Homer made numerous compositions inspired by the outdoor recreation and scenery surrounding the North Woods Club in the Adirondacks. Dogs, here shown waiting in a boat, were trained to locate deer and drive them into the water where they would eventually tire, and drown.Homer used multiple layers of russets, browns, and greens to describe the autumn trees, and thinner layers to suggest light reflecting on the boat. A masterful reflection on the water was made by scraping and repainting. He marked the coats of the dogs with wet puddling, and sponged out one figure—probably a person—on the far side of the boat.