Hunting your Bird Dog

[Birddogman]

I wanted to ask you bird hunters out there a question.  How many of you hunters like to hunt with a completely finished dog (older dogs)?  What I mean by finished is.... points, stands for shot, retrieves, honors (if need be).  ~OR~ Are most looking for a dog to point, hold and go on the flush/shot?  Just curious......

[Birdguy]

It is called hunting. I will hunt behind most any dog that knows the game and minds in the field. I like young dogs as they are trying to figure it out. I like old dogs because it makes my job a little easier (more relaxed) sometimes. I guess it really depends on the situation. I love watching the dogs work. When taking my kids I prefer the slower more controlled more finished dog. I gives me the feeling I have more time to try to get the kids in the best position possible for a good opportunity. It certainly seldom turns out like I think it should but again it is hunting not getting  . When it is just me and a buddy I love my younger dog as he is a machine (typical teenager, more brawn than brains) and it is just fun to watch him develop.

To your question of finished, at some of the release sites I have been to if your dog held to shot he/she will likely not get the bird as someone's dog already has  . That does not mean you will not get the bird from that other hunter but your dog will not get the retrieve. If you hunt with other pointers a dog that honors is almost always welcome in the field, where one that does not has a tougher time being invited back. It really depends on your style/method of hunting in my opinion.

[Stilly bay]

I have always held firm that if a dog can break at the shot or even flush he is that much closer to the bird when it hits the ground which will aid in the retrieve. but then I mostly hunt pheasants on the west side  where only one bird usually gets up at a time so my emphasis is on recovery and retrieve rather than manners in the field. they may be pen raised birds, but they can pull a disappearing act if wounded just like a wild one. I mainly hunt by myself, so safety isn't a factor and have no problem letting a bird fly if the shot isn't right.

however with this new setter I have I think I am going to take him all the way since he is a damn fine animal and I would like to trial him.

[jetjockey]

I trial my hunting dog, so I need her to stay broke during hunting season.   I understand the argument for an unbroken dog while hunting pheasants, but I've also had an unbroken dog cost me a pheasant in SD.   For any other game bird, IMO a broke dog is not only safer, but will lead to more birds in the bag.  I never have to worry about holding a low shot on a covey bird with a broke dog.  I have had to on with an unbroken dog however.

[Happy Gilmore]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

[jetjockey]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

[whitey]

My Cooke Canyon pointing lab is rock solid on upland birds as well as water fowl.
He I wouldnt consider him a finished dog because he only gets better with time. He is a dog that will react to the situation at hand. Some birds hold better than others. Some flush and die others hold and then he is released to flush and they die.

Ducks he will head for the water when the shooting starts, but also will put on a sneak with me when jump shooting. Just need a dog that minds and the dog must behave and get along with other dogs while in the field.





Heres Harleys half brother Ruger.

[AspenBud]

I would prefer a dog that's steady to wing and  can retrieve.

The reality is I have dogs that find and point birds. Everything that happens after is not as pretty however. Pheasant and grouse still go in the bag though.

It takes time, money, and resources (birds, land, etc) to make a finished dog. If you have all of that I would say make it happen. If you can afford to send the dog off to a trainer I say do it. Or find a group to train with and pool resources.

But hold in mind that "finished" means different things to different people. For example, the gentleman who won the NSTRA quail invitational only teaches his dogs to be steady to wing and not the shot. Someone training a dog to American Field standards would train a dog to be steady to wing, shot, and not retrieve. Go to Europe and you'll see pointing dogs trained to flush on command and drop to their bellies at the flush. No right or wrong here. Just what works for the owner.

[Happy Gilmore]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

[Stilly bay]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

thats why we have garmin tracking collars. you don't need to see your pointy dog to know where he is and what he is doing.

[AspenBud]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

thats why we have garmin tracking collars. you don't need to see your pointy dog to know where he is and what he is doing.

And beepers with point mode.

[Stilly bay]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

thats why we have garmin tracking collars. you don't need to see your pointy dog to know where he is and what he is doing.

And beepers with point mode.

Ahhh nothing like the sound of a truck backing up for ambiance while your out hunting... or even worse, that fake hawk scream... or bobwhite chirp. I wish they would make those things illegal.

[jetjockey]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

thats why we have garmin tracking collars. you don't need to see your pointy dog to know where he is and what he is doing.

Exactly.  I cant see my dog 90% of the time when were hunting.  However, she knows where I am because I sing to her and I know where she is because of the GPS.

[AspenBud]

hunt with a Chessie who will sit on a whistle. You'll get far more pheasants than hunting over any pointing breed. Especially in the Dakota's and Montana. Sharptail....get a pointer

Depends on how, and where you hunt.  In milo, cut corn, and cattails, your right.  But push birds into the coulees and natural prairie landscape where birds spread out and can be pinned, and a pointing dog will smoke a flusher/retriever.   You throw some snow on that milo, and that changes everything as well.

The grassland where we hunted was mostly about 3-6' tall. Plowed fields and cut wheat were the only open range. Hard to see a dog on point looking out over a couple thousand acres of chest high grassland. That's where the chickens feel safe.

thats why we have garmin tracking collars. you don't need to see your pointy dog to know where he is and what he is doing.

And beepers with point mode.

Ahhh nothing like the sound of a truck backing up for ambiance while your out hunting... or even worse, that fake hawk scream... or bobwhite chirp. I wish they would make those things illegal.

I'll be honest, I won't run a Pointer in the woods without one. I know some think they scare off birds but my experience with grouse is the opposite. It's a change in routine noise that scares them into flying, not silence.

Pheasants are another story but I'd argue it depends on time of year and whether you're hunting pen raised fowl on the release sites or the real deal east of the mountains.

The Garmin stuff is great, but it has failed me in the past. The beeper always works.

[Shannon]

I've always had labs until about 6 years ago and have two Pudelpointers now. My pointers find and pin more wild roosters than my labs did. They are more fun to watch IMO and the shots are a lot easier when you flush the birds yourself IMO. I never have hunted over wild birds with a pointing lab but don't get as much enjoyment out of watching them work as I do a pointer. When I go to Montana every year to hunt pheasants with lab and Weim guys, my dogs always produce more birds in the bag. A lot of pointers don't like to get in the brush and thick cattails like a lab but Pudelpointers do. I've hunted with Wirehairs that crash thick cover as well or better than labs also. I think the pointers especially shine when the bird numbers are down and the dogs need to cover more ground to get a limit in the bag.