Upland Hunting, Bird Dog and Shotgun BS Thread

Got out twice this week. Sunday we had a dense fog and frost in the AM and I snapped this pic of my dad and gsp Frankie hunting in one of my favorite spots. I love the shots we get in that marshy cover mixed with the trees! Both days were great but we worked hard for our birds.

 

Got a question for those of you that are shooting feathered game or the clay type. Does anyone use ported chokes? Just wondering if there's a notable advantage to them.

 

My understanding is that some believe they provide better patterns because they strip the wad from the shot string sooner. This claim is widely debatable from what I’ve gathered. I’m not a huge clays shooter but shoot plenty if birds. I think there’s a reason game guns never come with ported chokes.

 

They are a fad. They just make more noise. If you have them, then use them. I wouldn’t pay any extra for them or replace chokes I have to get them.

 

Just picked up my first bird dog! Traveled 3,400 miles to get her. She’s a toller

 

None. Not a fan of ported tubes or barrels at all. They will however piss off everyone in a duck blind in short order. At least they do me.

Congrats and great looking pup! Hang on to your hat the ride has just started to begin Which kennel is she out of? The black nosed Toller in my avatar sitting in an empty 12 lb. keg of Red Dot powder was out of Cayuga. A long time ago. The pink nosed 4 year old I have now is from Skylark. Duck dog as an upland hunter?! Hells yes.

 

Thanks! Looks like you have some beautiful dogs yourself. Been around bird dogs for most of my life just never a toller, but I’m up for the challenge. She’s out of an area not far from Chicago. Definitely looking forward to what the future has in store.

And yes, a duck dog that will be working a lot of upland game. shes already been responding well to a quail wing in the backyard. We will have the occasional waterfowl hunt just to get her feet wet though. In fact it’ll probably get me back into doing duck and geese hunts more frequently.

How long have you raised tollers?

 

They just look better to some.... I shoot a Benelli Performance Shop Cordoba which has a ported barrel. I can't say if the ported barrel helps at all. It looks good and she is LOUD. I now wear the electronic ear plugs when I hunt. Just get a good extended choke tube and don't look back.
I do a lot of waterfowl and upland along with some clay killing here and there. I can say duck hunting my d aqa da not a fan of my Cordoba if he's within a few feet.

 

Yeah I only waterfowl hunt when get drawn for it in SD. Can't hunt pheasants until 10 AM there so it fills in the morning time slot. Of course throw ducks for him during the warmer months and ice out to make sure he has a job to do. Been around the breed for almost 30 years now, mainly ruff grouse and pheasant. Had a feeling you picked her up some where in the Upper Midwest. Go back on her lines far enough you will most likely see Vermilion. Jamie and Kathy Como at Vermilion gave many of the breeders here a start, and there are more Toller breeders here than anywhere else in the Country. Jamie passed away a couple of years ago he was a heck of a guy. Spent more than a few hours throwing dead ducks with him in a pit for hunt tests and training. They wintered in Texas and I know a few breeders down there also. Dan Rode is the president of the NSDTR(USA) now and know him well. At the National Specialty 3 years ago in Wi. he showed my guy for me. I'm really not into the show thing at all but it does help maintain breed standards.



Your going to have fun

 

Picking up a Taco soon and it's only natural this is my first post on this forum.

Let's see some pics of how you guys have the bed set up to accommodate dogs, guns and camping all in one. I need a head start on planning my set up!

 

Like your handle, good call. Now that I am over 60 I prefer to sleep in a cabin if I can. Do the back of the truck and camping only I have to and once in awhile do.

ARE MX topper I want the added height to sit up in the back to change clothes. And a platform shelf to set gear on. Pull out slides are nice but a PITA for extended periods of time. Would prefer the extra height after you spend enough time in the back of the truck. Shelf is equal to inseam length.



Which requires a full length bed, so an access cab. Want something any longer than that could go with a full sized truck which I don't want. Ripped out the worthless access seats and made a platform for the dog and gun storage under it.



Got rid of the ribbed tailgate and then put rubber over the reinforced replacement. Cause the dog likes it better when taking a break and easier to get up and down.



Camping for extended periods Cabelas Big Horn Tent with wood stove. If I got to.







It isn't the setup that is a PITA as much as it is the tear down and pack up.

 

Figured that I'd introduce the latest member of my family! I have big plans to chase grouse and woodcock with this little fella.

 

Great looking pup! I’d be happy to join you one day! Do you hunt GWNF?

 

Got my 1st SxS SKB 150 20 gauge. Cant wait for Maine grouse

 

I hunt the GW, Jefferson as well as the Monongahela in WV. Unfortunately the bird numbers have been down for several years, but if you're up for a nature hike with a shotgun, you're welcome to join us!

He'll be about 10 months old by the time October rolls around so would really like to get him into birds ( birds make dogs IMHO) so a trip to Maine or the upper Midwest might be in the cards.

 

Congrats! I recently picked up my first SxS and so wanted an Ithaca SKB to work for me but just didn't fit me right. I have a lot of Ithaca 37's is what I grew up with. Ended up picking up a Winchester 23 in 20 ga. with 28" bbls. Sent it to Briley for thinwall chokes and picked up a Jeff's Outfitters case for it.



Want a 16 ga. so next will be either a FAIR Iside or Dickinson. Prefer semibeavertail, POW grip and single triger so likely a Dickinson but that would have to be a custom order. I seem to shoot the Iside well enough though even with English grip and splinter.

Your right it does take birds to make a bird dog.

Have hunted GWNF and Jefferson when I was stationed in the Tidewater area. And Pisgah NF when lived in Asheville, NC before moving here in 99. I know 81 from Western NC up to the Endless Mountain region of Pa. well enough and hunted a lot of it.

All the grouse are in Maine. Sorry standing joke, no birds here they are someplace else. Good luck and hope you get the pup on some birds soon. Make sure to check the laws in the State your going to before leaving in some places you can't run a dog in the woods while the birds are young. Once the snow finally goes away I will buy the dog some birds at a game farm just so he can get a taste of feathers in his mouth after a long winter.

 

Haha thanks. I like your set up and what you did in the access cab. I'll be getting the double cab and 6ft bed, so plenty of room in there. I have one dog (for now) that will sleep inside with me without a kennel. That said, I'll plan on having a set up that will accommodate a kennel and one without.
Currently looking into gun storage options (will probably build something above the wheel well next to the sleeping platform) and definitely plan on a charging station for all the collars etc.

 

Great looking pup, I like your avatar as well!

 

@Cold Iron and @surfandturf - Great to see others using a SXS also!

 

Full disclosure I have not shot it yet, but it's a beautiful shotgun and holds really well. I'll bring it to Maine this Oct