Now That's a Trial Dog

[Grange]

I took my dogs into the woods this afternoon. I decided to leave the gun at home and just bring the blank pistol since I've got birds in the freezer from this past weekend. My setter usually takes a big initial cast or two and on the second big cast I heard the bell stop.



At this distance I've got to stop and listen closely in order to hear the bell. With her being out front I just walked toward the direction I last heard the bell.

After a long walk I found my setter on point. It's a bad picture, but it was my taken with my mobile phone.


I went into flush, but didn't find the bird so I relocated her. She went on a second point probably about 50 yards from the initial point. The problem was I couldn't find her. This is the kind of cover I was trying to bust through to find her.


I was making so much noise and busting so much brush I figured I caused the bird to flush. That is when I found her again.


Again figuring I moved the bird I decided to try and relocate her again. She took off and went on point again probably about 50 yards away. This time I found her easily as it wasn't as thick.


I worked the area in front of her and flushed a grouse.

In the hour we were out I found three more coveys with one being pointed by my setter though they were substantially shorter points (about 60 and 90 yards) and one being flushed by my lab.

[CowboyBirdDogs]

Thats awesome! Seems like some pretty thick stuff to hunt.

[jeff gruennert]

Grange are there any grouse trials in augusta this fall. I have a cabin in Ladysmith and would like to come down and check it out

[Grange]

Yes. The WI Championship starts on either Oct. 2 or Oct. 3.

[Nick Miles]

Nice. Out of interest, what is considered good range out there? I notice 305yds (or m? can't see)

[Grange]

305 yards is a long way in that cover no doubt. You've got to be able to trust your dog to be honest with birds because it can take a while to bust through the cover to get to the dog. A good range depends on who is handling the dog. One of my hunting partners prefers his dogs closer (somewhere around 75 yards or closer). I prefer a bigger going dog, but 300+ yards on a consistent basis in that cover would be too big for me.