Guns and Dogs

Dakotazeb

Well-known member
What is it about guns and dogs this time of year? Can't get either off my brain. Seriously considering adding another 16 ga. to the stable. Maybe a Model 12 since that's the gun I shot as a youth. And then there is dogs. I don't need another dog and the wife would go ballistic. In fact, being 68 and having a 6 year old dog I might not ever have another dog. But maybe, just maybe, there is one more in my future. If I ever do I want to try one of the more rare breeds. I've mentioned this breed before on this site but the one that has my interest right now is a Blue Picardy Spaniel. They are a pointing breed.
 
Zeb, It's in the air this time of year, the falling leaves, the crisp air, the sight and sounds of the combines in the fields, It's October....

It's a phenomenon, a calling if you will that can't be explained to the general public who doesn't hunt.

No such thing as having too many guns. He who dies with the most guns wins in my book.

Welcome to the Pheasant hunting brotherhood my friend. :thumbsup:
 
Forgot to ad. There is no better enjoyment (at least for me) than to watch a bird dog work in the field, gun or no gun, and for me this fall is a special one in that I am witnessing my 6 month old GSP start to come of age. Watching that proverbial light bulb slowly come on is a special treat, one that only comes around every so often.
 
Nope, I'm not a gun collector. If I don't use them they are gone. Still have a few I hope to use yet. But I do have one I'd like to sell. It's a Winchester 9422 XTR that I bought new in 1977 or 1978. Looks like the day I took it out of the box. Probably less than 20 shells ever fired through it. Think I'll throw it out on the Classifieds and see if there is any interest.

Here's a couple photos of a Blue Picardy Spaniel.

BluePicardy_zps1a94fe6c.gif


Chase_zps78bfa759.jpg
 
Zeb that dog is beautiful It looks like a cross between a britt and a springer. Very cool I have never heard of them.
 
I can tell you Zeb, I will not stop getting pups when I hit 68. Those pups keep you young, and force you to get some exercise.

That's how I am going to sell it to my wife anyway :thumbsup:
 
The Blue Picardy Spaniel originated in the Picardie region of France in the 1800's. It is essentially a cross between a French Spaniel, English Setter and Gordon Setter. The black and gray tones give it a bluish look. Actually the skin pigment is blue. Size wise they are about the same as an average English Setter. 22-24 inches and 45-55 lbs for the males. They are suppose to have the temperament similar to a Golden. Very easy going and easy to train.

Here is the web of a breeder in Canada that has a lot of info on the breed.
http://bluepicardy.com/
 
I can tell you Zeb, I will not stop getting pups when I hit 68. Those pups keep you young, and force you to get some exercise.

That's how I am going to sell it to my wife anyway :thumbsup:

I hear you. My Brittany probably has another 6 years left to hunt. By then I'll be 74. At that point who knows? Just have to play it by ear. Hard to imagine life without a dog.
 
I'm very familiar with Craig. He posts quite a bit on the Versatiledogs.com webs site. He is very knowledgeable of many gun dog breeds, especially the rare breeds. I enjoy his articles and photos. I talked to him about a year and a half ago and nearly got him to come down to one of our NSTRA trials in North Dakota to shoot some photos and do an article. He was planning to come but had something come up at the last minute.
 
Zeb--I've read Craig's articles and even got his book as a gift. Can you describe how Piccardy hunting style from your experience. I hunt flushers but I'm thinking of a pointy breed next time. I need the versatility of a good retriever but a pointy dog that hunts close and at a moderate pace given the type of cover I hunt. thx for any input
 
What a handsome dog that blue picardy spaniel is.
 
Zeb--I've read Craig's articles and even got his book as a gift. Can you describe how Piccardy hunting style from your experience. I hunt flushers but I'm thinking of a pointy breed next time. I need the versatility of a good retriever but a pointy dog that hunts close and at a moderate pace given the type of cover I hunt. thx for any input

Sorry I can't provide any first hand info for you. I've never seen a Blue Picardy. Just a lot of reading. From what I read it appears they hunt much the same as an English Setter. Probably don't run quite as big but they do cover the ground. If you want a close hunting pointing dog there are two breeds I've looked at in the past that would fill the bill. First would be a French Spaniel and second would be a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Both closer working dogs. The French Spaniel probably working the closest. French Spaniels are quite rare but there is a breeder near Rochester, MN. http://www.minnesotafrenchspaniels.com/
 
I find myself thinking about the guns that got away from me for one reason or another. The Parker SxS, The A5 sweet 16, the Lefever 20 ga. SxS, the Belgium 20 ga. A5, + a few others, oh to have them all back:eek:
 
Nope, I'm not a gun collector. If I don't use them they are gone. Still have a few I hope to use yet. But I do have one I'd like to sell. It's a Winchester 9422 XTR that I bought new in 1977 or 1978. Looks like the day I took it out of the box. Probably less than 20 shells ever fired through it. Think I'll throw it out on the Classifieds and see if there is any interest.

Here's a couple photos of a Blue Picardy Spaniel.

BluePicardy_zps1a94fe6c.gif


Chase_zps78bfa759.jpg

there is a lot of interest in that gun, if it is really as new I would suspect that on gunbroker etc. it is worth about $800, two years ago, had one with tags still and it was about a $1000
 
old age

first off, I love puppies, maybe even a setter is things got bad enough. at 74, I have one at 11 and one at 7. what bothers me is I am not likely hunt past the young one, but the gut feeling is what happens to the pup when I'm gone, ain't got that one figured out yet

cheers
 
That Blue Picardy is just plain beautiful!
There isn't a gun I own that I don't like and have good use for!
Here's my favorite gun: 20ga. Ringneck
fkmb5yXl.jpg


Here's the French Brittany female who's litter is expected around February 15'
I'm patiently awaiting (like a kid) one of the female pups in the springtime.
AGHvRAm.jpg
 
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This really is a great topic - talking about the things that fire our passion and love of what we do in our shared commonality we all relate to with each other.
I know I start getting my guns out of the safe more as fall approaches, start spending weekend days out scouting, and lately constantly finding myself thinking of my upcoming new pup, and imagining bringing her along the best I can so she can have as grand a time
spent here as I will have watching her. September - December, pure magic.
 
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