‘25-‘26 Upland Bird Thread

[Hunting Wife]

I need to figure out how to slow my pup down, or avoid barb wire. Tried to vault a bail of it in a gully I couldn’t see that well, didn’t quite make it. Sliced both legs open, but they didn’t really bleed. She got 15 staples between both front legs, not coming out until after season.

Aren’t dogs great?

That sucks. Been there. Seems like part of this is just the dog’s personality.

The old dog used to get stitches at least once per year I swear. She was a big dog, but she just put her head down and bulled through everything. We would try to keep her close any time we had to cross a fence, and not hunt near the fences if possible but I don’t know how many times I’d cringe as she zinged through a fence without slowing down. Had a few really big stitch jobs over the years, though the worst seemed like she found some metal junk somewhere rather than barbed wire. Putting a skid plate on her did help quite a bit.

The new pup is just more careful in every way. She’s smaller too, but she picks her way through cover differently, is more careful around fences. We didn’t teach her that. Just her more dainty nature I guess. Just finished her third season and zero stitches yet, knock on wood.

 

[Sask hunter]

My lab is 8 and he still plows through fences. Only ever had to go to the vet once but lots of small cuts. Now near the fence I whoa him to slow him down.

 

[Irrelevant]

All the birds were in the freezing fog. Not sure why that is

 

[brymoore]

View attachment 399062
All the birds were in the freezing fog. Not sure why that is

I hunted with a buddy for Huns in the inversion. Last time we teamed on the ridge it was a great gun battle. Today, we couldn’t get within 65 yards of the dogs on point before the Huns busted. Ugh.

 

[Lmartin5]

First trip to South Dakota in November of this past year…we had a great time!

 

[brymoore]

Today’s plan was to ice fish. Change of plan at 5:45 as a son’s gf was slightly sick. Son and I decide to Chukar hunt.

It was brutal. Teens, wind frozen ground to climb, etc. I won’t say I was enjoying the experience. Standing at the truck Cady, my rockstar setter, points a few hundred yards up the hill. I see her turn and look at me at first point. I thought she’s playing. I’m walking towards her and see her turn and look at me again. I’m thinking no birds but she doesn’t false point. She proceeds to bunny hop a sagebrush and bust the flock. I was pissed. I’ve walked up on hundreds of her points. She’s closing in on 1k birds killed over her in a year or two. I grab her and whoa train her at the spot.

We hiked around and it’s uncomfortable. Another Cady point situation occurred but I think the pup might have bumped the birds. I couldn’t see what happened. Son and I called uncle due to cold and said let’s go home. Walking back towards the truck I’m thinking about dog training. Pup needs experience and Cady needs to meet Jesus to correct her issues. As I’m thinking of dropping Cady off at the kennel I brought her 5 years ago to tell the owner her puppy sucks (joke), Cady goes on point. I walk a few hundred yards to her on a solid point, flush the chukar and kill a double. Cady totally redeems herself. She might read my thoughts.

 

[Lmartin5]

Today’s plan was to ice fish. Change of plan at 5:45 as a son’s gf was slightly sick. Son and I decide to Chukar hunt.

It was brutal. Teens, wind frozen ground to climb, etc. I won’t say I was enjoying the experience. Standing at the truck Cady, my rockstar setter, points a few hundred yards up the hill. I see her turn and look at me at first point. I thought she’s playing. I’m walking towards her and see her turn and look at me again. I’m thinking no birds but she doesn’t false point. She proceeds to bunny hop a sagebrush and bust the flock. I was pissed. I’ve walked up on hundreds of her points. She’s closing in on 1k birds killed over her in a year or two. I grab her and whoa train her at the spot.

We hiked around and it’s uncomfortable. Another Cady point situation occurred but I think the pup might have bumped the birds. I couldn’t see what happened. Son and I called uncle due to cold and said let’s go home. Walking back towards the truck I’m thinking about dog training. Pup needs experience and Cady needs to meet Jesus to correct her issues. As I’m thinking of dropping Cady off at the kennel I brought her 5 years ago to tell the owner her puppy sucks (joke), Cady goes on point. I walk a few hundred yards to her on a solid point, flush the chukar and kill a double. Cady totally redeems herself. She might read my thoughts.

View attachment 399544

It looks cold!