First upland season for both (dog&human)

[SoCalhunt88]

So until this year I’d only ever previously dabbled in upland. But this year I went all in and we got a GSP pup, so it was our first season learning together. I sent her to get some training before the season when she was roughly 9 months and then we started sept 2nd. I hit the dove opener without Nelli and then we picked up and drove to Montana and tried to get some reps early, it was a great experience but hot. That being said Montana and their access programs were great and we managed one sharptail and one hun. Basically 1 bird per thousand miles driven haha. She started slow but had a couple good points and found the hun I would of lost without her. From there we took a couple weeks off and then hit the opener here for valleys in the sierras and had a great time. She had some really solid points and found birds for us, valleys hold really well once they’re broken up which has been helpful. The middle of the season wasn’t great as she was having a tough time getting out and searching in terrain that was new to her, especially in rough Chukar type rock hills. She was great on valleys, gambles and mountain quail but Chukar were her nemesis for most of the season. However it was on our most recent trip to NV where something clicked and she really hit her stride, and to top it off it was on Chukar which is in my opinion the most fun to chase. All in all it was a great first season with about 30+ hunt days in the books and we got to experience hunting in 4 different states and even more varied terrain. She and I both have learned a lot and excited to see what comes next year. Cheers folks

 

[Hunting Wife]

Congrats. It’s fun to watch a pup figure things out.

 

[BirdManMike]

Good looking pup!

 

[Jc2020]

Congrats that’s a nice first season getting to travel and hit all these different areas. Looks like a blast.

 

[1_pointer]

Very, very well done!! So much fun watching them do what they are born to do.

 

[Salmonchaser]

You did well, chukar can really mess with a young dog. It is so much fun to see the lights go on when a pup figures it out. Congratulations.

 

[Mule man]

Nice pup and lots of good memories for sure . What part of Ca. are you out of? Do you have any lite coors....lol

 

[TwistedSage]

Sounds like a great first season with your new partner. Congrats!

 

[Irrelevant]

Great post, great pics, great season. Congrats, I look forward to hearing about next year.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Congrats that’s a nice first season getting to travel and hit all these different areas. Looks like a blast.

Not sure if I’ll have another season this free so really taking advantage of it.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

You did well, chukar can really mess with a young dog. It is so much fun to see the lights go on when a pup figures it out. Congratulations.

I appreciate it and you’re right, she really took to quail but had a hard time with Chukar. But seeing her learn and not apply as much pressure and stay steady or run through boulders after catching wind it definitely something else.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Great post, great pics, great season. Congrats, I look forward to hearing about next year.

Appreciate it, and as am I. I’d like to hit Montana again with a better weather window and hells canyon for the views.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Nice pup and lots of good memories for sure . What part of Ca. are you out of? Do you have any lite coors....lol

Haha no but my buddy I hunt with won’t drink anything else so there’s typically a few around. I’m down south in Fallbrook/N. County SD. How about yourself?

 

[Salmonchaser]

You’ll enjoy watching the development. Both my GSPs love chucker and pheasant, neither like ducks. Sugar hates quail, wants every one of them dead. She’ll go right by a rooster to point quail. The covey flushes, she won’t go retrieve until every bird in the cover has been Pointed and flushed.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Look like siblings,

 

[Sask hunter]

Congrats dogs make bird hunting

 

[SoCalhunt88]

You’ll enjoy watching the development. Both my GSPs love chucker and pheasant, neither like ducks. Sugar hates quail, wants every one of them dead. She’ll go right by a rooster to point quail. The covey flushes, she won’t go retrieve until every bird in the cover has been Pointed and flushed.

That’s funny about the quail and they do have a simile build. Right now Nelli comes in at about 40 lbs and has a light frame which works well in CA heat. The downside is a December duck hunt is pretty low on her list of things to do. If a situation presented where I could jump some on a sunny or warm day she “may” go get them but I wouldn’t bet the house on it. I tried to hunt rooster down here in the valley which means walking ag fields that are flat and look the same. she had no idea what we were trying to do, which I can understand as there was no terrain and it didn’t look like it would be where birds live.

 

[BirdManMike]

My (totally unsolicited) advice with pheasants is to be careful with a young pup unless they are going to be your main target. They dont honor a point, they run, and then sometimes they hold so tight the dog can about touch them. Very, very different than covey birds - potentially a lot of bad, or at least unhelpful, lessons for the dog.

Those quail look pretty neat. Id love to go quail hunting one day. Chukar, too.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Next fall get in touch with me. I’m 65 and don’t hunt chukar as aggressively as I use to, but Ive been at it for over 50 years. If we cant get together I can get you into a couple of good spots.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

Next fall get in touch with me. I’m 65 and don’t hunt chukar as aggressively as I use to, but Ive been at it for over 50 years. If we cant get together I can get you into a couple of good spots.

Appreciate the offer, and I will. What area is in your wheelhouse? As in OR, ID, MT. Also I welcome the hunting break but it hurts a little to read next fall.