Country Nate:

You are welcome to come and watch the dogs most anytime. If you live out in Western PA, I am sure that the owner of one of my pups will accommodate you. Of the last week of grouse in WV, this particular pup pointed 75% of the birds that were flushed, the ones that flushed wild, flushed because of the human, not the canine. A big going, hard running dog on PA Grouse will probably get you zip in the bag (this phrase has started many arguments on other boards. I use it hear to make a point, and nothing more). Our dogs hit the 50 yard range in typical PA grouse cover, and open up when the cover slims down.

My numbers this year include one week in NH (over 90 birds), 4 saturdays in WV and the whole of PA Grouse season (mostly weekends only). Over 360 birds moved(approx 1/2 from points), flush rate of 3.3 an hour, 25 bagged, and many boxes of shells. Guaranteed, without a dog, the numbers would have been less than half of that. We had an extrodinary year and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that this coming year is as good.

To each his own, and a dog may not float your boat, but it sure does mine. Also, The dogs are much better at retrieving, especially in some of those clear cuts.

Honeyrun