Sharptails/Huns with labradors

[TwoLabs]

Sorry for being so late to replying. One more question, are they the type of bird that you have to be out at first light for? I’ve found with pheasants if I gave them a little bit of time to wake up in the morning I have been way more successful. I know with the early season heat early is probably better. Just curious on the best times to get after them.

 

[svnmag]

Sorry for being so late to replying. One more question, are they the type of bird that you have to be out at first light for? I’ve found with pheasants if I gave them a little bit of time to wake up in the morning I have been way more successful. I know with the early season heat early is probably better. Just curious on the best times to get after them.

IMHO--whenever. That's why I love bird hunting. Also, IMHO; you're not going to kill a sharptail after Halloween unless you happen to be in their flight path.

 

[TwoLabs]

IMHO--whenever. That's why I love bird hunting. Also, IMHO; you're not going to kill a sharptail after Halloween unless you happen to be in (usually their) flight path.

I’ve got vacation planned for every Friday after the opener until pheasant opener. I “hopefully” will be able to connect on a grouse and partridge

 

[svnmag]

I’ve got vacation planned for every Friday after the opener until pheasant opener. I “hopefully” will be able to connect on a grouse and partridge

You'll do fine. Huns hold longer and land at the first major terrain change. After busting a covey (partridge), ALWAYS wait about 30 seconds after all the commotion before moving on and be ready to pivot. About half the time; one or two hang back and flush while you're concentrated on "what just happened". I'd say the odds are slightly better than Sex Panther cologne.

That is all.

 

[Kurtr]

We can’t hunt them till noon first couple weeks then 10 after that and have. No problem killing them latter

 

[svnmag]

Sharps will sail for light years.

 

[Traxion]

Grouse will be in different places depending on time of day and conditions. Much more unpredictable that pheasants where you find thick stuff and shoot them.

 

[Rowdie]

I remember pass shooting grouse as a teenager. We'd set up in combined sunflowers and they'd fly up out of these deep draws overlooking the river .

 

[1lessdog]

I remember pass shooting grouse as a teenager. We'd set up in combined sunflowers and they'd fly up out of these deep draws overlooking the river .

Shot lots of Grouse flying from the big pastures over by Wishek into the sunflowers. Them were the days.

 

[riverview]

only thing i get up early for is waterfowl, i know a lot of guys all wound up hunting upland at first shooting light nothing wrong with that but now days i have lots of time. no starting a argument but ive seen alot of very expensive pointing dogs come ND and not shoot many birds.

 

[TwoLabs]

The older I get, the less desire I have to wake up early (4-5am). Would rather wake up casually and see what the day brings.

 

[svnmag]

The older I get, the less desire I have to wake up early (4-5am). Would rather wake up casually and see what the day brings.

"Yessir": Wake up, shower, load any gear not secured the night before during beers, stop at Hardee's for biscuits, let the dogs have/split a plain "steak" for some salt/carbs/protein and most importantly: HAVE A PLAN and be ready to modify it. Things were easier in my day, north/east/west of base concerning trespassing.

A week before dove are legal: find canola, dead trees and water: Expand your footprint from there.

Remembering all this thread: I guess you have locked up spots. This winter: Again:

 

[svnmag]

Per the thread title: I've never shot birds over anything but labs. I failed hard with a pointer b/c I refused to get a "shock" collar. I watched her get hit/mashed by a gold Chevy Suburban during a rare "straight down" "blizzard" while I SCREAMED NO/COME like a fucking retard in Sperry Topsiders and military issue long johns.

She was chasing the scent of her mother's car. IMO: Pointers are mostly "driven" and stupid. It was my job to unfuck stupid. I failed. BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Your labs will do just fine.

That is all.

 

[Traxion]

Shot lots of Grouse flying from the big pastures over by Wishek into the sunflowers. Them were the days.

They are like clockwork once you pattern them. We’d hunt other things and show up at the edge of the flowers about 4:30. They’d come in droves, fun to say the least.

 

[Kurtr]

When the lake was way down we shot them and pheasants every evening coming off the flats up to the fields.

 

[Jiffy]

I’ve joked about inventing/using grouse deeks, but they might actually work!! I too have patterned and pass shot sharpies. They tend to lock the brakes and land amongst friends. Not as predictable as waterfowl, but they do it!

 

[Allen]

Sorry for being so late to replying. One more question, are they the type of bird that you have to be out at first light for? I’ve found with pheasants if I gave them a little bit of time to wake up in the morning I have been way more successful. I know with the early season heat early is probably better. Just curious on the best times to get after them.

Sharpies at first light will be along a field edge in wheat, barley, or durum stubble. You'll see them from afar as the lookouts will have their heads up above the stubble.

Around 9:30-10:00 the grouse will move off into cover near the field, fence lines, tree rows, brush, etc. Generally within 50 yards of the stubble field. I hunted the heck out of them in my youth, but haven't really targeted them in a number of years since pheasants are so much better table fare.

When i was young, I shot a pheasant, a hun, and a grouse in one shot out of a stubble field of ours. I ground balled the grouse, and the other two were tucked down in the stubble as bonus birds for that morning.

 

[risingsun]

^^^^^^^^^

Ground-balled trifecta. That may be in a class all by itself.

 

[Jiffy]

If it was out of the pickup window whilst still rolling you’d be legendary!!

 

[Rowdie]

If it was out of the pickup window whilst still rolling you’d be legendary!!

Don't worry....we know it was