Let's talk cattail strategies

I've lost 8 in the cattails this year.They are treacherous.Its basically impossible.6 feet tall,you can't walk in there.
 
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Although not mentioned as an option,I prefer having 2 hunters, along with some well frozen water and a couple good dogs. And then personally, I don't step foot in the cat-tails, just walk along the edge and let the dogs work. I had a lab, RIP, that was a cat-tail machine! She would head in there and not come out. It was so much fun cuz you could tell when she was birdy, even though you couldn't see her. And she had an uncanny ability to mark down birds when there's no way she could see where where they landed. Nothing better than standing there letting your dog hunt dead and out she trots with the bird in her mouth!
 
Today was in the low 40s with a 10 mph wind so like most days that end in Y i went hunting. My Reba is my cattail specialist. Almost can't keep her out of them. Today hunted a little creek bottom and field edge where there are patches of cattails . Reba and Willie both getting it done. Reba only pointed hens but Willie managed to pin 2 roosters which I got.

This is a old Pic of Reba from early season years ago.Screenshot_20241207_224548_Chrome.jpg
 
siouxcitysmitty said:
Although not mentioned as an option,I prefer having 2 hunters, along with some well frozen water and a couple good dogs. And then personally, I don't step foot in the cat-tails, just walk along the edge and let the dogs work. I had a lab, RIP, that was a cat-tail machine! She would head in there and not come out. It was so much fun cuz you could tell when she was birdy, even though you couldn't see her. And she had an uncanny ability to mark down birds when there's no way she could see where where they landed. Nothing better than standing there letting your dog hunt dead and out she trots with the bird in her mouth!
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My first yellow lab when I was in my 30s was like that.He hardly ever lost a bird.I still miss him,he was an awesome dog,as all dogs are.
 
Shooting over thick cattails means loosing birds,but a lot of times it's the only option.Do you want shooting?
 
haymaker said:
If I can't drop the bird where I have a very good chance to find it, I don't pull the trigger. Yes, that means letting the occasional bird fly away, which is a better choice than wasting game.
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In Montana cattails,it means rarely shooting.
 
haymaker said:
If I can't drop the bird where I have a very good chance to find it, I don't pull the trigger. Yes, that means letting the occasional bird fly away, which is a better choice than wasting game.
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Even though i believe my dogs stand a very good chances of retrieving anything I knock down I do limit my shot choices in the sloughs.

Small cattail patch or phragmites i try and have the dogs work it while I stay outside. If the dogs stop moving I know they are on point so I try and position to maximize my shot and give the gettem command. In large patches/sloughs I keep the dogs in close say 15 to 20 yards.

Biggest problem with knocking birds down in sloughs usually is all the other bird scent present.
 
I hunted a lot of cattails the first six seasons I had Ellie. The past two seasons found me hunting more grassy draws and such. I did not discriminate with cattails. They all got walked especially late season. As long as I have a clear shooting lane, I pull the trigger. Ellie lost a very small percentage her first few years. Exceptional track record for a pointer. The experiences in those cattails made her even better. Willow is catching on. Give the dogs the experience and they will not let you down no matter the cover. Dry conditions and be fresh bird scents like Weimerwaner stated can run interference and slow up the retrieves.
 
MN cattails in general are taller and thicker than SD cattails. Never could figure out why. Humidity and average rainfall might play a part.
 
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