We went out to Ebey on Sunday. The conditions weren't too awful. I know they probably release fewer birds there because it's smaller, but I feel like only 6 or 7 were shot that morning, while the opener at Stillwater last year was filled with birds flying every which way and guns going off right and left. My pup did well though, this was her first "hunt". At first she wanted to play with the other dogs and wasn't sure what was going on, but after that first bird went up near her and someone shot it, she went to hunting and found her first rooster. Too bad I missed it 
Came back late afternoon and gave my trial dog 30 minutes to cover the entire front portion, but no birds. Didn't hear any shots from the other hunters out there at that time either. I'd like to take the trial dog out in the mornings on release days, but I feel like other hunters are going to scream at me when he starts covering the whole thing right in front of them :\
It gets awfully confusing especially for a young pup on release mornings. It might be more beneficial for you and your dog to hunt during non-rush hour. There are still birds around and your pup will learn to hunt harder for them if she isn't subjected to instant gratification conditions 
I agree ...I would never involve a young dog in that madness ...Like ya said ..wait until afternoon or rush hour is over and you will be alone or a lot less people ...I remember going to Fir island with my lab and we would go in the afternoons and hunt the cattails out toward the bay ...we would just clean up on roosters that got away or gotten smarter ...they get into those cattails and grow old 
Haha, well I'd like to go out later, but usually I only have the early mornings available. The pup isn't REAL young either at 18 months, she's just pretty inexperienced (other than some controlled trainings she received). If I thought the whole thing was just confusing her, I'd pull her and put her back into controlled situations and then just bring my other dog... who is actually only a month older but a lot more experienced (relatively).
