Gun Dog Forum

We were hunting pheasants along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River today. A pheasant that was flushed and coming our way was forced to the ground when a goshawk came after it. It was neat to watch. We walked over to where it went down and flushed it again. The rooster flew close to the ground and I shot it. I'm sure that goshawk made it want to stay close to the ground. I've been keeping track of all the birds I've shot since the 1980-81 bird season. This was my 3000th bird in that time span but I've never had a bird help get a bird before.

Had one follow me around in a quail gully. Every time I flushed some it would chase them. They sure hit the brush at full speed when being chased. Just about shot it, was about ready to pull the trigger when it tried to grab the one I was going to shoot at. They try to catch my pigeons also during the winter. Not sure if they are goshawks or cooper's hawks

A hawk will make running quail or checkers lock down in the brush tight. A hawk is always welcome on my hunts.

Hunting pheasants in ND this year, a peregrine falcon followed me around for about 20 minutes. I walked in to my dog on point, and a hen got up...which was nailed by the falcon! Very cool, this bird had learned that hunters will help catch a meal.

Another time, we were pushing a shelter belt and bumped out a great horned owl. When it flew out in into the open, it was mercilessly harassed by a much smaller peregrine, that would not let it land on a power pole, then chased it off to the horizon. They are badass little birds!!!

greg jacobs wrote:Had one follow me around in a quail gully. Every time I flushed some it would chase them. They sure hit the brush at full speed when being chased. Just about shot it, was about ready to pull the trigger when it tried to grab the one I was going to shoot at. They try to catch my pigeons also during the winter. Not sure if they are goshawks or cooper's hawks

Goshawks are more of a forest bird, are way, way bigger than a Coopers.....

oldbeek wrote:A hawk will make running quail or checkers lock down in the brush tight. A hawk is always welcome on my hunts.

There are guys that walk around hunting chukars with a brown balloon, filled with helium, on a string tied to their belt to imitate a hawk and keep birds on the ground. I'm not sure it works, but a hawk scream as point response on a collar works on them.

Had hawk lock down a covey of chucker last year. Perfect pointing, they came out 1 at a time on flush, terrible shooting. Missed them all. Never going to get the hang of hitting birds going down hill. Had my pump gun with 5 rounds for more fire power. Been using my 20ga o/u for the last 30 years.

When I'm hunting a new place I watch for the areas the raptors are focusing on as those generally hold birds