A Somewhat Melancholy Sign of the Times : Quiet Partridge-Shooting

ParksPipes

ParksPipes

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I happened across this article “Quiet Partridge-Shooting” within a blog post on Dogwilling.ca titled “A Somewhat Melancholy Sign of the Times”.
It’s a fascinating story that offers a glimpse into turn of the century grouse shooting from the perspective of a somewhat nostalgic sportsman of the day.
It’s a great read.

QUIET PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING
From Nature and Sport in Britain written by H.A. Bryden in 1904

http://dogwilling.ca/pointing-dog-blog/http/wwwdogwillingca/blog-page-url/2018/2/5/signofthetimes
 
Mike, really enjoyed that. Personally, although I have never been shooting in the UK, the accounts I have read, and the video's I have watched, don't really fire me up. Much like the author at the start of his essay, I love the quiet ambling through woods or across plains, watching my dog, sharing the adventure with perhaps another hunter.......or not. While I have participated in them I don't even really enjoy the big wild pheasant drives in places like South Dakota, with groups of a dozen hunters organized to maximize the bag. I'd rather just wander off and see what the dog and I find.
 
canvasback said:
Mike, really enjoyed that. Personally, although I have never been shooting in the UK, the accounts I have read, and the video's I have watched, don't really fire me up. Much like the author at the start of his essay, I love the quiet ambling through woods or across plains, watching my dog, sharing the adventure with perhaps another hunter.......or not. While I have participated in them I don't even really enjoy the big wild pheasant drives in places like South Dakota, with groups of a dozen hunters organized to maximize the bag. I'd rather just wander off and see what the dog and I find.
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I feel the same way. Done right it can be one of the most peaceful, relaxing things a guy and his dog can do.
 
Glad you liked it I thought it was a super read.
I understand that Rough shooting in UK is the walking type, which is more for me too, vs Driven.
I’d really like to get over there one day to see the some of countryside and give it a try.
Wales, the North and further up into Scotland all look amazing.
I would give a proper driven shoot a go however, don’t get me wrong, but it’s super expensive and I like to walk.
I’ve been to London before, a couple times, and it’s okay, but that’s that.

Did you notice the number of days hunted and the number of birds taken by that Field contributor?
And that was listed in braces!
If I get 2 birds in a day then that’s a great day, and if I get 4 days of grouse hunting in any given Sept....well I’m not sure how many times I ever actually have.

The estate driven scores are of course huge.
That whole system is a bit bizarre, and mechanical like the author says.

Yah I think Canada wide is mostly just walk-up shooting.
I have heard of organized higher volume shoots with released raised birds at some private places, but think that’s uncommon.
Well then there’s game farm released birds which maybe fit somewhere inbetween.

Well here we are at the end of July, and with only August to go September will be coming up soon :)
 
With the graceful ageing of my physicality I no longer suffer from the need to max out on limits as I did in my youth and truly enjoy the quietness of walking. Working with dogs in my mind is a great part of the entire experience of hunting and agreed with all the gentlemen said.The count is no longer a priority and just getting a chance seems enough to fulfill the day. Great read thanks for posting.
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In the 1980s, when I had free access to some fairly extensive open and aspen covered farm land that was returning to nature and was therefore prime ruffed grouse and woodcock habitat, I was well aware that I was one of the luckiest shooters on the planet. But as Robert Frost said, nothing gold can stay.
 
^^^ BTW, I wasn't in much of a position to own a dog in those days but was doing fine without one and told myself that hunting on my own was sharpening my woodcraft and game finding skills. That was sort of true, but of course I also missed out on the dog experience. I was also lucky in that the local method of grouse hunting involved driving slowly along dirt roads and plugging the grouse observed on the roads' edge. In fact, everyone thought I was doing that and for once in my life I just shut up and let them go on thinking so.
 
And also from the story how about the 2 gentlemen from the early 1800’s carrying muzzleloaders and with 12miles of birdshooting countryside to themselves?
Ok, those definitely were the days......

I’ve been looking into dogs this past year and want to get a bird hunting puppy next spring/summer.
I visited a local breeder of springer spaniels yesterday afternoon.
The breed seems like a good fit.
Ironically I’ve been reading about pointers mostly, and pointer vs flusher has been the big question.
That is after determining that I want a friendly, medium to smaller sized dog that can live in my home as a family pet and not hunt the two little dogs that are here already.
I also like the idea of a medium ish to shorter length coat for maintenance.
I don’t have much experience hunting with a dog, this will be a new chapter.

I see one of those is a Brittany, I hear people love’em
 
ParksPipes said:
And also from the story how about the 2 gentlemen from the early 1800’s carrying muzzleloaders and with 12miles of birdshooting countryside to themselves?
Ok, those definitely were the days......

I’ve been looking into dogs this past year and want to get a bird hunting puppy next spring/summer.
I visited a local breeder of springer spaniels yesterday afternoon.
The breed seems like a good fit.
Ironically I’ve been reading about pointers mostly, and pointer vs flusher has been the big question.
That is after determining that I want a friendly, medium to smaller sized dog that can live in my home as a family pet and not hunt the two little dogs that are here already.
I also like the idea of a medium ish to shorter length coat for maintenance.
I don’t have much experience hunting with a dog, this will be a new chapter.

I see one of those is a Brittany, I hear people love’em
Click to expand...

Mike, next time you are this way, meet my setters. Last week I was just doing some work at the Bowmanville marina, 5 min from you. If I had known you were thinking of dogs I would have brought my younger one. I was there for most of two days.
 
Nothing like a solitary bird hunt on a crisp October day. Dogs are great and good ones are a joy to watch work. I don't own one and ruffed grouse shooting on the wing with little warning is a challenge. Have to be maintaining some kind of decent field position all the time. They usually flush when you have your gun in the wrong hand and are straddling a dead fall.
 
ParksPipes said:
And also from the story how about the 2 gentlemen from the early 1800’s carrying muzzleloaders and with 12miles of birdshooting countryside to themselves?
Ok, those definitely were the days......

I’ve been looking into dogs this past year and want to get a bird hunting puppy next spring/summer.
I visited a local breeder of springer spaniels yesterday afternoon.
The breed seems like a good fit.
Ironically I’ve been reading about pointers mostly, and pointer vs flusher has been the big question.
That is after determining that I want a friendly, medium to smaller sized dog that can live in my home as a family pet and not hunt the two little dogs that are here already.
I also like the idea of a medium ish to shorter length coat for maintenance.
I don’t have much experience hunting with a dog, this will be a new chapter.

I see one of those is a Brittany, I hear people love’em
Click to expand...

I've had Britts for over 40 years and they suit my life style and hunting style. They are friendly with both people and other dogs but like most hunting breeds are energetic and need to be exercised. Springers are much the same but they don't point. Both breeds can be a bit weird though.

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My pointer is a dream,but for hunting heavy ducks in the salt chuck I have 80lbs. of Black Lab which pounds through the water like a boomer sub.My wife is still waiting for her lap dog ....:)
 
Good bird dogs are great and all but there's nothing quite like a pack of hounds chasing a cottontail. I grew up with beagles and later moved to a Basset Hound. That's a slow relaxing pace hunting with a Basset.

Now I just have mastiffs. Nothing like seeing a 180lb mastif retrieve a goose. No real hunting ability at all but if she saw it fall she'd bring it to me on command. Sure did enjoy walking the farm with her by my side
 
brybenn said:
Good bird dogs are great and all but there's nothing quite like a pack of hounds chasing a cottontail. I grew up with beagles and later moved to a Basset Hound. That's a slow relaxing pace hunting with a Basset.

Now I just have mastiffs. Nothing like seeing a 180lb mastif retrieve a goose. No real hunting ability at all but if she saw it fall she'd bring it to me on command. Sure did enjoy walking the farm with her by my side
Click to expand...

I was lucky enough to go fox hunting in England in the 90's, before it was banned. Had family over there who were very involved. Lots of hounds. Was one of the few Fell Walking hunt clubs, no horses or blue bloods, just hard working folk. After the day long hunt, off to the pub for food and drink, and finish the night there listening to old men singing songs of long gone favorite hounds. Completely magic. Horrible that its all illegal now.
 
Right on guys, thanks for the pics and tips.
I think this Christmas I’ll place a deposit for a pup for next spring/summer.
It’ll be fun.

MrCanvasback next time you are nearby shoot me a text or something and stop in, you know where I live.
Maybe we get out for a grouse hunt this Fall?

MrBrybenn missed you at the SxS Classic, hope the knee is improving.

Everyone else Here’s to a great season this year!
 
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