Hey all — forgive the long post, but after 22 years away from real upland country, I’m excited to be getting back in. I’m 43, grew up almost solely Chukar hunting east Oregon. I am likely relocating to the big horn basin of north central Wyoming. Quite a bit colder than east Oregon
For the last two decades, I’ve lived in Sitka, Alaska — a stunning place for fishing and waterfowl, but it’s been a complete drought for upland hunting. The ptarmigan that are left require 6–7 hour hikes through alpine cliffs, alder jungles, and logjams just to find a few birds. After years of that, I gave up on upland and focused on waterfowling with a steady Lab.
Now, with a move to northern Wyoming likely, I’m hoping to return to what I’ve missed for so long: real upland hunting. My target birds will be prairie grouse, Huns, the rare Wyoming chukars, pheasants, and maybe the occasional ruffles and blues up high — mostly in Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas.
Here’s my main question:
What pointing breeds handle both ends of the climate spectrum best — from hot September prairie hunts to frozen January fields? I am banned fro GSPs from my wife who encountered some aggressive ones and bite our child who was 10 at the time and pretty educated on dogs but this GSP was plain violent and not a good representation of the breed.
I want an elhew style grouse bred pointer but I worry about the most versatile in a new climate I have never hunted:
Breed-wise, here’s where I’m at:
I’m not after a horizon buster or a dog that requires constant handling. I want a dog that wants to work with me, has a strong natural point, and that I can trust in open, lonely landscapes without babysitting it every 30 seconds.
If you’ve hunted cold country with these breeds — especially pointers or setters — I’d love to hear how they’ve held up through full seasons, from heat to frost.
Thanks for your time! If I was stuck with one that worked too far or too close I would go for the too close in a heart beat. Glad to invest in this community as the move comes closer.
For the last two decades, I’ve lived in Sitka, Alaska — a stunning place for fishing and waterfowl, but it’s been a complete drought for upland hunting. The ptarmigan that are left require 6–7 hour hikes through alpine cliffs, alder jungles, and logjams just to find a few birds. After years of that, I gave up on upland and focused on waterfowling with a steady Lab.
Now, with a move to northern Wyoming likely, I’m hoping to return to what I’ve missed for so long: real upland hunting. My target birds will be prairie grouse, Huns, the rare Wyoming chukars, pheasants, and maybe the occasional ruffles and blues up high — mostly in Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas.
Here’s my main question:
What pointing breeds handle both ends of the climate spectrum best — from hot September prairie hunts to frozen January fields? I am banned fro GSPs from my wife who encountered some aggressive ones and bite our child who was 10 at the time and pretty educated on dogs but this GSP was plain violent and not a good representation of the breed.
I want an elhew style grouse bred pointer but I worry about the most versatile in a new climate I have never hunted:
- Overheating in dry, windy early-season hunts
- Frostbite risks in deep-winter, sub-zero conditions
- Foot and ear durability in snow and ice
- Coat type vs vest use (practical winter tips welcome)
Breed-wise, here’s where I’m at:
- Grouse-bred English Pointer – My top interest. My wife actually has a great bond with the breed due to past experience with a backless and goofy couple of pointers we owned early marriage in the early 2000's. I just can't ever again go into all-age trial types that run into the next state. We’d love to find a more moderate-range, naturally cooperative line — something bred for foot hunters, not horseback trials.
- English Setter – Educated on them and the differing lines. My concern is heat — can they hang in early September in open-country hunts for sage grouse and sharpies?
- American Brittany Spaniel – Seems like a great fit but darn did a fresh Brittany we owned was the balkiest in the house breed ever. Probably som bark training in order if I go this route.
- Small Munsterlander or Pudelpointer – Intrigued, but I don’t know how well they do in big country on birds like Huns and sharpies, or how they fare in long winter conditions.
I’m not after a horizon buster or a dog that requires constant handling. I want a dog that wants to work with me, has a strong natural point, and that I can trust in open, lonely landscapes without babysitting it every 30 seconds.
If you’ve hunted cold country with these breeds — especially pointers or setters — I’d love to hear how they’ve held up through full seasons, from heat to frost.
Thanks for your time! If I was stuck with one that worked too far or too close I would go for the too close in a heart beat. Glad to invest in this community as the move comes closer.
Last edited: