A North Dakota Journal

[JODakota]

Alright gents, I'm starting a North Dakota journal for all you folks who are thinking about heading over this way to hunt our fine upland birds. As some of you who know me, I am from this great state and recently moved back here from Washington. This journal is to inform those who have a passion for upland birds and a passion for dogs. I will be updating this thread 10 days out of the month, with the exception of October, as I will be back in Washington chasing muley's. Unfortunately I only had two days to hunt the Sharptail opener but here some photos. I am originally from the east side of the state so learning the area and putting a 1000 miles on my truck was time consuming, but worthwhile. 

[JODakota]

So Friday night came, sleep wasn't easy as I haven't hunted at all this year due to work. Woke up bright and early and made the drive over to Watford City to hunt with a buddy I hadn't seen in a while. Now I have an American Brittany who is young and can be to put it politely an ***hole at times, but he's a great dog other than his few neurotic issues. I had a talk with my friend and that was don't shoot anything he doesn't point. I seriously didn't think it would be an issue but you never know.

[JODakota]

As we hunted it started out somewhat of a *censored* show. Birds literally everywhere. My dog had free rein and was apparently blowing off steam of not being on birds for over two months literally blowing covey after covey of sharptail like it was the greatest thing in his little life, then looking at me all pissed wondering why I wasn't putting birds in his mouth, as if it were my fault? Then finally he pointed one of the 50 sharpies he blew up and finally got his reward. My one bird of the day.

[JODakota]

After Saturday (opening day) Waylon (my dog) realized his ass was whipped being dog tired, pun intended

[JODakota]

I have him a solid two days off until his paws healed up (a little red) and went back out today, my last day before returning to my rig for work. I found a nice area, basically an Alfalfa field with CRP bordering the field ( a sharptail hunters dream habitat) and went off walking with the wife and pup. A beautiful day, 72 degrees out ( this weekend was 36 degrees) but a concern about the wind.... As there was none, a rarity in this treeless state. Hope were high as they should've been because five minutes into our hike my little dude has just blown his first covey of about 12 sharptail  . Whatever it happens, not a lot
Of wind, not his fault i like to think. Probably just payback for sending him to his kennel when I kept having to remind him at midnight as he came to me with his favorite ball and dropping it off at my head that it was not play fetch time. But I do know that just because some of the covey blew out doesn't me a they all did and so we worked the area and I was right, one held tight, Waylon hit point, I walked up and flushed it and first sharptail of the day in the bag. Walked the field, he bumped the next covey and like I said, no wind not his fault. Finally we were working our way back to the truck and I saw one sharptail flush wild, I figured one more would hold over and it did. Waylon hit point, flushed it and shot. I winged it and it hit the ground running but Waylon was on it. He flat out trampled that poor bird, wrangled it up and brought it back. As you can see, the bird is almost bigger than him but he is happiest with a mouthful of feathers!

[JODakota]

Well we finished the day with two in the bag, just one shy of the limit. I have a feeling on the next hunt it will all come together for the pup on his journey of being a full fleshed grown up bird dog in the Midwest. All in all I'm proud of the little guy and his little ADHD mind. For the month of October he will be at one of the kennel here in the state getting whoa broke and on his way for some bigger hunts to include pheasant, Huns and some more sharptail.

[JODakota]

I will update this thread with every hunt I do in NoDak this year to include mostly upland with a side of fowl and possibly an archery whitetail hunt, time depending. Stay tuned.

[mkcj]

Great picture's! what part of the eastern side are you from? I was just back in Walhalla for my uncles funeral, look forward to your updates.

[blacktail378]

Great state. Was back in Rock Lake a month ago visiting relatives.

[dmv9]

Thanks for the updates.

[elkoholic1]

 

[JODakota]

Great picture's! what part of the eastern side are you from? I was just back in Walhalla for my uncles funeral, look forward to your updates.

Grand Forks, live on the west side now. Sorry to hear about your uncle.

[Woodchuck]

  Very cool man, glad to see you are doing well.

[JODakota]

Great state. Was back in Rock Lake a month ago visiting relatives.

Way up north!

[boneaddict]

Tagging along.