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My husband Steve and I left in September last year for early
season grouse hunting in Idaho with our family of English Cockers, Calvin
(dad), Spree (mom), and Willow (their daughter). The weather always seems
to be hot hovering anywhere from 80 to 90 degrees. The best times to hunt
are early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
Early one morning we left to drive up National Forest roads in search
of good grouse cover. When we thought we found some we would park the truck
and walk
through the areas with our dogs.
Once birds where located the shooting became fast and furious as blue
grouse tend to be in groups. The dogs were extremely agile at getting to
the downed birds. It was totally amazing to watch our little showbred dogs
go down the mountain and climb back up with the birds we had shot as the
birds were half their body size. These birds weigh on average 3 lbs. and
our dogs gladly retrieve them, working their little heart out.
We then proceeded to look for ruffed grouse hunting along creek bottoms
and
through thick cover and thanks to our dogs we were very successful.
Later that evening we came back to camp and cooked our bounty of birds.
What a
feast we had! We then climbed in the back of our pick up truck with the
dogs. One look at them told me we wouldn't be hunting them the next day as
they were very tired and sore.
We woke up next morning and the dogs were raring to go. What amazing
creatures are these beautiful spaniels!
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