German Hunting Season opens 1 May

[jai]

Hi Everyone!
I thought you may be interested to know that the season begins on 1 May here and Falko and I will be going on our 1st hunt. It is the little deer that we will be out for. Wolfgang and I saw each other yesterday, (Falko had an eye infection and was not to do much for about 10 days or so) so we are planning to meet at 3am Tuesday of next week and head out to one of the areas. I am honestly getting a bit excited! ;D
Well to catch up with our training.. Wolfgang had some things to take care of with his health and his business, so Falko and I have been doing things together for training. I have kept him rather busy and interested in many a thing, until he got his infection, and then the last few days at home with him he has been a compete monster! Not being able to go outside for long periods of time drove him crazy.. and not to mention bored, since he enjoyed eating my personal belongings! Well, after we saw the vet yesterday, we have been outside most of today.. and he is now worn out! I read the results of one of the VJP's in Germany and I have the results from our districts from last Saturday. Wolfgang said there were 20 wiems, 3 scored 75, and the lowest was a 54. The dog that scored this could not chase the rabbit. Anyways, just to let you know we will be doing this next year.. and I hope we get better than a 54.
I will take pics and notes from our hunting on Tuesday!
Caio,
jai and falko

[Kobie]

Well yes, Jai, let us know about your adventures !
At Heinsberg, the first place was a VJP 73, so one point better than Ginny.... ;D
This 75 is a very good score !!
We train now for the HZP later in the year. I'm sure with the right training, you should do better than the 54 (witch is a very low score). They get points on using their nose, searching, obedience, pointing and chase the hare (only by using their nose, not on sight).
Maybe interesting to share:

points description

0................ insufficient
1 till 2 ........ doubtful
3 till 5......... sufficient
6 till 8 ........ good
9 till 11 ...... very good
12 ............. excellent (never been given)

Chase of hares and the nose is counted double

[marjolein]

A 12 has been given. Billy got one for his pointing. Unfortunately they had to turn that back because there are some new rules (from this year) that say a 12 can't be given for pointing. It was never awarded before for pointing though (not that they knew of at least).
When I was in Germany with Daan for the HZP, a dog got a 12 for his waterwork, can't remember which part though.

[Kobie]

oh yes, Marjolein, forgot one word "almost" never been given....
;D ;D ;D

If you say, that the pointing can't be a 12, is this for the other tests too ?

[marjolein]

Unfortunately I haven't the faintest idea Kobie...... Pretty sure it's not for all tests though.

[Cheryl]

Have fun Falko and Jai:) I think I need to increase work and play with Pojken, too. He was rambunctious late last night and early this morning since we have had problems with the vehicles but last night I had all three trucks sitting at my work, and only me to drive:( My son is a terror too, he is too hard on the trucks with all our pot holes in the dirt roads right now with our spring break up weather. The snow is melting fast and still hard enough to walk for miles on so we will roam while we can, before all the birds arrive to begin nesting. Then we will train away from the little ones until fall:) Reindeer have dropped their calves, so much for Pojken to learn and smell...poor boy will be so happy to go to bed soon!

Falko, too...will it still be dark, Jai? 3am? When I went with Pojken's mum she was shivering behind the bird blind, not from cold, but excitement even though she was still calm. Soon you will hear a big sigh of relief Jai, Falko will be thankful to go to bed;)

[Cheryl]

Marjolein...you must find how to make Billy do what you think he is lacking on, maybe he doesn't learn or do exactly as "the rest of the family" being an individual, he has his excellent points and it is up to us to figure out how to bring out something like his use of eyes instead of nose to ground?

(Right now, Pojken is using nose to ground much more than he did at first but I think once the little animals begin wandering in life he will begin using eye sight with nose much more again.) Where I will have the wildlife to help me teach this again to Pojken, how would we encourage this without?

In my learning from books and videos they say to clip wings one one side or wrap wings across each other of a bird, so it cannot fly off but encourages the dog to use eyesight with nose to point and even to chase a live bird for encouragement. Many use pigeons or doves. This is okay with a soft mouthed dog, and no harm done but you do not use the one bird too often because of stress.

I have never done this, because we have such a short few months with population explosion and flora/fauna explosion that once we go out in the field to hunt, there is much and much excitement, preparing for winter and the dogs learn fast and suddenly. But in order to test and obtain results with points and titles, I will be also learning with my dogs so they will doing the work and fine tuning their responses.

[cummel]

I found on the internet that 12 point can only been given to:

"Nase" (nose) and "Spurarbeit" (trakking)

the same for VJP and HZP

good luck!

[jai]

Hi Cheryl,
I talked to Wolfgang this morning to set our plans for tomorrow, the Big Day! It is a holiday here in Germany so all the stores and things will be closed. I am not sure if that is because of the hunting season or not LOL
Anyways, we will meet at his house at 4am.. and it is still darkk and nasty cold! Falko will stay in the car for a while during the beginning Wolgang said and then after we find the spots, we will get him. I hope he sleeps and doesn't howl or whine too long
But, I am excited. I am not too thrilled about bringing anything home, the smelly pup will be my reward.. the girls wanted to bathe him yesterday since he smelled so bad from our trips this weekend. Since it is softball and soccer season he spends many a weekend in a different place with many fields to run.. but he can't go on the ball fields so we are always coming up with creative walking areas for him!
Take care and I will let you know how we do and I will try to get some pics!
jai and falko!

[cummel]

have a lot of fun and good luck for tomorrow!!!
We are looking forward to the story.

Dorit & Cummel

[jai]

Hi Guys!! Sorry this took so damn long to post! The real world beckoned me and I had to respond.. You know kids, husband, work, dinner, sports and practices. The never-ending events for a mom.. Oh, Happy Mother's Day to all of you as well
Well let me tell you all about the hunting. Falko and I arrived at Wolfgangs a few minutes after 4am and then headed out in his car to the field. I don't know how many of you have lived or hunted in the states, but I packed for several hours of deprivation, I had water, food, warm clothes, dry clothes, hats, sunscreen,toilet paper, 2 pairs of socks; enough food for Falko for 2 meals and some treats and his own bottle of water with a dish. LOL I did not need most of it.
So when I get to Wolfgang's and I have this huge backpack the first thing he says to me is we are going for a couple of hours, not a couple of days! After we loaded up, there was 3 of us and one dog, Falko. We dorve about 10 minutes from Wolfgangs to a field and dropped off one of our passengers, a young man who was going to spy for the deer and then send a phone message where they were so we could look for them. And hopefully get one. So then Wolfgang and I drove to another place, about 1 or so kilometers from where we dropped off the teen. We left Falko in the carrier in the car and walked down a dirt road and to a tree that had a little house built t it. We climbed the ladder, entered the house and sat. It had a bench that folded down, and 4 open windows that could close and open for views. I found out later that all the houses that are built within this hunting district were built by Wolfgang and his hunting buddies.
Wolfgang said we would sit for about an hour and see what happens. So, we sat.. Wolfgang told me if I listen to the first bird that will start the animals coming out to eat. All I could see in all directions was tall grass.. The I heard some rustling and Wolgang looked through the telescope he brought and saw rabbits. At 5am the church bells went off and the wind kicked up and Wolfgang was already doubting anything coming out because of the wind. At 5:07 the first gun fire went off and then Wolfgangs cell phone had a message. A friend of his about 2 km from us had shot a yellow fox.. Several minutes later another shot was heard and another cell message, another hunter shot himself the first little deer of the season.
We continued to see rabbits, birds, squirrels.. no deer. Our teen meesaged to say he had seen 3or 4 deer coming our way.. they didn't make it. By 6am we had decided to leave since the wind was very bad. So we walked back to the car and drove around for another 45 or so minute searching for deer by car in all the little fields. We were on and off the trails and stopping every few minutes to see if there was anyhting aroound. At one point we found a wild cat, which Wolfgang and the others shoot since they are bad for the fields and the animals.
We arrived backa t Wolfgangs shortly before 8am and the other hunters were there. In total there were 2 little deer and one yelow fox, which they will burn. I did not understand the reason why, I think it had to do with disease,
Anywasy, we have tried to go 3 additional times, but have been unsuccessful due to the weather. Wolfgang will be on holiday until the end of the month and we will start again!
Here are some pics.. The one with Falko and Calli are the two of them in Wolfgangs yard in his kennel, Falko has the collar on.
I will send more and get online a bit more this week.. my time and my schedule has swung to the other side to allow me more free time..
Take care and enjoy the pics!
Jai and Falko

[tasha]

any idea what they were shooting with?? That hole is huge in the first deer. What a fantastic day I did wonder how you got on, am so proud of you!!

Did they teach you about how to gut and skin the deer?? If not I have a picture by picture series that I took from my first time I can send you, I didn't managed to cut into the meat but did find it hard to get the movement right with my knife, not as easy as it looks when someone whose got experience does it.

[jai]

Hey Tasha,
They were shooting with different rifles.. Wolfgang used what looked like a barrel shotgun. I am really afraid of guns.. traumatic experience involving high school shooting back in 1978 in California So for me to even get close to a rifle is difficult. Rich has been trying over the years to get me to shoot to overcome my fears, but has not worked.. I saw how they gutted everything into a bucket, and then all the blood was put into another one. Then the buckets with all the stuff was brought out to the hunting field to feed the other animals. It took them about 5 minutes to do that.. then they were hung in Wolfgangs cellar and freezor until they could do the rest of the stuff in a couple of days. Wolfgang will be back on Wednesday,so we will try to meet on Thursday. poor pup has only had to be with me and the variety of dogs near here. Although, he did almost point for a rabbit the other night..I was happy! We have been working with a dummy to train him mouth release for Marten and rabbit in October. I hope I am doing it right, I will see next week!! Talk to you soon!
jai and falko

[tasha]

brilliant.

I'm in the same boat as you with regard to the gun thing but I am getting there slowly, you'd be more than welcome to come with me. I started off cleaning them (I know sounds ridiculous) I can't stand the smell of them (vics vaporub helps) but my tutor was very nice and did everything at my pace. So far its taken 4 years and i started shooting a couple of years ago it takes me a while to get used to it and my aim is appauling because I keep closing my eyes but the more practise the better.

I had a bunny gun brought for me as a pressie so use that alot (all tin cans and peaches beware!!) and a shotgun that I only use for clays... am building up to the other stuff in the meantime the dogs are so much better and other people can shoot for me

[jai]

Hi Tasha,
One of the big things out here for the inactive/active weim club is that you can hunt. Which means shoot. I honestly don't know how I would have reacted if Wolfgang actually shot at something. I walk Falko in the woods about 2 km from the house and there is a gun club out there, so we hear the sounds, but tis only in the distance.

would love to come out.. I will keep you posted.. In between all of your trips when will you be home?

[tasha]

We have a good gunclub and the tutor is BASC registered he's lovely, a old guy but very patient. Come when ever your ready you'd be more than welcome