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You don’t need to put on a Stetson hat if you’re looking Huns and sharptails on the prairies of Montana or Saskatchewan, however you received’t look out of place should you do. In truth, you could be unknowingly emulating the late Charley Waterman, one of many first and finest to put in writing extensively about chasing chook dogs throughout the western plains.
If you don’t reside close to this prairie nation, what must you anticipate if you begin to contemplate packing the truck and hauling the dogs out right here to hunt? While the premise of all upland looking is far the identical—comply with the dogs till the dogs discover the birds—there are some issues to pay attention to.
Where is the Western Prairie?
It ain’t referred to as the Great Plains for nothing. I’m speaking concerning the states from Idaho east by way of the Dakotas, and the southern halves of the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with loads of “leakage” into neighboring jurisdictions.
This is huge nation, and there’s all the time a dialogue available about distance—between chook encounters, between covers, between hunter and canine, and generally between birds and barrel. The land may be flat, rolling, or downright hilly. The birds we’re after are typically tied to a few issues: native grasslands, grain—particularly wheat and barley—and CRP grass.
The Best Bird Dogs for the Prairie
The only dogs for the open nation are these we’ve come to know as “big running pointing dogs.” These may be any pointing breed, however German shorthairs and Brittanys are those you’re almost certainly to see in an SUV parked behind a motel in Havre, Montana, or Hanna, Alberta in October. That’s in all probability as a result of the continental breeds may be barely higher than high-test pointers and setters on the seemingly contradictory duties of looking far and broad within the open nation one minute, after which down-shifting to totally scour a pheasant creek-bottom the following. (Yes, sure, I do know; generalizing about breed deserves is dumb.)
Flushers and retrievers in fact do nice work on pheasants, and with expertise can study to deal with the opposite birds.
Huntable Upland Species on the Prairie
Huns (Hungarian partridge to be formal) are sometimes in or close to the grain fields, particularly if there’s grassy, weedy, or low, brushy cowl across the edges or working by way of. Technically, Huns don’t want grain, however they definitely prefer it and dine on it, and likewise contemplate grain stubble to be enough cowl at occasions, quick and sparse although it’s. In the phrases of Mr. Waterman, “Huns like to see what’s going on around them.”
Sharptailed grouse reside in grasslands which might be usually used as pasture for cattle, particularly areas with some scattered groundcover of hawthorn, wild rose, buffalo berry, snowberry, or willow. They don’t object to grain and can feed on it if it’s helpful, however their important requirement is uncultivated native grassland.
As for ringnecked pheasants, by way of any of the cropland, the low dense cowl alongside water programs and coulee-bottoms is the pheasant’s area.
One of the good issues about this nation and these birds is the overlap in habitat. It’s attainable to search out your self in a place with the potential for all three birds in the identical day. You could be pondering sharptail, say, however discover a covey of a dozen squeaky Huns getting up from a CRP discipline in entrance of the canine. Years in the past in Montana, I shot a Hun and a sharptail from a bunch of a dozen birds that acquired up collectively. I feel they name this a “mixed double,” which on this case was outstanding due to each the “mixed” half and the “double” half.
hick pheasant cowl typically helps hold flushing dogs in gun vary, however mild sharptail and Hun cowl doesn’t, so it turns into the handler’s job to maintain the canine shut. It’s usually a giant ask to persuade an enthusiastic springer or Lab to remain shut in skimpy cowl. Full-choke, anybody?
If you’re used to listening to the dainty, crystalline tinkle of a bell whereas your setter politely and punctiliously works an old apple orchard in New England, you’ll want to regulate your expectations out right here. Open nation requires a special vary from a chook canine—a higher vary—and infrequently the canine’s sense that, stretching out earlier than their handlers develop into snug letting them accomplish that.
How far ought to a very good pointing canine go to search out some Huns? I’m solely being barely flippant after I say, “All the way to the next covey.” If your canine is reliable, that means that he doesn’t run off or get misplaced, and is dependable along with his birds, let him roll. My setters vary out to 2 or 300 yards however shorten up when the duvet will get somewhat heavier or the chook scent somewhat denser. I can see them a part of the time; the remainder of the time, I depend on a beeper and GPS collar. When one in all them disappears over a excessive spot within the discipline, I simply cease and watch for him to swing again in entrance of me after which we stock on. When he doesn’t come again? One of probably the most thrilling components of this looking is not only seeing your canine go on level however discovering him already on level.
What to Expect from the Weather
And there’s the climate, all the time the climate, which is characterised by extremes. In Montana in September, it could be too scorching to soundly hunt a canine for prolonged durations. In Saskatchewan or Alberta in November, it is going to seemingly be chilly and might simply be snowy. There’s additionally wind—generally somewhat, generally rather a lot, however almost all the time some. If you want a handy excuse for both your canine’s or your efficiency, the wind could be simply the ticket.
Getting the Right Upland Gear
You’ll want all the same old stuff you employ close to home, with a number of attainable additions. I did a fast evaluate, and listed below are some objects that keep in my equipment bag all fall: water bottles for the dogs and for me, dog first-aid kit, forceps (quill elimination), canine brush, a stout pair of wire cutters, walkie-talkies to keep up a correspondence with my companions after we discover ourselves separated by a half mile or so. Cell telephones work for this too except we’re in a place with poor or no protection, which is all the time a chance.
Layers of clothes are finest so you may alter because the temperature climbs in mid-day and cools in late afternoon. I put on uninsulated boots as a result of this looking entails plenty of walking. If my ft get chilly, I take it as an indication I ought to keep indoors and watch soccer.
A 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge will probably be advantageous, with chokes of improved or modified. You can get choosy about shot dimension should you like, however #6s will work for all of the birds.
Some Hazards to Be Aware of
I’ll attempt to point out these with out making anybody unduly nervous. They’re on the market, and you could learn about them, however they needn’t deter you from looking within the West. Along with the same old skunks and porcupines there may be others. Rattlesnakes could also be round in some areas in early season, which normally means September. If that’s your timeframe, contemplate carrying a snake-bite equipment. Much of this land is ranch nation so there will probably be cattle, however except you see a discipline with bulls, it received’t seemingly be an issue (it’s best to keep away from looking close to cattle anyway). There will probably be coyotes and badgers about. You’ll in all probability see the coyotes however simply the holes the badgers go away, and in sure areas close to mountains there could also be cougars. It’s uncommon to see one as they’re each secretive and largely nocturnal. I reside in an space with one of many larger concentrations of those huge cats and but have solely seen one in my life. That was whereas looking sharptail in rolling bench-land simply east of the Rockies. It was an unsettling encounter, however all turned out effectively. The presence of any of those hazards can usually be confirmed or clarified by way of conversations with landowners.
The greatest hazard in farm and ranch nation could be the potential for a canine encountering a coyote snare. I’ve skilled this, and although it turned out effectively, it was scary. This is the rationale for carrying heavy-duty wire cutters. Always ask landowners if there are snares or traps on the land you’re inquiring about, and if the reply is sure, go some place else.
Where to Stay During Your Hunt
All the same old decisions are available within the agricultural nation of the West. There are campgrounds, motels, B&Bs, and looking lodges scattered all through. I gave up on the thought of tent-camping after I’m on a looking journey as a result of an excessive amount of time is spent cooking, cleansing, and sleeping poorly. A journey trailer can work effectively, however I’ve settled on staying in cheap motels in small cities close to the birds. With a little analysis, you may select one utterly enough to your wants. I be certain they’ve satellite tv for pc TV for watching October baseball within the evenings.
Hunting Public or Private land
Learning the “lay of the land” and discovering locations to hunt is a important a part of any hunt in new territory and should be carried out effectively prematurely of the journey. Don’t simply present up out of the blue someday and look forward to finding and have nice looking, as a result of it received’t occur.
Before your journey, you could decide if there’s public land to hunt, or should you’ll must get hold of permission to hunt personal land. In some areas there are “pay to hunt” alternatives. Some provinces and states have massive areas of public land open to looking akin to Block Management land in Montana and Eastern Irrigation District land in Alberta.
The finest data comes from the first-hand expertise of associates or looking acquaintances, particularly those that have preferences and priorities much like yours. If first-hand data is skimpy, or even when it’s not, you’ll end up spending plenty of time with that new-fangled contraption referred to as the Internet. It’s all there someplace within the cyber-world: data on seasons, limits, license prices, and any uncommon native quirks that will exist. For occasion, in Saskatchewan, solely residents of the province can hunt pheasants. With somewhat digging you’ll discover forecasts for chook inhabitants developments in particular areas. These will help you keep away from a place the place a nasty winter storm or different occasion has decreased chook numbers.
If you intend to hunt in Canada, test the rules for bringing weapons and dogs throughout the border. It’s a good suggestion to search out out the place the closest vet clinic will probably be, and to place the cellphone quantity in your cellphone. While you’re doing that you simply may wish to obtain onX so you may inform who owns the land you’re taking a look at if you see a covey of sharptails settle properly right into a discipline throughout the street.
Even should you’re effectively ready for a visit, if you get to the realm you plan to hunt it’s sensible to dedicate the primary day to exploration solely—driving gravel, wanting over the duvet, knocking on doorways, and making a plan for the remainder of the time within the space. Of course, most of us are too desirous to get the dogs on the bottom to truly try this, however nonetheless.
I’ve all the time discovered planning a visit to a brand new space for looking or fishing to be a major a part of the enjoyable. A good way to develop into knowledgeable, motivated, and entertained about western chook looking is to look to the writing of Charles Waterman and Ben O. Williams, each in magazines and of their quite a few books that describe looking these birds in these locations.
And about that Stetson hat. If you may’t discover one close to home, you may all the time purchase one out right here. Just keep in mind to tip it again somewhat earlier than you shoot, in any other case you may carry your head.
