Results ruffed grouse opener.

[2thepointsetters]

Hunted for about 5 hours today in the rain. I had 6 points, 7 flushes and got 3 birds. I thought I would have found more birds, but the ones I did find were holding very nicely for the dog. Also two of the birds I got were mature birds. I have been seeing lots of small birds so far. (good sign)

[2thepointsetters]

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Pointers seem to hold birds tighter. I think the beeper collar plays with their pea size brain. Many times I have points where the grouse sticks around even when it takes me 3-4 minutes to get thru the brush.

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I just started using a beeper this year I think you might be onto something by thinking it messes with the small brain of a grouse. I have never seen grouse hold as tight as they have since I started using the beeper. After using a beeper this weekend, I can't believe I ever hunted the thick woods without one. (I wonder how many birds I missed because the dog was on point and I never knew)

[Mudflap]

Beepers are a God Send, especially in the wind which seems to be extreme whenever I go out. I have a back-up just in case one goes out. I forgot them one day and went back to the bell and hated it.

When I got the new one which is a Tri-Tronics brand, I started out using the hawk screech, which is supposed to instinctively hold birds.I went back to the "Garbage truck backing up to a Dumpster mode" and seem to have better luck holding grouse.

2thePoint,

Nice Looking Dog...looks well worked. Do you do Trials?

Where did you get your Setter from? I'm kind in the market for another Setter if I stay in N. Minnesota. Sort of partial to the Ryman.

[Matt Breuer]

Hunted between Thief River Falls and Roseau on Saturday, saw 13 ruffies and 14 sharptail, shot 6 ruffs and one of the sharpies. Also saw a covey of huns on the way up to the cabin on Friday night, figures, day early... Sunday hunted for less than 2 hours around Bemidji, put up 5 birds, took down 3. The Shorthairs did a phenomenal job over the weekend, I was extremely happy with great holds and even better brings.

We had a mix of the broods, young and old birds. We also saw 3 pairs and a set, so some of them are still coveyed up.

Gauge with his prize...

Saturday's bag...

[jbdragon17]

I won't hunt grouse without a beeper anymore. I use the beeper bell combo and hunt the beeper on point only mode if it is calm, and hunt/beep mode when windy. I have a red setter so I also often run her with an orange vest. Beeper, Bell, Orange vest combo sometimes has her looking like the bionic dog out there...lol

As far as birds running right now...Might be that has something to do with the amount of foliage still?

[Mr.Seaguar]

My buddy tried that hawk scream on his collar while we were pheasant hunting last yr. We sat there watching the birds flush ahead of him.

[fishroger]

Sorry if im off the subject a little. But what brand off beeper collar do you use? Am looking at them for my young lab. Thanks

[jbdragon17]

I own a Dogtra T & B 2000 and an Innotek. Both Beeper/Trainers. The Dogtra is FAR better. I am really looking at the Garmin GPS system too.

[uplander]

Hunted North of Mora today for about 4 hours in the pouring rain.Moved 8 birds shot one........Loved it!!!..3 really nice points.....better than I thought we'd do with the weather....My beeper collar is out of order so had to go strait bell .......once again had a couple runners

[uplander]

Hey Quickstrike! You were my batender on the North Shore....you still doing that?

[2thepointsetters]

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Nice Looking Dog...looks well worked. Do you do Trials?

Where did you get your Setter from? I'm kind in the market for another Setter if I stay in N. Minnesota. Sort of partial to the Ryman.

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Thanks. He is from Berg Bros in Rogers MN. My setter is strictly for hunting but Berg Bros run trials with their dogs and they do very well. He is part Ryman but I dont remember how much. If you are looking at getting a setter, I would highly recommend calling Scott Berg his knowledge of setters is amazing.(and most of the pups sell for $550-$650 which is a great deal for blood lines you are getting) If you are interested in a seeing Berg Bros dog hunt just let me know.

[uplander]

Hey 2thepoint,is that a Jack puppy? I also wasn't aware the Berg's had any Rymans....Are you sure?

[jbdragon17]

They also have REALLY nice Red Setters ...like mine

[tybo]

If you are lookingfor dogs with a Ryman bloodline you could look at Setter Hills in Willmar. I bought a pup from there last year. He's a great dog and the owner really cares about her dogs and where they are placed. She's very selective. Not really into trials but if you want a great hunting dog and companion these dogs are perfect. You can check her out on the web at Setter Hills Gundogs.

[mamohr686]

I took my brother along for his first grouse hunt NE of park rapids on sunday. Overall it was a tough hunt but we had consistent action. We only ran into one family brood, the rest were mature birds or singles. Overall we had 9 or 10 flushes and shot 3 times, with no birds taken. We could've easily shot one out of a tree but I wouldn't let my brother shoot his fist grouse perched in a tree, and of course he missed it when it dropped blow the canopy. The 70 degree weather made it tougher on us and the dogs but it was a fun day. I'm glad the frost cleared up most of the bugs but I still found about 4 deer ticks on my dog after the hunt. The forecast was for a upswing on the cycle but I found lower or similar numbers to last year, but I don't mind working for them.

[tybo]

Three of us were out near Mora on Sat & Sun. We each saw 3-6 birds each time we went out (twice Sat & once Sun). No kills, a few misses but a lot of birds. We busted up a brood or two with a total of 12-15 birds on Friday evening right by the camp. We must have had another 12-15 woodcock points and could have pass shot woodcocks flying into the alders near camp on Sat evening.

[2thepointsetters]

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Hey 2thepoint,is that a Jack puppy? I also wasn't aware the Berg's had any Rymans....Are you sure?

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Sorry I am wrong... I just talked to Scott. But yes it is a Jack and Equinox pup.

[brassman]

I shot 2 this past weekend, I saw a total of 8 and I'm 100% for shots. I only got to shoot at 2 kind of tough with a green lab. he didn't really know what to do, I could care less though he is meant for pheasants. Both the pups in my avatar are for pheasants. I like walking the woods by myself. I might say something different if I had a pointing dog but I can tell you I can shoot more birds without a dog.

[jbdragon17]

Without a pointing dog? A good pointing dog is going to cover 10x the ground a person can. That turns into more chances which in turn turns into more birds shot. . I cant tell you how many times in the two short years I have been hunting my dog where I went down a trail right behind someone without a pointing dog, and we got the birds they missed.

[Flatlander]

"I might say something different if I had a pointing dog but I can tell you I can shoot more birds without a dog."

That's what he said.

[schr0563]

I agree, my flushes increase but my shots decrease when I hunt with my dog, a lab. I think the important thing to note here is whether the dog is a flusher or a pointer. A pointer should certainly aide in the hunt. In my case, where my dog flushes the bird as soon as it locks onto its scent results in many flushes where I never get a chance to be in position to get a shot. If I wanted more birds in the bag then I'd go without my dog, but since my goal is an enjoyable day in the woods for both myself and the dog then he comes with.

[brassman]

I agree that dogs certainly up your odds, but for my experience with flushing labs, it hasn't really helped me. I have never hunted behind a pointing dog but I assume that it would be much better than a lab. At least for grouse anyways. For pheasants however, I would never consider walking without one. Lab or pointer.

[Mudflap]

I've ruined many "Seasoned Grouse Hunters" by taking them out with a pointer. After, they say walking without a dog seems like you are wasting your time.

Even my 16 yr.old who thinks I've lost my mind because I "hunt alone" is starting to understand the sickness. Get them out on a good day and it's like watching the Outdoor Channel.

I'm starting to get nervous because my dog is getting old and I have no back-up. Even a brain dead pup is better than huinting blind.

[joe_stack20]

I have always hunted grouse with no dog and done pretty darn well in the late season. However i think Hunting grouse without a dog is like going ice fishing without a vexilar. Unless in both instances..you know where the birds/fish are!

[brassman]

I shot 2 birds over my two pups today, have to say one of them I wouldn't have shot if it weren't for the dark one in my avatar, otherwise out of the 10 birds seen today only one I can give the dog credit for, I saw 2 coveys one of 3 where the dogs got a little ahead of my father and I and they flushed them right into the woods, and the second covey was downwind of the dogs and flushed right next to us. Still I am not knocking hunting grouse with dogs, things would have been different without dogs, or maybe wiht a little more experienced dogs, and of course more different with pointing dogs. Either way though I enjoy every minute out there as much with or without dogs being by my side.