I have found big groups make the birds very nervous and they run. With a lot of dog and hunters there is just too much commotion. So I hunt with no more than 3 hunters. I also don't try to stay in a line down the fence. I am blessed with 2 very good GSPs. The old girl will herd them back to me. The guys back east talk about Ruff Grouse dogs, Emily is a Pheasant dog. My other dog Gertie, just tracks them down. I get points in January in Kansas. I am not telling you the birds don't run, I am telling you we don't quit. I have followed my dogs across a section of land to get a point. Or have watched the birds get tired of us on there trail and flush. But then the real game is watching my dogs work anyway. They are in charge, I am just the blocker.
Gselkhunter