10/03/06 Getting ready for the hunt

Being safe on the hunt. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Just as students need time to adjust to a new school year after the summer comes to an end - bird dogs need time to adjust to a new hunting season. Dale Taylor - who owns and operates Premier Gundogs Training Kennel in Hallam, Nebraska - has been working with hunting dogs for more than 30 years. He says hunters need to condition their animals and review commands and obedience if dogs are going to stay safe on opening day. TAYLOR: The main thing that most hunters and sportsmen have to realize is that the dog has been sitting around whether in the kennel or in the home probably since the end of last hunting season. A lot of states hunting seasons end roughly January 31st, so the dogs have been kind of in an off season. Not only are they not in shape but their endurance is going to be affected if there is not a pre-season preparation. So how should a hunter prepare for opening day? Taylor suggests starting a conditioning regimen with easy walks in the cool of the morning or evening - starting with short distances before working up to longer distances at a more rapid pace - and reintroducing the dog to the commands and skills needed during hunts. But along with the change in routine - Taylor says a change in diet is also needed. TAYLOR: Hunting dogs are canine athletes. Generally what most people do is during what I call the off-season, that time when the season closes until pre-season conditioning starts, they're on more of a lower fat, lower protein diet. As the season approaches and they've started now to exercise their dog, they're going to need to increase the calories per cup. And the way that's accomplished is kind of through two sources. You issue a carbohydrate or though a fat. According to Taylor - many hunters have experienced an opening day hunt when a dog uses all of his energy in the first 15 minutes and then walks behind the hunters for the rest of the day. If a dog isn`t prepared - Taylor says the dog will pant more and could overheat - hindering the animal`s ability to smell game - making the hunt less enjoyable and productive. Therefore - Taylor says it`s really in the hunter`s best interest to get the dog ready. TAYLOR: Generally opening day for most states is going to be the hottest day during hunting season. What I advise is obviously not only to get the dog in shape, slowly build on that, get them lots of endurance so that they can handle that type of weather and that type of hunting. But be very cautious on those opening weekend hunts and through the season. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.