Another bird hunt and something new

[Sparkitoff]

Well the pup and I were back at the club earlier this week. Previously, we worked on the “whoa” command. It paid off and then some. She will point and I approach. As I get near her if she loosens up at all I say “whoa” and she tightens up. Then, cock hammers and proceed to flush bird. Shoot and check dog status. If she moves, another “whoa”. If she moves a lot, pick her up and do the “whoa” drill again. Interesting thing happened. Towards the end of the day the dog was stopping, er….”whoa-ing” when I cocked the hammers. I tested this several times since. She’s made the connection. Click-click, she stops and steadies up. Another minor change….in powder. I used the same 1-oz square load (20b) and wad sequence but switched to Pyrodex RS. No decernable difference in performance. She pointed 5 coveys of quail and 6 singles. I did not shoot at the singles. Also pointed 9 partridge, and I shot at 8 (one was headed towards a farm implement that could have been peppered). I missed twice all morning. This little dog and little shotgun and getting along with me just fine.

 

[Sparkitoff]

The auto-correct is killing me but you get the idea.

 

[Robby]

Fine looking dog!!
Robby

 

[Brokennock]

Excellent. Glad things are going so well.
I wish we had been a little more rigid in training "whoa" and "leave it" commands when my Brittany was a pup. He finds birds well, retrieves pretty well,,, but, if a bird he's pointing moves to run,,, he is on it, or tries.

 

[Britsmoothy]

That dog is going to bring you immense pleasure and satisfaction

 

[Feltwad]

Well done this is my type of shooting and that is a good walking up day with sporting shots . I did plenty of this in my younger days shooting over pointers and setters for which I got more pleasure watching the dogs work than the overall count of the bag
Feltwad

 

[3Setters]

Good dog work is what its all about.

 

[Spikebuck]

A great day afield with what will be a longtime hunting partner. Doesn't get much better than that! Congrats.

 

[Skychief]

How can anyone not love dogs?

 

[JohnL]

Love it! Reminds me of a bird dog my dad had when I was a kid. Keep the stories coming!

 

[sawyer04]

Had coon and running dogs in younger years, I enjoyed their team work and trailing the most. Good dogs keeps ya in shape. You got to run with the dogs, sad to say I am beyond those years. That is one good looking hound.

 

[3Setters]

Went looking for grouse today, but all we found was woodcock. Poor shooting kept me from a limit. But still a good day in the rain.

 

[William Lincoln]

Dog spelled backwards is God. They are divine gifts to us.

 

[Brokennock]

How can anyone not love dogs?

Well,,,, I don't love dogs, generally.
But, having a friend and acquaintance or two who have been on the wrong end of some tracking dogs,,, I can see how some folks might not like them.
(No, they aren't criminals)

 

[toot]

Went looking for grouse today, but all we found was woodcock. Poor shooting kept me from a limit. But still a good day in the rain.View attachment 101988

now he is a proud friend!! it is his bird! is the left hammer missing the screw?

 

[Ricochet]

I sure do miss my old pointers from back in the day!! My buddy had a Brittany that just loved to point woodcocks. To say that dog hated my existence is the understatement of the century...........I just never could hit them crazy flying kamikazes. If I wasn't always on the lookout he would give my boots a quick washing. Looks like some fine dog work there!!

 

[Percy]

Nice looking pointer. Brings back fond memories of when I had pointers and birds to hunt. Nothing better than spending time in the field with your dog.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I love dogs. In fact I've been bit twice, and both times I didn't report the incident but endeavored to figure out why the dog bit me.

The first was Charlie a beagle who was a rescue. He'd seen me many times at his farm, and although barked to ensure I knew he was master of the yard, never got physical with me. Heck I'd even gone out to search with his owner once when Charlie got through the invisible fence, I found him and carried him back in my arms and he was so tuckered out he fell asleep. Poor little guy.

Then one day coming back from the Western woodlot on the property after a day flintlock-hunt, as I passed he barked hello, stopped, cocked his head at my left ankle, then looked up at me, then WHAM hit the ankle for all he was worth. Went through the canvas pant leg and into my shin. I made it to the car with only a minor fang wound. I had a loaded flinter with 224 grains of "business" but I couldn't shoot Charlie..., heck I was worried even about firing a shot into the ground... might hit a rock and knock it into Charlie...., or into me..., later I called Charlie's owner...,

"Martha, I'm worried as Charlie ran over and bit my left ankle this evening as I walked to my car."
"Oh my gosh, he's never bitten anybody. Are you OK? Do you need stiches?" She replied.
"Naw, its just a small wound, and I've got salve and a bandaid on it. He's got all of his shots, right?" I asked
Oh yeah, he's fully vaccinated. I'm sorry this happened. The only thing he hates are racoons, from when he was abandoned in the woods, before we rescued him," she said...
I started laughing....
"Well that explains a lot. My fault I guess. I should switch to something other than racoon pee on my boots as a cover scent. Now I know why Charlie looked at me so weird..., he was tryin' to rescue me from the evil racoon hidin' in my pants leg, that he smelled."

Moral of the story..., beware what you use as a cover scent when you muzzleloader hunt!

LD

 

[Brokennock]

Well,,,, I don't love dogs, generally.
But, having a friend and acquaintance or two who have been on the wrong end of some tracking dogs,,, I can see how some folks might not like them.
(No, they aren't criminals)

Sorry, that was supposed to say that,
I do love dogs generally,,,,
then the post should carry on from there

 

[Crow-Feather]

Went looking for grouse today, but all we found was woodcock. Poor shooting kept me from a limit. But still a good day in the rain.View attachment 101988

It appears that the screw securing your left hammer is missing