bother-in –law’s dog Max went on point and flushed a nice November rooster from that cover and made a great retrieve in the open field. Only to return to that same tuff of grass and go on point again, followed by another rooster that clawed it’s way skyward as the cold nose of Max forced him from hiding. This type of cover is a bonanza if weather conditions and your dog cooperate.

Retrieving ability becomes increasing important as cover becomes heavier and larger. As we all know, a rooster can take a heckuva load of shot and come down with flying feet. While all sporting all sporting breeds can be taught to retrieve, those who have a strong natural instinct to do so will be the best retrievers.

In this type of cover your dog should be strong and able to take running through this medium cover. When the snow starts to fly this type of cover can be buried with a good snow storm, therefore, conditioning the dogs in this type of cover will make them stronger and able to step it up a notch when you have to graduate to heavy cover.

Marshes, wildlife management areas and other areas, which have cone, cattails, bulrushes, and elephant grass provide the thickest Midwest pheasant, cover. Hunters can’t move as well in this stuff, but pheasants are less inclined to run like deer here. The birds usually move slowly and prefer to sneak from one thick spot to another.

The job for a dog here is somewhat simpler, though very demanding. A good heavy cover pheasant dog will be a “bruiser” with lots of heart and lots

of strength for blasting through the cover. This is tough stuff. It can ware out a dog faster than a mile hike in twelve inches of snow. It is crucial that the hunter and the dog are always in communication. If your dog is a pointer when he stops you as the hunter better be close to him because the dense cover is going to erupt. If you lose contact with your dog he might be on point and you might walk on past him. Some hunters have put bells on their dogs so that the hunter can find the dog in heavy cover.

I prefer the setters both the Irish and the English. They are probably considered the most beautiful of the hunting dogs. In both breeds, though, it is not easy to get a good hunting dog. You have to get ones that come from hunting stock. Unfortunately, this specific breed has been bred for show and in some cases they have bred the hunting abilities out of this dog. There are two distinct types of this breed the bench setter and the field setter. If you want the hunting breed look at the field setter. Don’t buy a setter with the idea you can bring it up to its full potential without a lot of work. These dogs need guidance and they are slow to mature, but when they do they are a marvel to watch in the field.

The sun is about to set and it is time to take my dog out for another lesson in the great outdoors. The crunch of the leaves underfoot and the sting of the north wind on my face tells me that it won’t be long and my bird dogs and I will be out in pursuit of the pheasant in all types of cover.