Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: havershap on March 22, 2024, 05:42:39 PM

Title: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: havershap on March 22, 2024, 05:42:39 PM: I'm looking for a place in or near Skagit or Snohomish County where I can train my dog on live, farm-raised birds. If anyone knows of anyplace, I would appreciate the information.

Thanks,
Ed
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: Colin on March 24, 2024, 06:32:10 AM: Brian Miller at Snow Mountain Game Farm up in Skagit.

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Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: HackDaddy on March 29, 2024, 05:24:18 PM: Snow Mt is a great option, but will add up quickly if used for training. Craigslist and other classifieds (Snow Mt often will sell just birds too) will offer game birds for sale that can then be taken to local pheasant release site or wildlife areas. Little more work required, but a whole lot less money.
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: ducks4days on March 29, 2024, 07:11:34 PM: Is it not legal to go out to logging cuts or the bay to train? Samish unit during the off season?
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: PheasantHunter88 on April 17, 2024, 11:01:22 AM: What are some tips for training / keeping a bird dog active in the off season? I have a 4 year old GSP and live in east pierce county and im trying to find some ways to keep him ready for the bird season besides daily runs / obedience training.
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: havershap on April 20, 2024, 05:18:53 AM: I have a 7 year old lab. I put her through some of the same drills that I used when training her initially, such as blind retrieves, handling, and marked retrieves. Most of these drills are for retrieving so they may not apply to your GSP. One drill that may apply to you is to find hidden bumpers. I will plant a few scented bumpers in a big field and command her to "hunt 'em up". Then I follow her as she hunts for the bumpers just like we would hunt pheasants. A friend of mine, who has a smaller area in which to work, will stand in his front yard and launch a bumper over the house into the back yard and command his dog to go and find it.
These specific drills may not be of use to you but perhaps there are other drills that are used to train pointers that you can use.
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: Pegasus on April 20, 2024, 08:18:17 AM: Quote from: havershap on April 20, 2024, 05:18:53 AM
I I will plant a few scented bumpers in a big field and command her to "hunt 'em up". Then I follow her as she hunts for the bumpers just like we would hunt pheasants.

I found my dogs got pretty smart really quick by following my footprint scent out as I planted the bumpers. Be sure to throw them at the end of your walk out to plant the bumpers. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Looking for a Place to Train
Post by: Special T on April 20, 2024, 06:46:20 PM: Whistling wings is a trading club that meets in Snohomish. They have a FB page and are good people. They have birds and gear.