We are lucky

FCSpringer

FCSpringer

Moderator
A place to just BS about dogs with out worrying about the topic.

That thread about dog breeds makes me think, Man how lucky we all are to have so many great choices. We all have different areas we hunt and some dogs work a little better then others in certain ares, some work satisfactory in all areas for those who like variety. They come in all shapes and sizes. Different colors, personality's and quirks. It is mind boggling to think about how overwhelming it could be to start out getting a first dog. What an honor to live in a country where we have so much diversity.:thumbsup: :D I would like to hunt with every breed available to us in the Americas, I have had the privilege of hunting with 12 different gun dog breeds, and am looking forward to a couple more this year. We all have a personal favorite, and we all get defensive slightly when discussing various breeds. Yea I have my moments too, and a favorite. But Most of all I just like good dog work. No matter what breed it is ,if a dog is doing a good job, I love to watch.
 
right on :cheers

it was definitely mind boggling to pick one. If my wife didn't have a few requirements, it would have been even harder. Man, so many out there.
 
FC, You are right-on. I belong to the Spokane Bird Dog Assn. You post made me think of all the different breeds even in a small club like it has.........Bob
 
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it truely is beautiful and yes there are so many breeds but you have to have a favorite cause they are very different
 
I really thought long and hard on the next pup.
Got a ton of advice from Y'all.:thumbsup:
Wanted a pointer real bad, always hunted with flushers.
I do a lot of waterfowl hunting, often a mixed bag.
I decided on another Lab.
Next pup will likely be a pointer. You guys will determine the breed.:cheers:
 
MNM, I will jump into the fire right now. If you want a good mixed bag dog, look into the Brittany and see what you think. Your attitude is what got me into them 50 years ago. They have the coat for cold water. They have the webbed feet like a duck for better swimming/retrieving and most love to do it. They are great pointers on all upland birds. They will love children to death and your wife too. There I spent my .02, Thanks...............Bob
 
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I have really enjoyed hunting with my pointing labs...they are extremely leggy and I would put my 6 yr old up against any breed in a pheasant field. However, for those hardcore chuckar hunters I thing a gsp or setter would be a better choice. Like Bob I also have a special place in my heart for brittneys and will likely start a brittney pup in the next year or so. That brings up the question, who many dogs is too many to have at one time? I keep pretty busy with the two I have plus I train a 3rd dog for a friend of mine.
 
I have 4 in here with me now, but one is being returned to a pro next week. Just had her for a couple months to start her out. 4 is plenty. But not long after she's gone a month from now I have a new pup coming from the east coast, so back to 4. If I was just hunting, 2-3 would be plenty. That way if one gets hurt, you still have a second or third. It's nice because you can keep them fresh on those 5 day hunts as well. It sucks to be out on a vacation bird hunting and have the dog get lame the first day, then have no dog. Been there.
The main reason I like a flushing dog is There is a ton of cattails, red willows, thorn bushes and ditches etc. we hunt. So it's stuff I just get tired of tring to go in and flush a bird out of while the dog was on point. If I lived in wide open country or hunted primarily grass lands only, I might have considered to keep pointing dogs. Thats about the whole picture for me I guess. It boils down to functionality for all of us. I,P,K I'll take ya up on that. When are you guiding.:D I would love to come to Idaho, I am suprised there is good pheasant country out there. It looks like allot of Mtns, and trees. But I guess they have potatos so there must be some flat land somewhere. Hey, you put the offer out there.:thumbsup: Are there any other birds out there? or just pheasant.
 
I have 3 dogs now, that's about max for the cab of my pickup.:eek: [I have an extended cab.]
Ruff is going on 15, stays home now. I made a ramp for him to get in, now that got to hard for him. Why do dogs have to get old?
That old boy has done some hunting.:cool:And many many trips, always the best companion.
 
Hey FCSpringer, Believe it or not, the pheasant hunting in Northern Idaho used to be pretty good. One a good year it was common to shoot 40-50 pheasant a season, 150+ California quial, lots of huns and chukars. Most of the land around Moscow is farmed for wheat and just south of use is the Salmon and Snake River breaks. However, the last couple of winters have been terrible for bird production and the springs have been wet and cold. Consequently, our bird numbers are at an all time low. This winter has been exeptionally nice so it will help out a bunch but it also seems like lots of the bigger farms are getting broken into 10-20 acre parcels with houses being built on them. If you ever make it out this way I would be glad to take you out hunting...there is plenty of options. If you want to see some of the most unbelievable country I will take you out on the Salmon River breaks for chukars. If your more into the flat ground I can get you on some decent quail and pheasant. Mind you that you will never see the amount of pheasant that you would in SoDakota but there is a lot fewer hunters too.
 
I might have to take you up on that offer. I said for many years if I ever moved to any other state, I would want it to be Idaho. I was there once around Cordelene, what absolutely beautifull country. I looked up most of the time. Thats a suprise on the diversity of birds. Chucker hunting is a blast, so are huns. We used to get them in IA allot. Now it's ocasinal. Whats a California Quail?
 
Ken, I don't want to burst your bubble, but If you are in Coeur D' Alene. You are only 30 miles from me...........Bob
 
I knew I spelled that wrong:D You live in Gods place on earth too I guess. I went through to Spokane WA. Then down through OR, Back through WY,MT, Neat drive. Did not have the dogs, just went out to get a truck I bought on line.:thumbsup: Seen most of the different ranges St Helen's etc. Jackson hole, Yellow stone all that stuff. I liked the Plaque at the Madison pass, About " at one time you could walk across the backs of the buffalo. Seen plenty of places that looked good to hunt something with the dogs. But stupid me When I got to Portland I never went to see the Ocean.
 
I'm glad you like my neck of the woods. I have been to your area several times hunting when I lived in MN. I will say way back when, the bird numbers were always good around there. The farmers were special, a friendlier bunch of people, I have never seen. They would invite us in for coffee and cake after our hunt. Things of that nature, I miss them..........Bob
 
bobeyerite said:
I'm glad you like my neck of the woods. I have been to your area several times hunting when I lived in MN. I will say way back when, the bird numbers were always good around there. The farmers were special, a friendlier bunch of people, I have never seen. They would invite us in for coffee and cake after our hunt. Things of that nature, I miss them..........Bob
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Yes many still do that Bob. Sometimes it's hard to get away and get back to hunting. Deer hunting is a different story, every farmer has a deer rifle.:D
 
FCSpringer said:
Yes many still do that Bob. Sometimes it's hard to get away and get back to hunting. Deer hunting is a different story, every farmer has a deer rifle.:D
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I dont wanna sound like a sour pus. but majority of the farmers are bored with pheasant hunting and find Deer hunting more challenging sport. my dad barely goes out for pheasants.. my brother doesnt even bother.. but I do sometimes if i got time to do so...


however we all three never fail a deer season.
 
birdman652001 said:
but majority of the farmers are bored with pheasant hunting and find Deer hunting more challenging sport. my dad barely goes out for pheasants..
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I think it is more of a timing issue. Most guys do not get done until deer season. Also like 95% of the hunters out there they prefer big game.

I do find the challenging statement a little funny. The farmers I know in SE SD shoot deer by chasing them around in pickups, of course that is how most guys do it around there.
 
Like I said FCSpringer....if you ever make it out this way during the fall I can show you what a California is first hand. They are close relatives to the Gambel's quail and are fairly common around E Washinton and Oregon and W Idaho. Around Moscow they are very plentiful and if the pheasant hunting is slow there are plenty of quial to keep you busy. The problem around here is that they fly into blackberry bushes or other nasty cover after the initial flush making them hard to get second opportunites at.
 
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