New to New England hunting & gun dogs

[ryanonthebeach]

Although I started on bigger game I most enjoyed hunting guinea fowl and franklin in South Africa when I was a kid, we didn’t use dogs.
I have moved to New England since and was looking to start hunting again with a gun dog. Looking at a getting Vizsla.

I have no idea what’s available here in terms of birds, will be starting from scratch. Would like some advice on where to begin. e.g. what type of game would be best to start on with a pointer and a small shotgun.

Thanks
Ryan

[Andy]

Ryan, welcome to New England. The native upland game birds are American woodcock and ruffed grouse. All the NE states have open seasons on woodcock, and all but RI have a grouse season. Northern New England has the better habitat, bird numbers, and access to land and therefore better hunting. This is especially so for grouse; good woodcock hunting can still be found in southern New England, just not to the extent that exists farther north.
Good sources of information on grouse and woodcock and their habitat include: http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org, http://www.timberdoodle.org, and http://www.birddogsafield.org -- there are some good on-line hunting videos on birddogsafield that'll give you a good feel for the habitat to look for.
Books include Grouse Hunting Strategies (reprint of Grouse and Grouse Hunting) by Frank Woolner, The Complete Book of Woodcock Hunting by Frank Woolner, Serious Grouse Hunting Book 1 by Jay Kumar, and New England Grouse Shooting by William Harnden Foster (tough to find).
To jump start your grouse education you may consider a guided hunt in northern New England (a google search on grouse hunting guides in VT, NH, and ME should produce plenty). Also, the Ruffed Grouse Society is hosting 2 grouse and woodcock habitat benefit hunts this fall: Oct 19-21 in upstate NY, and Nov 8-10 in ME (http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/banquets_events).
IMO nothing beats wild birds for developing a bird dog -- the more bird contacts the better. However if you can't get to wild birds often enough, strong flying bobwhite, chukar and pigeons can be useful. For training assistance and comraderie check out the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) chapters in your area.
Good hunting

[Ruffshooter]

Hey Ryan:

Another thing: you do not need a dog to hunt Ruffs but it is more fun. Go to paper company land.

Find the habitat, walk slow, stop, look around, listen, you will her them put, put, put, put just before they are about to get out of town. they are getting nervous.

Enjoy.
Welcome to New England. Lots of birds this year.
Rick

[ryanonthebeach]

Thanks for all the info Rick and Andy!

Much appreciated. Will take some time to process but looking forward to getting started.

Ryan