Gratuitous Bird and Dog Photos

[NoWiser]

Took a quick walk this morning and nabbed a pair of MN roosters.

 

[jrabq]

It was a slow morning, but Maggie got a few retrieves.

 

[huntnpack]

One covey and one blind retrieve this morning. I can live with that.

 

[BrentD]

 

[It’s Bucky]

 

[crock239]

 

[BrentD]

View attachment 397949

Great photo. I wish Dusty and I had done as well today. What state are you hunting?

I have the same best. Pricey but worth every penny.

 

[crock239]

Thank you. I'm trying to get better w field photos. Hunting in IA and Lola and I have had quite a few birdless hikes this season, in spite of the roadside surveys!

My wife and kiddos were walking with me today...it was truly a great day.

The vest was my Christmas this year, so today was only my second day with it...definitely pricey but also really nice to get the weight off my shoulders.

 

[BrentD]

My Iowa bird hunting this year suggests the DNR really sold us a tall story. That said, I have had two birdless days in a row here in Minnesota.

 

[El Jason]

 

[MNElkNut]

Tough hunting in the snow. My heart rate averaged 141 bpm for 2.5 hours but 3 of us got 7. Mostly in the cattails. My $&@/!ing Apple Watch thought I was on a slow walk and kept asking me if I was done with my walk! NO! I am trying to catch my breath you stupid watch!

 

[BrentD]

Tough hunting in the snow. My heart rate averaged 141 bpm for 2.5 hours but 3 of us got 7. Mostly in the cattails. My $&@/!ing Apple Watch thought I was on a slow walk and kept asking me if I was done with my walk! NO! I am trying to catch my breath you stupid watch!
View attachment 398060

You did better than me. I spent two and a half days hunting hard and never fired a shot. I spent some of that time on snowshoes to avoid post holding. Highly recommend them. On the other hand you see how many birds it got me.

 

[MNElkNut]

Tried snowshoes on a hunt a few days before that and they were soooo loud. Plus, snowshoes do not work well in the cattails/willows. At least snowshoes on my feet don't work well in cattails and willows. All 3 birds I shot I had to spin. Not sure that would have worked with snowshoes. I did, however, think it was much easier in the open, no doubt about that.

 

[BrentD]

Tried snowshoes on a hunt a few days before that and they were soooo loud. Plus, snowshoes do not work well in the cattails/willows. At least snowshoes on my feet don't work well in cattails and willows. All 3 birds I shot I had to spin. Not sure that would have worked with snowshoes. I did, however, think it was much easier in the open, no doubt about that.

It all depends on where you're walking. I use them in cattails that I could not have got into otherwise. I have been using them for grouse as well.

It may also depend on the shoe

 

[F250]

Tried snowshoes on a hunt a few days before that and they were soooo loud. Plus, snowshoes do not work well in the cattails/willows. At least snowshoes on my feet don't work well in cattails and willows. All 3 birds I shot I had to spin. Not sure that would have worked with snowshoes. I did, however, think it was much easier in the open, no doubt about that.

Wooden snowshoes for hunting. Aluminum frames with plastic webbing snowshoes for hiking. I shot deer and caribou while hunting in deep snow on wooden snowshoes.

 

[BrentD]

Wooden snowshoes for hunting. Aluminum frames with plastic webbing snowshoes for hiking. I shot deer and caribou while hunting in deep snow on wooden snowshoes.

I'm not so sure I agree about the wood versus aluminum.

I have hunted pheasants on wood, shoes and found them a little bit more clumsy than I needed. It did not help to be carrying a 32 inch barreled hammer gun either.

I got these aluminum shoes at a great price, $75, and find them many times easier to use than the wooden ones.

Of course, 26 inch hammerless barrels and much better shoe binding help too.

Anything beats post holding in the drifts that were waist deep and occasionally much deeper.

I'm fairly depressed at bird season is over already. Might have to do some out of state travel.

 

[F250]

I found the aluminum frames way too noisy for big game hunting.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

Fun day of hunting in the fog!!

 

[Bugle 'Em In]

Here’s the result of our last hunt for the upland season for us. One rooster off point. He did well for his second year, but we have some growing to do. Will pick training back up in a couple of weeks. For now, mental & physical rest for all!