Gun Dog Forum

Ok. So the question in the topic may be irrelevant to my actual situation, but I still want to hear your answers! My daughter is nearly 2 1/2. She loves the outdoors, is a handful and a spitfire, and loves the dogs and her dad. I'm wanting to chase some pheasant this weekend, but I also don't want t...

Are those woodcock any good to eat? I put them in a brine with water, lemon juice, and salt for at least 24 hours. Mostly it helps to draw the blood out. Then I marinade them for at least 24 hours. The marinade depends on what I'm in the mood for at the time. Then I grill or pan fry until cooked th...

I got out yesterday in some logging land. It was nearly all poolstick popple and some spruce mixed in on the edges. Lots of leaves still up but they are starting to drop. Light mist here and there, but nothing terrible. Anyway, we walked for about 2 hours up and down a closed off logging road and it...

Setterdude, A little bit of both. Actually, it’s a lot of aspen with alder transitions, and some pine/aspen/dogwood. Sounds perfect...have a great season. Thanks! Again, I started this thread to not to talk about my hunts but to hear from other MN Ruffed grouse hunters and their anecdotal accounts ...

Setterdude,

A little bit of both. Actually, it’s a lot of aspen with alder transitions, and some pine/aspen/dogwood.

Well, I was able to get out this evening for 2.5 hours at one of my usual coverts. Weather could hardly be better: 44 degrees with a decent breeze and slightly overcast. There are still a lot of leaves up but they’re starting to drop. Anyway, report on birds flushed. In that 2.5 hour hunt we moved 8...

I'm all in with whoever said "pigeons and launchers." Used correctly, they are incredibly valuable to a guy training a pointing dog. A while back someone on this forum suggested the following technique (please take credit if you read this!): whoever it was said to plant the pigeon/launcher and be su...

Great pictures!

So my first post and I cant believe a moderator has to approve the post and then a moderator posts the rude comments? Another member posts his version of a knock knock joke? Does it get any better? Welcome to the forum! So yes, your first few posts need to be approved. In the world of online bots a...

I couldn’t get out Saturday due to work, but went out this morning. Man, talk about heat and humidity! I got started earlier than I usually do (I like to let the birds get down and walk around some in the morning) but the temps forced my hand. Even at 7 AM it was 68 and like a sauna! Anyway, I hunte...

I actually thought I was helping others here with what I know.. https://i.imgur.com/KTQsNHam.jpg But if people wish, I'll buzz off from here a while. I'll go pester folks on another website. Dude, you’ve posted multiple times and some seemed like just maybe you wanted some advice, but when you get ...

I have an upland shooting shirt from Cabelas and a cheap pair of brush pants from Mills Fleet (made by Wrangler I believe). Nothing fancy. The shirt is breathe-able and has big pockets in the front with sewn in loops to attach my lanyards to. I really like the shirt. The pants do their job, but thei...

Wow! You've made every single step of this way more complicated than it needs to be! Seriously, mankind has had canine companions for tens of thousands of years (depending on your source), and it has not been this complicated. Now clearly I'm not suggesting you ought to live in a cave with a dog, bu...

I don't think most dogs will outrun their nose. Seriously, they can process scent incredibly well! Way better than we give them credit for. Anyway, here are a list of factors that may lead a dog to overrun their noise despite what I said (and anyone can feel free to amend list list since these are o...

mine spend the time when they are not training, hunting or on a run twice a day in 5 X6 kennels in a heated and air conditioned building. they are out in a run for about an hour twice a day Unless we are hunting or training. The temperature varies from 35 below to 95 above so I like climate control...

I'm considering K9Grass artificial turf for my future dogs. It is clean, durable and much softer on pooch paw pads than a concrete slab. I suspect that since it is designed for dogs especially it won't get hotter to the touch than natural grass. It's more or less like an outdoor bright-green marine...

Two things here: 1. Just a simple shout out to all those busting through the brambles, leaves, and mosquitoes to chase the King of Gamebirds this weekend (9/15 is grouse opener in MN), especially in Minnesota! I'll be among that crowd of hard-core people. 2. If people want to share season updates it...

I started my gundog life with Springers and I'll likely die with a springer by my side (or at least one can hope). The reasons are simple. I hunt every bird that flies and is available to hunt in Minnesota so I need a versatile breed, which the springer is. Mine has flushed and retrieved spruce and ...

My dogs get the Lyme vaccine. I really don't see any side effects. That being said, I've also heard that in can be ineffectual, but I'd rather give it to add an extra safeguard than not give it, especially considering they haven't exhibited any side effects. My in-laws lab did contract lymes about a...

My experience is they are attracted to corn fields, water, and grit for their gizzards.

I would be willing to bet these guys had permission from the owners/operators considering how many shots they took without interruption. To the OP... with a shotgun, there are unsafe shots, there are borderline shots, there are dumb shots, and then there are good shots. To explain: unsafe is where s...

All the states I have hunted, it is illegal to party hunt birds. When you shoot your limit you should be done. Sometimes pretty hard to tell who shot each bird though......Cj WHAT?!? You live in Minnesota where it is legal to party hunt small game! The exception to that is migratory birds, but you ...

Dog food posts always get interesting and in-depth. To the OP, I feed both my dogs Purina Pro Plan Sport- the 30/20. I feed it to them all year long, just cutting back the amount in the off-season. Here's why I chose it: I wanted chicken to be the first ingredient. Check. I wanted a national brand i...

I don’t also agree with every Justice, but when they have a majority ruling it is legally binding. So I guess that’s that. And bringing Mille Lacs into the conversation is like comparing apples to plastic chairs. Not even in the same ball park.

There is more to the second amendment. "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state," What does that mean?...………………….Cj That portion is just a prefatory clause to explain purpose. There have been supreme court rulings on this. The prefatory clause explains purpose but i...

There is more to the second amendment. "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state," What does that mean?...………………….Cj That portion is just a prefatory clause to explain purpose. There have been supreme court rulings on this. The prefatory clause explains purpose but i...

Good advice, but I don't worry about those bumps and lumps much. heck, when mine are at a heel and I step on them as I turn I don't feel bad. They should be paying attention. That being said, there are far more dangerous situations. I'll give an example (second hand): At my house we have a deck with...

JonBailey, I am writing this directly to you. I am significantly younger than you (I turn 30 in a month), but I do have some knowledge when it comes to bird dogs and hunting (although not nearly as much as some members here have forgotten). I am a first generation bird hunter (or at least in my qual...

Please don't put thoughts inside the minds of moderators. It's like putting words in other people's mouths. Please let the moderators speak their own minds with their own tongues. Thank you, people. I would welcome mods to even lock this thread but I don't even know if humans are overseeing this si...

Ray,

I read your post 4 times because it was so good. I turn 30 this fall but have trying to make the mental shift you're alluding to for the past 4 years (which is about when my springer had her first season).

Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Bill T. I know a lot of guys who like that little hesitation before the flush with their flushing dogs (usually retriever owners), but I have personally seen the benefits of a dog that flushes incredibly hard and fast: the bird does not have time to get to an ideal escape route (whether on foot or w...

Well, here we go again!

Edit to clarify: The debate of Labs flushing or pointing.

JonBailey wrote:Pointers don't swim and I don't think they retrieve also and I don't think any spaniel breed is attractive.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I apologize, that wasn't me. That laughing was coming from my Pointer and Springer. They thought that was a knee slapper!

I don't trial or test my pointer... and I always had springers before her... But I just let her do her thing and follow her nose. From a meat hunter's perspective there are really two times I handle her search. 1. When I'm changing direction and she can't see me. 2. When there's an objective I know ...

I don’t have a ton of personal experience with labs and grouse, but I have a springer so I can talk so about flushers. Up here in MN, Ruffed Grouse are king, and my springer does just fine, especially if you know the right cover to hunt. My springer just seems to find birds... maybe even more than m...

Listen to Ray. He knows what he’s talking about! But I have an anecdote for you: This year I took my Pointer to a new Ruffed grouse spot. We walked a trail neither of us knew. We got down the trail quite a ways and my dog was out about 100 yards in the woods when my GPS lost connection with the coll...

Personally I believe this is the best time to watch pro sports. The athletes are remarkably more athletic and more talented than in generations past. Sure the styles have changed in the games, but change is part of the sports culture. If things didn’t change there’d be no dribbling in basketball and...

A buddy of mine has a young Pointer from Northwoods. She’s a snappy little dog with lots of style and ability. I hope my next EP can come from his lines.

I start with bird intro... get the pup fired up on chasing down hand thrown clip wings (pigeons are cheap and quail are smaller). Then I throw the bird and when the dog is almost there fire a starter pistol. That does two things: introduces the gunfire without the dog "knowing" and helping the pup a...

Yes! Bring the family!

The club I'm in employs the kids. We teach them to plant birds, carry the bird basket, run the bird launcher, clean birds, etc. Then we call them "Rats!" (affectionately). They love it!

Plus we have a potluck meal that leaves you so full you have to roll home.

You understand correctly. Although spaniels are fantastic retrievers, they don't run straight lines as well as labs, and they're not suppose to run straight lines. That's not the reason they aren't an eligible breed but it's a thought. You could still do your spaniel hunt tests then go to the retrie...

I tend to agree with Ray on this topic. Woodcock are a weird bird. Have you ever eaten one? I shot one that I flushed then had my dog retrieve it after throwing it for her. She figured it out after that.

I have a springer spaniel and an English Pointer. Both are house dogs. Springer spaniel: I love them! Smart as a whip and willing to please. Plus they are extremely versatile, hunting any retrieving anything a guy or gal could want. English Pointer: I kind of got her as a rescue and I could stand se...

I have a fraction of the experience most here have, but I have a relevant story. My young Pointer was sweeping the test field, pointing planted quail perfectly and staying steady. Then she tucked into a thin tree line for a minute and came back out with a Ruffed grouse in her mouth (it must've been ...

Astro. There's enough clanging and beeping in everyday life. The deafening silence is why I escape to the out of doors.

Most of the time I know where she is by standing silently and listening for twigs snapping back into place. If the transmitter beeps I go find her.

1. Pool stick aspen and alders, native grasses mixed with lowland willows 2. I'm comfortable with my dogs range. She's anywhere from 40 to 120 in the grouse woods and punches out to 200 or so for pheasants. I'd like to see what she would do on big rolling prairies. 3. Love my Astro (sweet sweet sile...

Garrison, I have no doubt that a shotgun blast would've really tested her steadiness!

So my Pointer turned 2 this fall. Last year in her inaugural season she was just learning, but I hunted her a lot. That being said, there was a steep learning curve. This year, due to life circumstances I hunted about 15 days... 35 less than last year, give or take. Today I took her out for a post s...

I think, and others may have thought this before, that the disdain for big running dogs (or at least complaints) comes from people who hunt smaller parcels of land. I know most grouse and pheasant areas I hunt in MN are 600 acres and smaller. Rather than acknowledge that their small parcel dog isn't...

Not trying to alarm anyone, this trip is very flexible. Our goal is to see the west and snow. Aww! The snow! I've seen the snow. It can be beautiful at times. Or it can be like today... a mess. Especially after it has been coated with freezing rain. Keep in mind your dogs have to adjust to those co...

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