Pointers in Cold Country

E

elhewman

New member
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:

  • 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.
 
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I’m ready to see all the reply’s, my situation is yours in reverse dog wise. I own a pudelpointer and have been around 10-15 others, I like them a lot. The weather swings will not be an issue and you still get a dog to bust in a half frozen duck pond. Range is above average but not English pointer style. I’ve shot pointed sharpies and chickens in Dakota to desert quail in Texas nm, she travels well and adapts fast. I like wirehairs and find them really similar to the pp. Got the itch to add a setter to the mix, but still gathering info, good luck!
 
I would consider a pointing Griffon. Not at all aggressive. Points well, retrieves well. Hunts in both hot conditions and very cold. I hunt eastern Oregon myself and in Janurary, I have had that dog in minus 20 degrees, in water and she is very comfortable in those conditions. I also hunt early for Sharptails, huns, Sage grouse and Chukar and she tolerates hunting in 80 degree days very well.

The only issue she has had is with really crusty snow and her paws. The edges get raw after couple of consecutive day hunts.

Lastly, she hunts at a pace that I appreciate.
 
I live in Iowa and have a Pointer (English) who recently had her 10th birthday. She is a fabulous dog in the house and in the field. She is a fantastic bird finder. She is maybe the best dog I’ve ever had with people, other dogs, and in the house. I adore her.

The only downside is when it gets below 15 or 20 degrees she is noticeably impacted by the cold. I hunt pheasants and quail and use my springer primarily when the weather gets cold.

She is, however, able to hunt and hunt longer than any other dog I’ve seen or hunted with in warmer weather. My springer sees less field time in warmer weather.
 
I would say get an Elhew if that's what you want. I have had mine out in cold weather(January in KS) he did fine. You can always run a vest if you feel it's really cold. I had GSP's until this last dog I wanted something different. I got an Elhew and will get another this coming spring. He actually likes the water and retrieving as well as my GSPIMG_20230404_150010_924.jpg
 
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Thanks for the replies. I did a 2 hour study of the climate data day to day in the north central Wyoming. I think with a vest and not starting til 10 am I would be in the safe zone for an elhew for the winter months. I do have an athletic little lab with the body of a GSP that I could use on colder days for pheasant or waterfowl.

I think I will go for the elhew and next dog a Pudel Pointer or Griffon for second.(both on my intrigue list and seem to be able to handle big temp swings).

That said I could see most Decembers and January days being reasonable for the Elhew and then the rest of the year I have a great warm weather dog. Seems like just the cold snaps are out of the question. I am thinking a vest and hunting the dog when them temp is starting to climb and gets above 10f with a promise of peaking at 30 f by afternoon.
 
elhewman said:
Thanks for the replies. I did a 2 hour study of the climate data day to day in the north central Wyoming. I think with a vest and not starting til 10 am I would be in the safe zone for an elhew for the winter months. I do have an athletic little lab with the body of a GSP that I could use on colder days for pheasant or waterfowl.

I think I will go for the elhew and next dog a Pudel Pointer or Griffon for second.(both on my intrigue list and seem to be able to handle big temp swings).

That said I could see most Decembers and January days being reasonable for the Elhew and then the rest of the year I have a great warm weather dog. Seems like just the cold snaps are out of the question. I am thinking a vest and hunting the dog when them temp is starting to climb and gets above 10f with a promise of peaking at 30 f by afternoon.
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Sounds like a good plan. I absolutely adore mine.
 
I got my dog from Pine Hill kennels in Tennessee. Gary has some good great dogs and has been breeding Elhew a long time. If you have to travel to find a dog he's worth checking out
 
My Griffon is absolutely the best all around dog that I've ever owned. Great family dog, great nose, great stamina, great pointer, great retriever, loves the water, great in the cold and great in warm weather as well. Good luck with your decision, there are a lot of really great dog breeds out there!!!
 
I don’t think you can go wrong with English Pointers or English Setters. There are some great up and coming breeds out there but, for the landscape you’re hunting, I would prefer those 2.

I’ve hunted a bit where you’re headed and have seen both do well there…though the cold could become a factor with the pointers. They don’t seem to have the same “cold endurance” as longer/thicker hair breeds. We own several of both breeds and hunt from the desert southwest up to the Canada line. Each has their strong points. My opinion is English Setters are more versatile and can adapt to a higher variety of weather extremes compared to pointers…but that’s just 1 opinion.

Would almost guarantee English Setters would tolerate any hunting conditions you will encounter in WY. They tolerate heat well if they’re in good shape and I’ve never seen cold be a factor. They’ll roll around in a snow drift when it’s -20F…they don’t seem to get cold.

We don’t field trial, but those are the types of lines I find myself preferring. That is probably most important, to try and buy a puppy/dog from someone with similar hunting style as your own. We walk-hunt wild birds but most of the dogs I prefer come from horseback trial lineages. I need/want a dog that covers a lot of ground, can hunt every bird species out there and do it well, has endurance, is well/mannered, and is fun to be around at the house, prairie grouse camp, etc. On the average, English Setters tend to check all those boxes most consistently.
 
One vote for Pudelpointer. I LOVE watching setters and pointers run, but they are upland specialists. If you ever want to shoot ducks or even drop a bird in the drink, you may have a tough time getting to swim. I'm in Minnesota, but hunt extensively in ND and SD and AZ. We start around 70 degrees, hunt often well below zero, then finish in the desert (winter) heat.

I'd recommend a tighter coated pudel. Cedarwoods and Windy Sage and Hard Trigger are good breeders that are out that direction.

For your viewing pleasure: MissedAgainYT
 
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Thanks for all the feedback. I am realizing I need to slow down. As much as I want an elhew. It might be a better decision to get a more cold tolerant dog first and then with a blessing from my wife and elhew. I am simply an avid late winter hunter. Already talking to a Pointer breeder hinting at a deposit and then I realize that I am going to limit myself on colder days with some that Wyoming wind. I am an avid winter hunter til the last day of season.

I am also just used to doing all day chukar and Hungarian partridge hunts exploring vast country. If I am two hours from a truck and I see frostbite potential in 8 degree weather. I can't live with that fear on every hunt.

The Pudel Pointer with frost on her reminded me of reality a bit.
 
My brother had English Pointer, were hunting cattails that weren't frozen in yet. The dog got wet and temperature was in low 20's, it lock up and wouldn't move we had to pack it out. We put in cabin of truck with heater blowing on it, to get home. I thought for sure, that dog was going to died from hypothermia. About 2 hours later it was okay, we had to watch how we hunt it in cold weather no more cattails in late season. It was very loyal dog to him but didn't like anybody else, so I would be afraid to have one around kids.
 
He’s not even fazed by it. I should post the video of him making a 100 yard retrieve through the ice choked colorado river last December
He also likes South Dakota birds
 

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Redmoose said:
My brother had English Pointer, were hunting cattails that weren't frozen in yet. The dog got wet and temperature was in low 20's, it lock up and wouldn't move we had to pack it out. We put in cabin of truck with heater blowing on it, to get home. I thought for sure, that dog was going to died from hypothermia. About 2 hours later it was okay, we had to watch how we hunt it in cold weather no more cattails in late season. It was very loyal dog to him but didn't like anybody else, so I would be afraid to have one around kids.
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Similar experience here last year with a pointer with Dunn’s lineage. Not due to hunting near water, but in snow. 15-20 degrees but sun was out and she got wet from it. Very scary.
 
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