‘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!

 

[Mica Man]

I needed to stretch my legs one last time as the season ends tomorrow. I grabbed the dog and drove a few hours south of the house.
Hiking the hills in a t-shirt got me sweating like a whore on nickel night.
Unreal that it's the end of January and in the mid 40's.
Had some great shooting and some not so good shooting , but the dog performed as expected. Looking forward to next season!

 

[El Jason]

 

[IDHUNTNFISH]

Ended the last day of the season on a great note. Lots of points and some decent shooting. Crazy hunting January 31st hunting mostly in a t-shirt and 50 degrees.

 

[El Jason]

Crazy hunting January 31st hunting mostly in a t-shirt and 50 degrees.

That’s a fact. Made the beer taste good.

 

[IDHUNTNFISH]

That’s a fact. Made the beer taste good.

I had to stop and let the dog cool off a couple times. I've always wanted a black shorthair, but the sun is hard on him.

 

[Birddoggin]

I had to stop and let the dog cool off a couple times. I've always wanted a black shorthair, but the sun is hard on him.

That a boot or vet wrap on the foot? My dogs feet can get pretty beat up in the rocks. Think I have it solved now.

 

[IDHUNTNFISH]

That a boot or vet wrap on the foot? My dogs feet can get pretty beat up in the rocks. Think I have it solved now.

It's both. I wrap his leg with vet wrap. Over that I have been using dog booties. They are made in Alaksa from 1000 denier Cordura. They are a live saver for his feet. I just use the vet wrap because he has fine hair. My buddy doesn't do it with his poodle pointer and he does just fine. www.dogbooties.com

 

[Irrelevant]

Hats off for getting the vet wrap and booties to work. I finally gave up. I spent too much money on boots for one time use to keep with it.

 

[brymoore]

Hats off for getting the vet wrap and booties to work. I finally gave up. I spent too much money on boots for one time use to keep with it.

I was able to keep Lewis boots on this year with duct tape. Boots were still annoying. Normally my dogs feet are in good condition and boots aren’t necessary. Too many big game tags this year and the conditioning faded.

 

[Irrelevant]

I was able to keep Lewis boots on this year with duct tape. Boots were still annoying. Normally my dogs feet are in good condition and boots aren’t necessary. Too many big game tags this year and the conditioning faded. View attachment 400435

I went through 6 or 7 last year, I could typically get 3 to stay on every trip. I think I only kept them all on once, and one other time I found a boot after it fell off (needle in a haystack).

 

[brymoore]

I went through 6 or 7 last year, I could typically get 3 to stay on every trip. I think I only kept them all on once, and one other time I found a boot after it fell off (needle in a haystack).

Conditioning is the best solution. I hadn’t needed boots for years.

 

[Irrelevant]

Conditioning is the best solution. I hadn’t needed boots for years.

My pup typically needs something, but I have found that as he gets older he seems better about placing it feet better. His issue was non-pad related, just cuts and abrasions on the tops of his feet and lower legs.