Grouse Hunting TV

Reggie B · 02-01-2021, 03:35 PM

It was a cold, grey and damp day yesterday here in SE Tennessee. I was looking for something on TV related to upland hunting or fly fishing. I came across a show on "Carbon TV" entitled "Grouse Hunt in WI". I have a great interest in grouse hunting even though I have never been on a grouse hunt. I was hesitant when the shows host said he was going on his 1st grouse hunt and he was carrying a camo'd up plastic stock auto of some sort. I tried to overlook his extremely poor choice in grouse guns as the men he was hunting with had 4 beautiful English setters in their truck. I meant to try to find a date the episode was filmed but forgot to do so.

The guys refused to shoot woodcock flushed and they refused to count woodcock flushes in the total flush count. They said they would not hunt or shoot anything that ate worms. Those setters would make a beautiful point and when the woodcock flushed they just watched it fly off. I couldn't believe they refused to shoot at a woodcock. They pointed and flushed a ton of grouse, the total flush count they said was 30 (not counting the woodcock flushes).

What really shocked me was to find out at the end of the show that the hunters were from Tennessee. They said they had been hunting in WI for about 10 years and loved the northern woods for the upland hunting. They went on to say that they normally on average had about 5 grouse flushes a day on their Tennessee hunts.

They called their Setters "foot dogs" and he told the bloodline they were and said there was only one breeder in the US that had that bloodline and he was in Kentucky. Anyway I loved watching those dogs point grouse after grouse.

All in all a very enjoyable show.

Dean Romig · 02-01-2021, 03:41 PM

Hmm... Never heard of a "foot dog" and I'm kinda sorry to see nickname like that attached to an English Setter.

I wonder what it means...?

Some peoples' attitudes, huh?

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Reggie B · 02-01-2021, 03:51 PM

He was referring to them as "close" hunting dogs. He went on to mention hunting with dogs that once you turned them out they were out of sight. His dogs stayed within 50 - 75 yards he said. Tennessee attitudes I suppose.

Dean Romig · 02-01-2021, 03:54 PM

I get it... as opposed to the hunter being a-horseback, maybe?

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Reggie B · 02-01-2021, 03:59 PM

Yes, big running dogs that a "foot" hunter can't keep close.

Andy · 02-01-2021, 04:14 PM

I heard that term from a Ryman owner once, ran into him in the Catskills grouse hunting. He said his dog was "Bred by a good foot dog breeder in Ohio..." I asked and he said, "Close working..." And I'm sure I've seen it somewhere else before.

C.O.B. · 02-01-2021, 05:37 PM

I've only seen grouse hunting on TV once and that was a Michigan hunt.
Foot dogs hugh

Well my foot dogs (GSP's) just got back from 4 days quail hunting in Georgia which would have made great TV.

Reggie if you want to hunt grouse just let me know. I have a place in the upper peninsula and your welcome any time.

Reggie B · 02-01-2021, 05:50 PM

Thank you Rich! Very nice of you!

Andy · 02-01-2021, 06:07 PM

You think foot dog is bad, anyone know what a canoe Lab is? I know a guy who has one, damn thing is about the size of a Beagle.

https://www.duckhillkennels.com/canoe-dogs

Dean Romig · 02-01-2021, 06:14 PM

Okay, I have a camp chair setter...

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