Youth hunt, the good and the bad.

[Forks]

The good stuff was these kids getting lots of action and limits over some decent dog work. Lots of quality folks out passing on traditions that hopefully will never die.
Now for the bad. Ran into a guy in his late 30's or early 40's by himself with a dog and a gun. I asked him if he was hunting and replied, "not any more, I got my limit already." I went off on the guy telling him he was an idiot and needed to read the regs before hunting. Had no clue it was the youth hunt! Then we run into a guy with two dogs and I ask where the kids are, his reply is, "don't have any kids, just out working the dogs." I went off on that guy also.
All in all a great day, but some people should stick with yard work or polishing their wives silver.

[buckcanyonlodge]

 

[AspenBud]

There is nothing stopping someone from running dogs on birds, even during the youth hunt. You just can't shoot them.

Probably not the case in this situation, but shotgun poppers are a lot of times used in training as they nothing more than hulls with primers.

Looks like a good outing.

[wonder]

Nice work.  If the game department can't enforce this kind of stuff I'm not surprised, too much land to cover and too little of them?  Glad those kids had a positive experience.

We had 2 boys out for opening day on 2 separate sites and they both had multiple opportunities which was all I had hoped for.  They had fun and probably won't say "I can carry my shotgun all day long, no problem dad!"

Keep up the good work!

[JODakota]

There is nothing stopping someone from running dogs on birds, even during the youth hunt. You just can't shoot them.

Probably not the case in this situation, but shotgun poppers are a lot of times used in training as they nothing more than hulls with primers.

Looks like a good outing.

I do this all the time.

[sneakyjake]

I think there are some ethics involved with "running dogs" during a youth hunt.  Not much different then a couple buddies chasing elk for fun with a bugle in the mountains while other people are trying to have a nice hunt.

[canyonduck]

Forks,

Nice work with the kids.  I think I bumped into you Sunday with one my Small Munsterlanders providing a helping hand for your boys.  I ran into an old timer in the parking lot getting ready to go out with one of his buddies to "run their dogs" on some birds.  As you did, I let him know how I felt about his ethics.  The guy had no shame.   Anyway; it looks as though your kids had a great time.  I know mine did.

Regards

[birddogdad]

Forks,

Nice work with the kids.  I think I bumped into you Sunday with one my Small Munsterlanders providing a helping hand for your boys.  I ran into an old timer in the parking lot getting ready to go out with one of his buddies to "run their dogs" on some birds.  As you did, I let him know how I felt about his ethics.  The guy had no shame.   Anyway; it looks as though your kids had a great time.  I know mine did.

Regards

not sure it would be ethics.. if on a release site then here is the quote from regs....

"Training dogs on western Washington pheasant release sites is only open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Only youth and seniors may train dogs during their respective seasons on designated western Washington pheasant release sites."

If he was an "old timer" he was still not correct as it was youth not senior hunting open....

[singleshot12]

Glad your boys had a good hunt I've done the youth hunt for two years now. 1st year wasn't too bad only saw 2 adults shooting ducks and pheasants. But this year I seen it all 1 drunk adult mentor,4 adults in their early 20's hunting,and 3 groups shooting pheasant 45 minutes before the 8:00 opening time. Where is the Game Warden presence when you need them I know spread too thin .  You would think youth weekend would be the best time to have enforcement on site. Most adults are going by the law but 25% are teaching their kids to break it(stupidity or greed ) from what I've seen. It's absolutaly disgusting to see slob hunting especially with your kids,almost ruins your day.Even worse these slobs are ruining EVERYONE'S hunting future. As far as guys running their dogs after released birds how inconsiderate can you get?ok rant over,trust in Karma

[Forks]

Canyonduck, thank you for the assist and it was awesome to watch your dog nail both those birds. That dog is special.
For those of you that have no problem showing up at 8 am on a youth hunt to run your dogs on some birds are classless.
You make it clear to all just what kind of folk you are.

[JODakota]

Let me be crystal clear , I do not run my dogs in youth season. I run my dogs on wild birds with a shotgun and blank shells. That is what I was referring to.

[PaulM]

saw two parties doing this as well. all I could say was... really? cant get much worse than that. 

[AspenBud]

Forks,

Nice work with the kids.  I think I bumped into you Sunday with one my Small Munsterlanders providing a helping hand for your boys.  I ran into an old timer in the parking lot getting ready to go out with one of his buddies to "run their dogs" on some birds.  As you did, I let him know how I felt about his ethics.  The guy had no shame.   Anyway; it looks as though your kids had a great time.  I know mine did.

Regards

not sure it would be ethics.. if on a release site then here is the quote from regs....

"Training dogs on western Washington pheasant release sites is only open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Only youth and seniors may train dogs during their respective seasons on designated western Washington pheasant release sites."

If he was an "old timer" he was still not correct as it was youth not senior hunting open....

I missed that.

For the record, this is hunting season and not training season. I don't do what those guys did.

[Birdshooter]

Nice Lesson,

you just showed your boys it ok to be a confrontational bully using your mouth. You said you went off on them! I write this because our family owns 6k acres of wheat fields in whitman county and I deal with trespassers everyday of every hunting season.  The ones that use their mouth get the authorties called on them...the ones that apolgize and are considerate get a second chance to hunt. You could have handled that part a different way. Just saying!

[Bullkllr]

Nice Lesson,

you just showed your boys it ok to be a confrontational bully using your mouth. You said you went off on them! I write this because our family owns 6k acres of wheat fields in whitman county and I deal with trespassers everyday of every hunting season.  The ones that use their mouth get the authorties called on them...the ones that apolgize and are considerate get a second chance to hunt. You could have handled that part a different way. Just saying!

Different people have different definitions of what "going off on them" might mean, also. He could mean that he simply approached them and communicated his concern with their insensitive, selfish, unethical and illegal choice of behavior.

[birddogdad]

before i had my dogs, many years ago, i took my son and his friend on thier first year youth adventure in Belfair at the release site. I was just planning on walking the boys and hope for some flushes and that enough birds were dropped to make it enjoyable for them.. My boy was a quite accomplished gunner already however i had no feel for his friend (lesson or follow on discussion there could come in the thread later). His father didnt have the time off to take so i offered for opener....

We arrived at the site parking and there was a very nice older gent there who came and chatted me up. He had a dog he wanted to work and offered to let my boys work over her. After I engaged the boys toward how you work over a dog, we were off. It was just 8am and the dog handler commented that he hoped we would get lots of birds up and mabye the boys would get something... My son, who was very proud of his shooting, said "If your dog points a bird, I will get it!". The old timer looked at me and kind of chuckled. I didnt comment but inside knew of his shooting skillset. First point happend within a couple minutes and the boys positioned for a flush. "left yours, right mine" my son told his buddy. Up flushed a nice rooster in my sons path, boom! down rooster... The old timer said great shot as his dog retrieved the bird. New point and my son told his partner "your turn" so he stepped off to side out of gunning swing and up jumped a hen, his partner shot boom, miss... My son didnt shoot. The old timer said "you should have taken a crack at it" my sons reply was "Nah, it was a hen i want another rooster". There was back and forth between them as the old guy wasnt convinced that the first shot wasnt just lucky...Another 10 minutes and his dog was on point, again my son placed his partner in position for first shot.... Rooster flush, is partner shoots, misses. My son draws down and boom! down rooster... Now the old timer was impressed, neither were strait away shots, both required some lead and drawing shots... 2 shots, 2 roosters and unloaded for the day.... The only down side to the story was his poor buddy. I felt bad, his shooting skills had not been practiced (over clays at all) and he never did get a bird. The old timer really stuck with him thru several points and shots...

This story is just an example of most birddog owners. My son, now 26, still recalls and tells his account of that first day bird hunting.  Memories like that can mold a young person for life.. Conversly, i would think the same could be said for a very negative first experience. People can be *censored*es and very self centerd, i just hope the intereaction that occured in this thread with unethical and even illegal acts by adults, wont negativley impact the boys who had to experience it, hopefully they will only recall the birds! Keep that wonderful picture!! I still wish i had one to relive my sons adventure so many years ago!