BirdManMike
Well-known member
Roach is only flying 3 or 4 days per week now. Ive decided not to go further down the route of pigeons and pitch. Those 1200' pitches are really exciting, but my hunting fields just arent big enough for him to have a real shot on birds - huns, especially - before they make it to safety. For the huns, Ill flush when he is 400'+ and in good position over me (which may not be until he 1000' in which case oh well). If I know we are on sharptail, Ill wait until at least 800' and even that 1000' is fine.
There is one field I am finding semi-consistent sharptail, and Ive been trying really hard to put one in the bag. The only problem is they go straight to a small rise, then drop a short distance to the creek bottom. When they get to this rise and drop, they are no longer in Roach's line of sight so he pulls out of the stoop. Ive really been trying to get around them, but winter sharptail can be tough and these birds are certainly onto me.
Same thing yesterday, he got sucked down then pulled out. It was only half the group, tho, and we were able to get a followup point on the rest of the group in a much better spot. He only remounted to 450' or so, but I got a flush. This wasnt high enough - sharptail acceleration (when motivated as they are when they know there is a bird in the air) is second to none and by the time he made it to the bird he picked, his stoop had flattened. He hit it, but didnt really fly thru it solidly to knock it down. At least he wants them.
Flew huns today. First point I flushed when he was in great position at 500'. He thought hed just scoop one up grabbing it, but it shook him and then made it into cover in the ranch's junk yard. He went back up to 400' and we got another point on a second covey. Good flush, and this time he didnt mess around, clocking the partridge.
I had my older dog, the beauty queen Ms. Olive out with Greta Grouse and me today so this was nice. Now that the snow is melted and not so deep, I am bringing her out 1x/week. She loves it so much. As ever, I ripped a leg off the hun for each of them. I hold the foot and let them slurp and chomp all the meat, feather, and fat off the bones as a reward - its their favorite thing.
The huns are really in good shape. Quite a bit of fat which is great to see.
There is one field I am finding semi-consistent sharptail, and Ive been trying really hard to put one in the bag. The only problem is they go straight to a small rise, then drop a short distance to the creek bottom. When they get to this rise and drop, they are no longer in Roach's line of sight so he pulls out of the stoop. Ive really been trying to get around them, but winter sharptail can be tough and these birds are certainly onto me.
Same thing yesterday, he got sucked down then pulled out. It was only half the group, tho, and we were able to get a followup point on the rest of the group in a much better spot. He only remounted to 450' or so, but I got a flush. This wasnt high enough - sharptail acceleration (when motivated as they are when they know there is a bird in the air) is second to none and by the time he made it to the bird he picked, his stoop had flattened. He hit it, but didnt really fly thru it solidly to knock it down. At least he wants them.
Flew huns today. First point I flushed when he was in great position at 500'. He thought hed just scoop one up grabbing it, but it shook him and then made it into cover in the ranch's junk yard. He went back up to 400' and we got another point on a second covey. Good flush, and this time he didnt mess around, clocking the partridge.
I had my older dog, the beauty queen Ms. Olive out with Greta Grouse and me today so this was nice. Now that the snow is melted and not so deep, I am bringing her out 1x/week. She loves it so much. As ever, I ripped a leg off the hun for each of them. I hold the foot and let them slurp and chomp all the meat, feather, and fat off the bones as a reward - its their favorite thing.
The huns are really in good shape. Quite a bit of fat which is great to see.
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