SPORTS
East Oregonian
B2
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Urban resources for pointing dog development Bowl:
arrangement, Ali and I
split the duties of caring for
young Finn, handing her
off on our weekly visits. We
both sought urban green
space and any wildlands
on the outskirts to expose
Finn to wildlife. And while
I knew nothing of training
a pointing dog, I learned
quickly how to utilize birds
like pigeons that had grown
accustomed to humans
on the city sidewalks, and
found Rooks Park on the
edge of town with a resident
covey of valley quail.
While a pup needs
bird exposure, they also
need socialization, basic
obedience, and hunting
commands, which can
be taught indoors and on
downtown streets. “Whoa”
is a standard pointing dog
command to keep the dog
steady and on solid point as
you approach to fl ush a bird.
It can also be used to stop a
dog in the fi eld in a danger-
ous situation. Trainers use
apparatus like barrels, tables
and elevated boards to teach
this command, which can be
done in the corner of a small
space.
Similarly, “place”
boards are typically used
for retrievers, but can also
be used to teach “whoa”
as an object that the dog is
to remain steady on when
given the command.
Once your pup has the
basic obedience down, it’s
time to practice in public.
Start with only a few repeti-
tions, cycled with some time
in between. Pups still need
time to be pups and it’s a
big world in the city. Slowly
build up your frequency and
number of repetitions as the
pup becomes less interested
in the ancillary surround-
ings. Remember to start
slow and simple, with high
reward for good work. Keep-
ing a pup interested in train-
ing is important to ensure
the lessons stick.
After a few jaunts down-
town, your pup should
have seen the fl ush of local
pigeons enough to seek them
actively. It will remember
where the birds loaf and
feed from your prior walks
and anticipate the approach.
Pointing behavior may still
be coupled with the sight and
sound of the birds, providing
a good “whoa” opportunity.
If possible, work with a part-
ner to steady the dog while
the other fl ushes.
The local valley quail
were our saving grace when
training Finn in her fi rst
year. She sought the usual
blackberry and brush pile
haunts and perked at the
sound of their calls. While
her maturation was slow, the
regular exposure to covey
birds on the edges of natu-
ral wetlands instilled early
drive and positive reinforce-
ment for seeking.
Additionally, diff erent
breeds mature at diff er-
ent rates. My setters are
typically not hunting with
complete purpose until age
3, but that doesn’t mean they
don’t fi nd birds afi eld at a
young age. Maintain opti-
mism throughout the early
years, building the trust and
teamwork foundation. Even
if your pup doesn’t fully
grasp the “whoa” command,
by their sixth year, they can
occasionally be steady to
shot without formal training.
Remember, no amount of
formal training can replace
the fl ush of a bird.
A number of time-
less, foundational training
resources are available in
print and digital media, with
recent contributions being
geared toward urban train-
ing. Project Upland provides
a variety of useful articles
with free online access.
The techniques may not
work precisely as presented
in every case, but with a
little adaptability to your
pup’s learning style, and
a commitment to gaining
experience whenever and
wherever possible, a fi ne
pointing dog can be made
on the urban landscape, and
with minimal resources.
———
Brad Trumbo is a fish
and wildlife biologist and
outdoor writer in Waitsburg,
Washington, where he also
actively serves the Walla
Walla-based Blue Mountain
Pheasants Forever chapter.
For tips and tales of outdoor
pursuits and conservation,
visit www.bradtrumbo.com.
teams with multiple games
happening at two venues, it’s
going to take a lot of people.”
With more than 400 ball-
players and more than 100
coaches in town for the next
several days, McClaughry
said he can’t help but feel
excited.
“Everybody is really look-
ing forward to it, the season
was a fantastic success of
having all the kids back out
playing baseball for a month
and a half,” he said. “Until
you go out to the practices
and games, and you see
all the excitement the kids
brought to it just to be back
on the fi eld and playing base-
ball. It’s just been an amaz-
ing thing to have those types
of experiences back and you
realize how much is lost
after putting it to the side for
a year.”
Although teams will be
competing for the chance
to compete at state tourna-
ments, McClaughry said his
main goal is to make sure
everyone involved has fun
and creates lasting memories.
“People come out to the
park to enjoy this event,” he
said. “This is Little League,
for this age group 8-14. It’s a
great event for them and their
coaches. Everyone that is out
to help at this event is a volun-
teer, some of them traveled
several hundreds miles to get
to this. This is all about fun, it
is competition, but keep that
perspective. Be very respect-
ful to everyone conducting
the event, and have a good
time and enjoy themselves.”
Although spectators are
not required to wear masks,
they are encouraged to
conduct themselves safely
as they see fi t in regards to
social distancing.
BRAD
TRUMBO
UPLAND PURSUITS
A
s an adult onset
uplander living in
the heart of the “big
city” fl anking Walla Walla’s
downtown shopping district,
I never really considered
owning a pointing dog. A
German shepherd and buff
tabby marauded throughout
our 600-square-foot apart-
ment space as it was.
However, I had also never
lived anywhere with legiti-
mate upland hunting oppor-
tunity.
When my fi rst rooster
pheasant fell to the good
fortune of arriving at a
pheasant release site behind
a hunter with a seasoned
Lab, my interest in upland
birds piqued instantly.
Suddenly, the old Savage
Fox double that I loved so
dearly took on purpose and
was carried in pursuit of the
abundant valley quail in the
public access beyond the
city limits.
I don’t credit my lovely
bride with making the best
impulse decisions, like
springing for a Llewellin
setter pup while we both
lived in separate cities and
apartments, fresh out of
graduate school and living
paycheck to paycheck.
And that little pup was
pure hell on our nerves and
furniture. Yet, in hind-
sight, she changed our lives
profoundly, forever — mine
in particular, as the hunter of
the household, and for that I
am eternally grateful.
Similar to a custody
Baseball:
Continued from Page B1
that person does to make sure
everything is in place as well,”
McClaughry said.
He said volunteers are
crucial for putting on the
tournament, with parents
and community members
contributing in many ways.
“Without the commu-
nity, it doesn’t happen,”
McClaughry said. “That’s
even in the local season with-
out the tournament, without
all the volunteers that we have
spending many hours, the
local season doesn’t happen.
When we have a week-long
tournament, where we are
going to have that variety of
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Beware of distractions, in-
cluding fox squirrels, when
seeking bird exposure in ur-
ban green space.
ON THE SLATE
SATURDAY, JUNE 19
Prep girls basketball
MCC playoff s: Hermiston
vs. TBA
Prep wrestling
Pendleton at IMC district
tournament, Redmond,
10:30 a.m.
Hermiston at Washington
state tournament, Centra-
lia, TBD
Prep swimming
IMC district swimming,
Hood River, 10 a.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 21
Prep boys basketball
2A state tournament: Hep-
pner vs. Knappa, at Port-
land Christian, TBD
1A state tournament: Nixy-
aawii vs. North Clackamas
Christian, 8:45 p.m., Baker
High School
1A state tournament: Ione/
Arlington vs. TBD
IMC playoff s: Pendleton at
Hood River, 6 p.m. (loser
out)
Prep girls basketball
2A state tournament: Hep-
him (Wilson). I know he
is a pretty good player. I’m
excited to see what he can
Continued from Page B1
do. A good 2A kid can trans-
late to a high level. I don’t
Heppner quarterback think the lights will be too
Jayden Wilson, who also bright.”
is playing in the East-West
The 6-5, 200-pound
Shrine All-Star Game in Wilson, who will play
August, was named as a college football at Linfi eld
University, helped
quarterback for the
the Mustangs to
South team, along
a 5-0 record this
with junior Jakoby
spring. He threw
Moss of 6A Moun-
tain View.
for 562 yards and
Davis, who also
ran for 337.
As a junior, he
was an assistant
led the Mustangs
coach in 2019, will
be the South’s off en-
Burns
to the 2019 2A state
title, throwing for
sive coordinator.
“I thought this
1,282 yards and 23
touchdowns, and
was a once in a
running for 797
lifetime opportu-
yards and 14 touch-
nity,” Davis said.
downs.
“I’m excited to do
He also earned
it again. This is a
first-team Blue
great opportunity
Davis
Mountain Confer-
for Tyasin, and it is
well deserved. He is
ence and all-state
going to be a defen-
honors at quarter-
sive back and play
back and defensive
special teams. He is
back as a junior.
a very good return
The
6 -1,
specialist. He has
185-pound Moss
the tools to do it all.
threw for 942 yards
He will be outside of
and 14 touchdowns
his comfort zone, but
Wilson
this season for
he’ll be OK.”
the Cougars, who
Burns, a 5-foot-10, fi nished with a 6-0 record.
175-pound speedster, was a
Steeped in history
unanimous fi rst-team selec-
tion by the Special District 1
The Oregon Shrine Game
coaches as a defensive back. was fi rst played in 1948 at
He also earned second-team Multnomah Stadium. Now
honors as a running back for the Les Schwab Bowl, the
the Bucks, who fi nished the event is playing its 73rd
game.
season 4-2.
Through 72 games, the
“I like off ense better, but
I play both sides of the ball,” series is even at 34-34 with
Burns said. “I just have to do four ties. The South beat the
my part.”
North 33-28 in 2019 to even
Burns, who attends the series.
With the 2020 game lost
Nixyaawii Community
School, where he also is a to the COVID-19 pandemic,
standout basketball player, teams are anxious to get on
will attend Eastern Wash- the fi eld and take control of
ington University and has the series.
talked to the Eagles coaches
Each team this year will
have 40 players, and will
about playing football.
The South and North spend a week at Linfield
rosters have changed in the working with their team-
past week, which is when mates before the game.
Proceeds from the game
Wilson was extended an
off er to play.
will benefit the Oregon
“Some colleges don’t Athletic Coaches Associ-
want their kids playing ation general scholarship
in this game,” Davis said. fund, and all of Oregon’s 5A
“I’m excited to work with and 6A schools.
IMATALAMLAAMI SINWIT
UMA101 –
Umatilla Tribal
Language Class
OFFERED FALL TERM
pner vs. Vernonia, at Port-
land Christian, TBD
1A state tournament: Nixy-
aawii vs. Rogue Valley
Adventist, 3:30 p.m., Baker
High School
1A state tournament: Ione/
Arlington vs. Livingstone
Adventist, noon, Powder
Valley High School
v
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Fall terms starts Sept. 22 and ends Dec. 10
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BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS
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