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Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
#5038249
03/25/14 08:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
shooterwalter
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OP
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With the grass getting greener I was wondering if the green grass makes it more difficult for the dogs to find the quail.
Thanks
www.poetryshootingclub.comGun Dog Training, Flighty Quail Guided/Unguided Quail Hunting Group Events/Parties 700 Yard Range CLOSE TO DALLAS Take a youth shooting 214-728-2755 By appointment always and you shoot in private.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5038363
03/25/14 09:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,365
kindall
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I don't think so, mine found birds 2 weeks ago.
Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden. Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5041311
03/27/14 01:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 494
817cd
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 494 |
Their sense of smell and olfactory abilities shouldn't show any difference in green vs dead/brown grass. If anything not having dry pollen and dust coming into their noses it would be easier. Some dogs can detect cancer just from being near you finding a bird in grass is child's play for their senses. Dogs like pointers' noses, ears, and faces are built to return scents into their face with their nasal exhales and long ears swinging near the ground. Their sight is a matter of contrast, I would guess it would be easier for dogs to spot a quail or others in green than in the brown tall grass the birds are really adapted for but they will rely on their nose primarily.
Never used photoshop and never will. Photoshop is for liberals.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5041779
03/27/14 05:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 202
My best friend has a tail
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 202 |
I have had some bird dog trainers tell me something similar to the following (taken from http://www.forestandwoodland.org/uploads...white_quail.pdf): "Surrounded by green grass, the quail's scent is often difficult to smell. What dogs usually smell from a bird are the shed skin cell. So if a quail flies and hides in green grass, initially there are few skin cells for the dog to detect and a strong chemical background odor from the live grass helps mask the scent."
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5045456
03/30/14 01:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 112
Bodie's Dad
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 112 |
Based on yesterday's 1st day of the Lonestar NSTRA Regionals I would say yes. With thick green grass many dogs had trouble finding birds. Many top dogs found none or only 1 bird in the 30 min run. I think the warm temps also effected the day, but the tall grass was in my option the determining factor. www.bodieandbuckshot.com
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5045481
03/30/14 02:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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How many birds did you find? Did you advance?
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5048091
04/01/14 02:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 112
Bodie's Dad
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 112 |
Only found one bird, and did not advance. I forgot to chamber a shell so when I flushed the bird I did not get a shot off until it had made some ground on me. Amateur mistake. After that I was flustered and my boy was running hard to make up for my mistake.
I can take it when my dog lets me down but kills me to let him down.
We will get better, both of us.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5048242
04/01/14 04:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,059
MS1454
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I think the warmer temperature had more to due with it than anything. I've seen dogs have no problem pointing birds at good distances in tall hay grass to think it effects them much.
I'll take a Black Female every time.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: First_Chance]
#5050942
04/02/14 07:19 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,591
Pointer
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I've witnessed good, seasoned dogs run past quail I could see in the springtime. I don't know what happens on warm days when everything is in bloom, but I believe there are times of the year that scent conditions simply aren't right....or maybe ya'll just have better dogs that I do.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: Pointer]
#5051294
04/02/14 11:09 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
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I've experienced the same thing and have always thought that green grass/brush made scenting much more difficult. Especially on warm still days.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5052109
04/03/14 01:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,365
kindall
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I think a lot more plays into the scenting conditions than just green grass. I think Pointer and Chet hit on it, green grass and heat combination. I doubt my male has a better nose. I always think of him as having a okay nose, the girls have top notch ones. A NSTRA judge corrected me when he had 5 finds in 30 minutes. Plenty of other dogs had birdless runs before his, and after. I still consider him to have a average nose, but he uses his brains. He will change his hunting style to match terrain, and weather conditions. Maybe yawl are right, and him using his brains is why I still find birds in the Spring.
Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden. Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: kindall]
#5052597
04/03/14 05:09 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
First_Chance
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I get a chance on a couple of occasions every year to hunt in S. Texas when we have 12 to 14 dogs on the trucks and run them in pairs all day. it's easy to see it on any given day where the scenting conditions are just bad. Whether it is dry warm windy conditions that are to blame, or early/late season green stuff that contributes. There is a lot that contributes to the overall "scenting conditions" and when a group of 10 or 12 dogs can only find a few birds and be bumping quite a few birds one day and then have the same dogs have a 25 covey day the next day on the same ranch in the same brush management conditions... where the only factor(s) that are different are moisture, temperature, and/or wind, it gives you a good sense on how much scenting conditions not only contribute to overall success, but how quickly they can change for better or worse. This is strictly wild bird experience.
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Re: Does the green grass make finding birds more difficult?
[Re: shooterwalter]
#5068968
04/14/14 01:57 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
shooterwalter
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OP
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www.poetryshootingclub.comGun Dog Training, Flighty Quail Guided/Unguided Quail Hunting Group Events/Parties 700 Yard Range CLOSE TO DALLAS Take a youth shooting 214-728-2755 By appointment always and you shoot in private.
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