Patrick & Huey: Learning in the Grouse Woods
Young Dog Learning in the Grouse Woods
Sometimes an article leads to a day in the woods—and a closer look at what a young dog is learning.
Patrick recently sent us these notes about Huey, a young dog from our Chance × Tilly litter, after reading What Wild Birds Teach Gun Dogs. We’ve lightly edited his account for clarity, keeping the story in his words.
Here is Patrick’s account.
After reading the Craney Hill article that landed in my email, I went hunting with my oldest and dearest hunting buddy, Matt.
He watched Huey hunt for all of ten minutes before laughing and saying, “Holy crud, he’s a machine!”
We moved at least twenty birds, and Huey did some very nice work.
I was able to get back out with him that afternoon, but only had time for one cover. On a good day, it’s usually good for six to ten woodcock flushes and a couple of grouse. This time, we found one woodcock (which Huey found, flushed, and retrieved) and five grouse.
I’m paying closer attention now, and I can see how beneficial it is to hunt a young dog on wild birds.
The grouse where I live are the trickiest, most neurotic game birds I’ve hunted anywhere. It’s absurd. They gave young Huey fits as he tried to figure out where the heck they were running. But he started to get it.
He trailed the last bird through an alder swamp, into mature woods, and then into an impenetrable stand of popples. I couldn’t even see the dang bird to shoot at it!
We had a fantastic time in the woods.
Note to self: get your dog out on wild birds when you can.
