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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 6, 2005 23:47:50 GMT -5
That Drahthaar is looking at Bear with admiration saying: "I still can't believe your a friggin' Airedale!"
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Post by Robert on Dec 7, 2005 0:45:59 GMT -5
Mark,
Nice photo. Looks like you did some good shooting.
Robert
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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 7, 2005 21:09:51 GMT -5
Robert,
It was fun. Those are only the ones we got. We shot at more!
Bear was a finding fetching fool though.
Mark
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Post by southern on Dec 8, 2005 0:40:44 GMT -5
I wanna duck
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Summit Forge
Hunter/worker
Forge with Ruffed Grouse
Posts: 124
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Post by Summit Forge on Dec 12, 2005 21:34:31 GMT -5
Mark,
Where was the hunt?
Ron
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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 12, 2005 23:10:10 GMT -5
Ron
That one was a "cheater" hunt at Powderbourne preserve.
I thought about you last month when we went to Bradford co. for grouse. We had some flushes but none attributable to either of the dogs. They were flushing WAY ahead of us. Bear worked super close for me in the woods. He really seems to know his boundaries based on terrain now. That Drahthaar is a great little pup. Although she is a SUPER natural hunter, Bear is just so awesome on pheasants it's silly. One we shot, I swore was 50yrds straight up. Every time I told Bear to go straight he would work to the right. Finally I let him go his own way. He went about 100 yards to the right into a creek bed and came back w/the cripple in his mouth! I can only imagine how good he'd be if I actually laid a legitimate foundation for him like so many do at the game farms. I really hope to perfect the grouse hunting with him. That to me will be the ultimate birding test... here in PA. I think a SD pheasant hunt with him would be like fishing for bass in a private pond. But I still NEED to do it eventually.
Mark
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Post by hicntry on Dec 12, 2005 23:15:18 GMT -5
Mark, where are you at in Pa. Dan Wolf is in Pa as is Ron. Y'all out to get together and hunt.
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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 13, 2005 0:33:10 GMT -5
Don
I'm in upper bucks county. About 60mi north of Center City Phila. I'm always up for a hunt w/ other dog people...Airedale people even better! My only concern would be the male dog thing, but I'd still give it a go.
Mark
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Summit Forge
Hunter/worker
Forge with Ruffed Grouse
Posts: 124
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Post by Summit Forge on Dec 13, 2005 11:15:50 GMT -5
Ron That one was a "cheater" hunt at Powderbourne preserve. I thought about you last month when we went to Bradford co. for grouse. We had some flushes but none attributable to either of the dogs. They were flushing WAY ahead of us. Bear worked super close for me in the woods. He really seems to know his boundaries based on terrain now. That Drahthaar is a great little pup. Although she is a SUPER natural hunter, Bear is just so awesome on pheasants it's silly. One we shot, I swore was 50yrds straight up. Every time I told Bear to go straight he would work to the right. Finally I let him go his own way. He went about 100 yards to the right into a creek bed and came back w/the cripple in his mouth! I can only imagine how good he'd be if I actually laid a legitimate foundation for him like so many do at the game farms. I really hope to perfect the grouse hunting with him. That to me will be the ultimate birding test... here in PA. I think a SD pheasant hunt with him would be like fishing for bass in a private pond. But I still NEED to do it eventually. Mark Mark, Forge loves pheasants as well. Game preserve hunting can be fun and it can be a valuable asset for training a dog. However, it is not "real" hunting as we both know. In PA we have only 2 wild species that one can hunt in some abundance, ducks and geese. The Ruffed Grouse population, as you know, is at an historic low. I think this year there has been a very slight increase from my experience. I agree with you, hunting PA grouse is the ultimate birding test for man and dog. It has been my experience as well that grouse will flush "wild" many times for no good reason and no fault of the dog. Of course the opposite also occurs. Two weeks ago, the last day before gun deer season began, a got 2 separate flushes about 10 yards in front of me and between Forge and I. Both times Forge was working to my right about 20 - 25 yards. Each time I gave a whistle signal for Forge to stop and come around and I stopped walking. Just at that moment of silence with no movement from either of us the grouse flushed. What a bird! Of course getting a nice close flush, only guarantees that the grouse has figured out a flight path beforehand as he explodes behind a bush or tree. The wing noise is so loud though that one can not hear him chuckle as he makes good his escape. What a bird!! Ron
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Summit Forge
Hunter/worker
Forge with Ruffed Grouse
Posts: 124
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Post by Summit Forge on Dec 13, 2005 11:27:38 GMT -5
Mark, where are you at in Pa. Dan Wolf is in Pa as is Ron. Y'all out to get together and hunt. Don, I think an all Airedale hunt would be fun. I have met Dan and Apache but not Lenape. However, I believe it would be best to hunt them separately...taking turns. I believe we might have a "male problem" as Mark noted with them all out at once. However, since they would not be in a confined space with plenty of room to maneuver it might work...but I doubt it. Ron
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Post by danwolf on Dec 18, 2005 21:51:35 GMT -5
Mark, where are you at in Pa. Dan Wolf is in Pa as is Ron. Y'all out to get together and hunt. Hello guys, sorry I've been slammed w/work lately. Great looking dogs Mark. Love that nose on that drathaar! -looks huge, coal black, and keen-they're cool dogs. I'd love to hunt w/you guys. Ron, helped teach me how to force break Apache. We could probably find a preserve midway like the Reading/Hamburg area, or I'd like to take you guys to Hopewell pheasantry off I-83 near York/Lancaster. I could pick you up Ron, if we go northeast, if we could configure the dogs safely? Later in January, early Feb is better for me, so are weekdays. I shot about 2-300 birds over Apache before I decided to get serious w/his retrieving training, ( I'm stupid and was used to retrievers), he retrieved maybe 1/2 the shot birds w/no training but a little bad to worse, but he only lost 1 bird-up the tree in the grape vines. Now he's nearly finished w/force breaking/retrieving, and Lenape I haven't screwed up yet, and he hasn't hunted birds yet, and he won't until he's done w/retriever training- not bass ackwards w/him. Ron, Don doesn't know how ornery Forge is. If they don't get along we'll hunt 1 at a time, 10 birds each, then to the Fox&Hound for a Guiness and discussion. I've never hunted grouse w/the boys yet, but this spring they pointed a few in a huge state forest area which maybe definitely worth a weekend fall grouse hunt.
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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 18, 2005 21:58:04 GMT -5
Dan
Sounds good!
my e-mail is
m_baldassarre@yahoo.com
Mark
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Summit Forge
Hunter/worker
Forge with Ruffed Grouse
Posts: 124
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Post by Summit Forge on Dec 19, 2005 13:25:19 GMT -5
Dan and Mark, I would vote for a preserve hunt at Hopewell Pheasantry. Forge and I were there once with my eldest son on his birthday awhile back. The habitat is usually good and they are enjoyable folks. We probably ought to consider waiting until we get a snow-melt and then check with Hopewell to see if there is enough cover for pheasants.
I would prefer that you two shoot over Forge by himself and I will handle him because we need to practice sit to flush for the Master Flushing Test in March.
If you twist my arm, I might be able to sneak up on a couple pints of Guiness.
Ron
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Post by Mark Baldassarre on Dec 19, 2005 20:24:17 GMT -5
Dan/Ron
The Hopewell location is just fine for me as is the choice in beer.
Could you imagine hunting all 3 males together, LOL!
One at a time is a good idea.
Dan, if you each have a crate I'm sure the dogs would transport fine. Also, did I hear you say your dogs point?!
Would it also make sense to do some chukars because they area little closer to grouse and offer a smaller scent target? Of course they are cheaper too! We have not hunted them as of yet.
Mark
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Post by southern on Dec 19, 2005 21:13:30 GMT -5
I wanna Duck or Phesant to eat. ya'll have my address, send meat
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