Why labs make the best hunting dogs.

No honey-holes out here this year, Tom, but i have seen a lot of Magpies & they're kinda shaped like Pheasants . . . once my pup has a season or two behind him tho I may be interested. Enjoy your dog as I do mine, for that's what it's all about.
 
I agree, run what you brung and I know we all love our dogs.

The pheasant hunting isn't great out here but I have access to millions of prime acres for quail, chukar, and grouse anyone who would like to come out for some good natured competition is more than welcome. Hell I'll even take you to my favorite pheasant spots.:cheers:
 
I just like seeing dogs hunt no matter the breed, so kudos to Lab lovers, however you quote :late season birds I hunt simply won't stand still and hold for pointers I've hunted with" and "they are too busy RUNNING and FLUSHING" then how does the Lab ever get close enough for the gun?

I don't know how other labs hunt, but I can tell you about mine. she does not hunt a normal wiper pattern, and she ranges further than what most people would allow. sometimes up to 75 yards. we have not lost any birds to wild flushes when it is just the two of us. I believe what she does is herds the birds toward me, most birds flush within ten yards of me and are coming right at me. I almost forgot to mention that when she runs it sounds like a herd of horses busting thru the crp.:cheers:
 
We get close enough because I read her well enough, and hustle after her when things get hot. I think that the birds make mistakes (even runners) when they are dogged for long distances (with any breed). They just cant take it any more. If I hustle up on her and hunt aggressively, I can quite often be in position for a shot.

Well said.
 
We get close enough because I read her well enough, and hustle after her when things get hot. I think that the birds make mistakes (even runners) when they are dogged for long distances (with any breed). They just cant take it any more. If I hustle up on her and hunt aggressively, I can quite often be in position for a shot.

Well said.
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Trust the dog and keep up.
 
IMO a good dog from any of the hunting breeds can learn to handle pheasants pretty well.

The Labs, Chessys, Springer style is well suited for very heavy cover. The pointers and setters do very well in cover that allows scent to travel more on the wind. Running pheasants in wheat stubble has become one of my favorite types of hunts. To hunt big fields like this you need a dog that is ranging out and can hold a bird for a significant amount of time for you to get there.
 
IMO a good dog from any of the hunting breeds can learn to handle pheasants pretty well.

The Labs, Chessys, Springer style is well suited for very heavy cover. The pointers and setters do very well in cover that allows scent to travel more on the wind. Running pheasants in wheat stubble has become one of my favorite types of hunts. To hunt big fields like this you need a dog that is ranging out and can hold a bird for a significant amount of time for you to get there.

SetterNut,
Well said. A great dog in its own elements will figure this out in time. I have seen a dog do remarkably well in certain types of vegetation, only to struggle a little on the very next drop in different cover type or crop field. Each type of breed has its benefits and shortfalls.
 
SetterNut,
Well said. A great dog in its own elements will figure this out in time. I have seen a dog do remarkably well in certain types of vegetation, only to struggle a little on the very next drop in different cover type or crop field. Each type of breed has its benefits and shortfalls.

We hunted some really heavy CRP in a draw this morning. Not much wind this morning. My Setter did his best, but we had a hard time getting much pointed there. Without a Garmin, you could not tell if the dog was pointing. But then we got out in the wheat stubble and milo, and it was much more in his skill set.

Then there are the quail, and that is were the pointers and setters really shine.....
 
Then there are the quail, and that is were the pointers and setters really shine.....

Maybe those "gentlemen" bobs are made for pointy dogs but these quail out west take a different approach.

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Nothing like rubbing a little CA salt into an open wound:D :coolpics:
 
I think you will find that a good experience pointing dog will handle them just fine.
You have I nice looking dog, that I see you put to good use :thumbsup:
 
Thanks SN, its just that coveys aren't that hard to locate out hear so we are better suited with a dog that flushes from heavy cover (berries, roses, etc...) and retrieves well. Singles would be fun to hunt over points though.

Okie. Just a little more salt, I could take you straight to well over 50 covies of 30-75 quail within 45mins of my house. Getting in good shooting range is another story this time of year though.
 
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Pointing labs to me are the way to go. Tough as nails and stylish, the pointing lab gives the hunter the best of both worlds, the anticipation of a point and a remarkable retrieving instict that most pointing breeds do not poses.
 
All breed's are good, if they working well! My frend says Minibig is also good a, if big it's working.:)
My first's dog's was lab's, and I love hunt with them but after they past away. I chance breed's because I move to live highlands. Highlands dog have to run a lot of and have working hard! If I walk 10-15km, my dog run's that X 6.
Second reason why I chance breed's was. If a dog loses a hunting situation, and I know that it is on point but don't finde them Both GWP's and Breton's come to informate me a bird's and take me to bird's.
Images can also be found a few reasons why I changed my breed.:)

http://www.ultimatepheasanthunting.com/forum/album.php?albumid=202

:cheers:
 
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In my life I have had 2 vizslas, 1 German shorthair, 3 pointers, and 3 labs. I love hunting using the labs when i go with a big group of people. Labs don't run the full line and will retrieve just about anything. '

On the other hand there is nothing like watching a good pointing dog.
 
Thunturi

Pictures 3 & 4 on the top row of the second page looks just like my aunt and uncle's dog that they had years ago.They live in France
 
Thanks SN, its just that coveys aren't that hard to locate out hear so we are better suited with a dog that flushes from heavy cover (berries, roses, etc...) and retrieves well. Singles would be fun to hunt over points though.

Okie. Just a little more salt, I could take you straight to well over 50 covies of 30-75 quail within 45mins of my house. Getting in good shooting range is another story this time of year though.

I think Okiegunner and myself would take our chances with getting a shot. So many targets, so many decisions! Reminds me of scaled quail, I chased them around and around elephant butte, New Mexico years ago, must have seen that landmark from every aspect at least 3 times, we're talking mles of terrain, dogs pointing, running, relocating, picking up additional birds as we went, nary a shot. Finally one bird squatted, we got a point and a good shot, all the others took flight and spread out, then they sat like ticks in every creosote bush, or clump of cheatgrass. When we were done 3 of us had 15 bird limits and we had flushed many dozen more. Dogs so blistered and sore, from cutting rocks and everything with thorns, were gimpy for a couple of days. I was gimpy too!
 
Thanks SN, its just that coveys aren't that hard to locate out hear so we are better suited with a dog that flushes from heavy cover (berries, roses, etc...) and retrieves well. Singles would be fun to hunt over points though.

Okie. Just a little more salt, I could take you straight to well over 50 covies of 30-75 quail within 45mins of my house. Getting in good shooting range is another story this time of year though.

Quail Hound,

Sounds like you have a major quail problem:eek: Might have to bring in some more dog power. :rolleyes: I can only wish that the bobs would return to those numbers around here:(
 
I think you will find that a good experience pointing dog will handle them just fine.
You have I nice looking dog, that I see you put to good use :thumbsup:

have to agree- don't think my 3 would have any trouble-
perhaps someone should have a gathering out in Ca
 
I've got friends with a GSP and another with a springer, but can't get them out of KS to hunt some northern birds. I do think these two breeds could work as good as a pointing lab. As much as I love my labs, I do see some problems creeping into the breed over time. The problem is all of the people breeding all the different colors for pets. I've seen a dumbing down process going on as well as bad hips/shoulders/joints etc. As a result, I only buy black pups from a breeder that has had only black breeding stock.
 
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