Any Shotgun/Bird Hunting People?

Where do you hunt that you can put a dog in the water without worrying about alligators?

I grew up in SE Texas and I couldn't imagine putting a dog in the water out there.

 

@careyrob I hunt all the refuges in South East Texas. Until we get some good cold fronts I only hunt open water where I can see them coming from along way away. I also make sure whoever I hunt with knows that we are only taking shots over open water. I don't let her into the grass lines until it gets cold.

For the most part the Gators are only active during early teal, after that we see them some, but their metabolism has shut down too much to do anything. They may be out sunning but are suuuper sluggish.

I've never hunted anywhere else though, Gators have always been apart of the game. I guess I'm just used to them?

 

I used to goose hunt on the Eastern shore with some buds from NASA. I use a Benelli SBE 1. Duck hunt in southern Md.in Chaptico. Haven't hunted since I moved to Cape Cod and retired.

 

Pheasant and quail. Gearing up for opening weekend this weekend. Heard pheasant numbers are up, but they always say that.

 

Dove, duck and squirrel hunting in Louisiana for 25 yrs, some years more than others. Hope to bring my oldest son on his first duck hunt this season.

 

Good boy.

 

If KS is anything like the Dakota's, you should find birds

 

A 12 footer went after my dog once when she was in the water. Luckily, I got my dog out before she could reach her. I wasn’t hunting at the time. It was late July, brutally hot and my dog jumped in to cool off. This was along the MS Gulf Coast.

 

Numbers were not to bad. Weather was way to warm on Saturday.

 

That's a few "ditch parrots". No quail?

 

In Washington State and in Minnesota the wolves are protected by law. You're not supposed to kill one even if it's attacking your dog, but I haven't met a game warden yet that said he'd ticket someone for giving them "lead poisoning" to protecting a dog.

I'd at least send a few warning shots in that direction if a gator was headed for my best hunting buddy (the dog).

 

I took my 15 month old boykin out on a scouting trip yesterday, was really hoping a few ducks were on this hidden pond so I could get him his first hunting retrieve. But we had to settle for the bumper.

You other boykin guys, do you have any tips/resources for training these dudes for upland duty as well as waterfowl? I've only trained waterfowl dogs in the past, not sure where to even look for dual duty training.

 

I would start on a preserve with you working your dog and letting someone else shoot. Focus on keeping him in gun range and working him into the wind (for scenting purposes). Better yet, get him out a few times with a seasoned dog and let him follow him or her around. That's how I start a lot of my younger dogs.

If your dog is pretty solid retrieving ducks, it shouldn't take him too long to figure out that there are birds in the tall cover.

 

Got a few. Quail are hard to come by out here.

 

Anyone in Oregon willing to take me on a hunt for pheasant? I’m 65 and love shooting my Benelli!

 

Trap shooter. Once or twice a week. Currently shooting a Remington SX3 and a Fabarm O/U. Both 12ga.

 

I used to shoot registered trap, deer hunt, rabbit hunt, quail, woodcock and dove hunt. I am now too old to enjoy these wonderful adventures. My two yellow labs, my brother in law's beagles, my brother in law himself and almost all of my hunting friends have passed on. My 2002 Tundra has spent a lot of time in deer camps, hunting sites and on boat ramps. Best truck I ever had and still going strong at 272,000 miles.

I want to be buried in my Tundra because it has never been in a hole it could not get out of.

 

Man, that is crazy to me you guys gotta worry about gators while out duck hunting. The thought just never occurred to me until I saw this thread. ha I feel like I would be paranoid the whole time. Suppose if it’s what your used to its just part of it.

 

Love upland bird hunting here in WA state. To bad it’s not that great haha. Still waiting for my first pheasant. Went out last weekend with a friend and he got the pheasant I got the 2 chukar. Also no dog so we take what we can get. Lots of quail, dove, chukar and ducks since I’m right along the Columbia river.

 

What parts? I am hunting in the Touchet area if you ever want to go. I got one retriever, trying to train the other two yahoos I got.

 

I’m in the Wenatchee area so maybe 3-4 hours from you.

 

Gotcha. If you ever make it down hit me up.

 

I am an avid duck hunter. Take every Friday off during duck season. Still have a couple of weekends to. We are ending here in n when the southern states are just opening up.

 

New to the board (& 1st post), but a long time lurker. These are 2 days of a 6 day upland hunting trip. Illinois & Iowa. About to leave for a multi state (KS/NE/SD/ND/IA) trip this weekend.

 

Like Lone Wold McQuade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLTbzU0FXo

 

@VIZtrdGSP What's up with that platform? Looks shorter than the decked and not so cumbersome. Custom? What kind of kennels you running back there?

 

Custom. Both Decked & TruckVault were too tall for boxes to clear the inner lip of the topper. Additionally, I wanted the ratchet straps to connect to the bed (vs. the corners) and those on the market didn't really allow it. However, the platform is CUMBERSOME as hell. 3/4" & 1/2" MDO + Hurculiner, etc. It (plus topper/gear/dogs/boxes) is heavy enough that I added air bags. Boxes are Gunner Intermediates.