(posted in the Colorado forum because I'm in Denver)
Below is a photo of a sharptail grouse I took last Friday in the panhandle of Nebraska off a point by my 21 month-old GSP, "Ziggy." This bird was taken in a CRP field adjacent to the wheat seen in the background. The grouse season ends in Nebraksa on January 31st, so this guy almost made it through the hunting season.
As plains hunters know, this late in the season the sharpies are coveyed-up and very skittish, making it difficult to work them with a pointing dog. Plus, once you find a covey, that is pretty much all the birds you are going to find in that area, meaning after many miles of walking you probably won't get a second chance if the first point doesn't work out.
The wind was blowing a steady 20 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, that day. While the wind made for a less-than-pleasant day on the prairie, it probably helped to hold the birds to Ziggy's point. Ziggy was about 150 yards away from me when he went on point, and held the point for about 3 minutes while I hurried over the rough terrain to get in position. He point was rock solid and beautiful to see.
Once the birds started flushing, about 6 got up initially, followed by about 4 stragglers. I was not in the best shooting position when the birds started to go, but luckily, two of the stragglers passed close enough for a shot, and one bird fell to the big 12ga I carry for the typical late season long shots. Ziggy's point was followed by a very nice retrieve and lots of praise. After putting the bird in my game pouch, we hunted in the direction the main group of birds went, but had no more bird contacts.
Though this was the only bird of the day, it was a great hunt nonetheless because my knuckleheadedgoofball did a really good job of finding and holding the birds in the tough conditions.
(photograph courtesy of my lovely girlfriend and fellow hunter, Patrice)
--shinbone
Below is a photo of a sharptail grouse I took last Friday in the panhandle of Nebraska off a point by my 21 month-old GSP, "Ziggy." This bird was taken in a CRP field adjacent to the wheat seen in the background. The grouse season ends in Nebraksa on January 31st, so this guy almost made it through the hunting season.
As plains hunters know, this late in the season the sharpies are coveyed-up and very skittish, making it difficult to work them with a pointing dog. Plus, once you find a covey, that is pretty much all the birds you are going to find in that area, meaning after many miles of walking you probably won't get a second chance if the first point doesn't work out.
The wind was blowing a steady 20 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, that day. While the wind made for a less-than-pleasant day on the prairie, it probably helped to hold the birds to Ziggy's point. Ziggy was about 150 yards away from me when he went on point, and held the point for about 3 minutes while I hurried over the rough terrain to get in position. He point was rock solid and beautiful to see.
Once the birds started flushing, about 6 got up initially, followed by about 4 stragglers. I was not in the best shooting position when the birds started to go, but luckily, two of the stragglers passed close enough for a shot, and one bird fell to the big 12ga I carry for the typical late season long shots. Ziggy's point was followed by a very nice retrieve and lots of praise. After putting the bird in my game pouch, we hunted in the direction the main group of birds went, but had no more bird contacts.
Though this was the only bird of the day, it was a great hunt nonetheless because my knuckleheadedgoofball did a really good job of finding and holding the birds in the tough conditions.
(photograph courtesy of my lovely girlfriend and fellow hunter, Patrice)
--shinbone
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