kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
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Posts:994
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| 10/13/2012 5:51 PM |
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I don't know any hunters and have read some stuff but I'd love to have more knowledge about upland hunting in particular but also waterfowl hunting
I don't know much about shotguns either so if you know any good reads I would greatly appreciate it |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7841
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| 10/13/2012 7:53 PM |
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| I will post some titles when I get home next Friday. I am really excited because I am headed to the National Field Trial. Will get to see some awesome GSPs running. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:994
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| 10/13/2012 7:56 PM |
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Thanks Bev!
Wow I am SUPER envious! |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2012 6:33 AM |
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What is it that you would like to read -
training or doing?
Would versatile training books be OK - since you mentioned waterfowl?
Truth is - there really isn't much to hunting - just go out there and search for game.
The training comes in when you want a dog to be steady and to retrieve to hand.
Waterfowl is a bit more complex b/c you now have to add the DOWN,QUIET,hand/whistle/voice commands/signals.
Guns are a bit more complex - depending on what you want to do,for instance, you wouldn't use the same gun for upland and waterfowl.
You would need to learn about chokes and loads.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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MOOSE1
Fruitport, MI
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Posts:1789
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| 10/14/2012 8:16 AM |
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Pb I disagree on the guns. I use the same gun for upland and waterfowl. So does my husband. So I am wondering why you would say you don't use the same gun? A majority of people in this area use the same gun.
As for books we have never gotten any books about hunting. It is all searching online and asking questions. Hopefully finding someone who knows where the birds are a bit to teach you what to look for (this is mostly regarding grouse and woodcock). Pretty much everything we have learned is online or through other people. |
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified
Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested
Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested
Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo
Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2012 9:55 AM |
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We prefer to have separate guns for upland and waterfowl, there are guns that handle 2 3/4 - 3 1/2.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
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Posts:994
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| 10/14/2012 10:42 AM |
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Beth I have been trying for 4 yrs to find someone who hunts either waterfowl or upland without luck. There is no natural upland hunting around here just paid hunts, which at some point I will do if I can find one that is reasonable and will cut me some slack as I would initially just want to be out there watching. That probably isn't done though LOL
Waterfowl hunting is popular but again I don't know anyone personally that does it - I am of an age that my friend's children hunt. Funny how 21yr old guys aren't that interested in having a woman follow them around on a hunt 
I have some decent resources on training the dog and applying that information has truly been the turnaround for Bugsy. More knowledge is always better IMO so I am happy to hear about any resources you particularly recommend
PB I need to have a better knowledge of the guns and shot. I have a very limited knowledge and I am a information gatherer by nature. |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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matt4126
powhatan va
MH
Posts:69
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| 10/14/2012 10:44 AM |
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I agree with pb on the gun thing. If I'm hunting ducks or geese I want a tight choke with a 3 1/2" shell. When I'm hunting woodcock my little sxs beretta silver hawk 20 ga with a light load opened up chokes is my preference. This doesn't mean you can't hunt ducks with it, just isn't the most effective. This might be a debate for a different thread. |
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pixie bee
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Posts:4450
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| 10/14/2012 11:22 AM |
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Do you have a local NAVHDA chapter near you?
My suggestion is to just go hunting in areas known to have a good numbers.
You don't need a gun right now,altho you would proably want one if you're going solo.
There are no books/articles,tagging along and observing that will make a dog a hunter.
These are mostly good for making a good test dog.Teaching how to find a planted bird and handle it.
First thing anyone needs to know when hunting with a dog is if that dog can find wild birds,how they use the wind and terrain,if they self hunt, are cooperative and intelligent - anyone cutting intelligence out of the equation is, IMHO, making a mistake.
There are no reading materials,DVDs,etc that will tell anyone how a particular dog will fair at these.
The success you have had at applying the obedience aspect will transfer to the field BUT this does not make a wild bird dog.
Waterfowl is different - the dog does not need to apply what I mentioned - it's nearly all obedience with some intelligence thrown in.
To have a successful upland hunt we do not need a steady dog or a dog that will deliver to hand - just close enough that we can pick the bird up ourselves.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:994
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| 10/14/2012 1:44 PM |
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We are supposed to have a local NAVHDA but I've sent emails and left phone messages for four different people on their site over the last two yrs with NO correspondence back 
Bugsy will be attempting to heal his shoulder over the months ahead and although I feel confident he could find birds and perform all the duties of a bird dog (not sure of his ability to sit in a duck blind though) I am really thinking more of getting myself ready for the day I get a GSP pup.
Bugsy is a great dog to learn with because he is a hard dog and you couldn't ruin him lol
For clarification I should say he's very forgiving of my mistakes, i swear at age 7 he actually knows what "my bad" means. Along with oops, do-over, my fault, etc. ;p
I love him extra for being so tolerant of my learning curve
I truly understand and agree that getting out and doing is the best way to learn, and I will. In the mean time I would love to supplement my knowledge by reading |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:321
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| 10/14/2012 5:50 PM |
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| I use 20 gauge for quail, dove and sometimes chukar and 12 gauge for everything else (waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, huns). |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
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Posts:1111
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| 10/15/2012 5:06 AM |
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| How about trap & skeet range any of them located near you ? If so start there. i am sure there must be some gun dog people hanging their from time to time. They usually have guns available & will assist you to help you out. Your avatar say's NC & when I think of NC I think of quail. Once you get the ball rolling you will really enjoy the next level of bugsy ! Good luck & look for a skeet range . Tell the person working behind the counter what your ultimate hopes are. |
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Chris |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:994
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| 10/15/2012 6:43 AM |
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Thanks Chris there are several places to shoot (trap & skeet, clay etc.)
I have done it a few times but never asked about going further. I took Bugsy to a preserve last year and he did awesome. That was all placed birds though.
The craziest part of all of this is that my husband is a firearms instructor and specialist - but he doesn't hunt and shotguns aren't his thing. He could source me a gun no problem and has helped me shoot but the hunting aspect i am on my own |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 10/15/2012 7:32 AM |
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Now there's an idea.
Ask the preserve if you can go out after the hunts are done and clean up - you'll pay a reasonable price for any birds you harvest.
Most importantly, Bugsy and you will be getting the needed exposure - priceless.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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tgatto
Lake in the Hills, IL
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Posts:411
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| 10/17/2012 11:27 AM |
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As far as guns go, I would get one that shoots straight. All of mine tend to shoot crooked... .
Shooting over pointers generally require less distance - we shoot IC chokes, 12, or 20gage. Then it really comes to preference. Semi-auto means auto-loading, without having to adjust aim (can be good, or bad) - negative is you have to keep the gun pretty clean (especially depending on make...), pump is pretty standard, simplistic function. Double-barreled is generally preferred as it gives the ideal balance between loading, simplistic function, and versatility with chokes (can shoot a wide first shot, with a more narrow second) due to the two barrels. Double barreled guns are more expensive generally. |
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It is watching the dogs work that I thoroughly enjoy, and love. I could get by with just watching them work - if it weren't for all the training, and the joy they exhibit when they pick-up, and deilver to hand a bird that they pointed, and you shot. - Todd |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7841
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| 10/19/2012 8:22 PM |
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| I started with Perfect Start and Perfect Finish DVDs. I had a Weim friend recommend them to me. They will give you enough to get started and understand the game. I start all my pups now with their methods and it works very well. Around here there are not too many wild birds left thanks to the fire ants, so we use planted birds to start with. Many of the ranchers and farmers are trying to repopulate the quail, but everyone is really careful about leaving the wild ones alone for now. Most use pigeon for training purposes as they are cheap, you can use homing pigeons so you save on the birds, and they fly well. Later we transfer to quail, but the dogs don't have any issues going back and forth. I have also taken my dogs out in areas in north and western tax where there are wild quail and they have done well. I don't hunt due to lack of good local areas and limited time, but I do the hunt tests and have a ton of fun with it. I may take up the field trials after I retire after spending time in KS at the NFT. I really enjoyed the game and the idea of hunting off the horses. The issue is I will have to get a horse, a place to keep a horse and the trailer, so will have to see in a few years. There are some books, but I think the two videos are better and easier to understand. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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tcross
MH
Posts:62
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| 10/22/2012 7:26 AM |
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http://www.uplandjournal.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard312a/ikonboard.cgi?act=SF;f=2
The above website would be a great place to start to learn about "upland" hunting. the guys on that forum have a ton of knowledge and could point you in the right direction, as far as what to look for in areas that could hold birds, what gauge of gun to use (however i feel it is all preference!) choke selection, shell/load selection. hunting with a dog and without. most people say choke and load selection is huge ... and i believe they are "sort of" correct... but if u can't hit the target, there isn't a gun or load out there that will kill a bird! So, practice... and when you think you've practiced enough... go ahead and practice more! your dog will thank you for it! after all, they do the hard work!
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:994
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| 10/22/2012 7:01 PM |
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| Thank you everyone - great ideas and resources |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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