Hunting grouse with flushers
Hunting grouse with flushers
Hey guys, does anybody hunt grouse with flushers? I have been mulling over the breed of my next hunting partner, and the problem is I have been doing a lot more grouse hunting. Usually walking them up, or occasionally with a friends dog, since my old hunting partner is chasing ducks around the big pond in the sky, and was wondering who else hunts grouse with a flushing breed? How does it work for you, what's the positives and negatives? Do you ever wish you had a pointing breed? Thanks guys!
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Springers work great if you keep them close...........................Cj
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
I primarily hunt behind pointers but Having hunted behind flushers I have found this. Early season the dog flush the birds flush I thick cover just a tad too far even though the dog is wicked close. Later the cover is open and the birds are scattered, more prone to wild flushes. Hard to get a critical idea where the bird will come up when the dog is birdy, time is of the essence in the grouse woods. Although if you push a covert and have posters, they will get the bulk of the shooting, especially if uou know the birds escape route. If you follow the flusher I believe you will be disappointed.
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
just the wrong tool for the job in my opinion.. just like I would never put one of my setters in a duck blind
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
No, because I have two. If you are going to use a flusher for birds , you'd better be a darn good shot. Little warning provided. A good pointing breed gives a chance to set up for a good shot. You can teach your pointing breed to flush when you are ready to shoot.Minneguy wrote:Hey guys, does anybody hunt grouse with flushers? I have been mulling over the breed of my next hunting partner, and the problem is I have been doing a lot more grouse hunting. Usually walking them up, or occasionally with a friends dog, since my old hunting partner is chasing ducks around the big pond in the sky, and was wondering who else hunts grouse with a flushing breed? How does it work for you, what's the positives and negatives? Do you ever wish you had a pointing breed? Thanks guys!
A pointing breed needs lots of experience on wild skittish birds before it learns to not crowd the bird at all. It takes time.
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
I prefer hunting behind pointing dogs rather than flushers, but I grew up with retrievers and hunted them with good results on grouse and woodcock. I currently hunt my lab with my english setter and a better combination I can't imagine. A good flusher often lets you know when it's on a bird and mine would often wait to go in for the flush until let her know I was ready. In my lab's prime she was a "bleep" good grouse dog, and all of the retrievers we had growing up were pretty good as well.
- birddogger
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Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
For me, it is more about the dog work than how many birds I can put in the bag. That being said, I still want to shoot some birds but do it with the dogs I enjoy the most, which for me is pointing dogs. In other words, I would use the type of dog I enjoy the most.
Charlie
Charlie
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
I hunt behind pointers but have also had a Lab/GWP mix (Whoops)that I had trained to WHOA on command. I tried for hours and hours to bring out the pointer in her but, no dice. As soon as she got birdy, I would command WHOA, and she wanted to please so badly that she would do so. When I got ready, mostly in the Pheasant fields, I would command, Get the bird. I may train this GWP to flush on command, I usually hunt alone and it is usually quite brushy where I find the birds. Prime popple slashings are hard to find here, mostly hard Maple.
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Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
What type of Grouse?Hey guys, does anybody hunt grouse with flushers?
Hunting grouse with flushers
Thanks for the responses guys. It seems doable, albeit there will be a lot more missed birds and crapped pants from flushes lol. This makes my decision so much harder, because I love grouse, but I love duck and goose as much as I love grouse.
Hunting grouse with flushers
Quill, mostly rough with the occasional spruce. And I've been seeing woodcock already this year in good numbers! I'm pped for hunting season already now lol
Hunting grouse with flushers
See, now If there were some pheasants around here, I'd just get the lab and be done. But the grouse are throwing me off!!!
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Hunted grouse for years with Springer spaniels, great dog for the grouse woods, and also a very serviceable duck dog. You have plenty of warning before the flush if you know how to read your dog. As I got older I started hunting with a pointer, and I loved it. The main difference is on running grouse, put your track shoes on with the Springer if you want to get a shot, a good grouse pointing dog will learn to cut most runners off. With that being said, I do miss my springers and see myself getting another down the road.
- Becassier
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Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Personally I hunt with pointers, I know a lot of people that have very well trained cockers and springers. Find the breeder you like go from there, also you may have a group that holds "hunt tests" go watch and talk to them. Confirm that the breeder hunts and you'll be in good shape. thought you would enjoy this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgotLf7axmY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgotLf7axmY
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Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Supposedly, the Ruffed Grouse of the east is a different species as here in the west when considering IQ (smart's). I dunno but here in the west the flushing Labrador is a fine choice for getting the job done when hunting forest grouse.
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Trade in those track shoes for a "stop" whistle and you will set yourself up for some better shots. Running with a loaded gun is a bad idea.BigJake wrote:Hunted grouse for years with Springer spaniels, great dog for the grouse woods, and also a very serviceable duck dog. You have plenty of warning before the flush if you know how to read your dog. As I got older I started hunting with a pointer, and I loved it. The main difference is on running grouse, put your track shoes on with the Springer if you want to get a shot, a good grouse pointing dog will learn to cut most runners off. With that being said, I do miss my springers and see myself getting another down the road.
Mike
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
If you hunt upland, and do some waterfowl hunting as well, maybe try a American Water Spaniel. They excel in the water and uplands, I use mine for Grouse Woodcock and Pheasant. And do alot of duck hunting. They are not near as hard to keep close as a Springer.
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Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
I have an english cocker and he's a grouse machine! Wouldn't trade him for anything
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
I've seen both styles be successful, I would see if you could hunt behind both styles, flushers and pointers, even if it means you hire a guide to see both styles. I'm not a guide but I would be happy to show you my pointers.
Re: Hunting grouse with flushers
Solution: two dogsMinneguy wrote:Thanks for the responses guys. It seems doable, albeit there will be a lot more missed birds and crapped pants from flushes lol. This makes my decision so much harder, because I love grouse, but I love duck and goose as much as I love grouse.
Hunting grouse with flushers
Man, I freakin love those English cockers! One day I will have one, no doubt about it. Such a fun personality on all the ones I've met!CDN_Cocker wrote:I have an english cocker and he's a grouse machine! Wouldn't trade him for anything
Hunting grouse with flushers
Thanks uplandnut, thats really nice of you! Where are you located? See, this is why sportsman are the best.uplandnut wrote:I've seen both styles be successful, I would see if you could hunt behind both styles, flushers and pointers, even if it means you hire a guide to see both styles. I'm not a guide but I would be happy to show you my pointers.
Hunting grouse with flushers
Unfortunately, that may be the answer down the road, but for now I can only have 1 more. I already have an Aussie, and he is incredible but I don't have enough money or space to have 3 dogs.Sharon wrote:Solution: two dogsMinneguy wrote:Thanks for the responses guys. It seems doable, albeit there will be a lot more missed birds and crapped pants from flushes lol. This makes my decision so much harder, because I love grouse, but I love duck and goose as much as I love grouse.