Blinds

AM: Oaks Area 2

Triple blind, 160-170-180 yards, ODs, no markers. #1 and #3 were in front of trees that were set back from other nearby trees, and #2 was midway between two trees that were separated by 40 yards. The terrain was low, dense cover with uneven footing, had a thick, dry layer of high mowed grass from maintenance several days ago, and was prominently channeled by tracks from the mowing tractor that had been used. All of the lines to the blinds were at diagonals to the channels, #3 being at the smallest angle, creating the most suction to stay in the channel rather than run diagonally traversing the channels. #3 was identical to a blind that Laddie had fallen apart on several days ago, possibly because of the tracks that I hadn't recognized as a factor at the time. Lumi had run that blind well that day. We've never set up either of today's other blinds before.

Today, Laddie ran first, then Lumi, while the other dog honored, lying in the shade of a tree near our SL.

Because of factors such as distance, trees, a fenced parking area to the right of the line to #3, and tractor tracks, neither dog was able to line any of today's blinds, which is what I wanted, since I wanted the dogs to practice handling. Both dogs performed well. They lined well on their send-outs, they were responsive to WSs at both shorter and longer distances, their casting accuracy varied from OK to excellent, they generally maintained the line of their casts well, and their motivation remained high the entire time.