My new grouse dog
 

My new grouse dog arrived today from Ohio. A field trial reject a year and a half old. I've been hunting grouse with my retriever using him as a flush dog. We've gotten some birds but it's not the same. I need a setter. I'll start working her on grouse when she has a week to acclimate. The dog didn't have the range for field trialing so I'm hoping she works out as a grouse dog. You never know but I'll get her into many birds and she will pick up the caution needed for grouse if she is smart. But it will take many birds. My grandfather used to tell me you had to kill about 30 birds before a dog became a true grouse dog. I can't disagree. That's been about my experience too. So we'll see but its great to have a setter again. I really can't live without a good setter bird dog.

Sorry guys. I just realized I posted in the wrong place. I guess I'm excited about my new setter. It's been a while since my last one died.

Good job! We are hoping to introduce our puppy to birds in the near future.

Tom, don't care about which forum, where are the pictures!

That's great Tom. Do you still live near Pawling? If so I can provide a chucker or pheasant hunt on 900 private acres less than 30 minutes from you

Eric, no pictures yet. My camera is still packed away in one of the boxes I haven't gotten to yet. Thanks for asking.

Louis, I've moved back to Pawling for good and I'm living in the house my great grandfather built in the 1800's. It's always been in the family. I moved to Maryland for my job but now I'm back to stay since I retired in June. I've always came back to Pawling for my hunting but it was a six hour drive from Maryland. Now my coverts are as close as minutes away. It's great being back for good.

Lets talk Louis. My number is 301-732-0664 or email me at thomas.j.flanigan@outlook.com.

Congrats Tom. My dad, who was an early member of the setter club of new england and an avid grouse hunter always said that setters not suitable for field trial campaigning made better close working grouse and woodcock dogs. That's been my experience also. You want a close working dog.

Allen, this isn't my first field trial reject. The second best grouse dog I ever owned, Stoney, was a two year old field trial reject. Other than my first bird dog at 14 years old, Stoney was my best grouse dog. He hunted close in tight cover and opened up in Saskatchewan for huns and sharptails. He was also a good quail dog. Bill Murphy has hunted quail with him. I'm hoping my new little setter turns out like Stoney and the others. I've had many grouse dogs. With a little luck this one will join the ranks.

Tom...

I feel the same way about setters :)