Wow, there is alot of arguing and very few answers to Dave's question. Dave if you want to do some bird hunting find out where the PGC stocks phesant in your area. You can get this info from their website. If you get a couple buddies together and push the stocked fields you will get some flushes. Don't be suprised if you run into other hunters doing the same thing. A dog is nice to have but not absolutely necessary. Grouse can also be hunted without a dog but I have not had much sucess at it. If you get a good group of buddies out there with you it won't even matter if you see any birds. The fun is in the hunt not the bagged game. If you want to try your hand over a dog, go to one of the many game farms and shoot some of their stocked birds. I have been to a couple and they were all good fun. Good luck.
Bird hunting without a dog?
- Thread starter DaveInPA
- Start date
fbrown333@suddenlink
New member
No dog
I hunt with out a dog. have I lost bird? (yes a few over the years) do I think it is un ethical (NO, not when you spend an hour or two looking for them and then count that bird in you limit for the day). just my .02
I hunt with out a dog. have I lost bird? (yes a few over the years) do I think it is un ethical (NO, not when you spend an hour or two looking for them and then count that bird in you limit for the day). just my .02
Scenario
Billy Bob decides to take up duck hunting. He purchases the required licenses and tags. He buys the shells. He even practices enough to become a good shot. Now the big day arrives.
He postions himself on the edge of a large, deep body of water. He found a perfect spot because the ducks are coming are arriving in squadrons. He is a good shot and in no time he knocks down his limit. However, every bird lands a good thirty yards in the out in the water.
He has no dog, no boat, no way to retrieve the birds. He was hopping the birds landed where he could get them. As usual, mother nature did not cooperate.
Is this ethical behavior?
Billy Bob decides to take up duck hunting. He purchases the required licenses and tags. He buys the shells. He even practices enough to become a good shot. Now the big day arrives.
He postions himself on the edge of a large, deep body of water. He found a perfect spot because the ducks are coming are arriving in squadrons. He is a good shot and in no time he knocks down his limit. However, every bird lands a good thirty yards in the out in the water.
He has no dog, no boat, no way to retrieve the birds. He was hopping the birds landed where he could get them. As usual, mother nature did not cooperate.
Is this ethical behavior?
No roy, it's not. That's why I asked if there were any birds I could hunt without a dog. I wanted to see if I could take any birds ethically and effectively without a dog. I've gotten a few answers, but mostly I've just started an argument. A mod can feel free to lock this one up whenever. 
Don't assume everyone is a Billy Bob.
As I've said, I've hunted for over 30 years. When I hunt waterfowl, it's always over a pond I can wade, or I have my small duck boat with me. I can't ever remember losing one I've downed.
You're really making some assumptions to try and put yourself on some hunting ethical pedestal. Sorry, I'm not buying.
Bottom line, if I'm not reasonably sure I can recover, I don't take the shot. That has nothing to do with only those who own dogs can hunt mentality you seem to be putting out.
As I've said, I've hunted for over 30 years. When I hunt waterfowl, it's always over a pond I can wade, or I have my small duck boat with me. I can't ever remember losing one I've downed.
You're really making some assumptions to try and put yourself on some hunting ethical pedestal. Sorry, I'm not buying.
Bottom line, if I'm not reasonably sure I can recover, I don't take the shot. That has nothing to do with only those who own dogs can hunt mentality you seem to be putting out.
DonR101395
New member
Yes I've recovered everything I've ever shot with the exception of the first deer I shot at the age of 12. We tracked it for 5 hours after I wounded it and returned the next day at day break and searched until lunch with no luck. It stuck pretty hard in my head that I wounded it and it would probably die a not so easy death and the meat would go to waste.
I'm not some uber-sportsman I just prefer to limit my shots based on the limitations I place on myself i.e. no dog. I also don't fish with ultra light tackle simply because I've seen too many guys break the line and leave a fish to die, while they tie another lure on their 2lb line and try to catch a 6lb bass. I don't hunt or fish as much these days as I used to, but when I do it's for table fare not for the sport.
Edit: I won't bash someone who loses game, unless it's the rule rather than the exception.
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UniversalFrost
New member
sure I hunt without a dog, but I prefer to have my dogs along.
I grew up in pheasant country so I can pretty well walk a field and know when and where to be after the initial walk through ( you would be suprised how many birds are left in a field that folks walk through without a dog).
When it comes to retrieving birds that are down it really depends on the terrain and the type of bird. Grouse in tall brush can be a trick to find, but I make sure to locate them and will not continue the hunt until located.
when duck hunting I like to "jump" small stock ponds and I make sure to have a set of waders and a tube with me just in case I get one that lands way out in the middle. even had to strip down to my long johns and swim out in freezing water to get one once when I forgot to pack a tube.
I mainly hunt with my lab's, so I feel sorry for those that don't have a good dog. If you can't have a dog due to size I would look into a britney or other spaniel, who are smaller than the labs, retreivers, etc.... and can also be excellent field and water dogs (had a friend who had a cocker spaniel that was one of the best little pointer/retrievers out there and would even drag back a giant canadian larger than it on occasion).
I grew up in pheasant country so I can pretty well walk a field and know when and where to be after the initial walk through ( you would be suprised how many birds are left in a field that folks walk through without a dog).
When it comes to retrieving birds that are down it really depends on the terrain and the type of bird. Grouse in tall brush can be a trick to find, but I make sure to locate them and will not continue the hunt until located.
when duck hunting I like to "jump" small stock ponds and I make sure to have a set of waders and a tube with me just in case I get one that lands way out in the middle. even had to strip down to my long johns and swim out in freezing water to get one once when I forgot to pack a tube.
I mainly hunt with my lab's, so I feel sorry for those that don't have a good dog. If you can't have a dog due to size I would look into a britney or other spaniel, who are smaller than the labs, retreivers, etc.... and can also be excellent field and water dogs (had a friend who had a cocker spaniel that was one of the best little pointer/retrievers out there and would even drag back a giant canadian larger than it on occasion).
Better Reflexes?
Some of you must have better reflexes then me. Where I have hunted quail they only offer a small window of opportunity to shoot. If I had to ponder for just a second weather any given bird would fall into an area that I could easily find it, then that bird is long gone. Or maybe I hunt in much thicker cover then others.
Some of you must have better reflexes then me. Where I have hunted quail they only offer a small window of opportunity to shoot. If I had to ponder for just a second weather any given bird would fall into an area that I could easily find it, then that bird is long gone. Or maybe I hunt in much thicker cover then others.
DonR101395
New member
That would be my guess.
Most of my hunting is done in cornfields at the end of harvest. Thick cover for me is hunting along the power lines with wood on both sides.
To Dog or Not to Dog
I hunt Pheasant,Quail and Partridge if the feral cats haven't gotten them all.Some days I take my dogs a GSP and a Smooth coated Retriever they are great companions.Some days I grab my old Mossberg and just go wandering around the farms and bottoms where I live and the dogs stay home.I have varying sucess sometimes I get birds and sometime the birds get me but it is all good.If you have a dog great if you don't so what a nice slow ramble down fence rows or in the ditches along the gravel roads can produce all the wing shooting you could want enjoy your time out and don't worry about the ethics of dog VS no dog good luck and good shooting ELMOUSMC
I hunt Pheasant,Quail and Partridge if the feral cats haven't gotten them all.Some days I take my dogs a GSP and a Smooth coated Retriever they are great companions.Some days I grab my old Mossberg and just go wandering around the farms and bottoms where I live and the dogs stay home.I have varying sucess sometimes I get birds and sometime the birds get me but it is all good.If you have a dog great if you don't so what a nice slow ramble down fence rows or in the ditches along the gravel roads can produce all the wing shooting you could want enjoy your time out and don't worry about the ethics of dog VS no dog good luck and good shooting ELMOUSMC