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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Anyone hunt over an Irish Setter? |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:37 pm
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Joined: 01 Dec 2018
Posts: 21
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I’ve been considering getting an Irish setter puppy to hunt over, was wondering if anyone had one they hunt over? |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:17 pm
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Member
Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 1498
Location: the Moosehorn
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I had a Red Setter for 8 years. He was the smartest dog I ever hunted with. He was a calm attentive gent who also made me a great friend. He died of brain cancer in
2000,He is sorely missed. |
_________________ ALWAYS wear the safety glasses
If you take Cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like Prunes than Rhubarb does ----G.M/ |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:39 pm
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Joined: 19 Jun 2004
Posts: 1480
Location: Mpls, MN.
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When I was a kid, we had Irish Setters. My Mom had a showdog that would hunt, would not retrieve, but he would usually find the bird for you. He was really too big, but he had a big heart to go with his 120 lb frame. I had a castoff female that was left in her fenced yard when the Army family that rented a house in our neighborhood moved off. She showed promise, I thought, until the vet informed me he was 99% sure she survived distemper as a pup, and couldn’t smell much. He was correct, of course, and while she got very excited when she saw a rooster, she couldn’t find them.
The last one would have been the best, about 40 lbs of all age dog that was killed with a broad head arrow to the neck by a neighbor, when he was a year old. He was coming along so nicely.
I’ve had Gordon’s and English Setters since then. I remember the Irish Setters as clowns in a dog suit, so much personality, and fun to be around. The Gordon was by far the best bird dog, was also the guard dog of the bunch. The English Setters wouldn’t hurt a fly, were very enthusiastic hunting dogs, but did not have the brains or talent the Gordon did. The Gordon would point birds other dogs missed. He retrieved birds I thought I missed. He didn’t point hen pheasants.
I’ll only own a Setter. I figure I have one more left in me after my current English heads for the rainbow bridge, and plan on another Gordon.
Best of luck to you.
Best,
Ted |
_________________ "Well sir, stupidity isn't technically against the law, and on that note, I'll remove the handcuffs and you are free to go". |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:47 pm
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Joined: 01 Dec 2018
Posts: 21
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Ted Schefelbein wrote: |
When I was a kid, we had Irish Setters. My Mom had a showdog that would hunt, would not retrieve, but he would usually find the bird for you. He was really too big, but he had a big heart to go with his 120 lb frame. I had a castoff female that was left in her fenced yard when the Army family that rented a house in our neighborhood moved off. She showed promise, I thought, until the vet informed me he was 99% sure she survived distemper as a pup, and couldn’t smell much. He was correct, of course, and while she got very excited when she saw a rooster, she couldn’t find them.
The last one would have been the best, about 40 lbs of all age dog that was killed with a broad head arrow to the neck by a neighbor, when he was a year old. He was coming along so nicely.
I’ve had Gordon’s and English Setters since then. I remember the Irish Setters as clowns in a dog suit, so much personality, and fun to be around. The Gordon was by far the best bird dog, was also the guard dog of the bunch. The English Setters wouldn’t hurt a fly, were very enthusiastic hunting dogs, but did not have the brains or talent the Gordon did. The Gordon would point birds other dogs missed. He retrieved birds I thought I missed. He didn’t point hen pheasants.
I’ll only own a Setter. I figure I have one more left in me after my current English heads for the rainbow bridge, and plan on another Gordon.
Best of luck to you.
Best,
Ted
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Thanks for the reply. I had an Irish when I was growing up, from birth to 18. “Rusty” never hunted with him a day in my life. I’ve been spending a lot of time researching for people who are breeding field Irish setters and that seems to be a difficult dog to find. Lots of show dogs though! I love the look of the breed and hope to get a taller male since I’m on the tall side myself. I have a golden retriever now who’s strictly a house dog, and I love dearly but her being short for her breed has been her only characteristic I don’t care for. I’ve been getting a lot more into bird hunting and have my heart somewhat set on an Irish. Thanks for the insight! |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:57 pm
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Joined: 19 Jun 2004
Posts: 1480
Location: Mpls, MN.
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Posted:
Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:36 pm
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Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Posts: 1376
Location: Northern Illinois
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My first bird dog was an Irish out of field stock. He was a great dog but lacked the skill sets of the English and GSP I have owned. A couple of friends run good Gordon’s and I don’t think they are any better than their English counterpart. I think finding a good Irish will be a lot more difficult than finding a good English or Gordon. Select your breeder carefully and hunt over their stock. If they will not let you hunt over their stock move on to the next breeder.
Good Hunting,
Mike |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 20, 2018 5:41 am
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Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2012
Posts: 1114
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I run an occasional field trial with a guy who runs a couple of Red Setters. One of his dogs does it very well, while the younger dog not so much. Both dogs are out of the same hunting stock. They both have a white patch on their chests which is not something I remember from the Irish setter, perhaps that is or isn't significant. They both lack the extremely long, flowing coat of the show dog Irish setters. Bottom line to me is they look like it could be a crap shoot on getting a good one. I intend to stick with GSP's. |
_________________ An elderly gentleman, his faithful dogs, and a 16 ga SXS. All is right with the world. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:58 am
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Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 1007
Location: Lancaster county, Pa
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Google Paul Ober Celtic Irish setters. I have heard good things about his dogs. They have been competing in the northeast cover dog trials and doing fairly well. Andy Weik the ruffed grouse biologist for the northeast has one. Andy is a great guys would probably share his thoughts with you. My cousin had one as a kid big dog full of energy couldn't control him was funny to watch he busted 100's of Pheasants when we still had them. He would chase them to the horizon and come home 6 hours later. Knowing what I know now we might have been able to make him a decent gun dog. I have a Dick Brenaman cover dog setter right now along with a Pudelpointer and will always have one in my string best grouse dogs I've ever hunted with. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 20, 2018 10:52 am
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Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 467
Location: SC PA
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pudelpointer wrote: |
Google Paul Ober Celtic Irish setters. I have heard good things about his dogs. They have been competing in the northeast cover dog trials and doing fairly well. Andy Weik the ruffed grouse biologist for the northeast has one. Andy is a great guys would probably share his thoughts with you. My cousin had one as a kid big dog full of energy couldn't control him was funny to watch he busted 100's of Pheasants when we still had them. He would chase them to the horizon and come home 6 hours later. Knowing what I know now we might have been able to make him a decent gun dog. I have a Dick Brenaman cover dog setter right now along with a Pudelpointer and will always have one in my string best grouse dogs I've ever hunted with.
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My brother had one of Paul's red setters 15yrs ago. Had we been better trainers, I think the dog would have been a peach. Despite us, he was a decent dog.
Last I heard though, Paul had lost his kennel license due to a number of infractions related to poor conditions. That was a few years back so he may be producing litters again, IDK.
How was your season Jan?
Marc |
_________________ "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man" - Vito Corleone
''Common Sense isn't common" -Lefty Kreh |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 20, 2018 4:54 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 592
Location: Minnesota
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You might want to connect with Berg Brothers Setters in MN as they have done some Irish/Red Setter breeding. They certainly are a well known English Setter breeder and have the insight and contacts to assist with Irish/Red Setters. |
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Posted:
Fri Dec 21, 2018 7:55 am
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Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 1460
Location: Eagle, Nebraska
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about 40 years ago, when I was in Jr. High,teacher/coach had one. Nice dog, but not great hunter, and scatter brained. But I have no idea of this dog's pedigree, could have been from non-hunting line, who knows, also, no inclination of the training it received. |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2018 8:49 am
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Member
Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 1498
Location: the Moosehorn
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Red Setters have the white chest marking. I think the red Setter is more field oriented.
my dog was an excellent water dog. |
_________________ ALWAYS wear the safety glasses
If you take Cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like Prunes than Rhubarb does ----G.M/ |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:29 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2802
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Gentlemen,
The real Irish Setter is a beautiful dog, there was a man in Scotland was raising some real fine hunting dogs for quite some time, nice personalities around the home and good in the Grouse woods also. Real nice article on him in one of the magazines a while back. There is also a man up in Canada who has a nice Irish Setter Kennel, nice part of an article on his dog also in the SSM a while back. His Setter dog was pictured holding a Woodcock it had retrieved.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:02 pm
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Joined: 12 Sep 2010
Posts: 1973
Location: Maine
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One of my uncles had a pair of beautiful Irish Setters he hunted over, but that was back in the late 60s. When he had to give up shotgunning because of a detached retina (a big deal and not fixable in those days, at least not like it is today) the dogs went down the road. I always liked them.
To Ted's note about their being liked in several Euro countries, I'd add that they're liked in France, too. Go look on Naturabuy (chiens d'arret) and you'll always see a few red setters for sale. There's a family over in NH who advertise occasionally that they breed hunting red setters, but my impression is they love their dogs so much they'll find it hard to let them go.
For me, I've only ever had Gordons and that's the way I'm planning to go in the future, though I would not exclude an Irish.
But, how could you not like this pup? https://www.naturabuy.fr/Vends-chiots-setter-irlandais-LOF-rouges-item-5138276.html |
Last edited by Dave in Maine on Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:06 pm; edited 1 time in total _________________ “A man’s rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”
Frederick Douglass, November 15, 1867, speech in Williamsport, Pa. |
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Posted:
Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:06 pm
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Joined: 12 Feb 2018
Posts: 258
Location: West-central Missouri
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Lots of talk of Irish but no pictures?????????????????????? |
_________________ An ounce of fives, the smell of nitro in paper hulls, wet gundog, and Hoppe's #9... |
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