Chuck,
Years back I field trialed my english springers. The held trials in the spring as well as the fall. I stopped going to the spring trial because scenting and conditions were so bad. I'd watch the best of dogs nearly step on a bird and not scent it. I was always told it was because the hen birds were sitting on eggs and that natures way of protecting them was that their scent was diminished during this time. They did not use roosters during the spring trials because they were to hard to control during the breeding season. I'd stick to fall phez hunting.
Bill G.
