2021 FFF upland hunting thread

[finsfurfeathers]

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.

[finsfurfeathers]

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.

im[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mvQZyo]

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.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mvR15i]

[be2man]

..FFFS

[fratri]

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.

[finsfurfeathers]

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.

[huntervinni]

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 a pointing dog Fatri not a flushing dog.....lol

[Ata83]

Very cool ! keep them coming pls.

[finsfurfeathers]

Its a pointing dog Fatri not a flushing dog.....lol

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.
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.

[fratri]

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.
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 way a solid pointer is a 2 man game.

See, I am not too old to learn something

[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.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mwsbSV]