Hunting Wife
Well-known member
Monday is the big day! Can’t wait to get my hands on some sharpies again. Hope you guys have some great days behind the dogs.
20 days
- Thread starter Ben Lamb
- Start date
El Jason
Well-known member
If you haven’t gun conditioned the dog, yes.
This is why the voice command is so important. Being steady on your command is the biggest thing, imo. Natural ability and drive take over but you are that dog's brain. She needs to recognize that.
Use an e collar, and be sure to learn the appropriate way to use it as well. Only use it to correct behavior, not try to cause fear.
Anger is in your future. It's counter productive to beat the little shit, as much as you want too.
Matthew57
Well-known member
Heed Jason's advice, I wasn't too great about gun conditioning my dog at the beginning. Wish I had been, it set us back a little at the start.
Steelsearchin
Well-known member
Gun intro should be done with a cap gun or primer pistol, at a distance, and most importantly while the dog is distracted. Chasing birds or a bumper or a Frisbee, anything they love to do. If the dog reacts, slow down, back the the gun up in another day and proceed with caution.
These temps are a damn tease! Hope we don't repeat last year's early season heat.
These temps are a damn tease! Hope we don't repeat last year's early season heat.
El Jason
Well-known member
I probably should dig collars out and charge them up. Clean up the vest. Pack the hunting bin.
This is like waiting for Christmas. I found some grouse areas when I was bear hunting that will warrant a look.
This is like waiting for Christmas. I found some grouse areas when I was bear hunting that will warrant a look.
X13
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2017
- Messages
- 1,771
I'll be in Maine for the opening weekend at the end of September. Looking forward to some fishing and bird hunting. My 9.5 yr old shorthair is starting to move pretty slow, but the 5 year old is still a ball of fire.
Anticipating it'll be a bit like hunting in the rainforest that early but you take what time off from work you can get!
Anticipating it'll be a bit like hunting in the rainforest that early but you take what time off from work you can get!
TheGreek
Well-known member
Monday is the grouse opener here in CO. Gotta make a decision if I am chasing sharpies or dusky grouse. This will be my first season with my own bird dog. A simple black lab I’ve been training myself since I brought him home in February. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for Monday morning.
Steelsearchin
Well-known member
Outside temp yesterday on the way to work got me excited...
Much warmer tonight, but after two days on a bum back foot, the pup was ready for some more training. He is finally putting some of the bigger pieces together. Hopefully it carries over to the grouse woods.
Much warmer tonight, but after two days on a bum back foot, the pup was ready for some more training. He is finally putting some of the bigger pieces together. Hopefully it carries over to the grouse woods.
38 degrees this am as I headed in to town to get some 9 volts for the scariest beep on the planet: the smoke detector.
Bird dogs: generally fearless against things that will actively kill you, but cower at a smoke detector.
Bird dogs: generally fearless against things that will actively kill you, but cower at a smoke detector.
Steelsearchin
Well-known member
2 hour trip up, 3 covers, 2 mudbats, 1 tree grouse, 1 bumped grouse, and 1 GD porky. Ugg.
Thought we had porky aversion licked last fall, but apparently he wanted to play German for a hot second and got to wear 50-60 quills. Not good, but he was great about letting us pull them.
"Dad, tell me the story about smashing in that old porky's head with a log one more time...that one is my favorite..." Today's perp got a free pass. I hated that cover anyway.
Face is a little puffy, but he will sleep good tonight. Eyes, ears, teeth, gums, feet, hide all have been double-checked and he looks good.
Thought we had porky aversion licked last fall, but apparently he wanted to play German for a hot second and got to wear 50-60 quills. Not good, but he was great about letting us pull them.
"Dad, tell me the story about smashing in that old porky's head with a log one more time...that one is my favorite..." Today's perp got a free pass. I hated that cover anyway.
Face is a little puffy, but he will sleep good tonight. Eyes, ears, teeth, gums, feet, hide all have been double-checked and he looks good.
TheGreek
Well-known member
Glad your pup came out alright. We almost had a grouse trip ruined in WI a few years back on account of a porcupine run in.2 hour trip up, 3 covers, 2 mudbats, 1 tree grouse, 1 bumped grouse, and 1 GD porky. Ugg.
Thought we had porky aversion licked last fall, but apparently he wanted to play German for a hot second and got to wear 50-60 quills. Not good, but he was great about letting us pull them.
"Dad, tell me the story about smashing in that old porky's head with a log one more time...that one is my favorite..." Today's perp got a free pass. I hated that cover anyway.
View attachment 384243
Face is a little puffy, but he will sleep good tonight. Eyes, ears, teeth, gums, feet, hide all have been double-checked and he looks good.
View attachment 384246
2 hour trip up, 3 covers, 2 mudbats, 1 tree grouse, 1 bumped grouse, and 1 GD porky. Ugg.
Thought we had porky aversion licked last fall, but apparently he wanted to play German for a hot second and got to wear 50-60 quills. Not good, but he was great about letting us pull them.
"Dad, tell me the story about smashing in that old porky's head with a log one more time...that one is my favorite..." Today's perp got a free pass. I hated that cover anyway.
View attachment 384243
Face is a little puffy, but he will sleep good tonight. Eyes, ears, teeth, gums, feet, hide all have been double-checked and he looks good.
View attachment 384246
The chocolate dog moved a booner skunk out of some grass a few days ago. Luckily for us, the skunk was a pure gentleman and moved off rather than engage in sparring.
5 days, and we're back into the high 70's for opener on Monday. Looks like early morning hunts for the first week before the temps climb above 70, then off to MT for some work & a few meetings w/ Mssrs sharptail, dusky and ruffed. 5 more days.
Steelsearchin
Well-known member
Ha! You guys dodged that bullet!!
Had the windows open last night and must've had one pass upwind of the house just before bed. Gave the yard a double-check before letting the dog out one last time. Thankfully no surprises emerged from the edges of the floodlights.
Normally I try like hell to hunt the opener, but this year I think I'm gonna swap the vaca day for Friday instead. Good luck!
The windows being open more than makes up for the potential for shenanigans. Good luck to you as well!
44hunter45
Well-known member
That's today. Hoping for a Charli report and a limit on the tailgate.
I saw a phot of a dead ID bird and happy pup already. So hopefully he's back on his side of the line getting it done!
Steelsearchin
Well-known member
Didn't you see them open for Jewel at Interlochen before heading up to Boone's Primetime for the after-party?!
