Upland bird hunting without a dog

[MHutch]

Hey guys,
  I'm just looking for some advice on the best ways to hunt grouse, chukar, pheasants, etc. around here without a dog.  I'm a college student living in Spokane during the school year so there's no way I'm going to have a dog while I'm up here but I'm still trying to get out and hunt when I have the time.  I grew up in Kansas so I did plenty of pheasant and quail hunting, and I know how much tougher that is without a dog, but I've never hunted grouse or chukar.  I've gone up north a couple times for grouse and I'm planning on going camping in a couple weeks down south to do some steelhead fishing and hopefully hunting.  Last weekend I spent the whole day hiking around old logging trails up in the mountains and I didn't see a single grouse.  I probably hiked about 8 miles and I was up above 4000-4500 feet most of the time but I still didn't see a single bird.  I didn't really hunt much down low where I know there would be more ruffed grouse but I figured it would be easier to find blues without a dog since I'd be hunting in much less dense areas.  Any advice would be appreciated.

[penhuntsbirds]

well if you can afford it go to one of the dozens of Bird Preserves over there. Again little spendy but you know you will not be wasting time! Split the hunt with someone! Good luck bud! And great attitude!

[BIGINNER]

i dunno if this is gonna help any at all, but a couple week ago i was walkikng my german shorthair at the park and i saw a guy walking his hunting dog, we started talking about bird hunting,  well since this is my fiirst season, and my dog is a little youg, i asked him if he ever hunted upland birds without a dog,  he said that last yeay he got 24 pheasants without a dog,  and he retreived 23 without a problem, and lost one that was able to fly across a river before dropping.     so i'm, guessing that pheasants should be easy without a dog,     

[satchel3006]

if it was so easy then why does he have a hunting dog 

[high country]

i dunno if this is gonna help any at all, but a couple week ago i was walkikng my german shorthair at the park and i saw a guy walking his hunting dog, we started talking about bird hunting,  well since this is my fiirst season, and my dog is a little youg, i asked him if he ever hunted upland birds without a dog,  he said that last yeay he got 24 pheasants without a dog,  and he retreived 23 without a problem, and lost one that was able to fly across a river before dropping.     so i'm, guessing that pheasants should be easy without a dog,     

I kill a lot of upland birds, I would not get 20% of them without my dog. a late season bird is either so birdy it will flush when you get 200 yds from it, or hold so tight you have to kick it in the air.

[bowhunterforever]

Well since you dont have a dog! Grouse just drive old logging roads until you start seeing birds, then get out and walk the roads until you get your limit(if you find the right spot), chuckar, quail and the rest of birds you want, pick a draw and start walking and hope theres some birds in there Good luck I hope you kill lots

[rosscrazyelk]

I grew up hunting without a dog and we did just fine. Just have to remember to not walk consisitantly. Change your pace and sometimes even stop when you get to areas that look birdy. All these birds are without a dog

[goosegetter79]

I grew up hunting without a dog and we did just fine. Just have to remember to not walk consisitantly. Change your pace and sometimes even stop when you get to areas that look birdy. All these birds are without a dog

X2 Especially on the stopping part. I shot many a pheasant when I was in high school stopping every 30-40 yards when walking thru the grass or creek beds. I guess they get nervous or something when you stop so they flush.

[509]

I would focus on ruffed grouse, chukar, and qua

I think you can do fine with those species without a dog.  The problem is not in flushing the birds, but finding them after you shoot them.  That is where a dog comes in real handy.  I find chukar hunting easier without a "flushing" dog.

Also don't forget jump shooting ducks in small streams.  You can float in a canoe or just walk along the banks.

"Hunting without a dog is like having sex without a partner"  Hey, is that politically correct?

[EastWaViking]

I have better luck w/o a dog for pheasants than with one.  You'll be fine.

[Hangfire]

You can have success on pheasants. The important thing is to take only good shots, if the bird is coming down but not hit hard, hit again, and keep your eyes right on the spot where went down. You can flush birds with out a dog but finding them is where the problem is. If walking up on a downed bird and you flush another, forget it until you find the downed bird. The dog adds quality to the hunt, when it works right.

[SpringerFan]

Hunting birds without a dog is like having sex by yourself. You will get the finish you want, but the thrill of the foreplay is lost. Nothing better then seeing your dog work. Thinking it is fun.........and always looking to please you.

But you can do that yourself I suppose.  

[Copperwood]

Hunting birds without a dog is like have sex by yourself. You will get the finish you want, but the thrill of the foreplay is lost. Nothing better then seeing your dog work. Thinking it is fun.........and always looking to please you.

But you can do that yourself I suppose. 

  Could not have said it better myself

[FALFire]

Hunting birds without a dog is like having sex by yourself. You will get the finish you want, but the thrill of the foreplay is lost. Nothing better then seeing your dog work. Thinking it is fun.........and always looking to please you.

But you can do that yourself I suppose.  

As long as you are not having foreplay with the dog...Right?   

[Skyvalhunter]

Don't even go down that street!!

[Gutpile]

Hunting birds without a dog is like having sex by yourself. You will get the finish you want, but the thrill of the foreplay is lost. Nothing better then seeing your dog work. Thinking it is fun.........and always looking to please you.

But you can do that yourself I suppose.  

Whats foreplay?

I grew up hunting pheasants with a dog and it's really about as good as it gets but my lifestyle simply does not offer time for a dog. When pheasant numbers are good I hunt without a dog and do just fine. Be prepared to lose a couple though because it's gonna happen. I've shot lots of quail, pheasants, and huns without a dog and have just as much fun as I used to with a dog. You just have to take your time and try to pinch them into draws where they have to fly and not run out on you. Sure wish the pheasant numbers were as good as they were in the 80's when I was a kid.

[jjhunter]

I grew up in Whitman County hunting birds without a dog.   I did very well - in good years I would take over 100 roosters, alone.   You need to hunt country conducive to hunting without a dog, though.   Focus on the bottom of canyons/draws, narrow or smaller thick patches of "red brush", the scab rock country, brush under bluffs, etc.

Stay away from the real open country and if possilbe, approach your target area from a direction that shields your approach.

Someone mentioned changing your pace from time to time - this works as well.

[CP]

You can have success on pheasants. The important thing is to take only good shots, if the bird is coming down but not hit hard, hit again, and keep your eyes right on the spot where went down. You can flush birds with out a dog but finding them is where the problem is. If walking up on a downed bird and you flush another, forget it until you find the downed bird. The dog adds quality to the hunt, when it works right.

+1 on that.

Think one bird at a time without a dog, otherwise you will lose a lot of downed birds.  You will lose birds anyway but if you forget trying for doubles and triples you will be more successful.

[uplandhunter870]

i have never hunted upland with a dog and usually do quite well. i will second just about everything that has been said above, but i will stress only shooting one bird at a time and watch it fall, dont take your eyes off that spot and find that bird.  shooting doubles and triples without a dog 9/10 times results in 1 or 2 lost birds.

hunt locations that the birds only option is to fly out of.  the changing walking speed and random stopping tactic works well for me, i think it messes with their mind even if you havent spotted them or pin pointed their location it makes them think you have