Grouse Dogs Beneficial?
03-06-2002 | 11:57 AM
#21
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5
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From: Dover PA USA
RE: Grouse Dogs Beneficial?
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
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
03-07-2002 | 07:00 AM
#22
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
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RE: Grouse Dogs Beneficial?
Honeyrun,
Sounds good. That is an extrodinary year, and I hope you have many more like it. I'm a weekend hunter also. Never been out of State. My best year in PA was 23. I hunt game lands nw PA. If I ever decide to get a dog I'll look you up.
CN
Sounds good. That is an extrodinary year, and I hope you have many more like it. I'm a weekend hunter also. Never been out of State. My best year in PA was 23. I hunt game lands nw PA. If I ever decide to get a dog I'll look you up.
CN
03-08-2002 | 01:53 PM
#23
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2
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From: toronto ontario Canada
RE: Grouse Dogs Beneficial?
Its been a while since i posted here,but after reading this post i just have to reply.Country Nate how do you know the truth about grouse dogs,have you ever hunted with one?I totally disagree with the fact that one can bag more birds without a dog.Just from the fact of seeing the" beeping wonders", a bunch of yahoos this is what you base your opinions on.Let me just think of all the times i ran into a bunch of
"hunters" without dogs that are walking through the woods and and shooting grouse on the ground on trees,unloading there guns if one decides to fly.These guys cant even hit the side of a barn.As for
harvesting 150 grouse in thirteen years without a dog,which is 11.5 birds a year.You make it sound as if this is a great accomplishment.Try a bird dog youll definately better that.
"hunters" without dogs that are walking through the woods and and shooting grouse on the ground on trees,unloading there guns if one decides to fly.These guys cant even hit the side of a barn.As for
harvesting 150 grouse in thirteen years without a dog,which is 11.5 birds a year.You make it sound as if this is a great accomplishment.Try a bird dog youll definately better that.
03-12-2002 | 10:14 AM
#24
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Joined: Feb 2003
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RE: Grouse Dogs Beneficial?
Smokey,
Glad you jumped in.
Oh yea, I've hunted with dogs. Not very often though because as I previously stated, bagging a few birds is enjoyable to me.
Here is the dog scenario in my area. The hunter is going through cover which he knows by experience is the best habitat for the birds. With the thick cover the shots are limited to thirty yards at most. The dogs are working 15 to 20 yards in front (fairly close for a Britt or a Shorthair wouldn't you agree? More often than not (my estimate about 80% of the time) while the dog is either serching for a bird of trying to point he will get within ten yards of the grouse. The bird will flush wild.
The no dog scenario is the same except I flush the bird instead of the dog. I'm 15 to 20 yards closer and therefore I have a better shot.
I realize that depending on where you are my # could be peanuts. Around here though, the guys I meet with dogs have way less birds than I do. Also, the limit is 2 a day here. That kind of limits your numbers.
Glad you jumped in.
Oh yea, I've hunted with dogs. Not very often though because as I previously stated, bagging a few birds is enjoyable to me.
Here is the dog scenario in my area. The hunter is going through cover which he knows by experience is the best habitat for the birds. With the thick cover the shots are limited to thirty yards at most. The dogs are working 15 to 20 yards in front (fairly close for a Britt or a Shorthair wouldn't you agree? More often than not (my estimate about 80% of the time) while the dog is either serching for a bird of trying to point he will get within ten yards of the grouse. The bird will flush wild. The no dog scenario is the same except I flush the bird instead of the dog. I'm 15 to 20 yards closer and therefore I have a better shot.
I realize that depending on where you are my # could be peanuts. Around here though, the guys I meet with dogs have way less birds than I do. Also, the limit is 2 a day here. That kind of limits your numbers.
