Two dogs, two buddies strategy

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
If it's you and another guy hunting, each with a flushing dog, do you hunt right by each other, or leave some space and hunt "together but seperate?" No right or wrong answer, just curious about the best approach for hunting efficiently. Not asking about groups of hunters with a large pack of dogs, that's called grabass, and yes I play a few times a year when I have no other choice😅.
 
Bob Peters said:
If it's you and another guy hunting, each with a flushing dog, do you hunt right by each other, or leave some space and hunt "together but seperate?" No right or wrong answer, just curious about the best approach for hunting efficiently. Not asking about groups of hunters with a large pack of dogs, that's called grabass, and yes I play a few times a year when I have no other choice😅.
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I have hundreds of hours of experience with two guys, to to each with a fleshing dog. The best thing to do is separate, by about a quarter mile.
 
There’s no right answer. Whatever you do the birds will react differently each day. My Labs are flushers and will go out front and actively search for birds. We typically follow our dogs. Sometimes that means we stay close and sometimes that means we go in different directions and meet back up later.
 
Together, but separate. Doesn’t matter if it’s a flusher, pointer or no dog. We call it putting them in a blender. The key to success is to be the stealthier of the pair
 
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My take... Hunting close allows for more shots on a bird, a greater chance a wild flush will be seen and shot at, and a greater chance of cripple recoveries. Hunting apart will probably find more total birds, assume both dogs are equally adept.
 
Depends on the situation. My favorite way to hunt with another guy/dog is to hunt separately, around the edge of a slough, toward each other. Birds still may flush wild, but if they're feeling pinched, flush they will. Seems like many of the places I hunt, which I choose because 1 guy/dog can hunt them, lend themselves to 2 guys/dogs splitting up a bit.
 
If a place has a number of thickets, and it is winter, and especially if windy/snowing, two guys together, going on each side of the thickets can be a huge advantage. Question was about flushes, but if you have pointers, change the 2 guys to 3 guys when it comes to thickets. So frustrating to fight into a thicket and know there is a good chance you won't be able to get the gun up.

Alternatively, carry a small flusher in your vest to send into the thicket?
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
Depends on the situation. My favorite way to hunt with another guy/dog is to hunt separately, around the edge of a slough, toward each other. Birds still may flush wild, but if they're feeling pinched, flush they will. Seems like many of the places I hunt, which I choose because 1 guy/dog can hunt them, lend themselves to 2 guys/dogs splitting up a bit.
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Forgot about walking towards one another….I’m known for demanding whenever possible SOMEBODY is in place as a blocker
 
I’ve done this a few times with a buddy who has pointers and I have a flushing lab. We try to stay abreast of each other, and about 30- 40 yrds apart as we move through a field and follow the dogs.

Close enough to hear each other if need be, far enough apart to cover decent ground
 
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