Two questions?

M

Madison COunty

New member
What is the youngest age that your dog/puppy started hunting? What is a good over under gun for bird hunting to buy for a reasonable price. I read a article on the internet that said that they are not very accurate or good for pheaseant hunting. I really like the look and the feel of them. Is that true? Any advice would be helpful, Thanks!
 
I took my new dog to South Dakota last year at 6mo old. I didnt expect much, but I got a good feel for how she worked and especially how she looked in the field.

I had my old dog along also, and typically shot my birds over her, and then hunted the young dog.

This year, I started out with a seasoned dog and a very green dog with my pup, who is now 18 mo old.

The season pretty much started out much like last year ended, with most of my shooting in the early part of ther season over the meat hog. But, I continued to work the young dog, more and more throughout the season.

My last two trips, I have shot limits over the young dog, and now its the old dog that is seeing more kennel time.

I have run alot of birds thru my young dogs nose this year, and she is really starting to get it.

As far as O/Us go, whoever told you they are not very accurate, or good for pheasant hunting is FOS. They may not be the gun of choice for a group hunt when your a blocker or such, but I can tell you this, They are a joy to use when hunting alone over a dog.

I have 2 Beretta 686s, a 12 and a 20. I have never shot the 12, but I have it!..
 
Hello

Six to eight months is a great time to take your pup to the field. You must have worked on the basic command skills prior to this.

Remember you have a pup so keep it encouraging, fun, and short. A negative exposure for your pup could have big consequences.

The gun--you want a reasonable O/U. I would try local gun shows and private sellers. You will not recover from the "sticker shock" if you go to the Scheels and such. I would also avoid gun dealers.
 
first after i know my dog is staunch on libs, his first year i really just like hunting him on quail thats just me though different dogs mature differently.pheasants are so tricky ive seen so many young dogs or first exposure to them want to push them and it just drives the dogs nuts there second year they start to mature 3rd is even the best i feel but not all dogs are the same
 
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My dog

My GSP is 3 months old now, in April or May he will go back to the breeder for training for 6 weeks and then back in the fall for 2 weeks. I have never hunted with a dog befor and would love to take him out but dont want to teach him the wrong things now or make him gun shy. I hope that when he can hunt we can find some birds in iowa or i guess we will have to try SD. Have never been there but from the posts on this site it sounds pretty awesome.

As far as over/unders go I might go back to Scheels and see which one I think feels best to me. I know that they are not cheep. Right now I just have a Remmingtion 870 Express 20gauge which works fine.
 
If you have done basic yard work, worked with release birds, shot over, assuming all that, I would take a pup on a small scale hunt without reservation. No 15 man, 30 dogs, people screaming, blowing whistles, growly other dogs affair, with random gunshots of undetermined origin or reason, from the dogs perspective. I would take a pup afield, as soon as they can negotiate the cover, consider it happy time, let things unfold as they will. As far as O/U's I am a little unsure of your dilema. O/u's not shooting to the same regulated point of impact, is a thing of the past, due to laser bore sighting and precision. In the old days had to be hand reamed, shot, reamed again, regulated as they call it. You can spend anywhere from around 1000.00 to 150,000. on an over under, difference is reputation, fit and finish, type of action, sidelocks are more expensive, and of course engraving. That said one heck of a lot of birds have been brought to the table by Remington 870's. So it comes down to your preference and what you shoot well, unfortunately sometimes not one in the same.
 
Generally, 6-7 months, depending on how the pup has come along. I view the first season as the pup's to track, trail, find & chase birds intensifying the prey drive. The second year they come into their own & the third year is magical. My current pup was pointing & holding wild birds at 7-months; he bagged his first wild Rooster at 9-months. I ran him with a friend's Griffon all late Summer & into bird season, so he has expanded his range to where I want it. He also was introduced to live birds at 16-weeks thru 6-months. The work & consistent training has paid huge dividends. I've had similar success over the years with Springers, Labs, and now a versatile breed.

As for O/U's . . . I have three (also have three SxS's . . . I like them all and shoot them all equally as well or as poorly, depending on the day.). Both styles are a delight in my opinion. Practice makes better, if not "perfect." I shoot semi-autos too (when using non-tox . . . I only hunt Upland birds with 28 or 20 gauges & don't use steel in my double-barrels), but double-guns are my preference.
 
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Both my 11-year old and 4-year old pointing labs were around 8 months old on their first bird hunt. Their first field experience was just myself and the dog, no other distractions. Both dogs also pointed/flushed/retrieved their first birds during that first hunt.

While we must train them on dicipline, they either have the proper "instincts" or they don't.
 
I am 74 and have hunted 65+ of those years. Earlier, by following my Dad and uncle. Later, with friends or just me and my dog. I had more English pointers during that time but also a few setters. Now I have a GSP. All served me quite well. In 1963-65 I had two pointers that had birds killed over their points at 5+ months. A male in, 1963, was holding quail quite well and been acclimated to gunfire using .22 crimps, standard .22 blanks and .38 blanks. Shotgun fire did not faze him. He developed into a fine dog and had several FT placements. In 1965 I had a female and at the same age was exposed to gunfire in a similar manner. The first bird killed over her was a large cock pheasant. I can still see this little dog working hard to retrieve the bird and enjoying every second. The GSP was about 6 months when he had a bird killed over his point. He is 5 years now and doing quite well. I have hunted my dogs their first season regardless of their age.

In most of my years I used an 870 and eventually found the resources to obtain several O/U guns. A 12 ga Citori with choke tubes, and a 20 ga Winchester 101, IC/Mod. I use the 20 most of the time it being just over 6 pounds. Both shoot “straight” when I point them properly.
 
I got my first pup last year. Viszla/Weimeraner hybrid (also an accident litter). His first hunt was a reserve hunt for quail at about 4 months. This was after yard work and field work with birds and gun fire.

His first real hunt was at 10-11 months.

O/U:
I think the best of the low end is either the Mossberg Silver Reserve or the Stoegers; Both can be bought in a 12/20 combo so you can change out barrels for 12ga or 20 ga. The finish may not be top tier but they shoot well. i've been using a Ruger Red Label Stainless Steel/composite O/U and now stopped. I prefer the Silver Reserve due to less weight. I still use a mossberg 535 pump as well.

I agree with the comment that an O/U can come back to bite you on a larger party hunt with blockers etc. I found that out in South Dakota a few months ago scrambling to reload the O/U several times.
 
I find that the only potential disadvantage of reloading the O/U with birds "in the air" only means you fire less shells and hunt a few minutes longer.
 
I try to buy pups March-June. I usually buy when my older dog is 8-9 years. I always have the pup along when doing summer field work with older dog during the summer months. Sometimes for less than 1/2 hour. I usually don't hunt my pup during opening weekend/week. Can be a little too crazy. After that I always have the pup along in the morning hunts when scenting is usually best. Hunt behind older dog in afternoon if I have legs left. Early December I will solo with pup in fields I know hold birds, even if mostly hens. I hunt Brits btw.
 
Guns

I have a dumb question. I have always hunted with a pump shotgun and do not know that much about any other kind. What gun is better/ or would you reccomend for pheasant hunting. A over/under or a side by side. Maybe they are both equal. Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
The term "best" is a rather subjective term. A shotgun should fit the shooter for best results. A lot of factors are in play, fit/recoil/killing power/weight/length/gauge/cost etc. Try and shoot several types before you pick one to buy, rather than buy one based solely on opinions.
 
Madison Co... If you've shot a pump all your life, be careful you don't give yourself a hernia when you need a second and third shot in an actual hunting situation when you try to shuck that next shell in a double barrel... lol. Had a buddy make the transition but I had to listen to him grunt for two years. Pick wisely grasshopper.
 
Lol . . . I'm just the opposite. I've used doubles & semi-autos for so many years that I turn a pump gun into a single shot cuz I forget to pump . . .
 
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