Wednesday 5 February 2014

End of the Season

Pheasant shooting finished on 1 February. The dogs are tired, and the keepers are tired. But mostly, the dogs.
Podge power napping on the underkeeper's coat between drives

The end of the season means a round of chores: washing and mending dog coats, cleaning and oiling guns, taking inventory of our ammunition stores. The keepers' suits - known as "tweeds" - have gone to the dry cleaners, but our move to a new estate may mean a change of tweeds. It's sort of like Scottish tartans or state flags - estates can have their own preferred tweed pattern. Ties are often embroidered with the estate owner's family crest as well. Some shoots even produce their own brand of sloe gin for a shoot day.

But I digress.

The weather has put a stop to all but essential outdoor work: checking livestock or walking dogs. Our part of England has suffered devastating floods and gales. As if to make my point, the roof just blew off the chicken house that I can see from the window over my writing desk cum kitchen table.

We are winding down our wood and coal stores with the impending move, and perpetually feeding both woodstoves to stave off the damp and cold. As fast as we stoke the fires, the wind acts like a blacksmith's bellows devouring the fuel. The little cottage would be toasty warm but the metal-framed windows, none of which close completely, let the hot air out and the gusts of cold wind in. I won't miss this decaying, cold cottage.

I'm chain-drinking hot cocoa to stave off the weather and my dismal mood. The sheep paddock is more mud than grass and the ewes are making do with hay every morning, and ewe nuts - what I call  "sheep chow" - in the evenings. They need fresh grass to do well, and this regime only keeps them in a holding pattern. They have sheds for protection, but as soon as I fork dry straw into their sheds, the wind blows the rain in sideways. The flock is a shameful sight - heads down, wet fleece parted along the backbone, and dirty knees. When I feed them, they rub against my legs vying for the best feeding spot and the water wicks from their fleece to soak my jeans. I miss my white, dry summer sheep.

The dogs have had their end of season 'thank you' bones, saved from the deer carcase I butchered for our end of year staff dinner. By now they would also be bathed and brushed, and their beds freshly strawed. It's a pointless task until the weather turns drier. I'm glad to report no major dog injuries this year. Pip has a few raised scars on her muzzle from taking on a barbed wire fence with her face, and Spud has a minor puncture wound in her right armpit that's healing nicely. Dulcie's age is slowing her down but she's not ready to retire just yet.

Tinker came out on the last day, as an introduction to her future field work. I wanted her to hear the gun noises and meet other dogs, as well as see some fresh game in the field. My heart was in my throat as she's quite a manic, busy puppy at home. I wasn't sure what her reaction would be to all the excitement of a shoot day.

Just arrived


On peg with Dulcie, watching the drive

Well, she was all business in the field. It was like she walked in wearing a hardhat and carrying a metal lunch pail, and punched a timeclock. The end of drive whistle blew, and I worked her alongside Dulcie for guidance. Tinker dove into the thickest cover, completely focused, working by scent. She even retrieved her first pheasant to hand. It was one she found in a pile ready to be strung, but she picked it and ran straight back to me.

With Dulcie, and their birds

Can you believe that only ten months ago she looked like this?


I have put less training into her than I would like, but her natural abilities will out. She will be 18 months old at the start of our next shoot season, and ready to join the team. She's already learned like her mother Podge, how to power down between drives - with the help of our young neighbour, Chloe.


Work hard, cuddle hard - that's the spaniel philosophy.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

So I really, REALLY enjoy reading your posts about the dogs working, and how they behave. I just wish I knew what all your terms mean :) I don't really understand what you're talking about, but I DO enjoy reading it nonetheless :) I'd love to see video one day? Just a thought

Podo said...

The weather does seem to be out sorts here in the northern hemisphere. I'm wondering when winter will start releasing it's grip on us here in the corner of northeast Iowa...but then, we have had it awful nice for the past few years. Your photos of the dogs are great, and they are helping to sell me on a field spaniel for my next dog (have 2 labs right now)! Stay dry and get some rest -

Jennifer Montero said...

rawketstarling - well, we need to fix that! Maybe a dictionary of shooting terms in the sidebar? I'm open to suggestions or ideas that would make things clearer. Let me know what terms you'd like clarified or explained and I will start there.

Jennifer Montero said...

Casey - A spaniel/lab combo is pretty unstoppable in the field. The shooting lore in England goes that every young shooting person starts with a spaniel (pronounced 'spannil' around here) . Then one day you realise that you're getting older and the prospect of training another spaniel puppy, which means chasing it across fields and into thick hedges, makes your joints and back hurt just to think about it. At that point, you switch to labs. It's considered a change of life, like the shooter's menopause! The moral is: have a "spannil", but don't wait too long!

Sara Rall said...

I love the shot of the wind-blown spaniels "on peg".

I have been thinking of your move while out shovelling the endless snow (here in NJ), and am looking forward to hearing how you manage to get, what, 7 dogs, a horse, innumerable sheep, and I think some chickens (?) to your new place. Not to mention all the regular things one has to move. I hope the new place is much less drafty, too!

Patti Skorupa said...

And after the lab, get a sussex. Although I've always wanted to know what it would be like to hunt over a well-trained spinone.

Hazel said...

I've been thinking of you in this awful weather.
I'm in N Oxon, so we've escaped the worst of it but I'm on clay in a valley (halfway up luckily) so the grass is standing water; the ducks run is one big pond with islands for house and feeder (so they're happy at least) and the chickens are on about 6" straw trying to beat the water that's coming up out of the ground to create a series of ponds in their run.
Hope you have a less draughty house when you move too...

Jennifer Montero said...

Patti - Sussex spaniels are so rare now, I've never even met one. I'd love to see a Boykin spaniel, too.

I'd like to know what it is to shoot over a well-trained dog, period. Ours are only ever trained "just enough", and it's miles away from "well"!

Janice Bendixen said...

Go Tink! Obviously her genes and despite what you claim to be poor training has helped her/you have a marvelous first shoot day. Please do keep us posted on the move timeline so we may send helpful thoughts and prayers for patience your way. Odd WX continues here in the sub-Arctic while the rest of you suffer. +2F and we're under a fire warning w winds forecast to 80MPH. Last week it was +55F. ??? I'm excited to see photos of the new digs soon. Blessings to you from me.

Pam said...

We were in Devon and Dorset this week and the water levels really are incredible! It was sunny in the Cotswolds today and we were like lizards on a rock, soaking it in. We did notice a lot of hunters on the 1st and now I know it was because it was end of season. Every pheasant we've seen since has looked relieved :-)
Stay dry and warm.

Gavin E said...

Jen - love your blog! All your old friends here are looking forward to news of how the three of you(humans) + menagerie are settling in. I picked up my copy of Ann Peck's album last week - very moving. I am so glad she did it. God speed to you all. GE

Kris said...

Hello there. I hope things going well? Have you moved your situation yet? Looking forward to updates. Take care....