gspjeb

Wow, so many layers to this conversation. Firstly I have hunted over setters, pointers, GSPs, and an English cocker (wich was awesome by the way). Setters are the classic for grouse and are hard to beat. The only advantage in my opinion for a shorthair is that they mature a little earlier and can be finished at a younger age (usually but there are always exceptions). I like to hunt a lot of different species of birds so the shorthair works best for me. Personally I have hunted with pointing labs (not for grouse though) and to be honest they have great personalities but really couldnt compete with the traditional pointing dogs because of their ranging. I personally think they are at their best when used as flushing dogs and are a joy to hunt pheasants with. Again my opinions.

sproulman

i am giving you my PERSONEL VIEW..i have been in big woods here in pa.hunting grouse, turkeys, deer,trapping ,on and on..over 50 yrs at it ..

a dog that RANGES out in these woods and hunter that DOES not know his way around, is in for some bigtime pain..

i had 3 calls this year for LOST dogs and hunters that called me were LOST also trying to find the dog..

i dont know how those collar things would work in these high mountains..heck, our cb radios only work from hollow to hollow most of time do to big mountains and canopy..

i had my new GPS out this 2falls ago..i was in area that i did not know well..my dog went down over sidehill,1 hr before dark..he went after raccoon..so, i turned on the GPS, guess what, it would NOT work well down in hollow or under canopy of leaves on tree..

sproul almost did a job in my pants!!!! then i calmed down..

first i was stupid to take a year old puppy in that bigwoods that early in life and that close to dark..plain stupid..

next, i was stupid to not use COMPASS as backup..

over years that i have been out from dark of morning to midnight getting out of woods with dog,1 thing i have learned,older you get more FEAR you seem to get too..

a DOG that hunts close,that looks for you and comes back to see if you are there or he knows your location,NOT HIS is the most prized dog i want to hunt with in BIGWOODS..dog that is TOUGH ,is my baby..

yes, you are right,many good english setter kennels here in pa..here is some..lynnhill,warriorsmark,coverly kennels..

i am member of warriorsmark..english setter is great dog at the kennel preserve hunting, so are labs, pointers,etc..other than labs most have collars on them, hunters with electronic stuff..

LABS , no collars..others are way out in front all over place, thats way they are bred to hunt, labs hunt, they look back and see if seattlehunter is in view or close,they hunt 20 yds or so in front..THATS dog i want to hunt behind..

when i was 18 ,hell, i did not care if i went out in fog, over hills,coming out in dark under full moon,bears running by you, yotes howling,traps, deer in rut chasing you down path,on and on..

i had many breeds of dogs along..no flashlights, no GPS,just common sense on how to survive in bigwoods..

along i had dog ,usually a mix breed of some sort or beagles,long legged ones not those shorty ones..

now i am older and woods seems to over whelm me at times even tho i know areas i hunt very well..

when i am in there with laural over my head,yes, laural is unreal now its 8 ft high,i want dog that is LOOKING for me not me trying to find him/her..

if dog runs into ANYTHING i want one that can handle it and protect me too..

lab is the dog that i have found that meets all that i could ask..at preserve hunting i have a very different opinion on what dog i would hunt behind..

gps,english setters ,lab,are my favorite..but in bigwoods, well, as paul harvey says,GOOD DAY!!

Phil from Maine

Maine clearly has big woods and with the clear cuts growing back, the woods here are very thick in places. All the dogs mentioned are used up here. Myself I preffer the setters for grouse and woodcock hunting. I like the Irish best because of their attitude and the style they hunt with. But, the best part is if I let them run big I do not have to hunt for along time to find them. If they run off to far they will come back looking for me and I enjoy that, and itgives me more time hunting them.
Leaves are gone here and that makes it easier to see them.




If dog runs into ANYTHINGI want one that can handle it and protect me too.. The Irish is fast and very capable of doing this as well.

sproulman

thats dog,IRISH SETTER,that i have not seen in 26 years..last 2 i saw was in 1980..

real nice, you are lucky..

AlaskaMagnum

I live in the bigwoods of ALASKA and nothing has gotten me or my big-ranging pointing dogs....YET!

Seriously, if a the pointing dog has any grey matter between their ears, they will shorten up accordingly to keep you in sight. Out in the tundra, they still can bring the mail.

Phil from Maine

I am not from Alaska and I agree with what you said for as far as ranging goes. But, here in Maine there has been more then a couple pointing dogs killed by coyotes. Also an occasional bearattack, more often those coyotes are the problem here.

Thanks sproulman, they are very hard to come across.

sproulman

i agree..coyotes are doubling as fast each year here in pa..i saw 29 last year,most in late flintlock season..

most travel in PAIRS,male/female..

if you have a dog that ranges out say 100 yds or more here in BIGWOODS, which is like maine is,coyote is going to nail your dog unless he can take care of himself in fight..

woods here are so thick and steep mountains you cant get to your dog quick..when i was 18 ,i could run,not anymore..laural is 8 ft high, dog could be oN other side and you cant see him..

coyotes/bear/bobcats are fighting for food..if your dog is way out on point on grouse, coyote is hunting that bird also, man, your going to hear some real nasty fighting..problem is coyotes go for throat of dog..

this is why i always carry pistol on trails after hunting is over with my dog..you never know when you will need it..we just had a bobcat attack my friend in his yard, yes, in his yard in middle of town..the bobcat had rabies..the bobcat killed his dOg in yard..

why would a bobcat attack my friend and dog??HE HAD DEER PARTS AND FOOD IN HIS YARD ..that bobcat was hungry..same in woods, if your dog ranges in WMU2G which is like bigwoods in maine,you are going,take this to bank from ole sproul,be in the HOUSE OF PAIN..

JimmyMo32

hey sproulman.. where do u live?

Red Hawk

GSP. I like ES but i'm not an real big fan of long haired dogs