Hunting with a Brittany

[Spear]

So I took my dog out on his first hunt of the season for the opener at Hullett. For the first time I had this great feeling of what the benifit of hunting with a pointer is. Prviously with my lab I was always having to stay with 35 yds of my dog and keeping my dog with in 35 yds of me. Usually worked really well, but I sure had to keep moving. So now with my Brittany I stand on a higher vantage point and watch my dog check every area around me from tall grass to bushes. I give a slight whistle with my mouth and point to where I wanted him to go and he would etc. and then on to another area. The weather was very hot but my Brit kept up a very chipper pace the whole time, to the bitter end. I am going to like this I think.

The down side was when it came to hunting in very thick brush. My dog is very willing to dive in there but some areas are so thick I can't get in and if my dog is on a point while in the bush it won't amount to anything except a frustrated dog. That would be the benifit of a flusher.

[Huntingonthebrain]

What area of Hullett were you hunting Gerald??

[Jixer]

Hmmmmm. So what did you think of the opener at Hullett. Last time I tried that, it was a very busy, very loud place.

The weather was a bit warm this year so I would imagines it was a bit slower this year.

So did you see lots of birds?

[Spear]

We have gone other years on the opener first thing in the morning but there were a lot of people. I don't like that and did not want that for my dog. We went later in the afternoon, around 2pm and saw only one other group of two guys. It was quite hot. I wish I had some bragging to do but nothing for me. I'm not sure why. My hunting partner who hunted with his lab elsewhere at the same time had four flushes, two birds in the end. I will have to evaluate my dogs ability to find birds in a more controlled situation to see what his nose is like.

[Jixer]

The opener last year was like that too. Lots of action in the morning and not so much in the afternoon. It gets hunted pretty hard in the morning and whatever is left over runs for the hill. Not sure where you were, but sometimes it pays better to be lucky rather than good. :icon1_lol:

[Huntingonthebrain]

I haven't had mac on pheasants yet. I wanted to train him on a few first. I guess I will see what he does. I expect he will probably creep a bit being that it is a new smell. Only time will tell. I think probably him bumping a few will not be all bad either. What do you guys think??

[Sharon]

How old is your dog now Jeremy? If I remember righly, he's under one year of age. You should definately take him with you. Let him creep, bump etc. Let him enjoy himself and the birds. When he figures out that he can't get a bird creeping or bumping, he will teach himself to hold point. If you can get a safe shot off, shoot over him. ( I'm assuming he has been conditioned to gun fire.) If you're taking the e-collar only use it for obedience - come, turn (if it has been taught).Enjoy. For an unfinished dog this type of a day is all good.

[Jixer]

yup. Like she said.
I'd also take him down to the pens first and let him get a good whiff of pheasant so he knows what you are looking for....

Just remember to not shoot a bird he doesn't point.

[Huntingonthebrain]

Sharon, he is about a year and half now. I will listen to all this advice. I think he needs a day like this to solidify some skills. He is doing so well. It would be nice to get him on a few birds that are gonna move a bit more and are a little bigger... Conditioned for the gun?? Well when I hold the gun up and point it.. he stares at it waiting for it you go off.. he has got the idea of what it does and what his job is I think

[Sharon]

Be prepared for some possible disappointments though. A bird is not always a bird to a dog. When i introduced my broke setter to "wild" pheasant you'd think she didn't know a thing. Birds were running, she was confused and broke on most. We had to start all over again on pheasant.

A friend of mine just got back from Sask. where he was very disappointed with his dog. Flat for miles terrain, and those Huns made his pointer fall fall flat on his face.

[Huntingonthebrain]

See, my idea is that.. if my dog evens points the first time out I will be happy. If I get a bird.. that is amazing, that's a bonus. I am just happy all the way around right now.. my dog is doing well. A few birds would just be the icing on the cake

[Spear]

I got out today and wow my dog pointed a bird right a way. I was so proud. Then he bumped one. Not sure he had the scent of it though and then he pointed rock solid on a few small bushes and when I finally got there the bird was gone and my dog was wondering what was going on. The bird was there for sure but not when we were. It was good for Trigger to have to learn about old scent or that birds move. We are all learning this together.