Sanburrs -What are they?

I

IOWA_Tallgrass

New member
Ok fellas, I am real close to locking in a hunt down your way sometime in early-mid December.

I have heard talk on here about dog boots and sandburrs-what are they and do I need to be concerned/take precautions?

As of now, I think I'm going to hunt in the Hill City area, if that makes any difference as far as the sandburrs go.

Thanks for all and any advice!
 
You will get into all kinds of sand burrs around Hill City. Some dogs they bother others they don't . I had a dog back in the 90's that would just freeze when she got a burr. They don't slow down my male at all. Just tell your dog to "cowboy up" and you will be okay.
 
Nasty, nasty, nasty-

sandbur.jpg
 
my big female lab doesnt get bothered by them, weve gotten to the end of fields before and she has had a couple between her toes and sometimes bleeding a little bit, but i never notice because she doesnt seem bothered in the field .
 
Just part of the game. Usually in road edges, blow outs, places where the soil has been disturbed, most dogs learn to handle them. Watch out yourself,if you get stuck the spines tend to break off and stay in. Hurt bad for a week or so. Watch your pant cuffs, etc.
 
There is big sandburs and little sandburs. The big ones get caught up real bad in the dogs hair. Then you have to pick them out. I think the bad ones are the little ones. They will stick you and your dog something fierce. I had a brit and a GSH that shut down in the middle of a field and just laid down. I had to carry them out to pick them little burs out of them. Don't worry too much. It seems that 1 in 20 fields might have them around Hill City. I have not had to boot a dog due to burs. I have had to boot them due to snow packed in their paws.
Is it common to boot ya'lls dogs due to the texture the snow in Kansas?
 
I recently learned that you don't just run out to the car to grab something out of it in your bare feet. I have had a sticker in my foot for about two weeks that I was hoping would work out on its own but hasn't. They seem to stay stuck once there.
 
I have 2 dogs that don't seem to care, one that doesn't like it much but keeps hunting, and big male that is a big puss and just lays down in the field to chew them out. I now have baby socks and inner tubes on hand.
 
Lotsa Burs

There are lots of burs this year.
 
westksbowhunter said:
You will get into all kinds of sand burrs around Hill City. Some dogs they bother others they don't . I had a dog back in the 90's that would just freeze when she got a burr. They don't slow down my male at all. Just tell your dog to "cowboy up" and you will be okay.
Click to expand...

ahhhhhhh- I've got 4 Britts that don't mind a couple sand burrs- but when their feet are packed with those spiney brown dried sand burrs- they can't go-

those burs stick, break off, little needles stay in the dogs feet- you are risking way to much if your dog is so hard headed he just keeps on going

you don't think- I've got just the field for you- I'd never say cowboy up- how heavy is your dog
 
There are some of those sand burrs in the CR area, just not many. They're in the sandy areas for the most part. I took one of my cockers quail hunting in the panhandle last week and there were sand burrs EVERYWHERE. She actually did really well in them, I was surprised. Occasionally she would start limping and would have to pick one out, or I'd have to help her. But, for the most part they didn't seem to bother her. However, after we got home, I think her feet started to bother her more. She limped for a couple of days. Tomorrow I am leaving for KS and I'm planning on putting boots on my dogs for the majority of the trip. It's 4 days of hunting, and I don't want to have a dog go lame early on in the trip. Also, it's good to wear gloves if you're going to be pulling any off of your dogs. I didn't, and I was bleeding :)
 
We have something that looks similar here in Iowa, burdock, that the dog gets into all the time and seems ok with them-he "cowboy ups" them ok, I guess.:D

Are these sandburrs the same thing or are they like burdock on steroids?
 
Burdock isn't even close. Sand Burrs have spines that are sharp as needles and are strong enough to stick into the soles of my boot (although not go through). I know I've run into it in Linn County, it's just not very common.
 
cockerfan said:
Burdock isn't even close. Sand Burrs have spines that are sharp as needles and are strong enough to stick into the soles of my boot (although not go through). I know I've run into it in Linn County, it's just not very common.
Click to expand...

Like you say, probably in areas with those sand prairies...I'll keep an eye for em' when I run the dog in such places. Mutant burdock on steroids...
 
Last edited:
Had to "BOOT UP" Megan, my griff, today in one good looking quail area in the
central KS. I like the inner-tubes. the rest of her was a mess but her paws were fine. If one of my girls gets into burrs pretty bad I use Bentadine on the paws & it seems to help.

RogerWYO
 
When you run into 'em, you won't have any more questions about what they are! :eek:

Keep a pr of DOG BOOTS handy in the truck & no problemo!!! :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top