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| Volume XVIII, Number 8 | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002 | |
Hunters learn the value of a good dog By Michael Howell Over a dozen people attended this year's Waterfowl Clinic held at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge east of Stevensville last Saturday. The event is a collaborative effort sponsored annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the benefit of young hunters. "Every year we provide new hunters with the opportunity to learn hunting techniques and regulations," said USFWS official Dave Gillund. Working with the agencies since the inception of the program about six years ago, Laura and Scott McCarthy and their hunting dogs gave a demonstration of how hunting dogs perform at various levels of training. The McCarthys brought along a 14-week-old puppy that was being taught to retrieve. The puppy was just getting the hang of sitting in response to a whistle and showed a natural instinct to fetch but had not yet really learned to retrieve. An older dog named Stash, who was trained to an intermediate level, obeyed commands fairly well and was able to take directions with whistles and arm signals and retrieve a single mark. Sassy, a "finished" retriever, can retrieve up to three marks after watching each fall in different spots and obeys commands promptly. "This helps kids see what they can get out of a little work with a dog or what they could get with a lot of work," said Laura McCarthy. McCarthy said that the law requires evidence of waterfowl hunters that they plan to retrieve their game. That evidence would consist of having a boat, a pair of waders or a dog showing an ability to retrieve their game from the water. "One of the best ways to conserve wildfowl is to conserve game once it is shot. Dogs are the best retrievers. They can find game by smell that has fallen in dense brush," said McCarthy. The McCarthys raise Labrador retrievers as a hobby and own three "therapy" dogs as well. According to McCarthy, therapy dogs work in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and nursing homes as companions for patients. They may also participate directly in therapy if it involves a throwing motion of the arm. |