I have access to about 5000 acres of this natural prairie, working on getting more access further west, across the river and another 100 sections north east of here.
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The thing is ,unless you are on a horse you are going to have to walk to where the birds are no matter how far away the dog finds them. Is it better to have a dog that finds a bird at 1,000 yards than to have a dog that finds birds at 150 yards. I guess it depends if we go out to find birds or to watch dogs run. Why do you assume you have to cover the whole thing the birds will not be everywhere. Plus there are places that will likely hold birds and a good 150 yard dog will do as good or better than a 1/2 mile dog. If you hunt that country as much as I do you will find you shoot as many birds over a 200 yard dog as a 2000 yard dog. For sure if you are on foot and probably if you are on a horse.RyanDoolittle wrote:Can you imagine trying to cover this with a 150 yard dog. Thats a whole lot of walking!
I have access to about 5000 acres of this natural prairie, working on getting more access further west, across the river and another 100 sections north east of here.
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Most places where we hunt on public land in Minnesota that is not legal. Seen some grouse hunters doing that. Never liked it much.Neil wrote:We have been hunting from UTV s for years now.
But when done from foot if you have a 150 yard dog you have to steer him to the birdy area as you walk to there, and to the next, and the next. And there is nothing wrong with that.
With a bigger going dog, you can gain a higher point, and let the dog check out those same objectives while you watch. The dog hunts 270 degrees around you, if no one is home, you and the dog hunt to the next elevation. If he points, you go to him, and yes, most times the birds will hold, not always, but more than not.
I say dog, when I mean 2 or 3 on the ground, and 3 or 4 reserves in the dog boxes on the K-Mule.
There are a number of ways to enjoy our dogs, all of them good.
If I can't find the dog, what good does it do me if its on point? There is a happy medium.If the dog knows where the handler is at all times, why is it important that the handler knows where the dog is at all times? Which one is doing the hunting?
First we had bells, then beepers, followed by telemetry, now GPS. I always know when the dog is on point and can find him.JKP wrote:If I can't find the dog, what good does it do me if its on point? There is a happy medium.If the dog knows where the handler is at all times, why is it important that the handler knows where the dog is at all times? Which one is doing the hunting?
Neil wrote:First we had bells, then beepers, followed by telemetry, now GPS. I always know when the dog is on point and can find him.JKP wrote:If I can't find the dog, what good does it do me if its on point? There is a happy medium.If the dog knows where the handler is at all times, why is it important that the handler knows where the dog is at all times? Which one is doing the hunting?
No knowledge a lot of experience. I have Followed a lot of bird dogs across the northern plains. It's all good but we should keep it legal and Motorized vehicle are not allowed on most of the land we hunt. In MN, the Dakotas and Montana either by the landowners or the respective DNRs.Neil wrote:Do you think you are the only person with experience and knowledge?
I think one of them would be Caladen' s Rail Hawk and another might be Caasique's Boss, they both have titles in multiple venues.jimbo&rooster wrote:Y'all are aware at least one dog running in the national championship has a NAHVDA title.....
Neil wrote:I think one of them would be Caladen' s Rail Hawk and another might be Caasique's Boss, they both have titles in multiple venues.jimbo&rooster wrote:Y'all are aware at least one dog running in the national championship has a NAHVDA title.....
One of the top Brittanys of all time had a couple legs on his JH.
And just proves great dogs are great!
+1 Very good. The only thing I would add is this, I seen many field trial rejects make really nice hunting dogs, but I have never seen a hunting dog reject make a nice field trial dog.Dirty Dawger wrote:
I Trial dogs aren't supposed to "hunt" by a hunter's definition any more that a hunting or gun dog is a good trial dog by a trailer's definition.
gundogguy wrote:+1 Very good. The only thing I would add is this, I seen many field trial rejects make really nice hunting dogs, but I have never seen a hunting dog reject make a nice field trial dog.Dirty Dawger wrote:
I Trial dogs aren't supposed to "hunt" by a hunter's definition any more that a hunting or gun dog is a good trial dog by a trailer's definition.