Fox Collectors

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.

Great picture! Luna sure does look happy.

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

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

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.

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

Labs do awesome in the uplands.

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.

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.

DarylC wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 9:05 am 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.

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!