This piece by Ray Holland original appeared
in Field & Stream, the magazine to which he
had dedicated so much of his love and energies as both editor-in-chief
and as a writer. Holland retired from the position in 1941 after
guiding the magazine into the most prestigious position in the
outdoor field. He continued to write and pursue field sports
until his death, and this 1952 story results from that period.
Holland was unique as an editor because his skills in directing
the magazine were backed by a wealth of field experience few
could equal. He came from the great American heartland of the
Midwest, growing up in the heyday of game and bird populations.
He was tutored in his skills by many old market-hunting professionals.
Holland knew how to set a stool of decoys on the best point for
any given day, break an unsteady pointer, or walk the ridges
for grouse. You name it; he had done it, and excelled! This piece,
never before anthologized, gives us plenty to think about on
those difficult days when even the best dogs just can't seem
to get the job done.
"LOOK AT HIM, kid! Look at him!" said John Taintor
Foote, and he hit me on the shoulder muscle with his fist. "I
told you! Jack ain't hunting. He's just romping off across that
stubble field to point himself a nice covey of quail."
The big pointer did just that. He didn't cast around searching
for scent; he went a hundred and fifty yards straight out into
that field and pointed. It was as though he knew those birds
were there, and now that we were ready he would go out and show
us. Old Decatur Jack was perhaps the greatest meat dog that I
ever saw.
Last winter in Cuba I had an experience that definitely settled
in my mind one question that pointer and setter men have long
argued. Some master dogs do not seem to hunt their birds; they
just go to them and point. How do they do it? All dog men of
wide experience have seen such dogs, some of them better than
others. |
Thanks to The Lyons Pres we offer you an excerpt from
The Bobwhite Quail Book by Lamar Underwood Copyrights: Lyons
Press 2004
I have seen three notable dogs of this type, and owned one
of them.
My dog, Jingo Ned, discouraged every brace mate that was ever
set down with him. Some dogs are quick to suffer from an inferiority
complex, and Ned gave them much to worry about. Man a dogs when
alone or down with a dog of equal ability will hunt well, yet
blow up completely when hunting with a dog of superior ability.
I have had friends hunt their brag dogs with Ned and l have seen
the dogs start trailing him after he had found two or three coveys
to their none. Ned went to his birds. How did he do it?
I believed it was nose, but he would go so far in a straight
line that I didn't dare claim he smelled birds at that distance.
I knew when he was heading for a covey by the way he ran. Having
heard about Ned, a wealthy field-trial follower sent his kennel
man to Will Glad
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