Switching species

[setterguy]

I just read an article in The pointing dog journal about the transitions that dogs go through when switching birds ie; grouse to pheasants. Just wondering how your dogs adjust and if it is harder for pointing dogs than flushers. I know with the grouse opener a month behind us that my dogs will have some adjustments to make, such as being able to break a point to trial a running pheasant, something that I would not tolerate in the grouse woods, and being able to put a little more distance between us because of the different kind of terrain. Just looing to hear some responses on the subject. Does anyone have any methods that ease the transition? Good luck this weekend, I hope everyone has full crockpots come Sunday night.

[Fishin' Addict]

Just get out and hunt. Dependent on their age and experience they've a good idea as to whats going on and hey they won't pick-up grouse scent on the prairie. It's about getting on the desired species for the first time this year and if, like your username indicates, you have setters which is also the only breed I've experience with) then you've undoubtedly used both grouse and pheasant wings in the past and seen the dogs reaction to one or the other (either way the typical reaction is analogous to that of a crack-addict seeing the object of their addiction).

Putt'em up and knock'em down this weekend!!!

[fisherdog19]

I started hunting in 1994 for quail in Oklahoma and subsequently bought a setter the following year. I lived in Oklahoma until 2001 until moving to Fargo. Since there are no quail here, I started hunting for pheasants. Well, in Oklahoma, I let my dog run as big as she wanted, sometimes 4-500 yards. When we first started hunting for pheasants she ran big and would point birds but by the time I got to her the birds were gone. She finally figured out that she needed to stay closer and will stay within 100 yards now. Thats close enough for me, I'm still young and can jog over to her before the bird leaves. I do go back to Oklahoma every year, and to my surprise, I think she remembers and proceeds to hunt big again. When we come back to ND, she stays big for a couple hours and then remembers to shorten up. Only problem is that we're moving to Detroit Lakes and want to start hunting grouse so I need to figure out how to slow her down and keep her within 30-40 yards. We'll se how it goes.

Fisherdog

[Fishin' Addict]

Fisherdog, no big deal she/he will pick-up the game. Like pheasant once she learns the ground rules for this bird she/he will be an allstar. Get some grouse wings from grouse and let her find them in the yard, the woods before you hunt, etc. Grouse are easier than pheasant as they generally don't run and flush nicely. But its the terrain that sucks it seems that as far as birds go you can just walk cutting trails but as most game-birds go sometimes you have to bushwhack to find food sources and nesting areas. It will be a question of how much time your willing to wait to allow her to acclimate to the new species. I recommend getting a really good bell (Dunns carries great swedish cowbells that are excellent) or beeper collars (annoying and noisy but very effective) and if you haven't already invested into and ecollar and received the proper training with it then you might also think about dropping 400 - 500 dollars on a good one and getting some good training on how to use it. Great tools

Putt'em up and knock'em down!!!