‘25-‘26 Upland Bird Thread

[Hunting Wife]

Better day today. Even I managed to shoot a few Got some bonus huns on a later stop. Hatch years seem very small…I think early nesting was poor locally.

Pup came up sick Saturday so he stayed home today. Managed a few duskys after killing a few geese first thing in the morning. Gonna chase sharpies first thing tomorrow solo and then take the pup to the vet. Good mixed bag today here in NW CO even if it was disappointing having to leave the dog home. View attachment 384541View attachment 384542

How’s the pup doing?

 

[homestead]

It is. It's just something I built out of scrap wood I had in the barn. I use it for steadiness, whoa, and other training. I picked up a few wood spoons from electric company in town and use those with the ladder. Turn those on its side and the ladder can serve as a teeter totter as he retrieves, turn them upright and elevate the ladder rather than a whoa barrel. Also use one spool and set the ladder at an angle.

I'll whoa him on one of the obstacles or in the middle of navigating and throw a frozen Chukar out and shoot blanks, send him on the retrieve, and make him work through different obstacles on the way back as he holds the bird and brings it to me.

The entire point is my version of helping the pup problem solve. I'm learning this dog training as I go.

I'll tell ya he's now a confident little booger on ladders, the kids have to throw the ladder down from the trampoline in order to keep him off while they're jumping! Let's hope it translates to field and water. Yesterday was his first official hunt in new territory. He had zero hesitation burning through thick brush, fences, water crossing, or any other obstacles. I like to tell myself I helped with his confidence.

Thanks for the response. I may have to try that.

 

[TheGreek]

View attachment 384601

Better day today. Even I managed to shoot a few Got some bonus huns on a later stop. Hatch years seem very small…I think early nesting was poor locally.


How’s the pup doing?

Not good. Got some really bad news from the vet yesterday. Still trying to process it. I’ll share more when I’m ready. Not sure when that will be.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Not good. Got some really bad news from the vet yesterday. Still trying to process it. I’ll share more when I’m ready. Not sure when that will be.

Oh man. Don’t know what to say. Very sorry to hear that.

 

[IDFireLass]

Opening day other half got the first grouse a ruff. Never seen another grouse the rest of the morning.
Went out yesterday and nothing again.
Not sure what is going on? Too hot and dry we went up to 9,000. Around here 9k means mostly rocks.

 

[brymoore]

I took a very long loop yesterday morning at 8k’ looking for blue grouse. No birds. I did find a trickle of a creek I didn’t know existed in one of my bull elk spots. I know their water source now.

Dove hunted last night. Took the GSP. She did great. My son out shot me with his new 28 gauge side by side. We’re having dove poppers using jalapeños from my garden tonight.

 

[brockel]

Managed to scratch a couple up before it got hot. Grouse numbers seem to be down quite a bit this year.

 

[El Jason]

I hunted NE Idaho and didn’t find a lot of birds. Saw zero grasshoppers in the sagebrush meadows.

 

[MNElkNut]

Looking good folks. I am a mite jealous as our season hasn't opened for anything but early teal and Canadian geese. I got some of my fall work done around the house, but I was thinking of all of you chasing birds! keep the great pictures coming!

 

[IDFireLass]

Ok, bloodied the new shotgun yesterday.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Ok, bloodied the new shotgun yesterday.

Nice looking shotgun. Way to break it in!

 

[Mica Man]

Got to break in the new to me 28 gage today courtesy of @Montana_Wanderer .

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

View attachment 385425
Got to break in the new to me 28 gage today courtesy of @Montana_Wanderer .

So happy to see it being put to good use!! Looks like you’re way more accurate with it than I was!

 

[El Jason]

 

[TheGreek]

View attachment 386457View attachment 386458View attachment 386459View attachment 386460View attachment 386461View attachment 386462

Would love to hear about the sidelock in that last photo.

 

[El Jason]

Would love to hear about the sidelock in that last photo.

Early retirement present…

I have been contemplating a new side by side shotgun for a while. I was looking at the RFM shotguns, imported and sold by the Upland Gun Company, as an option. The price on them was far more than I’ve ever spent on a firearm, so I was considering it as a retirement gift when that day comes...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[TheGreek]

Early retirement present…

I have been contemplating a new side by side shotgun for a while. I was looking at the RFM shotguns, imported and sold by the Upland Gun Company, as an option. The price on them was far more than I’ve ever spent on a firearm, so I was considering it as a retirement gift when that day comes...

www.hunttalk.com

I’ve been spending too much time perusing vintagedoubles.com recently. That website is dangerous.

 

[El Jason]

I’ve been spending too much time perusing vintagedoubles.com recently. That website is dangerous.

You aren’t kidding.

 

[nmduckhunter77]

Excited for his second season should be a good one

 

[R.K.]

More young huns for the young pup. New phone update doesn’t want to add photos.



I really need to work on her steadiness and recall- she ran off after some deer and busted the first covey of the morning about 150 yards out. That’s on me. She doesn't like listening to me or the e-collar if there's something to chase- even sparrows and meadowlarks. Probably going to put the 50' biothane check cord on her for the next couple hunts.

And I think I'll pause on the prairie until it cools down- lot of rattlesnakes this year. Might go chase a ruffed grouse this weekend instead.