My GSP is breaking point too early on pheasants - any tips?
Been hunting with my 2-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer for two seasons now. He's solid on quail and holds point well, but when we get into heavy cover for pheasants, he'll lock up at 20-30 yards then creep in and flush them before I can get close enough for a shot. I'm using a Beretta A400 Xtreme with an IC choke and Federal Prairie Storm #5s. Tried whoa training in the yard but it's not translating to the field.
1 Answer
That's a super common issue with versatile breeds in heavy cover - the scent gets so strong they can't help themselves. What worked for me was using a check cord and planting some clipped wing pigeons in thick cover. Have a buddy flush the bird on command while you hold the cord, then reinforce the whoa command. After a few sessions, my Vizsla learned to hold even when he could practically taste them. Are you hunting wild birds or preserves? Sometimes the pressure of wild pheasants makes it tougher.
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