Air Wash

[Middlebranchlabs]

Is air wash a real thing? It just always seems strange to me that my dogs (labs ) can work a rooster through all kinds of thick grass and captains but when the bird is wounded and gets into the cattails they just disappear. Do they smell less or different after being shot or are they just that good at getting away? Thanks.

 

[NDPheasant]

Is air wash a real thing? It just always seems strange to me that my dogs (labs ) can work a rooster through all kinds of thick grass and captains but when the bird is wounded and gets into the cattails they just disappear. Do they smell less or different after being shot or are they just that good at getting away? Thanks.

You're right; if a pheasant can still run, the chase is definitely on! Air wash is real, and it can make tracking a wounded bird tricky. A wounded pheasant’s scent can scatter in the wind or mix with other scents in thick cover, which can make it harder for dogs to track. But natural retrievers like Labs and Goldens are naturals at sticking with the search, following all the twists and turns those birds make.

Pointers like Viszlas can be different in my experience. They are great at holding birds steady, but once a bird moves, they may shift to finding something new. With their noses up, they often catch scent on the breeze and can zero in again. It is interesting to see how each dog handles it, from retrievers who stay focused on the bird to others that track more by scent in the air. Each dog has their own way, and it is amazing to watch.

 

[Bob Peters]

One thing I know in pheasant hunting. There are some birds you drop and think there's no way he's getting away, but somehow does. Others you drop in a total quagmire and think there's no way you're finding him. Then the dog performs its magic and comes back with the bird.

 

[Munster927]

One thing I've been doing the last few years if I drop a bird that I can't find rather quickly, is to mark the spot and come back after a bit.

Let that dead bird lay and stink in the grass a bit and spread their smell. I've been pretty successful doing that the last couple years.

 

[Gatzby]

One thing I know in pheasant hunting. There are some birds you drop and think there's no way he's getting away, but somehow does. Others you drop in a total quagmire and think there's no way you're finding him. Then the dog performs its magic and comes back with the bird.

Amen