From small Munsterlanders to English setters and Labrador retrievers, a veritable kennel’s worth of dogs scampered across southern Minnesota Saturday, the opening day of the state’s pheasant season.
Proud and always hopeful that a bird or two might be put to wing by the canines, the animals’ human partners followed in tow.
Odessa, for example, a 17-month-old wire-haired pointing Griffon, was among the canines that hoovered Minnesota’s extremely dry grasslands early Saturday, searching for the scent of a rooster. Partnering with the young dog was Mark Norquist of the Twin Cities.
“We hunted not too far from the Twin Cities, near Hutchinson, and there were a lot of hunters around,’’ Norquist said. “I hunted alone with Odessa. She found a hen first, but wasn’t really staunch on point on that bird. Later, we flushed six birds, including two roosters, and she held her point well that time. I shot and missed. But I was happy for Odessa.’’
Farther west, in Stevens County, Cricket, a small Munsterlander, was trailed through a federal Waterfowl Production Area by John Luetmer, Cricket’s partner, and Dave Jungst.
On a typical opener, Ellie, Jungst’s English setter, would have joined the fun, but she’s on the mend after being treated for a seed she inhaled.
“We put up 20 to 24 birds Saturday morning, including about eight roosters,’’ Jungst said. “We got three. So it was pretty good day.’’
In Lyon County, the seat of which is Marshall, Kaiya, a German wire-haired pointer, led a trio of dogs, including another wirehair and a French Brittany, through a plot of public land, with Keng Yang of Minneapolis and a couple of pals in tow.
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