Hunting grouse with flushers

Post Reply
Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Wed Apr 16, 2014 2:37 pm

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!

cjhills
GDF Junkie
Posts: 2529
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:37 am
Location: aitkin,mn

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by cjhills » Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:12 pm

Springers work great if you keep them close...........................Cj

User avatar
bonasa
Rank: Champion
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:01 pm
Location: New England

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by bonasa » Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:35 pm

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.

smittty
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:06 am
Location: new jersey

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by smittty » Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:07 pm

just the wrong tool for the job in my opinion.. just like I would never put one of my setters in a duck blind

User avatar
Sharon
GDF Junkie
Posts: 9113
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Ontario,Canada

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Sharon » Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:14 pm

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!
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.
A pointing breed needs lots of experience on wild skittish birds before it learns to not crowd the bird at all. It takes time.

User avatar
Grange
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 1003
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:24 pm
Location: Green Bay, WI

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Grange » Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:40 pm

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.

User avatar
birddogger
GDF Junkie
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:09 pm
Location: Bunker Hill, IL.

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by birddogger » Wed Apr 16, 2014 5:20 pm

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. :wink:

Charlie

Rod W
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 230
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:15 am
Location: Phelps, Wis.

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Rod W » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:12 pm

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.

QuillGordon
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 281
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 7:21 am
Location: Utah

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by QuillGordon » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:42 pm

Hey guys, does anybody hunt grouse with flushers?
What type of Grouse?

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:19 pm

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.

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:19 pm

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

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:48 pm

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!!!

BigJake
Rank: Junior Hunter
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:15 pm
Location: MN

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by BigJake » Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:23 am

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.

User avatar
Becassier
Rank: Junior Hunter
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 3:37 pm
Location: Southeastern Michigan

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Becassier » Fri Apr 18, 2014 5:16 am

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

QuillGordon
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 281
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 7:21 am
Location: Utah

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by QuillGordon » Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:32 am

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.

Image

User avatar
MJB64
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 118
Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:28 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by MJB64 » Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:00 am

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.
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.

Mike

User avatar
BAYDOG
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:05 pm
Location: Phelps, NY

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by BAYDOG » Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:34 am

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.

User avatar
CDN_Cocker
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 1416
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:59 pm
Location: ON, Canada

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by CDN_Cocker » Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:13 pm

I have an english cocker and he's a grouse machine! Wouldn't trade him for anything

Image

Image

uplandnut
Rank: Junior Hunter
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:28 pm
Location: cadott WI

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by uplandnut » Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:31 am

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.

User avatar
Sharon
GDF Junkie
Posts: 9113
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 4:46 pm
Location: Ontario,Canada

Re: Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Sharon » Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:46 pm

Minneguy 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.
Solution: two dogs :-)

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:51 pm

CDN_Cocker wrote:I have an english cocker and he's a grouse machine! Wouldn't trade him for anything

Image

Image
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!

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:55 pm

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.
Thanks uplandnut, thats really nice of you! Where are you located? See, this is why sportsman are the best.

Minneguy
Rank: Senior Hunter
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:16 pm

Hunting grouse with flushers

Post by Minneguy » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:56 pm

Sharon wrote:
Minneguy 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.
Solution: two dogs :-)
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.

Post Reply