Are You Like Your Bird Dog?
Pheasants Forever 03.20.12
We’ve probably all heard the sayings about owners and their dogs looking alike, but what about shared mannerisms? I’ll venture our bird dogs mimic their hunting masters in a variety of ways. Here’s a sample of the similarities and adaptions I believe my shorthair, Trammell, and I share.
Methodically Short and Deliberately Dainty.
I am not the tallest guy in the room, any room, even an 8th grade classroom. At 5’ 7”, my short legs work harder than most to cover the fields and forests. Thankfully, my shorthair works slower and more methodical than other pointers I’ve observed. Amongst my Pheasants Forever co-workers, Trammell is referred to as a “dainty” hunter. To some guys, those may be fighting words, but I’m pretty sure Tram and I bag more roosters than those China Shop Bulls. We may not vacuum up big expanses of ground, but I’m relatively certain we don’t run over too many hunkered birds either.
Hunting Marathoners.
While Tram and I may not beat many tag teams to their daily limit, our deliberate pace does allow us to hunt from the day’s sunrise to the day’s closing bell.
Cattail Skirters.
Unless one of us gets “birdy,” we’re both content to work the outside edge of the cattail sloughs and keep our feet dry.
Rain, Rain, Go Away.
Speaking of dry feet, Tram and I both avoid being outside on rainy days. It’s funny to watch Tram go outside for a potty break in the rain, she tip toes into the yard as if she’s literally melting and zooms back inside the minute her “business” is complete. Likewise, I’ve been quoted as saying “this isn’t fun for me anymore,” during a rainy hunt.
No Water Wings.
While I love to eat ducks, I’d rather spend my time and energy walking in pursuit of any bird without webbed feet. Tram has a similar aversion to spending her hunting hours stuck in the mud over plastic fake birds when the real thing is to be had one step in front of the other.
Favorite Color is Orange.
Hunter orange and Detroit Tigers orange compose our wardrobe’s two seasons.
Birdy Buddies.
Probably most important of all is our shared affinity for upland birds; including, pheasants, quail, grouse, woodcock, sharpies, and prairie chickens.
What about you? What traits do you and your bird dog share?
This story first appeared on http://www.pheasantblog.org
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
