Grouse Hunting
- This topic has 29 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated Feb 18, 2008 at 6:51 am by
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One thing to think about Zach is that grouse populations are notoriously cyclical – roughly on an 8-10 year cycle.
I have been quail hunting the past couple of years, but my guys wanted to give grouse a try recently. I went on my first hunt for them this past Sat. We had two dogs, both setters, and one was a real pro. The other was used to Quail and he just could not get over not finding 20 or 30 birds. We did flush 3 or 4 and I got to take one down. It was great fun, mainly because everyone was telling me what an accomplishiment it was. I currently hunt with my Grandfathers 12ga. side by side (1937) and love it even though it doesn’t fit me perfectly.
Zach, I know you said you wanted someday to buy a nice double barrel. When that day comes, I would highly recommend you slide up the road a bit to Barnsley Gardens and go through the Orvis Wingshooting school/fitting. I did that a few weeks ago and have a new O/U on order from them. We are lucky to have that type of facility/expertise outside of Sandanona.
Regarding your gunshy dog, start with a friend and a sporting clays range. I found a clays range here in NC that let me come on a day when they were closed just to train my dog once I got to talking to the owner, and a friend of mine held our dogs (3 of them) about 50 yards away from the shooting, and once they don’t mind the noise anymore, bring them a little closer and a little closer until they’re eventually at your side. Within 20 minutes our dogs ignored the noise altogether. If you already know your dog is gunshy, take it slower and see how she responds.
Zach….you got some great advice from all…just to add re. dog. try to pick up Ben O’Williams’, INSTINCTIVE DOG TRAINING….in a nutshell, he says 90% of what is in your dog is, in your dog, (if you catch my drift)….he proffers that you do what you are suggesting, get out in the woods, run your dog and bring out what his nature is….(read the book)
ps. $1200 is a lot to spend on a gun that your going to bang around (no pun intended) the woods….my $.02…Gene
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