Jim Marti of Burnt Creek Setters started this project. He had a bag made locally from leather so he could carry conveniently a quantity of pigeons in the field. This bag was about as heavy as a traditional mail carrier's leather sack, and the maker only put in a couple metal vents on each side which limited ventilation. This allowed birds to overheat and concentrated scent making the “plant” more artificial. It was a great idea, but the execution needed a little polish. Jim brought the “problem” to my attention when I was visiting in North Dakota.
We knew a shop which worked with an open weave material and they were making sun screens which we sold at DOGS Unlimited. We presented the project to them, and for a few years they made the green Steward's Bag.
They ceased operation and we elected to make the bag ourselves. We also incorporated several suggestions which were offered by our customers. Orange color so it was easy to find when set down in the grass. And we used a new “screen” material which when used with the solid nylon on the “bottom” of the bag made a sturdier stitch – a stronger bag. The latest improvement is a new spring which will last longer and work better that some we have tried in the past.
We also added sizes. The 10 inch opening is still our most popular bag since it works well with quail and pigeons – it is o.k. for chukars too. The 8 inch was our original opening. However folks working with gloves and using some big pigeons wanted a bigger opening, so we added the 10 inch bag.. We started the 12 inch opening in response to trainers wanting a pheasant bag. With our improvements in the construction materials, we were confident that the bag would now hold a bad-tempered cock pheasant. In fact this bag is bigger overall so it is likely that three medium pheasants would fit o.k. Most recently I am advised that the bag is also handy when using shackled ducks for training.
The horseback field trial trainers wanted a snap to fasten the bag to a saddle ring but we kept that as an option since many trainers used bags for introductory field training. They didn't need the snap since they were doing this on foot. Clubs also find the shoulder strap approach more universal.
The Game Steward's Bag may not be quite as universal as the check cord, but it has found a lot of uses in training and at field trials. Credit given where due, Jim Marti made this tool come to life. We at DOGS Unlimited were able to add refinements making the bag more useful. And the trainers using the bag added the ultimate adjustments – just by letting us know what worked, and what didn't. The bag likely has not reached its final form yet. We are still open to new ideas and new applications.
The Original Game Steward's Today's version And now, you can customize it
Bird Bag in one of its earliest any way you like it.
incarnations.
