First Grouse Hunt Of The 2013 Season

Charlie Brown said:
Thank you for the info. I have been looking at the CZs in 20 Gauge. Seems like a nice gun for the money. I do wonder if it isn't best to stick with 12 Gauge if there isn't a weight advantage. Can always shoot reduced loads.
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Very nice gun for the money indeed. You might want to go to a store that has lots of over/unders on the shelf and handle them such as Wholesale Sports. Even if its a place you hate. Check them out, then go order the gun from a store you like ;). I saw a shotgun for sale the other day called a Franchi Instinct for the same price as a 12ga Redhead. Very plain looking but had an attractive case harden finish and felt like a sold gun.
 
NoBark said:
English Cocker Spaniel.
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Thanks! I would have never known that.your dog looks really nice! My brittany spanial passed 2 years ago @ 14 years....was his time...anyhow my girlfriend has a half poodle/half king charles spaniel,and I hunt with him now...lol.for whatever crazy reason he has natural bird hunting instincts and is "ok" to have around while bird hunting....he looks very simular to your dog,thats why I was curious!

Good luck on the hunt,WJ!
 
Whitetail Junkie said:
Thanks! I would have never known that.your dog looks really nice! My brittany spanial passed 2 years ago @ 14 years....was his time...anyhow my girlfriend has a half poodle/half king charles spaniel,and I hunt with him now...lol.for whatever crazy reason he has natural bird hunting instincts and is "ok" to have around while bird hunting....he looks very simular to your dog,thats why I was curious!

Good luck on the hunt,WJ!
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Her call name is Barcha but her name on her papers is Sandra Z Blatova. Her pedigree goes as far back as 1936 of all hunting breed English Cocker Spaniels. All Spaniels are natural hunting dogs. However, this doesn't mean that only Spaniels make good hunting dogs ;).

Just had are Husky pass at age 13. Was her time as well but its always hard when you've had the dog for so long.
 
Super pumped. Just got back from cutting trail and Harley started working some birds. Went late season Huckleberry picking two days ago and Harley put up eight. Tomorrow's the big day.
Talked to a breeder about the King Charles spanial and she claimed they pretty much had the hunt bred out of them but were a hunting breed to start with. Your poodlecross picked up some of the old DNA along the way. Poodles can make excellent bird dogs, my father-in-law always took his out with him.
 
Bland said:
Super pumped. Just got back from cutting trail and Harley started working some birds. Went late season Huckleberry picking two days ago and Harley put up eight. Tomorrow's the big day.
Talked to a breeder about the King Charles spanial and she claimed they pretty much had the hunt bred out of them but were a hunting breed to start with. Your poodlecross picked up some of the old DNA along the way. Poodles can make excellent bird dogs, my father-in-law always took his out with him.
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Shes a puree breed, born in the Blatova Kennel in Czech Republic, English Cocker Spaniel ;).

Not 100% sure if you were talking to me or Whitetail Junkie.
 
Whitetail junkie, I screwed up the quote thing again. Cockers are under appreciated for their hunting ability.

Opening day had a few twists. Good news is the grouse numbers are solid in my area. Bad news is I seem to have forgotten how to shoot. First year with the new to me 16 ga. sxs. First shot safety was still on. Forgot it went to safety when you break her open. Missed an easy pass. Next miss was brutal and had time for a second shot. Went for wrong trigger. While talking to myself and moving onto another area met an older gentleman ( I am retired to give you context on his age). He had been walking most of the day (it was now 15 o'clock) as his truck had broke down. He had about 16 klicks left to go on deactivated road. His dog was ancient and looking pretty sore. We managed to get him, myself plus both dogs on the bike and off we went. That pretty well took care of the rest of the day. Another uneventful day in the bush and need I add, Harley had a blast.
 
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We're seeing a better season for ruffies here in Alberta, too. We went out for our first hunt of the year last Sunday. Two hunters plus a dog - we saw a dozen birds in a 4-hour period, managed to come home with 5.

The season opens on the 1st of September where we hunt. It's still too hot for the most part and the leaves are still on the trees. Usually we don't see many birds this early in the season, even if they are out there in good numbers. Twice this week we walked into "families" of birds consisting of 5 - 7 birds.

Should be an awesome year in the uplands of Alberta. I'm really looking forward to the cooler fall days and the cold nights to knock the leaves off the trees.

Heading back out this afternoon for another 3 days in the field.
 
Lucky buggers! We don't start in my part of Ontario until September 25th. My dog has been gone all summer training and now he's gone for a breeding so I won't get him back for another week! It is killing me! I would rather have the wife away that long than my dog, good thing though is my little female has been here to help. Looking forward to the opener, going out come hell or high water.
 
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