shorthairs4life
New member
Any good word coming from opening weekend? Tied up with work for now but heading up north the first weekend in October.
Grouse Opener
- Thread starter shorthairs4life
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bird shooter
Member
Opening weekend, I was out on Sunday after the rain. We flushed two birds, never saw them the brush was too thick. It was a good walk and the dog got a good nose full of scents. Maybe next weekend around Island Lake, Iron Co. I had good luck there last season. Enjoy.
Hunted about 4 hours saturday in Oneida county. 2 flushes on private land and 2 on public land. All near young aspen. 2 shots. 0 birds. Cover and mosquitos still thick. Very few ticks surprisingly. Still to early but it was fun getting out. Recent wolf attacks make me nervous with the thick cover so I tried to keep the dogs closer than normal.
Ranger Rick
Member
Got out for an hour after the Packer game on Sunday. Two non productive points, one flushed grouse. It was a young bird, small. Would have been an easy shot, but the pup screwed up and he doesn't get a reward when he isn't staunch. The color is real slow to start developing and it's thick out there. I don't get real excited about the opener because it's tough hunting. It's good time to get the dog some work, though. This weekend I'll hunt hard and see what we can scare up. I'm a bit scared that this year's reproduction was bad, due to the cold, wet weather we had throughout May and well into late June.
HolyMoses
New member
heading up to tomahawk on friday morning and may do a little hunting on saturday. I have no idea exactly where I am going or really what i am doing since i have never done it before, but as mentioned, it will be nice to be out.
the only thing that would stop me is that the area i wanted to hunt is pretty close to where the wolf attacks were and that does make me nervous.
the only thing that would stop me is that the area i wanted to hunt is pretty close to where the wolf attacks were and that does make me nervous.
shorthairs4life
New member
Good to hear that birds are being flushed and someone is getting an opportunity. I look forward to reporting good news in a couple weeks.
Rooster Roaster
Banned
Ticks bad?
Ranger Rick
Member
heading up to tomahawk on friday morning and may do a little hunting on saturday. I have no idea exactly where I am going or really what i am doing since i have never done it before, but as mentioned, it will be nice to be out.
the only thing that would stop me is that the area i wanted to hunt is pretty close to where the wolf attacks were and that does make me nervous.
There have been a fair number of hounds killed WSW of Tomahawk and I know of a couple attacks on bird dogs, too. Just keep your dog close and keep an eye on him. That area has a lot of paper company lands open to hunting. Plenty of opportunity and decent hunting.
HolyMoses
New member
that is exactly where I was going to go. South of 86 in the county forest.
I am still getting used to my dog and he is a far out worker, I think it best to wait to go up there until i get 100% comfortable in my abilities to keep an eye on him.
wisturkeyhunter
New member
Porcupines are way more of a worry to me than wolves. I've pulled quills several times and I don't grouse hunt that much.
I agree! The porcupines avoidance it the tonic I want. Forget the snakes, but there is a powerful attraction of porcupines to all dogs, many will go right back into the fray again, year after year.
hellmo@frontier.com
New member
Hi. I joined this forum to respond to this post. I am an avid grouse hunter with three german shorthairs. I have also been in the DNR's volunteer wolf tracking program for four years. I have spoken to the long time head of the DNR's wolf program more than once about the risk to bird dogs from wolves. He is also a bird hunter with bird dogs, and told me he doesn't hesitate to take his bird dogs out in wolf country. The hunting dogs that get attacked by wolves are bear hounds that range several miles from their handlers, and stray into wolf den or rendezvous sites. We have lived in Eagle River for 13 years. We take our dogs into the woods at least three times a week all year long (snowshoeing in winter, hiking in summer - after nesting season) and hunting in the fall. We have never had a problem with wolves, nor do I know anyone who has. When it comes to my dogs, I worry about cars, porcupines, other hunters, and dogs getting lost - but not wolves. Any wolves you might come across in the woods will be long gone before you know they are there. I hope this helps ease your mind - come up and hunt and don't worry about the wolves!
HolyMoses
New member
I am new to the North Woods of Wisconsin, just bought a cabin this year in Vilas county. I asked all over also to fellow hunters, locals at bars and the DNR officers in Woodruff and they all say almost word for word what you have just stated. I am glad to hear it from someone on this board who hunts and runs there dogs in the woods up there. Thanks for the info...
519vx
Member
I am new to the North Woods of Wisconsin, just bought a cabin this year in Vilas county. I asked all over also to fellow hunters, locals at bars and the DNR officers in Woodruff and they all say almost word for word what you have just stated. I am glad to hear it from someone on this board who hunts and runs there dogs in the woods up there. Thanks for the info...
I couldn't disagree more. You are asking for trouble if you run a hunting dog in Northern Wisconsin, especially a dog that might range a little. Did you really think the head of the wolf program in Wisconsin was going to tell you that wolves are a very real threat? Ask the guy who owns the GSP that was attacked by a wolf less than two months ago in neighboring Vilas County. I'm pretty sure that the cocker spaniel, brittany, and munsterlander that each got attacked last year in Onieda and Bayfield counties weren't running bear.
You want a real eye opener about how wolves aren't much a threat?
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wolf/documents/2012_WolfDepredationReport.pdf
hellmo@frontier.com
New member
The media loves to report on wolf attacks. Yes, they have happened to bird dogs, but they are extremely rare. You said I am asking for trouble running bird dogs in the northwoods. Sorry to disappoint, but I've been doing it year round with 2 or 3 dogs for 13 years without any trouble. I am the chairman of the local Ruffed Grouse Society chapter and have never heard of anyone else having trouble either. Because of our winter tracking activities, I also know that there are at least two packs in areas we frequent. Again, no trouble for me, anyone I know, or anyone in the community. Unfortunately, your dogs are at much greater risk from cars or porcupines. Its like the old discussion about airline travel. People are much more frightened of travelling in an airplane than riding in a car. But statistically, your chances of an accident are far greater in a car.
Bear dogs are at risk, but they range out for miles and are trained to look for carnivores. Its a completely different situation with bird dogs. Even big running pointers don't range nearly that far out.
Quit worrying about wolves and go out and enjoy the woods!
Bear dogs are at risk, but they range out for miles and are trained to look for carnivores. Its a completely different situation with bird dogs. Even big running pointers don't range nearly that far out.
Quit worrying about wolves and go out and enjoy the woods!
DNR officer never said they were not a threat, only commented on that he did not think there was much of a problem with bird dog in woods while grouse hunting. Sure something could happen I guess but is there a list or a chart of anykind that shows if someone was grouse hunting and there dog was attacked? Just asking not starting a argument? I would like to know if this has or does happen and if so what are the chances or how often it has happened? From all that I am hearing I will be out in the woods as much as possible chasing grouse! Thanks for all input, like I said earlier in post new to the north woods.
hellmo@frontier.com
New member
Hi. There is some very detailed info on wolf / dog encounters here:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wolf/dogdeps.html
The only one that jumps out at me is the german shorthair near Crescent. There was a long article about it in Minoqua's Lakeland times. Sorry, don't know the date of the article or anything. But the dog was fine and the owner scared off the wolves. As you look through this info, keep in mind that they are talking about bear dogs when the refer to hunting dogs. There is nothing in Vilas county, where I live.
Again, having your dog attacked by a wolf is theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely. There are far greater threats to your dogs in the woods than wolves. Wolves attacking our bird dogs is just not something those of us living up here worry about.
The new DNR wolf guy is named Dave McFarland. He works out of the Rhinelander office if you want to talk to him.
Good luck hunting!
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wolf/dogdeps.html
The only one that jumps out at me is the german shorthair near Crescent. There was a long article about it in Minoqua's Lakeland times. Sorry, don't know the date of the article or anything. But the dog was fine and the owner scared off the wolves. As you look through this info, keep in mind that they are talking about bear dogs when the refer to hunting dogs. There is nothing in Vilas county, where I live.
Again, having your dog attacked by a wolf is theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely. There are far greater threats to your dogs in the woods than wolves. Wolves attacking our bird dogs is just not something those of us living up here worry about.
The new DNR wolf guy is named Dave McFarland. He works out of the Rhinelander office if you want to talk to him.
Good luck hunting!