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Results ruffed grouse opener.

2thepointsetters
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CaptainMusky Grand Master

CaptainMusky

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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.
grin.gif

I think hunting grouse with a lab is worse than hunting without a dog, unless of course you have a pointing lab.

Sure you may see birds, but the chances of getting decent shots are greatly reduced.

A pointing dog is definitely the way to go. I would never consider hunting pheasants without a dog, but I wouldn't think twice about hunting grouse without one.

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charliepete2 Rising Star

charliepete2

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I'm a pointing dog guy, but I couldn't disagree more about hunting over a flushing dog being less productive than hunting solo. My buddy has a Lab and she is great. She listens well, is easy to read, and is a bird retrieving fool. If she is looking hot on a bird, you can sit her down and get in position and then let her go. She sets up birds for easy shooting because most times they are heading strait up to avoid getting their tail bit off. The other aspect is recovering birds. Any good dog is going to find you many more birds than you'd ever come up with on your own. I'm confidant that if I drop a leg on a grouse it's going to end up in the bag. Sometimes a good dog will show up with a cripple you didn't even think you hit.

I would agree that a half trained flusher that ranges at 50 yards and pays you no attention with a snoot full of bird scent would be less productive than hunting alone, but a well trained flusher that hunts close is always an asset. At the very least you could put them at heal the whole time and send them on retrieves.

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CaptainMusky Grand Master

CaptainMusky

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I'm a pointing dog guy, but I couldn't disagree more about hunting over a flushing dog being less productive than hunting solo. My buddy has a Lab and she is great. She listens well, is easy to read, and is a bird retrieving fool. If she is looking hot on a bird, you can sit her down and get in position and then let her go. She sets up birds for easy shooting because most times they are heading strait up to avoid getting their tail bit off. The other aspect is recovering birds. Any good dog is going to find you many more birds than you'd ever come up with on your own. I'm confidant that if I drop a leg on a grouse it's going to end up in the bag. Sometimes a good dog will show up with a cripple you didn't even think you hit.

I would agree that a half trained flusher that ranges at 50 yards and pays you no attention with a snoot full of bird scent would be less productive than hunting alone, but a good trained flusher that hunts close dog is always an asset. At the very least you could put them at heal the whole time and send them on retrieves.

Apparently the labs I have hunted with were ill-trained mutts then.

I have hunted behind many breeds and while Labs have their place in the duck blind and are more than adequate for pheasants, I have not found them to be great for grouse due to various reasons. If the labs I had experience with worked like you described I would not have made the comments I had.

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CaptainMusky Grand Master

CaptainMusky

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Hopefully my post didn't come off harsh. I'm not trying to insult anybodys dogs. I'm just saying that flushers can be helpful in the uplands if they are trained to be.

None taken by me. I am a shorthair guy myself, but I have some buddies that have labs and I have hunted with many others over the years.

They are great dogs, but I think this is just not a strong point for them.

Kinda like a shorthair duck hunting in December. It might work, but you would be better off with a Chesapeake or Lab.

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raymondk Collaborator

raymondk

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i was up in that area last weekend only hunted for about 5 hours once in the morning again the next night seen a total of ten got 4 shot 3 all in one spot dog did an exlent job wish i could go up again I hunted in paul bunyon just try to find spots away from other people,

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uplander Rising Star

uplander

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Finding plenty of birds! getting plenty pointed, but most are taking off low and hard, making it tough to get a line on them. I think i just need to get to the point faster and flush more aggressively, and the birds will start droppin....Warm temps but high winds, the leaves are coming down. should make gunning a bit easier this week..Have not seen any woodcock yet. Most likely due to the warm temps and winds out of the south. When the temps drop and the wind comes out of the North they should come through hard and fast..

Plan on going up around Mcgreggor on Tues. and around Emily next Sun and Mon....Can't wait.....

Question for tothepointsetters.........You still getting plenty of action up there?????

Good luck and good shootin....uplander

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2thepointsetters Experienced

2thepointsetters

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Question for tothepointsetters.........You still getting plenty of action up there?????

Good luck and good shootin....uplander

Lots of action (last Sunday when it was 83 degrees outside I had a point that held 6 grouse ) but the weather hasn't been very good the past week lots of rain and I had to work some O.T. so I haven't done as much hunting as I would like. The last time I was out we averaged about 1 point every 15 min, but I am having the same problem as you with getting a good shot at the birds.

I have tomorrow off to hunt til noon and the weather looks good so I cant wait to get out there.

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2thepointsetters Experienced

2thepointsetters

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Hey 2thepoint.. That is too bad about Tuesday, but we should get together once this year..I'ld love to see that dog of yours..I know Scott Berg very well and use to run trials with those guys. I don't really have time to trial anymore but use all my free time to hunt E-mail me
uplander

I will be sending you an email.

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Meat-Run Veteran

Meat-Run

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Hey Tippman,

Welcome back from your vacation. Congrats on your 47"r and returning my net. Did you end up swinging into Reeds before you left?

Oh, I should contribute to this post. Walked for about an hour on Sunday evening and saw zero, zippo, nada.

mr

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