16ga.com ~ View topic - New AYA#2 16gauge

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

WOW, thanks for all the insight. this is the info i was hoping for, more homwork is in order. thanks GO for the detailed description of your experience with the WHPG, it really helps. and thanks PP for the heads up on the PP and the NAVHDA, in my search for a 4 legged hunting companion, i've not heard of that breed. i mainly hunt grouse, woodcock, rabbit, duck & geese, some but not many wild phesants here in MI, then some but little put-n-take. i've found that the public cover around here needs a meticulous methodical hunting style/pace so i'm looking for a pointing breed that will partner well with this style. my knees are still in decent brush busting shape so i'm in no hurry. since we will be keeping the dog at the house finding a pointing breed that doesnt need to be tranquelized is very important......we dont need a security force or a buzzing power plant, just a piece of furniture with a good nose that eats and poops.

thanks again for the info, take care, mike

putz463 - Both pudelpointer and I own Cedarwoods dogs. The breed is the best! The #1 NAVHDA performing breed .... and it is also the founding breed of NAVHDA. I have never hunted mine in the woods .... but I can attest to their field work and water work. In the house they are affectionate and well behaved. The number of pudelpointer kennels is limited and you may have to wait for a pup .... usually no more that 6 - 9 months. Bob Farris's Cedarwood Gundogs website has lots of info ... http://cedarwoodgundogs.com/ .

I don't think you would be unhappy with any of the NAVHDA versatile breeds .... I guess we all like the breed we chose and think they are the best. Good luck and good hunting ...

putz463, I just had to chime in too, since I also hunt with a Cedarwoods Pudelpointer. For the hunting you describe, a good PP from a carefully selected breeder would fit nicely I think. The previous comments about WPG's and GWP/DD seemed pretty accurate to me too. Where I hunt, mostly in wide open spaces for huns and sharptail, I could use a bit bigger running dog than my PP. However, he's near ideal for ruffed grouse and pheasant, and is a solid waterfowl dog. There is another thread in here about versatile dogs and I suggest you look it up. (Hope this link works) www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=36578#36578

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

thanks guys, great stuff, really appreciate the info. mike

[quote="putz463"]

Cool looking gun. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, so I NEED Smile

Single trigger.

Regarding dogs: I run a pudelpointer and love him - if I can will for sure get another. But, I have a thought, or two. While I grew up in MN I own land and hunt in MT - big difference! Hunting in the west (at least the praries of MT) requires a big running dog. Some dogs do that, some don't. Even with-in a breed their are big differences. My buddy turned me on to versital dogs. He swears by (and at, sometimes Smile

) his GSP's, but they sure do run big - like my PP. Sometimes a quarter mile! In the east that's impossible, you'd be on someone else's property in no time. Out west I often hunt on property so big that it's measured in miles. Birds are few and if you have a close working dog, you won't get into the quantity of birds.

Now for the big but: Pheasants, in most cases my PP or my buddys GSP aren't ideal - better than adequate yes, but, not ideal. In tight cover my dog will over run a few birds. I even will call him back and have him cover ground again, and, find a bird (only sometimes), but still...

No for the "weird" thing: I've discovered that pheasants often "escape" during mid-day to sage brush cover above the creekbottoms. Hunting in there is dicy because a dog has to cover ton's of ground to find anything. It's a blast because you never know what they'll finally point - worst case is a hen Crying or Very sad

. Rooster, sharpie, hun or Sage grouse COOL.

Anyway... My point(s) have nothing to do with breed, but, more "type" of dog and what you'll use 'em for. Bottom line; hunting out west can be way different than hunting out east. I'd at least consider that when choosing a hound dog Very Happy

I really do love dogs - hunting dogs that is!!! Smile

just my $.02

Best to all