Remembrances

2018 Montana Hunt with Jim Heckert

December 31, 2018 | Jim Heckert, Remembrances | Comments

These photos were taken while upland bird hunting near Choteau, Montana, east face of Rockies. In two days of hunting sharptails and Huns, we encountered five Grizzly Bears at uncomfortable range, a mother with three year-old cubs and a solo adult of unknown sex that eyed us from woods edge at a range of about 150 yards! Read more

Working Dog Owners Have Lost a Dear Friend

November 18, 2018 | Other Things, Remembrances | Comments

All working, herding, sporting, rescue and other dog devotees have lost a dear friend and fierce advocate. And I have lost a friend of a lifetime. That friend is Donald McCaig, author of Nob’s Trials, Rhett Butler’s People, and other great books about working dogs and Civil War history of impeccable literary quality and revealing of the author’s deep knowledge of things essential to a worthwhile life. Read more

Remembering the Quail Championship Invitational (1996 – 2006)

August 5, 2018 | Field Trials, Remembrances | Comments

Reading John Russell’s splendid new book, The Invitational Champions, has brought back precious memories of the eleven years it was my privilege to report the trial at Paducah. My invitation to report came from John after my first report of the Florida Championship in 1995. I had attended the trial at Paducah as a spectator briefly in 1993 when Silver Bullett won his second crown, no Runner-Up. Judging in 1996 were Marshall Loftin, Bill Perry and Dr. Dorwin Hawthorne, and they shared with me generously their impressions of performances, which I sorely needed in light of my limited experiences watching all-age dogs. Read more

Sharecroppers

June 22, 2018 | Other Things, Remembrances | Comments

Sharecropper is a term of derision to many. I admire sharecroppers, of old or of current times. Why? Because they made (and make) the best of opportunity. Suppose it is 1870. You are a black couple in rural Georgia. You have no land and no money. You have only your muscles and your brain and the lessons life has taught you. Read more

Mike Furcolow Remembered

April 10, 2018 | Remembrances | Comments

I first met Mike at the 1995 Florida Open All-Age Championship where I had come to report my first trial and Mike had come to watch his Double Rebel Buck, Continental Champion of 1994, to be handled by Fred Dileo. Buck won, and would repeat in 1996, with Mike again watching. Over several ensuing years I would see Mike and his wife Terri Daniel at the Florida and the Continental Read more