About Hunting With Dogs...

[sm]

Reading TrapperReady's bird hunting story reminded me about hunting with dogs. Something about reading Ruark and his Old Man's dogs, finally getting to hunt with dogs for myself. One can't explain the bond with a hunter and dogs, you have to experince it. Be it a cold, wet, stinking lab in a duck blind, or a fine bird dog, words can't describe.

There he was a blond Cocker Spaniel. He had a pedigree longer than my arm. He was bought because when going through a divorce the mom's neighbor with severe medical problems was going to have to get rid of it. With the pedigree the mom decided this would be a great dog to have for her son...going through the abuse and divorce she figured the dog would be an emotional rock.

This Dog checked me out and we hit it off, I guess the seal of approval to date his owner. I later married that lady and had a stepson. The Dog was a pet, but very smart. He took to me and we walked a bunch in the fields.

Now we have no woodcock here, but that dog had some breeding. Leash laws we didn't have and truthfully he would not have complied anyway. I explained to him he was not to chase rabbits, but birds, yeah he understood and knew this but being a Cocker, well like me he tended to do what he wanted. He'd go for a walk with the mom and kid, a rabbit would appear, and off he'd go.

So I get permisson to walk a neighbors field. I mean it is like he had been trained. He waits for me to come up after point, then the quail flush. The racket, the noise obviously new to him, because he stood on hind legs and fell over backwards. I was laughing so hard, I'd wished I'd a video camera.

I get that look, "hey, you quit laughing, nobody said these things would make you pee in your pants'...he even came over and swatted at my leg.

So I explained to him the deal, I know sounds nuts but we did communicate. He became very good at flushing quail. I kinda sorta got into trouble bringing this in the house dog back with stickers,dirty and muddy " just where on earth you two been...phew...he stinks too".

Since quail season was open,and I was instructed ( firmly I might add)to take the dog for a dip/bath/shot appointment, and then later meet her at her families...hey we gonna hunt quail first.

Now I 'd taken him to the range and he loved the noise, guns,and the attention ( what a ham).

28 ga,dog, truck and I head off real early. Little fella was like out of a hunting textbook, he caught on and really got into it.We were into the birds, now he did jump a deer and not knowing what he had done...here he comes straight back I can see the green bandana and look of (what in the heck is that daddy?" look. I quit laughing before he got to me, he looked at me like you didn't tell me about them-yet. So I did.

We ended up getting 12 birds and he was a happy tired, dirty, nappy, matted...you get the picture.

En- route to the in-laws ( remember I'm supposed to drop off the dog) I need gas. Guess whom pulls in while I'm inside...yep the missus and the kid. "What in heck did you do to the dog, I think it's our dog,its in your truck,has that banadana, the eyes and smile familar...thought you were going to the range when you left with a shotgun before dark..." Guys, you know what of I speak. She wasn't mad-yet, she had me look in the cooler at my reflecton...I didn't look much better than the dog, oh I stunk too.

"Maybe we can get a discount on two bathe and dips honey"she said I replied "well you know that new young girl at the vet is kinda cute". Laughing she said " nope, you'd like that". Darn, I tried fellas. Ended up taking a shower at the in-laws as planned changing into the extra clothes I had brought along for this occaison anyway.

Oh the dog really liked the new young cute gal, only problem was he barked when she was about to toss the bandana...that got bathed and dipped too, he wan't happy again until he had it back on again...and got peppermint (somebody ahem, had spoiled the dog with peppermint).

So lets share some stories about hunting dogs. Sometimes for me watching a dog is more enoyable than hunting, just something about it...but you guys know that.

 

[TaxPhd]

I have hunted most of my life, but it was only in the last year that I was able to get a dog.

Max is a Gordon Setter with a pedigree that is significantly better than mine. Passed his AKC Junior Hunter with four legs in four tries. Has a trial placement, and we are hoping for more starting in the winter trials.

I will never be without a pointing dog again. Without a dog, I don't think I would bird hunt again. It's just not the same.

 

[MacPelto]

A question on a related topic, if you will...

What is the etiquette on hunting over another man's dog? I know you're not supposed to shoot rabbits, and something about not shooting from behind the dog, but that's about it. I ask because I may have the opportunity to go for quail with a recent friend, but have never hunted over dogs before, and don't want to make an ??? of myself. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mac

 

[dakotasin]

mac- when others want to hunt over my dogs, that is fine. the only things that irritate me is when others deem it necessary to discipline/yell/whatever at my dogs. don't care for it either when a bird goes down, the dog makes the retrieve, and then tries to bring the bird to me when the other person runs and wrestles the dog for the bird... the dog has been trained on my commands, and they have been trained to bring the birds to me. the other hunter and i can sort out whose bird it is, but let the dog finish his retrieve.

best thing another hunter can do for my dog is to just quietly let the dogs do their jobs. they know what they are doing, and they are far more efficient that way than if they are being yelled at and harassed...

it is generally bad form to shoot anything but birds because the dog will start to think that chasing fur is on the agenda. only time i shoot anything else when i have my dogs w/ me is when they get themselves tangled up w/ a coon, or we find a skunk. ask the dog owner on how he feels about shooting fur over his dogs - he might not mind at all...

 

[TrapperReady]

The basic rules when I've hunted over other guy's dogs has been the following:

1) DON'T SHOOT THE DOG!!!
2) Don't give commands to the dog.
3) If the dog retrieves, make sure it gives the bird to its handler, not you.
4) If a shot opportunity is anywhere near the dog, pass it up unless the handler knows you and your ability. If there's even the slightest bit of doubt, let the bird go.
5) Always keep an eye out for the dog's location.
6) Before you start hunting, ASK the handler about any rules/preferences he has.
7) DON'T SHOOT THE DOG!!!

In most cases, as long as you pay attention to #1 and #7, then things are OK.

 

[TaxPhd]

dakotasin and TrapperReady have pretty much nailed the rules. The only thing I can add is don't bad-mouth the dog. Anybody (or dog) can have an off day. Bad-mouthing a dog is like running down someones kid because they dropped a pop-fly at a Little League game. Very poor form. And, you probably won't get invited back when the dog is having a good day.

And don't shoot the dog!!

 

[sm]

You guys have listed the all the proper rules and etiquette.
This is the way I was taught.
Thanks.
...and don't shoot the dog!

 

[MacPelto]

OK! OK! I won't shoot the dog! I guess that was another rule I already knew, too. All of it makes good sense, but I do have one (more) question - Now, I wouldn't go and try to take a bird from the dog, but what should I do if the dog brings it to me? Should I wait for the dog owner to come get it, or try to make it go to him? I don't really expect this to happen, as he's well respected for his dogs abilities, but would rather just know how to behave beforehand.

I appreciate the help, and if there's any more, keep it coming!

Thanks,

Mac

 

[dakotasin]

just put your hand out and let the dog give it to you... don't force the dog to take it somewhere else. some dogs, believe it or not, know who shot the bird and will do their best to bring the bird to the shooter.

 

[TrapperReady]

MacPelto - This is a case where you might want to ask the handler before you hit the fields. I tend to hunt with a handful of guys who have their own dogs, and sometimes one of the dogs will bring me a bird.

I will verbally praise the dog, but not take the bird. Usually, I'll start walking over toward the handler, and after a few seconds, the dog will trot over and complete the retrieve.

Also, you may want to ask about treats. If the owner will allow it, I'll often keep a few biscuits in my vest, and will give them to the dog when we stop for a water break. It may not help, but if I can get on the dog's good side, maybe he'll flush the birds my way.

 

[TrapperReady]

re1973 - Back to the dog stories...

Back a couple years ago, a neighbor of mine had a very nice lab that was (and still is) excellent for upland birds. He's a pointing lab, although at that exact moment in time, his points were very brief and infrequent.

Anyway, my neighbor was extremely methodical in his approach to hunting a field. He would force the dog to move through every row of corn or patch of grass. The dog would have to work very close, and it often became a real struggle of wills, as the dog just wanted to roam around looking for scent. Since the dog was in training, my neighbor and I teamed up to put him over quite a few preserve birds and were out many times that winter.

Finally, one weekend that we had a scheduled hunt, my neighbor had to bail out at the last minute, but offered to let me take his dog. I felt quite honored, and also comfortable, since the dog and I worked well together and the dog listened to me. I said that would be great, but also asked if I could hunt a little differently.

I just wanted to let the dog roam and find the birds on his own. My neighbor said "OK" and off we went. I think I had 10 pheasants in a 40+ acre field. After leaving the truck, I just walked behind the dog and only gave him a command when he started ranging a little too far.

That dog moved fast and efficiently, finding all 10 planted birds, plus a couple of stragglers in under an hour. My only complaint was that the whole affair was over so quickly. Upon returning the dog, I gave a quick after action review, and my neighbor has been using the dog in that way ever since. The hunts are more productive and WAY less stressful.

Trust me... with rare exception the dog knows more about finding birds than you do. Follow the dog!