February 2011 Newsletter

Microsoft
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Club
Newsletter
Newsletter Date
February 2011
February 2011
Inside this issue:
Tails from the Field
1
Members Profile
2
Ask Butch
Up Coming Events
Health Tip
Photo Gallery
3
4
4
5
2011 Dues R Due in 2011
Send dues to: Fred Overby,
c/o Overby Law Office, 101 E.
Main Street, Suite C,
Bozeman, MT 59715
Officers for 2011-2012
President:
Kenneth Bruwelheide
Vice President:
Peter Ward
Treasurer:
Fred Overby
Secretary:
Sherry Niesar
Newsletter & Web Site:
Peter Wax & Sherry Niesar
Tails from the Field - Daisy’s Prize
by Ken Bruwelheide
It was one of those crisp and clear October days
that dogs and hunters anticipate. I had been invited to bring my dogs and hunt a private farm
with my friends Godfrey and Trent, father and
son.
This setting was ideal consisting of a farm with
mostly grain and CRP on the eastern shore of a
large irrigation and hydroelectric dam with several
cattail slough streams that flowed to the lake. The
crop land was part cultivated cut grain with CRP
plots mixed in. As the streams flowed to the lake
there were some step gullies containing a buildup
of very thick brush.
We began hunting mid-morning and worked the cattails. Godfrey and Trent
walked the slightly higher sides of the cattails while I worked the center and the
near edges. My Epagneul Breton dogs, Daisy (Ambra du Hyalite) and Cassie
(Cassandra du Hyalite) worked hard and often we only knew their location because
of the sound of breaking cattails and movement. The pheasants would run to the
edges where the dogs would point and would often relocate after a good point. In
about a mile and half, four ring necks were taken and we all took a break in the
sun.
The wind had changed and was coming off the lake and up the creek bottom so
we changed our direction of hunt. The slough creek had changed to a small slow
moving stream with flat grass and scrub on one side and a steep embankment leading to more thick brush and a cut grain field on the other side. Godfrey walked the
flat grass while Trent and I crossed the stream and hiked in the brush up the bank
to the stubble field. Daisy and Cassie worked the bottom stopping occasionally to
check out scent. The dogs were tracking pheasants and a couple of hens flew up
ahead of them.
Continued on page 2
Page 2
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog
Gary is a Montana native and a life long outdoorsman
and hunter. He is a soil scientist with the Natural
Resources and Conservation Service in Dillon where he
holds the position of Major Lands Resources Leader.
February 2011
Member Profile: Gary Berger
Dillon, Montana
by Ken Bruwelheide
From Dillon he makes at least two trips a year to eastern
Montana for big game and also birds. A favorite activity is to hunt from a Lewistown area cabin and “rattle”
whitetail bucks.
Gary’s first loves, with apologies to his wife Helene, are his two Epagneul Bretons, the late Rosie Sky Montana
(Rose) and her 8-year old son GUN, TAN Utica Sky Montana (Blaze). I have had the honor and pleasure of hunting with Gary and a safer or more ethical hunter would be hard to find. He works his dogs throughout the year
and it shows during bird hunting season. Rose
liked the thick cover and Blaze the edges.
Gary’s dogs work hard for him and they are of
course, spoiled. One of my favorite images of
Gary is of him sitting on the tailgate sharing a
can of sardines three ways at the end of a hunt.
Consistency in training and gentle demands of
his dogs in the field are his hallmark. He takes
this to the next level by introducing the sport
of safe hunting to young people who otherwise
would not be able to go. In all things, Gary is
a gentleman and a role model.
Continued from Page 1
Tails from the Field - Daisy’s Prize
In working the upper part of the bank I lost track of the dogs for a few moments. Trent was at the edge of the
stubble field. Just then Godfrey yelled “dog on point!” I looked down into the thick brush to find Cassie on
point. Her back legs were placed on a log while her front legs balanced on some brush and Cassie was locked up
hard.
The bank was steep and the brush was thick so I put my shotgun down. I told Trent to watch for the flush as I
made my way to Cassie. It took several noisy minutes to get to her as she held point. As I approached Cassie the
ringneck rose about ten feet in front of her. I heard Trent shoot and a leg dropped. The bird was hit but not hard
and it coasted about 35 yards.
Cassie and I made our way to where we marked the bird. It was thick and tough going. Trent and Godfrey paralleled us on higher and clear ground. The brush was so thick that several times I had to help Cassie get “unstuck.”
We arrived at the marked spot. Cassie was working the thick brush but did not find the injured ring neck. At that
point Daisy came to the area, assessed the situation, and apparently said to Cas “Watch how a Gun Dog does it” and
disappeared into one of those small animal tunnels which are found in thick brush. She was excitedly yipping like
a Beagle while the rooster moved and cackled ahead of her. Both dog and bird disappeared under the dense
brush. It must have been a tight fit for both since progress was slow but noisy. This went on for a minute or so
before the pheasant and dog noise abruptly stopped. There was no movement. Trent and I had been working on
top of the brush with great difficulty but no dog or bird was to be seen.
We made an estimate as to Daisy’s location and begin digging down through the brush. Finally we saw the white
blaze on her orange back. She was stuck so we continued to dig her out. We finally freed her and surprise--Daisy
had the rooster in her mouth! Yes sir, that’s my bird dog! It was one of those crisp and clear October days that
dogs and hunters long for with a retrieve I’ll never forget.
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog
February 2011
Page 3
Ask Butch
Our training question comes from Lynne from Bozeman, Montana. She asks: Her family would like to know what
further training is needed for a less than one year old pup who is already perfect. Also, how can we get this puppy to live to be 100
years old. This pup not only pointed six pheasants and one hun but retrieved all to hand. She also states the puppy is the dream
family dog.
Lynne...You've just witnessed what I call "Natural or Inherited Ability". Remember though that owners play a
significant role in getting the puppy out in hunting situations at an early age to release this ability. Patience is of
key note: not all pups turn on as quickly and some never do. Time will tell. We've all heard of the "Terrible
Two's", an actual phenomena that occurs later. That natural born hunter turns into a self thinker and this is when
we scratch our heads and cuss the breeder. I like to say it this way: after the pup's initial year of hunting it's now
time for formal training. The commands will be, WHOA, and COME (when we call). Keep the lessons short but
be firm. Also remember to have some fun time. They don't need espresso and bon-bons but controlled freedom
from work is a good thing. How do we get our pup to live to be one hundred? Someday this may be possible. I
hope not in my lifetime. Too many stories about pets going south when the owners have passed on. The lesson
here is enjoy your surroundings as they are, take what they are capable of giving and stop to take a living breath
that what our dog gives us cannot be gotten any where else. The pictures we take and memories we share will last
longer than needed. So, Lynne, if you live to be a hundred your pups memory will be one hundred also.
On a personal note, I would never spay or neuter on one person's thought no matter how qualified. You never
know what that person ate for breakfast. Gas could leak from both ends. Thanks so much Lynne, for making me
think…
Butch
Put Butch’s many years of experience to work for you. Don’t be shy and if you want your name left off we can make the
questions anonymous. Send you questions by email or snail mail to:
Butch Nelson PO Box 858, Denton, MT 59430
or [email protected]
Club Website Update
The Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Club website is: http://montanabreton.com and is need of updating. Please look
it over and provide suggestions to the web mistress at: [email protected].
Your photos of your dog in trial, hunting situations or candid shots are a welcome addition to the website.
Page 4
Newsletter Title
February 2011
Upcoming Trials and Events
February 18 & 19, 2011
Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Club of Georgia
Pine Mountain, GA.
Open to all pointing Breeds, L, Open, Gun, TAN.
Judges Sandy Gunn & Mark Bird
Entry Fee – $ 50.00 (Open), $40.00 (Gun), $30.00 TAN
For more information: Jackie Hutwagner, (770)883-8360 or [email protected]
The is the famous “Soggy Bottom’s Classic”. Great food, great fun, great people and of course great dogs.
April 2 & 3, 2011
The Great North Epagneul Breton Club
Benton, MN
Open to all pointing Breeds, Wild, Open (braced and solo), Gun, TAN
For more information: Glen Gunderson (320)815-0663 or [email protected]
April 6-8, 2011
Club de l’Epagneul Breton of the United States “Natinal Field Trial and Annual Conclave”
Muscatine, IA
Judges Reynald Lefevre, Ange Franchi , other USA Judges as needed
Entry fee - Open-$50.00, Gun $40.00, TAN $30.00, Youth $15.00
Trial Secretary – Mark Dinsmore, 11 57th Ave. SE; Sykeston, ND 58486; 612-750-7059
Additional Information – Trial Chairman - Bill Wall [email protected]
For more information on trials, meetings and other events - http://fbgda.org/index.html
May 7 & 8, 2011
The Great North Epagneul Breton Club
Benton, MN
Open to all pointing Breeds, Liberated, Open, Gun, TAN
For more information: Glen Gunderson (320)815-0663 or [email protected]
May 14 & 15, 2011
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Club
Denton Montana (Hyalite Kennels)
Open to all pointing Breeds, L, Open, Gun, TAN.
For more information: Glen Gunderson, Trial Secretary (320)815-0663 or [email protected]
Health Tip by Janis Bruwelheide
Ken and I attended a first aid session for pets sponsored by our humane society. We were
surprised to find that dogs should NEVER have any type of tree nut which is most of
them. Since peanuts are a legume, they might be ok but it is always best to check. Here’s
a website that has a good list. Dang!
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030
Newsletter Title
Picture Gallery
February 2011
If you have a picture you would like to share with the club, please email it to Sherry at [email protected]
Page 5
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Club
http://montanabreton.com
Sherry L. Niesar, Newsletter Editor
909 West Avenue B.
Bismarck, ND 58501
Big Sky Epagneul Breton Gun Club Membership form
Return form and Dues to: Fred Overby c/o Overby Law Office, 101 E. Main Street, Suite C, Bozeman, MT 59715
Send General Correspondence to: Kenneth Bruwelheide1406 Robin Lane Bozeman, MT 59715
Name_________________________________________________ 2nd Family Member ______________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone ___________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________
Membership Category
$20 Individual Membership _____
$30 Family Membership _____
Make Check out to: Big SkyEpagneul Breton Gun Club
Signature ______________________________________ Date ____________________