So, a couple of years back I made promise to someone that I would host a mixed bird hunt for some European guests, and a week ago the time came for this to happen.
Now I often think that hunters of all types are slightly mad, and bird dog people seriously so and it was GSP bird dog people I had invited.
This week confirmed to me that they, like me they are stark crazy, in a good way.
I awoke on Saturday morning feeling a little apprehensive, something I don’t normally suffer from, but these were people I truly respected in the GSP world, one being the breeder of my last dog, so there was good reason.
By late Sunday they had all arrived, dog people and camera persons and plans were laid for the rest of the week, well loose plans.
Monday morning was clear and bright without a breath of wind, not ideal for bird-dog work but better than rain.
To start the day I thought a true taste of the north was needed, so a truly wild piece of the flow country was chosen and to say it was hard going was an understatement.
But humans and dogs alike managed alright, although coats were soon dropped on the deck to be collected later.
Grouse were found and pointed but not saluted by gunfire; I don’t condone the shooting of paired grouse and one or two snipe were shot at, but missed!
We then headed for some small tree plantations so the dogs could at least get some apport’s that they deserved.
These small plantations are a haven for wild pheasant and woodcock and this season seems to be the biggest influx of woodcock in 40 years, so great for us. The lack of wind made the woodcock very jumpy and we only had one point out of about 50 birds flushed, a good number were bagged but not excessively so. However the first thing pointed in the trees was a Roe at was approached by dogs and yours truly to within one meter. Pheasants were also pointed, flushed, shot and retrieved, a great symbiotic hunt. It was a real joy to watch, great dog work, great shooting and great banter. We finished the morning session by working some rough grass pasture for rabbits, a good number were accounted for. We had a long lunch break, talking, eating and laughing, just as it should be. We finished the day by visiting one of my duck flight ponds. On queue just as it got dark, the ducks arrived, a quick dozen were added tom the bag again aided by great dog work, one duck was a runner and picked after a 200 yard track.
Day two dawned much as the previous and our intent was more of the same. We started by working a strip of catch crop, almost immediately finding pheasant By the time we had worked the three dogs through the five hundred yard strip we had seen hundreds if not thousands of wild song birds and a lot of roe deer, the dogs ignored all except the pheasants, a good number were accounted for, with expert work from the dogs in pointing, flushing and retrieves. We went onto another strip but this time marrowfat kale, this turned out to hold Fieldfares, Roe, Hares and one or two Pheasants, a few more were added to the bag before we left for lunch. In the eve we headed for another duck pond and yet again we got a few and the dogs made short work of them, including divers.
Now I often think that hunters of all types are slightly mad, and bird dog people seriously so and it was GSP bird dog people I had invited.
This week confirmed to me that they, like me they are stark crazy, in a good way.
I awoke on Saturday morning feeling a little apprehensive, something I don’t normally suffer from, but these were people I truly respected in the GSP world, one being the breeder of my last dog, so there was good reason.
By late Sunday they had all arrived, dog people and camera persons and plans were laid for the rest of the week, well loose plans.
Monday morning was clear and bright without a breath of wind, not ideal for bird-dog work but better than rain.
To start the day I thought a true taste of the north was needed, so a truly wild piece of the flow country was chosen and to say it was hard going was an understatement.
But humans and dogs alike managed alright, although coats were soon dropped on the deck to be collected later.
Grouse were found and pointed but not saluted by gunfire; I don’t condone the shooting of paired grouse and one or two snipe were shot at, but missed!
We then headed for some small tree plantations so the dogs could at least get some apport’s that they deserved.
These small plantations are a haven for wild pheasant and woodcock and this season seems to be the biggest influx of woodcock in 40 years, so great for us. The lack of wind made the woodcock very jumpy and we only had one point out of about 50 birds flushed, a good number were bagged but not excessively so. However the first thing pointed in the trees was a Roe at was approached by dogs and yours truly to within one meter. Pheasants were also pointed, flushed, shot and retrieved, a great symbiotic hunt. It was a real joy to watch, great dog work, great shooting and great banter. We finished the morning session by working some rough grass pasture for rabbits, a good number were accounted for. We had a long lunch break, talking, eating and laughing, just as it should be. We finished the day by visiting one of my duck flight ponds. On queue just as it got dark, the ducks arrived, a quick dozen were added tom the bag again aided by great dog work, one duck was a runner and picked after a 200 yard track.
Day two dawned much as the previous and our intent was more of the same. We started by working a strip of catch crop, almost immediately finding pheasant By the time we had worked the three dogs through the five hundred yard strip we had seen hundreds if not thousands of wild song birds and a lot of roe deer, the dogs ignored all except the pheasants, a good number were accounted for, with expert work from the dogs in pointing, flushing and retrieves. We went onto another strip but this time marrowfat kale, this turned out to hold Fieldfares, Roe, Hares and one or two Pheasants, a few more were added to the bag before we left for lunch. In the eve we headed for another duck pond and yet again we got a few and the dogs made short work of them, including divers.
.. the nearest one all brown must be called Tyson wi a neck like that . Sounds and looks as though you had nothing to worry about . 
