Turkey Dog?
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 4:14 pm
Went hunting for grouse in the Idaho panhandle yesterday. Cooler and more moisture than last week but still saw no birds. If Jack, English Setter, can't find 'em they ain't there, so we headed back to the truck to try another location at much lower elevation.
At the new spot we ran into a guy with a Boykin Spaniel getting ready for an evening turkey hunt. I did not know that you could hunt turkey with dogs, so after a barrage of curious questions from me, he invited me to come with him and see how it's done.
I left Jack in the care of the turkey hunter's wife at the truck and we took off.
After about 20 minutes of hard casting, the Boykin, Willy, began lining, and then stopped. Right in front of his nose was Jack, on point still attached to his leash. He had escaped while being out for a pee and had found us, Willy and the turkey flock all at the same time. Willy went on, barking loudly and I told Jack to go on. Jack followed, silently of course, he's always quiet when hunting, they busted the flock and both came back after a brief chase.
With both dogs we sat in some deep cover and Bob the turkey hunter started calling the turkey back into us. Willy was sitting stone still and quiet. Jack was trying to whine and pace and I thought he'd ruin the whole effort. But then I whoa'd him and he was still and silent but standing. Then as he scented the approaching Turkeys, he pointed. Bob, I forgot to mention he's a bow hunter, took his shot and a big gobbler went down. We turned the dogs loose and they both retrieved the bird.
Don't know if I want to or even could turn Jack into a flushing dog, but this sure a fun way to hunt Turkey. The Boykin was sure fun to watch and since he doesn't leave your sight, unlike my setter who could easily be 500 yards away at any time, you get to watch him work up close.
At the new spot we ran into a guy with a Boykin Spaniel getting ready for an evening turkey hunt. I did not know that you could hunt turkey with dogs, so after a barrage of curious questions from me, he invited me to come with him and see how it's done.
I left Jack in the care of the turkey hunter's wife at the truck and we took off.
After about 20 minutes of hard casting, the Boykin, Willy, began lining, and then stopped. Right in front of his nose was Jack, on point still attached to his leash. He had escaped while being out for a pee and had found us, Willy and the turkey flock all at the same time. Willy went on, barking loudly and I told Jack to go on. Jack followed, silently of course, he's always quiet when hunting, they busted the flock and both came back after a brief chase.
With both dogs we sat in some deep cover and Bob the turkey hunter started calling the turkey back into us. Willy was sitting stone still and quiet. Jack was trying to whine and pace and I thought he'd ruin the whole effort. But then I whoa'd him and he was still and silent but standing. Then as he scented the approaching Turkeys, he pointed. Bob, I forgot to mention he's a bow hunter, took his shot and a big gobbler went down. We turned the dogs loose and they both retrieved the bird.
Don't know if I want to or even could turn Jack into a flushing dog, but this sure a fun way to hunt Turkey. The Boykin was sure fun to watch and since he doesn't leave your sight, unlike my setter who could easily be 500 yards away at any time, you get to watch him work up close.