Hunting for Groceries
with your Dog
The English Springer Spaniel and German Wirehaired Pointer, sometimes called the Deutsch Drahthaar, are both known to be extraordinarily efficient at tracking pheasant through heavy cover. The English Setter also works heavy cover very well and is a very biddable breed. (Pheasant recipe - Here)
Why hunt?
How to Get Started Hunting:
Why hunt pheasant?
Pheasant are everywhere. Although wild pheasant range is not everywhere in the USA, state wildlife agencies operate pheasant farms and release birds on public hunting areas near you. This provides you, the hunter, with land access to a reliable supply of pheasant without depleting native wildlife. In return, your license fees pay to buy land, manage habitat, and raise the pheasant. Pheasant meat is excellent and recipes are endless. Springer spaniels are considered to be the best pheasant dog and certainly are well suited and effective pheasant hunters.
Why hunt doves?
Mourning doves are one of the most abundant species on the planet and there is no concern for overshooting them. They are found everywhere. States manage public dove fields for you to hunt. Dove hunting will hone your dog into an impressive retriever as it learns to watch and listen for birds, mark the general location of birds you shoot and use its nose to complete the retrieve. Doves are top table fare and don’t be fooled by those who tell you they are too small to eat!
- It is fun!
- It is natural for your dog to hunt, to hunt for you and with you.
- Become a Locavore and obtain quality meat.
- Exercise the way the human body was designed to.
- Purchase of your hunting license and hunting equipment funds wildlife research and conservation of habitat.
- Anybody can participate, not an activity for the elite.
How to Get Started Hunting:
- Find someone to teach you how to shoot a shotgun or hire a certified instructor.
- Join a hunting dog training club
- Train and exercise your dog
- Practice shooting and gun safety
- Register for a hunter education class required to obtain a hunting license
- Research pheasant release sites and managed dove fields
- Learn all you can about pheasant and doves, and the hunting of them
Why hunt pheasant?
Pheasant are everywhere. Although wild pheasant range is not everywhere in the USA, state wildlife agencies operate pheasant farms and release birds on public hunting areas near you. This provides you, the hunter, with land access to a reliable supply of pheasant without depleting native wildlife. In return, your license fees pay to buy land, manage habitat, and raise the pheasant. Pheasant meat is excellent and recipes are endless. Springer spaniels are considered to be the best pheasant dog and certainly are well suited and effective pheasant hunters.
Why hunt doves?
Mourning doves are one of the most abundant species on the planet and there is no concern for overshooting them. They are found everywhere. States manage public dove fields for you to hunt. Dove hunting will hone your dog into an impressive retriever as it learns to watch and listen for birds, mark the general location of birds you shoot and use its nose to complete the retrieve. Doves are top table fare and don’t be fooled by those who tell you they are too small to eat!
Freezing / Storage:
There are two good methods of freezing game birds that allow for storage of the birds and prevent freezer burn. The first method is to use two layers of plastic wrap over the bird and then place the bird in a freezer bag. You wrap the bird in the first layer of plastic wrap, making sure to have good contact (no air) in between your plastic wrap and the bird. A second layer is added again, trying to prevent as much air as as possible from touching the bird. After wrapping the bird in the two layers, you then place the plastic wrapped bird in the freezer bag (again, taking out as much air as possible. Through this method you should be able to successfully store your bird up to 6 months. A second, and more successful method of bird storage is to completely submerge your bird in water and then freeze. You can take a freezer bag or empty, clean carton (such as a paper milk carton) and place your bird in the bag/carton and then fill with as much water as it takes to completely cover the bird. With this method you should be able to store your bird up to a year.
Cooking:
Enjoying a meal of wild game is one of the greatest pleasures of the hunt and there are various ways of cooking that enhance the great flavor that only wild game can give. A common practice when cooking game birds (because of the birds low fat content) is to use bacon, oil or butter to prevent moisture from leaving the meat when cooking. There are hundreds if not thousands of game bird recipes for both dove and pheasant. One great tasting, simple recipe that can be used for both pheasant and dove is ‘Smothered Birds’. (Cooking times vary)
There are two good methods of freezing game birds that allow for storage of the birds and prevent freezer burn. The first method is to use two layers of plastic wrap over the bird and then place the bird in a freezer bag. You wrap the bird in the first layer of plastic wrap, making sure to have good contact (no air) in between your plastic wrap and the bird. A second layer is added again, trying to prevent as much air as as possible from touching the bird. After wrapping the bird in the two layers, you then place the plastic wrapped bird in the freezer bag (again, taking out as much air as possible. Through this method you should be able to successfully store your bird up to 6 months. A second, and more successful method of bird storage is to completely submerge your bird in water and then freeze. You can take a freezer bag or empty, clean carton (such as a paper milk carton) and place your bird in the bag/carton and then fill with as much water as it takes to completely cover the bird. With this method you should be able to store your bird up to a year.
Cooking:
Enjoying a meal of wild game is one of the greatest pleasures of the hunt and there are various ways of cooking that enhance the great flavor that only wild game can give. A common practice when cooking game birds (because of the birds low fat content) is to use bacon, oil or butter to prevent moisture from leaving the meat when cooking. There are hundreds if not thousands of game bird recipes for both dove and pheasant. One great tasting, simple recipe that can be used for both pheasant and dove is ‘Smothered Birds’. (Cooking times vary)
Equipment needed:
Pheasant hunting requires a minimal amount of equipment, however some optional clothing and other gear will make your experience more enjoyable.
Shotgun: 12 or 20 gauge over and under with screw in, steel-proof chokes sized to improved cylinder. Both barrels can and should be choked improved cylinder, but it you prefer one barrel choked tighter or more open that would be okay. Always use Winchester Xpert steel shot in size number 7. Winchester also makes a steel target load, which contains 1⅛ ounces of number 7 shot, whereas the Xpert load contains one ounce. If you can find the target load, it is preferable for pheasant, because of the additional ⅛ ounce of shot.
Pheasant hunting requires a minimal amount of equipment, however some optional clothing and other gear will make your experience more enjoyable.
Shotgun: 12 or 20 gauge over and under with screw in, steel-proof chokes sized to improved cylinder. Both barrels can and should be choked improved cylinder, but it you prefer one barrel choked tighter or more open that would be okay. Always use Winchester Xpert steel shot in size number 7. Winchester also makes a steel target load, which contains 1⅛ ounces of number 7 shot, whereas the Xpert load contains one ounce. If you can find the target load, it is preferable for pheasant, because of the additional ⅛ ounce of shot.
Your dog needs a waterproof electric collar, a bell, a beeper collar, regular collar with your contact info, an orange vest for visibility and protection from brush and thorns, and you need to carry a whistle and water bottle while hunting. Keep more water and a bowl in your vehicle when hunting.
An orange hat and an orange vest is absolutely required at all times for pheasant hunting. The vest must have a game bag to carry birds you shoot.
Waxed cotton pants are something you should consider investing in, They turn brush, thorns, and moisture away and will increase comfort in the rough terrain pheasant are hunted in.
Expect to cross water and puddles often while pheasant hunting, always wear waterproof boots at least shin high, knee high is better.
Waxed cotton pants are something you should consider investing in, They turn brush, thorns, and moisture away and will increase comfort in the rough terrain pheasant are hunted in.
Expect to cross water and puddles often while pheasant hunting, always wear waterproof boots at least shin high, knee high is better.
The Equipment for hunting doves is also minimal. Contrary to popular belief, the same shotgun AND ammo used for pheasant is also best for doves, see above.
On the occasions you will hunt for doves by searching for them when they are feeding or loafing on the ground, which is similar to pheasant hunting, the same orange protective clothing and waxed cotton clothing is advised.
When you are hunting doves the most common way, which is hiding among established flight paths, you need a stool to sit on. Also helpful are decoys and a dove call.
On public dove fields where other hunters will be afield, orange clothing is recommended. However, if you are not hunting on public land on managed dove fields, or not accompanied by a large group of hunters disbursed across a field, camo clothing is used instead of orange.
Only a few companies produce a dove call and they are about the same. Decoys come in two types - stationary and motion. In some states, battery powered motion decoys are prohibited. If your state bans battery powered decoys, than use wind powered motion decoys. Wind powered spinning wing decoys do not work very well, but a number of companies sell decoys with lightweight wings that flutter in even light wind. Another option is inflatable decoys made by Cherokee Sports, which do not move much, but have slight motion in moderate wind. Any brand of stationary decoy is fine, and both full bodies and silhouettes are manufactured. Some sort of “decoy tree” either homemade or manufactured is also recommended.
On the occasions you will hunt for doves by searching for them when they are feeding or loafing on the ground, which is similar to pheasant hunting, the same orange protective clothing and waxed cotton clothing is advised.
When you are hunting doves the most common way, which is hiding among established flight paths, you need a stool to sit on. Also helpful are decoys and a dove call.
On public dove fields where other hunters will be afield, orange clothing is recommended. However, if you are not hunting on public land on managed dove fields, or not accompanied by a large group of hunters disbursed across a field, camo clothing is used instead of orange.
Only a few companies produce a dove call and they are about the same. Decoys come in two types - stationary and motion. In some states, battery powered motion decoys are prohibited. If your state bans battery powered decoys, than use wind powered motion decoys. Wind powered spinning wing decoys do not work very well, but a number of companies sell decoys with lightweight wings that flutter in even light wind. Another option is inflatable decoys made by Cherokee Sports, which do not move much, but have slight motion in moderate wind. Any brand of stationary decoy is fine, and both full bodies and silhouettes are manufactured. Some sort of “decoy tree” either homemade or manufactured is also recommended.
Shooting glasses which do not need to be the widely promoted expensive ones, are recommended for both pheasant and dove hunting. As long as they are rated for shooting, they are fine, even if they are $5 Wal-mart specials. Stay away from yellow lens however, which collect too much light and will burn your eyes. In dove hunting in particular, you will be looking skyward and glasses protect from the sun. In all forms of hunting, glasses protect your eyes from falling shot, brush, seeds, and are generally recommended when you discharge a firearm.
How to hunt pheasant:
Wild-hatched pheasant differs from hunting state pheasant stocking program areas. Wild birds will, like all wildlife, exhibit a “daily cycle”. A pattern of which they move about the landscape to one habitat type to another from dawn to dusk. Learning about the natural history of pheasants, by reading and getting afield and observing is needed to understand the behavior of wild pheasants to hunt them.
Hunting state stocked pheasants differs somewhat. After these birds have been released for a few hours, in contrast to the disorientation they often exhibit immediately upon release, are quite wary of people and dogs, and behave almost like wild birds in respect to avoiding them. The way they differ, is that they do not follow the same “daily cycle” as wild birds. You won't find stocked birds in roosting cover at dawn then at a food source mid morning and loafing cover afterward then back to a food source and then to roost at dusk, as wild birds move around.
Stocked birds commonly disperse five miles from the point of release, but they do not adopt the natural behavior of wild birds. Most of the stocked birds do not disperse five miles either. However, it is not at all uncommon for flushed birds to fly a half a mile before landing. A bird that is flushed twice and missed twice is already one mile away….
Where most people fail in hunting stocked pheasant, is in not knowing these birds seek refuge in the nastiest cover. Although true that both wild pheasant and stocked pheasant use fallow fields and even row crops, and also true that most points of release are fallow fields, stocked birds will hit the tangles, tangles not even characteristic of wild pheasant range. Many stocked birds are indeed flushed and shot from more grassy type areas, and on top of that, the activity is more visible in the open, leading hunters to believe that their best strategy is the open.
Often, those are the hunters which never evolve past the stage of hunting the freshly stocked birds. They make one pass on a stocking day through the easiest cover and take what they can get, sometimes doing well, other times not so well. This mentality has actually hurt the image of state stocking programs. Some pheasant hunters who although are wise enough to get tired of a rat race to the birds and the associated negative nuances inherent to it, are not necessarily wise enough to figure out that there is indeed a better way.
The trick is, don't hunt when everyone is out there, even if that means not hunting when birds are freshly stocked. Spend most of your time in the nasty cover and only part of it in the stereotypical pheasant cover. Work the cover slowly.
How to hunt doves:
Since we just discussed pheasants, we will begin with hunting doves by flushing them. Mourning doves are ground feeders. They prefer open or even bare ground to peck at seeds, grain, and poke berries. These are good locations to flush doves.
When not feeding, doves may be at a water source. Doves prefer water sources which do not have much cover at the water’s edge. Doves can be flushed in these areas.
Doves, like other birds, also need to periodically ingest small stones and gravel. Hunting along roads, (along, not on them) whether paved or not, requires knowing your local laws and judging if it is wise, even if legal, in your area. There are many roads we would not have any concern over, but there are also other roads were it may be legal, but unwise to do so. This does not only pertain to you shooting a vehicle, but also to your dog getting run over.
Roads however, are not the only source of gravel, if it was, then many birds would not be around because roads were not always part of the landscape. Creek beds and other exposed areas are good bets. Some hunters get permission to hunt doves in quarries. Abandoned quarries are another good location. Actually, quarries often offer doves in addition to gravel, plenty of weed seeds, water, and roost trees.
Doves will loaf or roost in both hardwood and conifer trees. Hunting articles will often suggest dead hardwood trees, while this is very much true, it is the white winged dove, not the mourning dove which has a strong preference for dead trees. Doves loaf on power lines, but do not shoot toward power lines if they are within gun range. Doves will also loaf in dense brush as we suggested is also where stocked pheasant take refuge. Dense brush along riparian areas as well as along crop fields should not be overlooked.
Classical dove hunting, however, is pass shooting. That is not precise however, because hunting at water sources or roost trees may be more like hunting over decoys than pass shooting. And, as already indicated, decoys themselves are used by dove hunters.
Nevertheless, whether decoying, pass shooting, or hunting a water source or roost site, you are waiting for the birds, rather than walking about. Understanding the natural history of doves and scouting for good locations is the key to success. As in state pheasant stocking, state managed dove fields narrow it down for you, but you should not expect either to be easy hunting, because neither are. As in state pheasant stocking, avoid the crowded dates, times, and most popular locations if you insist on hunting managed public dove fields. The truth is there are so many doves all over the place, it isn't necessary to hunt these areas to have good hunting. No matter where you hunt or what bird, but especially when hunting managed public dove fields, adhere to the rule: “if its low, let it go”. If you are always shooting at birds well up above ground level, it would be unusual bad luck to shoot another hunter across the field.
Don’t believe Pass Shooting is sky blasting at long ranges. Choose your location where you determined by scouting will put you in reasonable range of the birds. Don't attempt marginal shots. A few decoys and perhaps a dove call will draw in some of the birds passing out of range. Unlike waterfowl hunting, a few dove decoys will not physically challenge anyone to set up, and carry in and out. If you follow our suggestions and use steel shot, the heaviest thing you will be carrying dove hunting is water for you and your dog…
Wild-hatched pheasant differs from hunting state pheasant stocking program areas. Wild birds will, like all wildlife, exhibit a “daily cycle”. A pattern of which they move about the landscape to one habitat type to another from dawn to dusk. Learning about the natural history of pheasants, by reading and getting afield and observing is needed to understand the behavior of wild pheasants to hunt them.
Hunting state stocked pheasants differs somewhat. After these birds have been released for a few hours, in contrast to the disorientation they often exhibit immediately upon release, are quite wary of people and dogs, and behave almost like wild birds in respect to avoiding them. The way they differ, is that they do not follow the same “daily cycle” as wild birds. You won't find stocked birds in roosting cover at dawn then at a food source mid morning and loafing cover afterward then back to a food source and then to roost at dusk, as wild birds move around.
Stocked birds commonly disperse five miles from the point of release, but they do not adopt the natural behavior of wild birds. Most of the stocked birds do not disperse five miles either. However, it is not at all uncommon for flushed birds to fly a half a mile before landing. A bird that is flushed twice and missed twice is already one mile away….
Where most people fail in hunting stocked pheasant, is in not knowing these birds seek refuge in the nastiest cover. Although true that both wild pheasant and stocked pheasant use fallow fields and even row crops, and also true that most points of release are fallow fields, stocked birds will hit the tangles, tangles not even characteristic of wild pheasant range. Many stocked birds are indeed flushed and shot from more grassy type areas, and on top of that, the activity is more visible in the open, leading hunters to believe that their best strategy is the open.
Often, those are the hunters which never evolve past the stage of hunting the freshly stocked birds. They make one pass on a stocking day through the easiest cover and take what they can get, sometimes doing well, other times not so well. This mentality has actually hurt the image of state stocking programs. Some pheasant hunters who although are wise enough to get tired of a rat race to the birds and the associated negative nuances inherent to it, are not necessarily wise enough to figure out that there is indeed a better way.
The trick is, don't hunt when everyone is out there, even if that means not hunting when birds are freshly stocked. Spend most of your time in the nasty cover and only part of it in the stereotypical pheasant cover. Work the cover slowly.
How to hunt doves:
Since we just discussed pheasants, we will begin with hunting doves by flushing them. Mourning doves are ground feeders. They prefer open or even bare ground to peck at seeds, grain, and poke berries. These are good locations to flush doves.
When not feeding, doves may be at a water source. Doves prefer water sources which do not have much cover at the water’s edge. Doves can be flushed in these areas.
Doves, like other birds, also need to periodically ingest small stones and gravel. Hunting along roads, (along, not on them) whether paved or not, requires knowing your local laws and judging if it is wise, even if legal, in your area. There are many roads we would not have any concern over, but there are also other roads were it may be legal, but unwise to do so. This does not only pertain to you shooting a vehicle, but also to your dog getting run over.
Roads however, are not the only source of gravel, if it was, then many birds would not be around because roads were not always part of the landscape. Creek beds and other exposed areas are good bets. Some hunters get permission to hunt doves in quarries. Abandoned quarries are another good location. Actually, quarries often offer doves in addition to gravel, plenty of weed seeds, water, and roost trees.
Doves will loaf or roost in both hardwood and conifer trees. Hunting articles will often suggest dead hardwood trees, while this is very much true, it is the white winged dove, not the mourning dove which has a strong preference for dead trees. Doves loaf on power lines, but do not shoot toward power lines if they are within gun range. Doves will also loaf in dense brush as we suggested is also where stocked pheasant take refuge. Dense brush along riparian areas as well as along crop fields should not be overlooked.
Classical dove hunting, however, is pass shooting. That is not precise however, because hunting at water sources or roost trees may be more like hunting over decoys than pass shooting. And, as already indicated, decoys themselves are used by dove hunters.
Nevertheless, whether decoying, pass shooting, or hunting a water source or roost site, you are waiting for the birds, rather than walking about. Understanding the natural history of doves and scouting for good locations is the key to success. As in state pheasant stocking, state managed dove fields narrow it down for you, but you should not expect either to be easy hunting, because neither are. As in state pheasant stocking, avoid the crowded dates, times, and most popular locations if you insist on hunting managed public dove fields. The truth is there are so many doves all over the place, it isn't necessary to hunt these areas to have good hunting. No matter where you hunt or what bird, but especially when hunting managed public dove fields, adhere to the rule: “if its low, let it go”. If you are always shooting at birds well up above ground level, it would be unusual bad luck to shoot another hunter across the field.
Don’t believe Pass Shooting is sky blasting at long ranges. Choose your location where you determined by scouting will put you in reasonable range of the birds. Don't attempt marginal shots. A few decoys and perhaps a dove call will draw in some of the birds passing out of range. Unlike waterfowl hunting, a few dove decoys will not physically challenge anyone to set up, and carry in and out. If you follow our suggestions and use steel shot, the heaviest thing you will be carrying dove hunting is water for you and your dog…
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Labrador Retriever have no problem whatsoever with the nastiest pheasant cover. Although many breeds have learned to perform difficult marked retrieves and blind retrieves, the Chessie and the Lab have a proven work history for these tasks. Good marking ability and the ability to complete blind retrieves is valuable in dove hunting as it is in duck and goose hunting. |
Dogs
What Your Dog Knows
What your dog does not know
How your dog's natural hunting instincts degrade without training
What Your Dog Knows
- How to Find Birds that are alive, dead, or injured
- To bring birds he recovers to his pack leader- that is you
What your dog does not know
- Your shotgun has a limited effective range
- You don't want him to go off on his own to catch birds
How your dog's natural hunting instincts degrade without training
- Your dog becomes lazy and won't endure the discomfort associated with entering cover where birds seek refuge or are shot over
- If your dog is dominant he decides he is not going to surrender the bird to you
- If your dog is not confident, it will begin to refuse retrieves even if it was a bold retriever when much younger and smaller. Lack of confidence is the result of learning, contrary to his genetic wiring, via living with people, that he won’t starve to death if he does not do two things: hunt and cooperate…