So going to use this thread to share my hunting adventures for those who might like to gather round the camp fire and enjoy a story or two.
I'll ask those who may find my ramblings distasteful to look else where.
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So going to use this thread to share my hunting adventures for those who might like to gather round the camp fire and enjoy a story or two.
I'll ask those who may find my ramblings distasteful to look else where.
This hunt is dedicated to Sharon
So starts the upland season for me. Couldn't ask for a nicer start. Fall colours just starting to hint of whats to come. Alot has changed in one of my favourite coverts. Seems the beavers reclaimmed a long abandonned beaver pond causing one on my usually productive valleys to flood out. In all the forest is in good condition as throughout the area lots of standing puddles that should be ideal for the migrating birds for now the dogs had to cover alot of ground to find widely scattered birds. Lost count of woodcock flushes but would guess about the same as last year at this time. Managed 3 grouse flushes 2 would say a bit wild the third though would of been an easy shot for my wingman as I flushed it from under Stella's nose.
Got some vid of Stella pointing a woodcock.
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As solid as their live bird work is was really pressed with their recovery work today. Usually can tell if the bird is hit or not but today 2 left me uncertain. Was those shots where bird flies through the trees you shoot and a bunch of leaves drop also. If I have a clue can guide the dogs to the general area but these 2 where blind retreives. Needles to say was quite please when they where recovered.
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:thumbup:..FFFS
Nice, so do you tell the dog to jump the bird after pointing it for so long or do you walk up to chase it off the ground. I guess my question is, is it you or the dog that ends up flushing the bird after the point.
Its me flushing the bird. Goal of a finished pointer is being steady to flush and shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by fratri
Its a pointing dog Fatri not a flushing dog.....lolQuote:
Originally Posted by fratri
Very cool ! keep them coming pls.
Well he's not that far off in asking. If you go the european way the dog should flush on command. The predecessor of Stella was a setter/pointer cross that after getting her mature on point was able to get her to flush on command. Got to be careful going that route as its a possibility the dog will start to break its point in an attempt to catch or even worse does catch the bird.Quote:
Originally Posted by huntervinni
Stella's to solid to get her to flush and Nova Still to new to try so it leaves me chucking stones or kicking brush in the thick of it to get a shot.
Kind of why a solid pointer is a 2 man game.
See, I am not too old to learn something :)Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Wasn't hard to cash in a vac-day today. Gorgeous fall day beckoned a run with the dogs. Legs are burning now as todays route took a more bush wacking course. Getting hard to negociate beaver cuts but thats where the birds are. Most of the run was singles here and there except for one flooded seep that had a cloister of birds about 7-8.
Shooting was rough today with being in the heaviest thickets. Only 1 grouse heard today hopeing its just the broods haven't broken up yet.
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Nice...
Beautiful....
Some nice work, and what a day to be out! Is that a new board you have?
Great pic. Congrats
Ya someone took offense to the previous one so I figure billboard 2.0 made from a cherry tree that I had to cut down from the backyard might be a better backdrop.Quote:
Originally Posted by dean.f
So looks like tomorrow is going to be called on account of rain. Might get the dogs out for a run around the neighbourhood in the morning if its not raining (or at least not to hard)
anyone in the keele/7 area is welcome to tag along. Will post early tomorrow if/when I 'll be out.
I can't make my britt break point to save my soul. My daughter taught her britt to flush on command. I have to tell you this is so handy. You can stay back, where you have room to move the gun and where the range is better versus going right in to the tight stuff and being too close for the only shot offered early season with leaves. I will train the next dog to flush on command.
Soggy conditions had the birds tucked under cover more than usual. Trees are colouring up leaves are falling a bit but with no weather of frost pushing them along numbers seem to be consistent no more and no less today as shooting sucked. pushed around a few grouse, some woodcock and even flushed a turkey today.
Ran into a couple of young hunters doing it right, unvited them to tag along as neither hunted over a dog before. Think they enjoyed it I'll let them chime in on that.
Back at it tomorrow conditions should be a bit better at least in the morning as although dry its going to be a hot one.
Figured it be a short hunt today. Got out at first light and conditions near perfect. Found birds pretty quick shooting was a bit better today. Got warm fast though, Atv's and bikes showed up tried a couple of other spots but birds were absent there. With Thanksgiving traffic clogging the hyways and the dogs feeling the heat called it short.
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Nice picture, nice dogs
Congrats on the outing, great day for it
Hope its just midseason doldrums. Didn't expect much today as it was calling for another warm day. Figured might as well run a couple of new tracts today. Although didn't look ideal as seemed old forest however there had been alot of tree removeal so quite a bit new growth comming up. Drew a blank there. Wasn't too far from where I was Monday so figured a run threw there should be good.
Moved only 1 woodcock. Was a fun bird as it was a runner took Stella a few minutes to ferret it out. When she finnally pinned it down, on the flush it fluttered through some young pine giving no shot.
Packed it in and made a stop a Cabelas to see if I can get some more shells. Cleaned out the last 6 boxes of 20g 71/2's.
Waiting on some weather to move the birds along
Hunting woodcock in a teeshirt in mid Oct just isn't right. Prospected a new bush today. Cover looked good sign was present just couldn't find 'em. 1 pointed bird, another bust as Stella got winded in the heat.
Must of moved 6-7 grouse good point on 1 however all bustedway out of range.
Birds are on the move however no big push so numbers are consistent. Lots of old splash and new just not the white wash forest floor of a big push. Finding stacked birds mostly on high points surrounded by water in the forest. Birds are quite jumpy even stella had trouble holding them today. With no big fronts on the horizon should be good for a while.
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Finally starting to feel like october, granted could of done without the lake effect dizzle comming down. Pull into the first spot to find another hunter already there with his dogs. A gracious offer to hunt together was declined as didn't want to interfer or detract from his hunt so I moved on to the next spot. Put Nova down regretting didn't have vid of the hunt as it was one of those comdey of errors hunt. Started off with Nova piling up at the start of the pine plantation. Expecting a woodcock started stomping the rasberry patch trying to get it up. To my suprise a grouse poped up and flew straight down the row, before I could think hey grouse a second busted to my left. Yup caught flat footed didn't even bring up the gun. Continued on to a ridge I found some birds on last year and sure enough caught a flight. Nova must of worked up a dozen woodcock most offered no shot as they flew low. others managed to evade shot. Was able to connect with one as Nova went in to retreive he picked it up and spat it out to turn around and point another bird. Had to go pick of the first than try to flush the second with no joy. Completed his shift with another bird.
Returned to the first spot to find the hunter wrapping up and getting ready to leave. Figured might as well put Stella down even though an english pointer and setter just ran it.
She didn't disappoint as she pinned 8 birds only managed 1 though.
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Woodcock numbers have really dried up in the northeast. Only had 4 finds today. Still uncertain if we've seen the last of them as haven't had so much of a frost yet. Grouse though have been taughting me. Had 1 good point and 2 attempted ones with no shot oppurtunity. on the trail back to the jeep with dog on the lease and gun on the shoulder doesn't four bust from the forest edge.
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Seven grouse contacts in one day isn't too bad for southern Ontario.
Its bitter sweat. Over the dogs they are running and busting out 70-80 yards ahead. Finding them extremely jumpy. Once the woodcock are gone and maybe a dusting of snow will go back in sleath mode with the dogs and see if I can get a jump on them.Quote:
Originally Posted by sidelock
Grouse will be grouse.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Was hoping the north wind would of brought down some birds but it looks like it blew them out. Dogs had to work hard to find some stragglers today. In any case the weather was great to be out.
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With the control hunt set to start Monday today was set to be pretty much the last hoo rah. Pondering options last night get a call from a fellow woodcock hunter telling me birds are in but his dog just came up injured. Asked if I want to put mine down and get after them. Didn't take much arm twisting to set plans. Typical flight circus as heavily splashed areas having the dogs spining in circles over the abundant scent. Dogs did their jobs, hunters did theirs and after the smoke cleared a 2 man limit hit the board.
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How far north were you ?
almost the shore of Lake ErieQuote:
Originally Posted by sidelock
With the deer season over time to get back out with the dogs. Had a good run today. Found 2 suprise woodcock that due to an ammo malfuction are still able to carry on their migration. 4 grouse encountered all with a phd in elusivity are still roaming the bush. Brought some insurance today. Spent the rest of the time enjoying some extra dog work with a little put and take action.
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Looking good! Can't beat the weather either.
I managed a nice grouse pot shot when I returned to the truck from my deer hunt Monday. Only bird I've connected on all season.
Still hunters out and about..be careful where you run them..Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
done here the control is overQuote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Can you beleive the weather today? Didn't take much arm twisting to poke around the SW for some late migrant woodcock. Found enough for a good hunt granted it was a tough hunt for Nova. The birds have been staging for a bit and heavy areas of splash coupled with birds that rather run than fly had him churning the bush up. Forutnately Stella has played the game long enough to sort through the noise and was able to get some birds in front of the guns. Couldn't ask for a better ending to the season.
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After such a nice fall, winter closed in a hurry.
finnally caught a nice day today and ventured out with the dogs. Guess I was a bit overly optimistic as found the bush covered in a blanket of softening crusty snow and where the snow was clear it was flooded. Gave the dogs a brief run for the heck of it but didn't last long as the crust was hard on their feet. To finish the outing found a grassy field for some put and take (no pictures as battery died in the camera) and called it a day.
Hopeful this break in the weather last till next Sunday.
Glad you were able to get out despite the high winds.