Lab in the uplands

[brushbuster]

I know I’m a heathen for hunting upland birds with a lab, but my little Luna sure loves her time in the uplands.
The grouse was a little unique with the double tail. I wonder if he narrowly escaped a predator at some point? It’s impossible to say.

[Jeff S]

Great picture! Luna sure does look happy.

[Rbishop]

Great looking Lab! Thanks for posting. What were you shooting?

[44whiskey]

that tail is a strange one,thanks for posting,Fred

[DarylC]

You are not a heathen, you are a dog guy. All bird dogs are wonderful but Labs are the workhorses of the uplands/marsh. They do it all and are so easy to train.

This year in South Dakota, veteran bird dog Fox. 12+ years and still doing what she loves. First bird with my new-to-me A grade 20 with 30" tubes which had a doubling problem repaired.

[Jim Cloninger]

Luna is a beautiful Black Lab. My Black Labs excel in the uplands as well as waterfowl hunting.
My Mandy hunted wild Pheasants, Prarie Chickens, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Snipe, Dove along with ducks and geese.
Jim

[grouse_fan]

Labs do awesome in the uplands.

[Stan Hillis]

Very interesting and great photos, guys. Having trained three Labs, as retrievers only, and having never hunted grouse, may I ask exactly how a Lab compliments a grouse hunt? Do they locate and flush the birds at will? If so I would surmise that you would want to train them to work close to you? Just curious.

[DarylC]

Yes Stan they do locate and flush birds but unlike a pointing dog who gives you plenty of time, if you are lucky, to set up for the shot, a flusher does not. I have learned to watch my dog's body language when he hits bird scent. It changes very quickly but gives me enough warning to anticipate a flush.

[grouse_fan]

Yes Stan they do locate and flush birds but unlike a pointing dog who gives you plenty of time, if you are lucky, to set up for the shot, a flusher does not. I have learned to watch my dog's body language when he hits bird scent. It changes very quickly but gives me enough warning to anticipate a flush.

I agree, my current Lab works close and I have learned to read her body language which often let's me know when a flush is coming.

[brushbuster]

I agree with what others have already said.
My Luna is from pointing lab stock she will point pen raised birds like pheasant or quail/chukar but grouse usually flush before she would establish a point. I can usually tell when she is on a bird based upon her body language which usually gives me a few seconds to take a step or two and get into a ready position for the flush. I let her range to my left and right a little more than straight ahead and I know my coverts well enough to hunt them in a way that gives me the advantage with using a flusher.

Having said that my buddies run setters and Britts and I really enjoy walking in on a solid point it really gets the adrenaline pumping!