Flushing dogs all by their lonesome

[CFSpringer]

Everyone talks about using springers for pheasants. But what if I want to go for some prairie birds with her. How would yall escout or scout in general to maximize success with a flushing dog on birds that aren’t ideal for her style of hunting?

 

[Alaskan swamp collies]

A close working flusher can handle any prairie bird. That said late season sharps can be a challenge with large groups that are spooky. I have had success even in December on sharps but it is more of a stalk then. Early on they hold well in that they don’t run as much as pheasants and they are in smaller groups. Huns put my dogs in overdrive, imagine a dozen scent trails scrambling in all directions. The only disadvantage with flushers is that they don’t cover as much territory as pointers and there can be a lot of space between sharps and Huns so more walking.

 

[benelli-banger]

I know lots of guys that hunt with pointers for prairie grouse, and a lot, myself included, that hunt with labs…or golden retrievers…as far as dead birds are concerned, both groups do just fine. You learn where the birds are likely to be…”read” the field…I’m a fan of hunting cover that is adjacent to food sources…love wheat, preferably picked…give me some undulation, all the better…wandering behind my dogs for prairie grouse is my favorite hunt…

 

[UplandHntr]

as with the case hunting almost anything - hunt quiet. No talking, yelling, whistling, etc etc etc.
Consider not wearing an orange hat.

 

[Randy S]

In my experience whether your dog points or flushes isn't important. Neither pointing or flushing guarantee results, they're just hunting styles. Put your dog on ground that holds birds. It's not how fast you reach the horizon. It's the birds put up in range before you get there.