Dog training?

Do you run your dogs on birds in the off season?
I'm thinking "run your dog on birds" can have different definitions. I have no need or desire to purchase birds or go to a preserve. But I sometimes take my dog out to play in areas where wild birds live so he might find them. I lay off them during nesting & brood-rearing times though.
 
I'm thinking "run your dog on birds" can have different definitions. I have no need or desire to purchase birds or go to a preserve. But I sometimes take my dog out to play in areas where wild birds live so he might find them. I lay off them during nesting & brood-rearing times though.
Well that would be from April May June July August September and I have seen young quail in October.
 
Well that would be from April May June July August September and I have seen young quail in October.
Leaving February & March. I believe South Dakota law says you have to lay off them starting April 15 & can start taking your dog on public land again Aug. 1. To me, that's a bit premature. But dove season & most goose hunting starts Sept. 1. I've seen a ton of "baby" pheasants flushed in September & never seen one get caught. It might educate them (so that's to their benefit), but I don't believe they're stressed or otherwise bothered in September. Quail? Partridge? Grouse? I don't know. We don't have any around here to worry about.
 
Feb. and March is closed on WIHA in Kansas. And it is not just pheasant and quail. There are turkeys, rabbits, deer, coons, waterfowl, etc. Kansas hunting seasons are too long any way. Leave em be.
 
I wouldn't take a seasoned dog out after/before season, but just today I did take my almost 9 month old gsp out into a filter strip we have, he flushed 6 birds, 2 of them he had real solid points, I think he might work-out yet! Public ground is off limits in Iowa for running dogs between March 15th and July 15th...except in designated training areas. Once this dog knows what is is doing, I will not run him anywhere that I would be hunting in season. Like WKA says, leave em be
 
In WI, we have designated, dog training areas you can get a permit for. We reinforce steadiness and retrieve in the summer on pen raised birds both on our own and as a club.
Maintain conditioning through running and swimming as well.
 
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