ORIGINAL: Doc E
Sproulman,
I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.
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doc, i was over at warriorsmark for trails on labs..they had many MALES that looked real small to me which is GREAT..
i asked the owners what the weight was of each i talked to,most were 80 pds..thats just right,so i dont think yours is to heavy..
big labs ,90 and up get wore out easy on upland from what i saw..they shined on water trails but were awful on upland..those small long legged labs, they were something to see..
i saw many females that went 55 to 65 pds,boy, they looked real small..
i also agree on english setter on grouse..
most dogs i see hunting here for grouse are those BRITTANYS..they almost look like beagles..
does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..
grouse here in pa after the leaves drop are one hard bird to hit..they flush way before you even get into sniper range..i have to use 12 ga,full choke,2 and 3/4 high brass,no 6s..you get only 2 seconds to fire, thats it..
lots of fun if you find birds..here is our club..
www.warriorsmark.com