Casualties Of War

     The ongoing military actions in the middle east have produced untold number of casualties, many returning home to the US in a flag draped coffin. Perhaps you've known some one lost to the aggression, or have a neighbor who's lost a relative. Even if you don't, it isn't terribly difficult to imagine the sorrow of losing a young loved one under such circumstances. The sorrow doesn't stop there, however, and if you've ever wondered whether your dog loved you, as you love it, or wondered to what extent the the bond was felt by your friend, you can stop wondering.

          When US Navy petty officer Jon Tumilson, one of the 22 Navy Seals killed in a helicopter crash on August 6th, was laid to rest recently, his chocolate Lab, Hawkeye, laid mournfully beside his casket during the entire ceremony.

     While we'll never be able to know what our dogs are thinking, the images above are certainly an indication that the bond, love, and commitment we share is deeper felt by our dogs than we'd ever imagined. Probably more so when you share a working relationship, such as with a gundog. Adding to the already long lists of worries that comes with the responsibility of owning a dog, I now will have indelibly etched into my mind, that I one day, too, will cause  a dog sorrow when I leave it behind.

     I make no claim of knowing where good dogs, and good dog men go when they depart us. I'd like to think they find themselves in endless cover,  filled with big beautiful birds that hold for points, and flush strong and hard. A place warm enough that your hands are never cold, cool enough that the dogs can run all day, and posted signs never existed. If there is such a place, and I hope there is, Jon may have to wait a few years until he's reunited with Hawkeye, but in the mean time I know a few good dogs that'll be happy to point, flush, and retrieve for him.

Cliche and Contradiction

     The sport of hunting is filled with stereotypes, and cliches. Why wouldn't it be? Life, and everything we do, suffer at the hands of the unimaginative. Just look at the efforts the animal rights/PETA/ anti-hunting crowd go through to smear our image. The image of blood thirsty, half-drunk -on-moonshine redneck may indeed describe someone we've met before. They may even go out and shoot an animal in the woods on occasion, but they are in no way a "hunter". Of course, those who would have us be such, will never openly admit we're not. Within the sportsman community, we too, tend to look upon each other, and presume, with an I-know-something-you-don't-know-attitude, that we've got the other guy figured out. With a glance, the entire story of another hunter can be figured out instantly. We judge your gun, your dog, your footwear, the brand of clothing you wear, your truck, whatever. We stack it all up, using each piece, each clue, to fit you into a shoebox labeled "cliche".

     We've all met the "cliche" before. You know what I'm talking about. The just stepped out of Gray's Sporting Journal sportsman. The first thing you'll notice is the matching Orvis label on his hat, and shirt. Next you're drawn to the $80 leather lanyard around his neck, and it's $6 whistle. "I'll bet he's got a pointer", is what you're thinking, but you quickly forget that thought when you see the beautiful 16 gauge he's been missing all those clays with on the skeet field. But wait, isn't that a Barbour jacket, and an Orvis hat hanging on the hook in the hallway. Why yes it is. That and a few other things I've added to my collection are part of what creates a contradiction in my sporting life. While it's easy to chuckle at the uber-urban sportsman make over, we've got to admit that sometimes it's nice to have good stuff, stuff that works. A WalMart hunting vest is great, for a while, but sooner or later our needs change.

     Contradictions can be fun, but I'm sure they piss people off too. In many ways I'm probably close to being that well-heeled sporting cliche. Except I'm not well-heeled. Maybe some of my sporting contradictions stem from a bit of insecurity about being "that guy", or maybe they stem from the need, like all sportsman, to have a little one up on the next guy. A quick look and you'll see that I fit the mold in an obvious way.  I shoot a 20 gauge double, over an English Setter, at Ruffed Grouse. This alone pays for my club membership, but that I also like fly fishing in the off season too, really seals the deal. Why? It's cliche; This image of the Brahman, blue blood with his double gun, and perfect oil-on-canvas-setter (which, I have).

     It's the contradiction, however, that keep things fresh. Confusion begins at the gun rack. Though I do shoot a nice double, I own both single barrel, and stack barrel guns too. I've got a rather pedestrian appreciation for guns, however.  The gun rack at grouse camp is in no way of museum quality, but I've a fondness for all the guns I've seen there. Perhaps it's a the memories of the many great camps attached to them, or the many Woodcock appetizers they're responsible for. One such gun  is a Browning BPS. This gun is a grouse killing 20 gauge work horse with 24" barrels and a straight stock. I want one, and think the 12 gauge version would make the perfect jump shooting gun. I  doubt this gun gets dreamt about much on Wall Street.

                                                                                   
     When it comes to dogs I've been known to alienate myself too. Not because I train my own dogs, rather than sending them to a trainer, but because I've been rather outspoken about flushing breeds being more suitable for grouse hunting than pointing dogs. And currently I've got a Setter. Pointing dogs are fun to watch, each with their own highlights. A brace of setters coursing through the woods together really is a beautiful sight. Spend enough time shooting grouse though, and eventually you'll end up shooting over a Spaniel or a Lab, and you'll see a different quality to the grouse flush. True, pointers cover more ground, resulting in more finds, but ultimately shooting over a flusher you'll kill more birds. Though many spaniels are capable of maintaining ones state on the social ladder, I seldom see them being walked on Beacon Hill.

     It's probably my inhumane fly fishing practice that ticks people off the most. I'm not talking about keeping my fish; I release, but my obsession with nymphing. Often viewed as not really fly fishing, I view the nymph as the spaniels of the river, while I view the dry fly as the setters of the river. To make matters worse, I use a strike indicator too. A fuzzy version of a bobber. What can I say? I told you I wasn't well-heeled.

     Setting my contradictions aside, the cookie cutter side of me doesn't always struggle with fitting this mold. Socially, hunting is loosing it's popularity, and many areas in the countryside, where I hunt, are being gentrified. The blaze orange hat doesn't always get you a smile and a wave from the farmer hauling hay. Frequently it brings you a sneer from a Volvo driving soccer mom, who doesn't recognize you, and is a gun control nut. If appearing to be something which makes people more comfortable gets me access to the alder grove running along the back of the pasture, then so be it. Once upon a time gentlemen wore ties while hunting, and in some parts of the country(think Massachusetts), this may have to be the norm again, if only to serve as a distraction. I'm also comfortable knowing that should I ever need the services of an attorney, a stock broker, or a podiatrist,  I can no doubt find one who owns a bird dog.
   

Paw Prints, or Rather Impressions, If You Will?

     I've begun looking for a puppy. Of course every dog person is always looking for a puppy, researching breeders, and new lines within each breed, but I don't mean it in that sense. I mean it in the sense of, I've been calling and e-mailing breeders I've researched, and been refered to. Actually looking for a puppy.

     Over the years I've been exposed to many different breeds of bird dogs. I've shot over quite a few different breeds too, and have developed opinions of the differing breeds. Then again, have you ever met a grouse hunter, or even a disciple of any of the other winged game, that didn't have opinionated views of the various breeds. True, most hunters become fanatical about their particular breed. Same with guns, loads, and boots. If we can argue, pointlessly about something, we will. I'm sure some of my hunting buddies will take exeption, but I've come to believe there are only two types of dogs with characteristic suitable to allow them to become grouse dogs. They are the Setter, and the Spaniel.

     The Spaniel may be the best do all, versitile upland dog ever. An English Springer Spaniel is a tough little dog, with energy, and a passion to hunt. Reliable retrievers who take to the water readily, and can penetrate tough cover easily. They look great too. As a grouse hunter I have learned the importance of being fully prepared for each shot, and that isn't easy. Hunting with a spaniel makes this possible. When the dog gets birdy all the hunter need do is position himself to a place where one can easily swing the shotgun and wait for a flush. No walking in on points, trying to kikck a bird out of cover that he may not even be in. With a Spaniel, you may not see as many birds as you would with a pointing dog that covers more ground, but trust me, you'll kill more of the ones you see. Spaniels can also handle occasional waterfowl retrieving duties, so urge to jump shoot Mallards can be accommodated.

     Though I've mentioned the English Springer Spaniel, it is by no means the only spaniel capable of handling grouse. No doubt a Field spaniel could do the job, or even a properly bred Cocker. A Welsh Springer Spaniel, though I've never seen on in the field, I'm inclined to place on this list too. By all accounts, the Welshie, which is more common in the UK has what it takes, though anyone here in the states looking to get one should make sure it's a field bred dog, and not a bench bred dog.

     The Setter is the other breed I feel has the capacity to be a grouse dog. Like Spaniels, Setters differ slightly both between breeds, and their lines within a breed. Though I'm partial to the English Setter, many Gordon Setters have become grouse dogs. I'm sure their Irish red and white, and American Red cousins have what it takes too. My argument for including Setters on this list isn't very good. Tradition. English Setters are just what one uses to hunt grouse. Aside from that, they are damned good looking, and generally have lots of style. What is better than watching a beautiful, feathery Setter coursing through the woods, and staunchly locked up on point? Nothing. Besides that, I've never come across a breed of dog that is more endearing, and tries harder to make people love them. I'd advise anyone looking for an English Setter, for the purpose of hunting grouse, to focus on the Ryman/Old Hemlock type Setters. These lines have been bred to be slower(but not slow), closer workers than other lines.

                                   There are other breeds of dogs out there that I like, and I've been privileged to shoot over. The English pointers come close to making the list. They, of all the pointing breeds, have the most intense point, and seeing the seriousness with which they hunt and point is exciting. This is also what keeps them off my list. Too intense. A dog has to know when to slow down to be a grouse dog.

     Retrievers, too come close to making the list. Labs, Chessies, and Goldens all hunt like Spaniels, flushing for the gun. A hunter with one of these breeds will certainly kill a lot of birds, but they are waterfowl dogs, and that is their first true mission. Fortunately, most guys hunting with retrievers are waterfowlers first, and dabble (no pun intended) with grouse hunting in the same way I hunted grouse first, but only very casually waterfowled with my Springer. Of course shooting over any well mannered dog is a joy, and I've had some absolutely unforgettable experiences shooting over retrievers and pointers.

                                                                                   


     The funny thing is, over time, I, like everyone, will eventually see things differently. My list is always in danger of changing. Having had a Spaniel, and then a Setter, I've been known to say, and I quote "I'll never get a Setter again." Yet my puppy search has had me in contact with some serious Setter people. I've always secretly, and sometimes not so secretly harbored an interest in a wire-haired breed of dog too. That right there is a potential list changer. I have another opinion that's changed too. I decided awhile back that I'd never have more than one dog at a time ever again. I've now decided that I'll never have only one dog at a time ever again. Please don't tell my wife.