Recent content by hopboyd

A ground swat?? What is a "ground swat"? I think I know, but I don't want to believe it! If it's hammering the ground in front of a pointing dog in hopes of hitting a bird/covy/whatever, never heard of it. If someone pulled that on me, I think I would have a purple rage stroke on the spot.

410 on quail I'm a pretty fair shot. Went to a preserve some years ago and took a .410 double, just to check it out. Fired 12 times, hit one bird. You gotta be both fast and dead on with a .410.

Bird damage Went to 20ga field load 8's years ago to minimize damage to birds for ALL quail hunting/shooting. Anything smaller even better.

Acknowledgement Thank you for the kind welcomes. We all have experiences which we love to articulate, but which might be boring to everyone else. That reality makes me hesitant to just fire up. I've had an experience this year which might be of some interest (2014) wherein two "experts", my...

I am an 88 year old - had to stop hunting about 12 years ago. Resided in East Tennessee since 1952. I've had bird dogs since age 14,except war years, college years and a few years with a new family. As I write, my son is in South Dakota with two English and one Llewellin setters. I've hunted...

Just one opinion Normally and presently, two English setters. Off season use WalMart Hi-Pro mixed with scraps and/or Alpo. Run them 3 times a week min. 1-2 hours per run. Hunting season and just before stops come out. Alpo, scrambled eggs, boiled chicken and beef livers, hamburger etc. mixed...

I' talking bird dogs here. This is from 60+ years experience with a pause for WWII, college, and a period of poverty immediately thereafter. When you go to inspect the litter, take a fishin' rod and a bird wing with you. Cast and twitch and watch the reaction. So help me, I once witnessed a...

When you go to pick up a pup, take along a fishin? rod and a bird wing. With maybe two pups at a time, toss the bird wing in the grass, and with a quiver, watch the reaction of the pups. So help me, I once saw a three week old pup lock up in a quivering leaf - only a couple of seconds at a time...

A WIMPY TALE It is a normal hot, humid day in Tennessee in August of 1986. We are sitting in an extensive back yard surrounded by eight, six week old English Setter pups. This is not a breeder, but a hunter, procreating his next bird dog, and hoping to sell the remainder of the litter. We have...

I have experienced mean bird dogs and gentle bird dogs. They (my experience is almost exclusively hunting breeds) are like children in they have as many personalities as there are dogs. Right now, we have an English setter that is as gentle as a kitten, and his kennel mate thinks he's king of...

Lewellin setter inquiry Forgot to mention: At least over the 30 years virtually every English setter we've owned has had Lewellins in their pedigree.

Thanks. I've met several hunters in the field with Lewellins and they echo your opinion. I think we just got an odd ball. Are these sharptails in the videos? Also noticed a magnificent shot through the trees. Thanx again.

It's all in the genes. Our 5 yr. old setter would continue at mach speed until his lungs burst. We have to forcibly stop him and make him sit until he catches his breath every 20-30 minutes or I believe he would run himself to death. I don't dare try to prove this. His speed does not affect his...

After decades of being English Setter purists, about 9 years ago we decided to try a Llewellin pup. They are advertised as ?laid back? dogs, and this one excelled in that aspect. He just had no desire to hunt. We went through a couple dozen planted (pen raised) birds and he showed no...

What's a dog worth? Quail hunters are nuts! Who but the insane would wade through saw-briars, weeds and trash for 4 hours and be rewarded with 3-4 (if you're lucky) 3 oz birds? It's ALL about the dog(s).