Minnesota 2012: spring training on grouse and woodcock

Spring is a great time to train on grouse. Scenting can be tough, though, and savvy winter survivors often use their legs more than their wings to escape.  Finding the birds is one thing; getting them pointed, much less pinned, is another. Spring grouse make fall birds seem easy.

Dan and I had some excellent sessions in the woods with dogs here for training. Enjoy our photos.

Buck (a Ryman setter) can find birds!

Houston’s Belle’s Choice (Gusty Blue x CH Houston’s Belle) points a grouse in a black ash swamp.

15-month-old Northwoods Grits (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis) finds a grouse.

Northwoods Lager (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice) points a woodcock. Paul Diggan stands by.

Northwoods Blue Ox (CH Peace Dale Duke x Blue Silk) pins a grouse.

Northwoods Porter (sired by Blue Shaquille) backs his mother, Houston’s Belle’s Choice.

Northwoods Magic Man (Houston x Northwoods Blue Babe) backs Houston’s Miss Liddy (Northwoods Blue Ox x CH Houston’s Belle).

The handsome Northwoods Magic Man points.

9-month-old Northwoods Aerosmith (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice) points a woodcock and Gigi (Ryman littermate to Buck) backs.