I'm not that greedy for ducks to take a young dog out on a group hunt. I like take a young dog out by myself to those spots where I know I'm going to get good falls, can pick my bird so the retrieves are pretty easy. I personally would never take a young dog out on a group hunt with birds falling all over the place and the confusion of others shooting criples while a young dog is try to make some of his first retrieves..
Best advice you are going to get right here !!!!
Well yes and no. Just depends on the others in the group. For some reason with others its ok for their dogs to make mistakes but better not happen to yours. If they don't have dogs they will still smack talk. I took a new dog out with some HS friends and they talked about how worthless my dog was the whole time and how they should shoot her while never even running off. The dog just stayed on my heels while I walked in a zig zag pattern in the brush trying to show her the game. You look stupid but it works. They stopped hunting with me, I started knocking the piss out of roosters once I got one down for her. I am surprised how fast dogs pick it up once a bird goes down. Then there is a whole new issue in trying to control that excitement.
If that is the type of attitude in the group, try another spot. Get a spot that can produce because of the older dog.
We are talking duck hunting anf you are talking upland................apples to oranges !!!
Oh ok, I guess there is no retrieve in upland bird hunting. My mistake. So ok then to group hunts in upland vs ducks. Last time I knew a upland hunter could get into flocks of quail, huns, and pheasants that can cause confusion to make my head spin when multiple birds are down? Just a good dream I guess? 
Now take the apples and oranges and make you a fruit salad because the conversation shifted to group hunts and young dogs.
You dont sit in a blind and demand a dog not break on the shot while upland hunting.
so now take your fruit salad, bend over and insert to the fullest 
You don't want to understand how the conversation was going, that's fine but no need for failed insults.
Now you can take your advise with that thumb.
NO........you failed.
You were the only person talking about upland hunting.It CANNOT be compaired to waterfowl hunting in ANY way,shape or form!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We all understood he was waterfowl hunting with a group of people.
WAY to rough on a young unsteady dog to sit in a blind and have mulitple guns going off and birds falling everywhere.It only takes about 5 minutes to ruin 5 years of training if you are not careful or know what you are doing.
You seem to be the kind that lacks the ability to understand what a training program is and how it works.I'm guessing you are "One of those" guys that figures a dog can hunt on natural ability alone and can "figure it out" after a couple birds.
Sorry but my 40 plus years with dogs in the field will not agree with your view on this subject.
It may be best if you just read the thread and keep from offering anymore BAD advice.
Bad advice you say! BINGO, YOU FINALLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD OF WHAT I WAS SAYING. Don't know why you didn't understand the 1st time and decided to throw insults instead, but if the group does not allow a person to work a new dog or gets upset with you, then don't hunt with them for how ever long it takes to get the dog comfortable. Groups offer bad advice as I experianced myself as a suggestion to me was was to shoot my young dog on opening day.
But if the group will let the owner train and wants to see a new dog get developed then take them as long as they understand the hunt is about the new dog today, this weekend, or the whole season. Most hunters could care less about a new dog, expect miracles, or just hunt the same. Hunted last year with a friend with a new dog and the dog got it figured out. The dog started sticking his head in the weeds like us. lol. Also let a few hens float in the deks and the dog did not bust or whine and stayed very still and quiet like us.
That same season I went pheasant hunting with another friend. He is cool but was worried about my dog being new but had a few birds down for her at this point of the season. He is staning in cover and my dog goes on scent. Well he starts to tell me where to direct my dog and before I can say shes on scent headed your way a huge rooster busts at his feet and misses 3 times. I was rolling in laughter and he learned to let the dog hunt.
