#359 | Prairie Lessons and a Puppy's First Sharptail Hunts

Sharptail hunting on the prairie gave Nick plenty to think about, especially with Hazel along for her first prairie trip. In this solo episode, he recaps the hunts and shares what changed when he started choosing cover with a young setter in mind.

A cut hayfield that looked too short to hide a bird turned into one of the trip's most memorable walks. There was good work from an older dog, a puppy carrying a sharptail around a hay bale, and plenty of small moments that made the next hunt even more exciting.

Nick also answers a listener's question about range and staying connected with a young dog, reflects on what the wind can hide, and remembers Hartley as another season gets underway.

In this episode

Why the roadside view doesn't always tell the whole story about prairie cover
Grazing, patchy grass, and choosing places where Hazel could move and stay in sight
A cut hayfield, Pike's point, and Hazel's first sharptail experiences
Young-dog range, checking in, changing directions, and GPS collars
How wind and the path a dog takes can change a bird contact
Hazel's early pointing and backing, and memories of Hartley

A few questions from the conversation

Can sharptails hide in a cut hayfield?
They did on this trip. Nick describes Pike pointing a sharptail in short alfalfa that looked too open to conceal a bird. Taking Hazel into that field gave her room to move and stay visible, and the hunt changed Nick's confidence in a cover type he hadn't spent much time hunting.

What made patchy prairie cover useful for a puppy?
Nick found that thinner areas let Hazel move more easily and maintain visual contact. Patches of snowberry, bowls, and other remaining cover also gave the hunt clearer places to investigate. He contrasts that with thick, tall grass that can make a young dog's first outings harder than they need to be.

How does Nick stay connected with a young dog?
Nick describes building that connection through repeated outings and opportunities for the pup to check back. When Hazel lost sight of him, he stopped and let her look for him. He also talks about reconnecting before a major change of direction and fitting her with a GPS collar before her first grouse hunts.

Does a birdless walk mean sharptails weren't there?
Nick's experiences have taught him to leave room for doubt. One bird flushed while the hunters stopped to water a dog and check the map. In another remembered hunt, Hartley passed close to birds on the wrong side of the wind, then found them when he looped around.

Support the show

This episode is brought to you by Upland Gun Company, Final Rise, and Irish Setter Boots.

Join the Birdshot Podcast community on Patreon.

Have a question or something you'd like to hear more about in a future solo episode? Email nick@birdshotpodcast.com.

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