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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Bird hunting S. Dakota |
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Posted:
Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:27 am
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Member
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 2016
Location: Glendale, AZ
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Posted:
Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:13 am
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Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 6535
Location: massachusetts
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I've hunted over my share of untrained labs, but never stupid ones. They are about as lovable and loving a dog as one could wish for. However, I've seen my share of thick-headed, clueless owners. Its a damned shame some of these smart dogs are teamed up with nit wits.-- nobody in particular in mind, so no offense to present company intended .
Its actully simple if you have the time and patience. I was taught by a professional that its always sit, then down, then stay, then come, then heel, then whoa. After whoa, a flusher or non pointing retreiver will pick up hup (stop on command in the presense of birds). Flush is easy after hup is learned. Its what any non-pointing hunting dog wants most. Unfortunately, most owners in my area fail to spend the time to train the dogs, so these animals end up as noses on legs without a clue what their names are while in the field and certainly no manners at all. Its a waste of good breeding in most cases.
Most labs will wear your arm out retrieving anything you care to throw for them. They will also bat your shins black and blue with their latest toy while trying to get your attention to play with them. They are tireless in both ambition and devotion. If they could point as well as a German Short hair, I'd get a pair in a heartbeat. I love them. Great dogs. |
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Posted:
Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:19 am
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Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 87
Location: Idaho/ New Mexico
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hoashooter wrote: |
Two random thoughts.
1.Revcrew-NEVER-EVER say stupid and LAB in the same sentence
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Yes a double negative, one or the other should be understood.
now ducking for cover
Still they are great dogs and mine will be teamed with a GSP for cock birds this fall. |
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:29 am
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Member
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 104
Location: Northeastern Pa.
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I see people here bashing labs, pointing dogs, etc. Regardless of which type of dog you hunt with, control is the responsibility of the OWNER, if the dog is busting birds too far out, that's your fault, not the dogs. As far as using pointers, setters, etc on pheasants, especially wild pheasants in the numbers that you see in SD, they are basically useless, too much scent, too confusing for the dog. Until you bust them up and get pairs, singles, then nothing beats a good pointing dog. On wild bilrds, you can't even talk to each other without those birds busting, or running way ahead, and that's where a Springer comes in, no more that 40 yds., regardless of where the birds are, but finding a Springer that hunts like that is trying to find wild pheasants here in Pa. |
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:40 am
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Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 87
Location: Idaho/ New Mexico
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David, What you refer to as bashing is for the most part good natured joking.
I agree that South Dakota can be a tough place to hunt with pointers and setters unless you select your cover carefully. The big fields are generally the realm of drivers blockers and flusher. |
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:05 am
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Member
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 2016
Location: Glendale, AZ
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:17 am
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Member
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 36
Location: Idaho
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You guys are all off base, the only dog to take to the field for serious hunting is the chessie, I know as I have two of them.
Rodger |
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:17 pm
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Mr. Grousehunter 61 please tell the group how many fingers you have left.
Chessies are the only breed of birddog that I know of that regularly bites the hand that feeds it. |
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Posted:
Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:35 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 132
Location: Harpswell, Maine
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Quote: |
that regularly bites the hand that feeds it.
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Jeez TwiceBarrel,
I never found that to be true with my two Chessies... or my sister's three. All from different breeders I might add. No doubt about it; they can be hard-headed, but as long as you're not beating 'em they'll treat you right. |
_________________ All we ever have to do to see the point and the flush is to close our eyes
Primrose Path
A Hunters Fireside Book
- Gene Hill |
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Posted:
Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:47 pm
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Member
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 2016
Location: Glendale, AZ
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Fall forcast from someone on the ground from another Forum:
This is just a guesstimate, but the closer you get to a line running from Pierre to Mobridge (+/- 50-80 miles E-W), you probably run into the impact of the drought...even if birds didn't perish due to the conditions, the cover did, the crops did, the crp was cut, etc. I would try and hunt +/- 30 miles either side of the James River, anywhere from I-90 all the way to the ND border. Just one guys semi-informed opinion (I have land in the corridor that I suggested you hunt in...the farmers are quite impressed with bird #'s). Base out of Huron, Redfield, Aberdeen, hunting in areas within 50-75 miles in any direction of the town you choose. You will either hunt public land/ditches, or, pay for land access. Either way, there is a fair amount of public land, especially further north, such as areas around Aberdeen. Go to the SD GFP website, and look at the Hunting Atlas...shows all of the public land. Don't be afraid to go North, even Northeast...lots of public stuff, and good bird #'s. The area up around Hecla, Britton, Conde, Groton, Doland got good rains all summer compared to most of SD...I expect the hunting to be good there due to good crops, good cover, and happy farmers. A first time hunt is always a crapshoot of sorts...consider it a scouting mission where you may just shoot some birds! |
_________________ Drew Hause
http://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:21 am
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Member
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 2016
Location: Glendale, AZ
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Just connected with a friend in Presho. He's doing crop insurance appraisals now after selling his farm and pheasant operation 5 yrs ago to a Las Vegas casino mogel for more than $1,000,000 . Most of the CRP has been cut for hay or burnt up and few young birds along the back roads. He felt that anything east of Kimball and north of I-90 should be as good as last year. |
_________________ Drew Hause
http://sites.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/www/home |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:50 pm
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Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Omaha
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Good to hear my old stomping grounds (Huron) will be doing good. Thinking of going back this fall but money may be an issue. As to dogs see what the locals have. Black and chocolate labs every where with a decent amount of goldens also. |
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