First Pheasant Hunt

[Dahitman44]

I will try that.

thanks

Hope I don't pull an "Eddie"

I know bad joke.

[SDbowhunter]

Granted my dog chased away a fair amount of birds opening weekend. But even with the mishaps We were able to get a limit the first day and were 3 birds shy on our 2nd. Sure it made a couple people mad when he ran off but he also found 3 birds that older more expirenced dogs gave up on. This first year is not about you bagging limits. And if your hunting partner is in the same boat then I really wouldnt worry about it too much. Its about getting the dog excited about hunting. I'd try to get out to an open field or park wear you can let him run around off lead, work on the ranging before you go. Hopefully you can associate the shocking with not being close enough to you and not trailing birds. Again I wouldnt worry if he chases after the first couple birds no shocking just lots of praise after that. If you think he is understanding that birds are good, ranging is bad then I wouldnt be afraid to shock him. I have always been told that if a dog is doing something bad but then stops and comes to you after a "NO" and "COME" that is a good thing and they deserve praise.

Another thing. I dont know if you have your dog wistle trained but It helps immensly while pheasent hunting. I have my dog trained to sit/attention on one wistle and come on multiple wistles for what ever reason he react much quicker to the whistle and it will save you from losing your voice which is pretty much garenteed the first year.

[JDM]

Quote:

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I know it is a faux pas when hunting pheasants but I talked alot to my dog last year.

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I see no issue what so ever with this. Especially with a lab. I should have added to my post that I use the following commands all the time when hunting pheasants:

Hunt em up - gets them moving, lets them know it is ok to do it or break a heel command

Too far - not "here," but tells them they are to far away from me and should hunt back into range

No bird - stops a young dog from running after a flyer

deadbird - looking for a downed bird or cripple

over - handling into cover

Whistle commands - especially in high wind or at a distance

It is OK to have your own, just try to be as consistent with them as possible. I am so pumped for pheasant season. I just ran my dog. He is in terrific condition and in his prime. Good luck to all and be safe.

[gonefishin11]

JDM... I use basically the same commands I just had to use them a little more than I wanted to last year, especially the "stay close" and "hunt 'em up" or "find a bird."

I am hoping this year she knows the program and I will be using mostly the "dead bird" (if I shoot well) and "no bird" (when I miss).

I also attempted to whistle train her this summer so we will see what happens. She does well at the park and did okay duck hunting so hopefully it works out this weekend.

[Dahitman44]

EXCELLENT info guys -- keep it up.

Hit

[PHESNTHNTR]

Just my two pennies :

First EMT gel is in my jacket pocket all the time, it stops bleeding fast. In my Suburban I keep other items on the lists that the others created, all good things to have, just in case. I also keep a spray bottle of skunk-off, just in case we find one of them striped things.

I must say I'm with JDM on the dogs. If I tell my dogs to sit, I want them to sit until I tell them to do something else. Both of my labs are collar conditioned. They were taught sit, here, heal, along with whistle and hand signals. In the field if my dogs are to far out, a tweet on the whistle they are to start coming back to me, if they don't then I try again with a little electricity to remind them.

[Dahitman44]

The ND trip was fun. We took home 9 birds and head a great time. I can see why people say Pheasant is their favorite type of hunting.

[gonefishin11]

How did Copper do? He flush and retrieve birds for you? Stay close? I am curious to see how his first pheasant hunt went?

[jigging-matt]

Digger made his first hunt this weekend. Couldn't be prouder. Found a lot of birds made some nice points, and even found a couple of downed but still running birds. Wasn't sure on the retrieves yet, but would immediately go to the bird and pin it so it couldn't run. here is a pick from the second day.

[Dahitman44]

GF --

Thanks for asking.

Copper did a GREAT job. You could tell that when he was on birds he went after them hard. He zipped around after them and did a fantastic job flushing them. He was very into it. I could tell that he was having the most fun he has ever had. He likes duck hunting, but really loves pheasant.

When we dropped a bird he always found it -- very impressive.

The buddy I was hunting with his pup is Copper's sister and she stayed closer to him but did not figured out the scent thing, but he never worked with her wither so she did not know what to look for.

No fights and the two dogs did very well together.

It was really fun to see what Copper can do. I did have a tough time keeping him close -- his collar was not working right and I will be returning it. My buddy bought a collar for his dog and that worked well for her so I tried it on Copper and wow what a difference.