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Excellent info and advice. I live in the land of the anti-gun Seattle, so I will see if maybe I can take a trip to eastern wa for some practice. I suppose I should make sure she isn't gun shy as well. Fireworks she didnt care about and a few subsonic rounds she slept through, so I suppose I'll pack some .22 pistols and rifles and see if she can tolerate them okay.When I visited my oldest bro in Las Vegas, there was a shooting facility with trap, skeet, and sporting clays... they had all kinds of shotguns for rent. I highly recommend seeing if there is a similar place in your area before you take your dog out.... they can be ruined by too many missed shots... they give you "the look" and then lose confidence/interest in what you two are doing as a team. Their reward for a good point is you taking a good shot and them getting to retrieve the bird, with all the tactile senses of holding the bird and the strong scent, plus the attaboy for returning it and dropping it in your hand or at your feet.
Shoot some of each shotgun sport, they will give you diff skills that translate to hunting various birds. IMO, trap for pheasant, blue grouse, and distant chuckar. Skeet for quail, huns, chuckar, ruff grouse. Sporting clays for just about everything you can imagine including bunnies.
Practice until you can hit a high percentage of clay birds. Even if from a ground or hand thrower. Don't disappoint your dog!!!
Excellent info and advice. I live in the land of the anti-gun Seattle, so I will see if maybe I can take a trip to eastern wa for some practice. I suppose I should make sure she isn't gun shy as well. Fireworks she didnt care about and a few subsonic rounds she slept through, so I suppose I'll pack some .22 pistols and rifles and see if she can tolerate them okay.
Honestly if you already have a shotgun just go for a walk with the dog and gun. Make sure you know species, licensing, and seasons.
I have a pile of books I bought before and during the first year of owning my Vizsla.
I hunted with him last year once. He did his job alright. We hunted yesterday he did his job better. My goal was to have an excellent family companion and if he made a mediocre hunting partner I was satisfied. Those goals are achieved.
I have spent a lot of time, hard work, sweat, frustration, money(boarding/training when I've been out of country), getting him to where he's at.
It's been rewarding. The pinnacle was when I shot my first pheasant yesterday.
My best advice is to have fun with your dog. Gun dogs need physical and mental stimulation. Dragging a wing around the back yard to a hiding spot is a great way to start on the nose work. Play lots of "games" with him that are also training him.
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That's the book I mentioned "Gun Dog" in the red cover... best book I ever read on training a pointer and versatile hunting breed!!!
Gotta love a Vizsla... great dogs!!!!! My Chuckar buddies had a few of them.
Thanks.
The other books are good as well. I use bits and pieces out them all.
He really came into his versatility with water this summer. I haven't tested it in regards to hunting. He now loves swimming with us.
Chukar is a species I want to hunt. I have no idea on where in Oregon other than the east side in the Snake River canyon area.
We enjoy the breed so much I have a second puppy on the way. He should be home in about 7.25 weeks.
Got my first pointing dog last November. She was fairly easy to train on almost everything. Had a lab before that we hunted with but he was a flush dog and didn't get much distance from us. Excited to see what she does this weekend as it's gonna be her first hunt. My GWP always needs a job and usually do a wing search and a lot of fetch almost every day.
I have some experience in Pa hunting upland birds but not a lot of success since I do not have a dog. But I have three 12g shotguns, SxS, O/U and a pump, if you wanted to pair up for driven hunt, you could borrow one of mine or try them all. I also bought an automatic clay pigeon shooter, eager to try it out.Hi all,
So I bought a German Shorthaired pointer and I try and fulfill her with running, dog parks, adventures, but she is so driven to hunt. It's clear she's not stimulated by normal dog stuff like frisbees and balls. I've had her for 6 months and she is started, and indifferent to loud noises. I think I need to take up hunting. I feel like hunting is best learned from others, and would like some advice on some places to visit for some pheasant or? I know just because hunting is in her blood doesn't mean she will be a rockstar hunter right away, but I want to take her to eastern WA a few times and see if the activity will fulfill her. Also, I don't have a shotgun, lol. Any recommendations on a gun? Preliminary research shows that a 12 gauge 28" seems to be the most versatile. Looking at a "better" gun, vs an entry or top of the line. Assuming this will cost around $700? I don't know if shotguns have also exploded (excuse the pun) in price with all the societal antics we are seeing.
I had a shorthair when I was a kid.Hi all,
So I bought a German Shorthaired pointer and I try and fulfill her with running, dog parks, adventures, but she is so driven to hunt. It's clear she's not stimulated by normal dog stuff like frisbees and balls. I've had her for 6 months and she is started, and indifferent to loud noises. I think I need to take up hunting. I feel like hunting is best learned from others, and would like some advice on some places to visit for some pheasant or? I know just because hunting is in her blood doesn't mean she will be a rockstar hunter right away, but I want to take her to eastern WA a few times and see if the activity will fulfill her. Also, I don't have a shotgun, lol. Any recommendations on a gun? Preliminary research shows that a 12 gauge 28" seems to be the most versatile. Looking at a "better" gun, vs an entry or top of the line. Assuming this will cost around $700? I don't know if shotguns have also exploded (excuse the pun) in price with all the societal antics we are seeing.