Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 10:50:21 AM

Title: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 10:50:21 AM: Bit of a lurker to the forum (but learning a ton!) but figured I would put of some feedback on my hunt over the weekend. Booked a time out at Miller Ranch (about 40min W of Spokane) this last weekend. As this is only second time hunting (yeah, I'm new to the sport and so is my dog) I've been using the "private hunt preserve" as the route to get some experience - happy to trade $$ for less pressure/solitude/etc. :chuckle: Anyway, they gave me a great couple fields to work my dog and my gun. 5 birds . . .went home with 4. Also have a fantastic clay station setup (ready loaded and electronic release). Those looking for a good place to get out and relax should certainly look 'em up :twocents:
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: Netminder01 on November 12, 2013, 11:05:57 AM: Nice birds!

Do you mind sharing the costs per bird and for the hunt?
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 11:59:14 AM: I was unguided so it ran $145 for 5 roosters plus $8/round of clays. The birds were all good sized and lively.
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on November 12, 2013, 12:13:48 PM: We hunt Miller Ranch every year, Scott is a awesome guy.
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: Dhoey07 on November 12, 2013, 12:17:02 PM: Right on :tup: How did the dog do?
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 01:00:33 PM: I felt he did well for the level of experience. He's been on chukar before but first time with phez. I'm still marking birds and trying to get smarter about using the breeze to our advantage. Picked up scent reasonably well (they were planted about 15min before we headed out) and holds a strong point once he's near. Once the bird flushes he's going after it. He's poor on the retrieve so far but heck, I"m stoked and he's stoked so I kind of look past it :) He bumped two residuals that were floating around which is probably my biggest gripe. Yes, I do shoot at a bumped bird (frick for the money I spend hell be damned with bad habits ...I'm shootin'!).

I find he gets a little better focus when he get's some of the initial energy out of him and I whoa him a bit. He really reacts well to whoa in the sense of stopping and going to high alert.
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: wildweeds on November 12, 2013, 05:28:02 PM: Since you said your kind of new at it, your statement below here has a real good percentage rate of biting you right square in the hind parts on down the road,using the if it flies it dies with a pointer can yeild disastorus results.I've seen more than one pointing dog that was developed with the shoot anything method and they sure were real good well beyond gun range flushers.

Quote from: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 01:00:33 PM
He bumped two residuals that were floating around which is probably my biggest gripe. Yes, I do shoot at a bumped bird (frick for the money I spend hell be damned with bad habits ...I'm shootin'!).
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: Bmcox86 on November 12, 2013, 06:40:27 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 08:08:41 PM: Thanks for the advice on dog handling....
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: merkelman on November 12, 2013, 10:47:17 PM: Quote from: tumalo on November 12, 2013, 08:08:41 PM
Thanks for the advice on dog handling....
I sense sarcasm?
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: aaronoto on November 12, 2013, 11:08:08 PM: Good looking birds and dog! Going out to Miller Ranch myself tomorrow.
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: tumalo on November 13, 2013, 08:36:37 AM: Thanks aaronoto . . .enjoy your day out there!

Merkelman . . .no sarcasm intended. Original intent of my post was to simply give a thumbs up for Miller R (I believe in doing that for small business) and not enter a debate about handling of my dog. My bad to respond to the initial question and now prefer to just move along.
Title: Re: Miller Ranch Experience
Post by: merkelman on November 13, 2013, 03:49:56 PM: Quote from: tumalo on November 13, 2013, 08:36:37 AM
Thanks aaronoto . . .enjoy your day out there!

Merkelman . . .no sarcasm intended. Original intent of my post was to simply give a thumbs up for Miller R (I believe in doing that for small business) and not enter a debate about handling of my dog. My bad to respond to the initial question and now prefer to just move along.
[/quote
Yew Sir...