"I read an article in the Winter
2005 issue of NWTF's The Caller concerning the possibility of allowing
the use of dogs for turkey hunting in Wisconsin. I have never hunted in
Wisconsin and do not anticipate so doing. However, as a turkey hunter
living in Virginia, I am accustomed to hunting with dogs, and, in fact,
it is my favorite outdoor sport. I have hunted turkeys with dogs in
both Virginia and West Virginia, both of which have a long and proud
tradition of "turkey dogging."
........................................................
My personal experience is that
the use of dogs contributes to a hunter's success to some degree.
However, the primary benefits in my experience are (1) a significant
increase in recovery of birds shot which do not fall immediately within
sight, and (2) the great joy of working with an intelligent and much
loved animal.
........................................................
I live in the City of
Charlottesville, on a small, downtown lot, so my dogs are very much
pets as well as hunting dogs. I own three turkey dogs, all Llewellin
English setters. The oldest is almost 14 years old and is now retired.
The other two are his son and grandson, also purebred setters, aged
almost 5 years and 7 months, respectively. The grown dog is my current
hunter, with the puppy "in training".
........................................................
The season in Virginia opens in
mid-October, closes for most of the month of November, then reopens
from just after Thanksgiving until early January. I hunt with a dog
probably half the time I go out, the other half simply calling on my
own. My unscientific guess is that I am successful in bagging a bird
slightly, but only slightly, more often with the dog than without.
Accordingly, the use of the dog in no way diminishes the hunting skill
required nor does it in any way impair the element of "fair chase."
Harvest figures in Virginia, collected and analyzed over many years,
bear out this conclusion. On the contrary, the dog simply changes the
nature of the hunt and adds at least two dimensions of
enjoyment.
........................................................
First, in the event that a bird
is hit but not instantly killed (which has happened to me on a couple
of occasions), the dog is enormously helpful in finding the downed
bird, especially in failing light or heavy cover. I venture to say that
the aid of a good dog can prevent the loss of many cripples.
........................................................
Second, and most importantly,
the dog is a full partner in all aspects of the hunt. To me,
it has become almost as enjoyable to watch the dog work as any other
aspect of the hunt, including both the calling and the harvest. I know
of no greater thrill than to hear the dog break up the gang of birds;
and then to watch him, lying at my feet under a sheet of camouflage
netting, listening to my calling and the answering calls of the birds,
watching the called bird come to the call and finally bursting out, on
command after the shot, to secure the kill.
........................................................
I
have hunted both quail and grouse over fine dogs, but nothing compares
to the
My dogs are named Sir Francis Drake (k/a Drake), Sir Walter Ralegh (k/a
Ralegh) and Sir John Hawkins (k/a Hawkins). (I suspect you
have discerned the naming pattern.) Drake is the old guy,
retired after the 2002 season. He is a big dog, almost pure white with
faint orange flecking. Ralegh is white with orange ears and body
markings. Hawkins is white with a black ear and black
ticking. Descriptions of the pictures are as follows, from left to
right above (click on pictures to enlarge):satisfaction of working an equally accomplished animal on the greatest of all game birds." Frederick W. Payne, Esquire Payne & Hodous, LLP 412 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, Virginia * * * * * (1) Drake, aged 6, Spring, 1997. (2) Drake (aged 13), Ralegh (aged 4) and Hawkins (aged 4 months), October, 2004. (3) Ralegh, aged 2, Fall, 2002. (4) Ralegh with his turkey, November, 2003. (5) Drake and Ralegh examining a turkey, December, 2002. Update August 10, 2006. My oldest dog Drake died. It was time, but it doesn't make it any easier. He was truly an extraordinary creature. |
Today is the 1st
birthday of our puppy, Sir Richard Grenville, May 11, 2020.
He has already flushed (and barked) a gang of turkeys, looking forward to next fall. |
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