The hunt is what we make of it. I choose to hunt only wild birds. Released birds to me is just another training session.
Oldtimer is spot on as you cant develop the inherited skills of any birddog, purebred or mutt without the aid of real birds. My breed of choice is a versatile pointer. Pointing is an inherited instinct. All dogs have rhat instinct with some breeds more apparent. Pointing is the pause before the pounce!
BUT back to the author
Shaking a coffee can of corn to call birds back in is really a canned hunt! Lol
My state has a pheasant release program. They dont last long and there is very little wild population left. A far cry from when i was a boy. As OT said loss of habitat and the use of insecticides. But here i think what also helped reduced the population there was a release of diseased birds that also helped make the population come close to being extinct here.
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