Let's talk cattail strategies

AKSkeeter said:
I've had very good luck recovering cripples in cattails in my areas.
I think the key is the dog needs to be on the cripple track quickly and then I stay quiet and trust the dog.
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Lots of other bird scent does not seem to be a problem because
a good cripple tracker is following blood scent, not bird scent.
I think even a broken wing will put off blood scent to a canine's keen sense of smell.

In my area, there are trails through the cattails created by deer and elk and I think most roosters run the trails,
so the dog has a good trail to run down once he hits that initial blood scent.
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Damn…nice photo AK!
 
My 1st Lab was a beast.....typically just a touch over 90lbs (not fat). His strategy was to just simply go thru anything and everything.....so he and I hunted cattails alot. He simply "parted" them and I followed! You always knew where he was in the cattails too! Lol.
But he was graceful as could be in a duck skiff.
 

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MTbirddogs said:
Maybe pheasant hunting isn't for you. Mighty big of you to keep dropping birds deep in the cover knowing full well that you won't find them.
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I have thousands of hours into pheasant hunting.Its zen. I guess I'll have to stop hunting the big cattails.Its hard to not shoot.
 
Goosemaster said:
I have thousands of hours into pheasant hunting.Its zen. I guess I'll have to stop hunting the big cattails.Its hard to not shoot.
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It is hard to pass up, especially when you haven’t seen many birds. However, I’m guessing that you exercise judgment on when not to shoot (e.g., pointed at buildings, other nearby hunters, etc.), so birds on the margins can fit within your go/no-go strategy as well. It’s just mental discipline.
 
MTbirddogs said:
It is hard to pass up, especially when you haven’t seen many birds. However, I’m guessing that you exercise judgment on when not to shoot (e.g., pointed at buildings, other nearby hunters, etc.), so birds on the margins can fit within your go/no-go strategy as well. It’s just mental discipline.
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Yeah that true.There is one place near the Canadian border,where I've lost many birds over the years.Its very narley country.
 
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