Losing birds

[TVHunts]

I always use a 20 ga on pheasant and quail and I run fiochi golden pheasant 3" #5's in 1-1/4 oz load.  In steel required areas I use 3's and 4's in 3" 7/8 oz loads.  They work great for me.

[scottr]

Thanks everyone. I will get some 5 or 6 and report back.. too bad I bought a whole case of 7's! So used to shooting skeet that I figured I would need that many shells.

Any quail hunters looking for some non-toxic? real cheap! pm me  20 gauge  2 3/4

I'm interested. Where are you located?

[UplandJoe]

So a fun little anecdote while we wait:

It is impossible to find 20 gauge steel 2 3/4 shot below 7 in the puget sound region...While I wait for Cabelas to deliver the hevimetal I ordered, I went out to a release site with my before mentioned dove shot.

Bruno, my GSP, is improving immensely: He is starting to understand why we are out in the field and what we are after, getting birdy and methodical. He goes on point(!) Lucy, my GSP/lab running amok accidentally(?) flushes the bird. I knocked it down and both dogs are on it, still no retrieval but on it nonetheless.

At this point, with my weak shot I am used to ringing the birds neck. I put it in my game pocket in my vest and walk to meet a friend. after we meet up I keep thinking I am hearing a soft cluck. pay no attention..

10 minutes later while working a line of corn the little *censored* jumps out of my vest and takes off running! (luckily my friend is on the other side of the corn and can't see this)

I almost think about shooting it again but can't bring myself to shooting a bird on the ground. After a good chase I catch up with it. make it real dead this time and thats the end of that.

Shot comes tomorrow..

[bracer40]

So a fun little anecdote while we wait:

It is impossible to find 20 gauge steel 2 3/4 shot below 7 in the puget sound region...While I wait for Cabelas to deliver the hevimetal I ordered, I went out to a release site with my before mentioned dove shot.

Bruno, my GSP, is improving immensely: He is starting to understand why we are out in the field and what we are after, getting birdy and methodical. He goes on point(!) Lucy, my GSP/lab running amok accidentally(?) flushes the bird. I knocked it down and both dogs are on it, still no retrieval but on it nonetheless.

At this point, with my weak shot I am used to ringing the birds neck. I put it in my game pocket in my vest and walk to meet a friend. after we meet up I keep thinking I am hearing a soft cluck. pay no attention..

10 minutes later while working a line of corn the little *censored* jumps out of my vest and takes off running! (luckily my friend is on the other side of the corn and can't see this)

I almost think about shooting it again but can't bring myself to shooting a bird on the ground. After a good chase I catch up with it. make it real dead this time and thats the end of that.

Shot comes tomorrow..

That's funny!

[ctwiggs1]

So a fun little anecdote while we wait:

It is impossible to find 20 gauge steel 2 3/4 shot below 7 in the puget sound region...While I wait for Cabelas to deliver the hevimetal I ordered, I went out to a release site with my before mentioned dove shot.

Bruno, my GSP, is improving immensely: He is starting to understand why we are out in the field and what we are after, getting birdy and methodical. He goes on point(!) Lucy, my GSP/lab running amok accidentally(?) flushes the bird. I knocked it down and both dogs are on it, still no retrieval but on it nonetheless.

At this point, with my weak shot I am used to ringing the birds neck. I put it in my game pocket in my vest and walk to meet a friend. after we meet up I keep thinking I am hearing a soft cluck. pay no attention..

10 minutes later while working a line of corn the little *censored* jumps out of my vest and takes off running! (luckily my friend is on the other side of the corn and can't see this)

I almost think about shooting it again but can't bring myself to shooting a bird on the ground. After a good chase I catch up with it. make it real dead this time and thats the end of that.

Shot comes tomorrow..

That's funny!

Just glad to hear my Britt aint the only bird dog that doesn't retrieve!

[bracer40]

So a fun little anecdote while we wait:

It is impossible to find 20 gauge steel 2 3/4 shot below 7 in the puget sound region...While I wait for Cabelas to deliver the hevimetal I ordered, I went out to a release site with my before mentioned dove shot.

Bruno, my GSP, is improving immensely: He is starting to understand why we are out in the field and what we are after, getting birdy and methodical. He goes on point(!) Lucy, my GSP/lab running amok accidentally(?) flushes the bird. I knocked it down and both dogs are on it, still no retrieval but on it nonetheless.

At this point, with my weak shot I am used to ringing the birds neck. I put it in my game pocket in my vest and walk to meet a friend. after we meet up I keep thinking I am hearing a soft cluck. pay no attention..

10 minutes later while working a line of corn the little *censored* jumps out of my vest and takes off running! (luckily my friend is on the other side of the corn and can't see this)

I almost think about shooting it again but can't bring myself to shooting a bird on the ground. After a good chase I catch up with it. make it real dead this time and thats the end of that.

Shot comes tomorrow..

That's funny!

Just glad to hear my Britt aint the only bird dog that doesn't retrieve!

That doesn't have to be a permanent conditition. My first Brit was a natural retriever. My 2nd wanted nothing to do with it. Then we trained him to retrieve. Way more fun to hunt over now.

[ctwiggs1]

I might have to pick your brain on that one.  I just can't seem to get him to want to put the darn thing in his mouth.

[bracer40]

Pm me if you want to discuss. It's not an overnight session for sure. I think it was several months of working nearly daily (short, consistent sessions are better than long, weekly ones). All started by forcing him (no pain needed) to hold a bumper in his mouth. Proceeded to walking w/ bumper, picking it up, then going farther to pick up and so on.  Birds (of gradually larger and different scents) came later.