Squirrel Dog - Page 2

buck460XVR · March 30, 2013, 02:21 PM

I think any breed a dog with half a nose and a will to hunt could be a good squirrel dog. Hardest thing to teach most of 'em is not to chew 'em up when they fall from the tree still kickin'. I made the mistake one day bird huntin' when the birds were absent, to shoot a coupla squirrels on the way back to the truck for supper. From that day on, my GWP couldn't walk by any large tree without stopping and looking up.

For turkeys, fall is when one would use a dog. In most states where it's legal to use dogs for turkeys, it's only legal in the fall. I use mine like overhead described. To scatter a flock so that one can use assembly calls to bring them back to the spot they were scattered from. This only works if the flock is scattered in more than one direction. You scatter the whole flock as one and they generally keep going and don't come back. Get even one or two to in a different direction and the whole flock will come back to the exact spot they were scattered from. Many times within just a few minutes. Dogs with their better speed get closer before the flush and tend to make the birds fly. When they fly, they tend to scatter better than when they just run. I also have shot turkeys from points from my bird dogs. If you ever wonder where those big birds go sometimes when they just seem to disappear, they are well adept at crouching down and disappearing under cover like a pheasant. When they bust tho, they bust like a giant grouse and just explode into the air. Sometimes if you get lucky, they stick their head up first. Surprisingly, every bird I have shot from behind a staunch point has been a mature tom.

pmeisel · March 31, 2013, 04:56 PM

I have a Jack Russell and a Manchester terrier, they tree squirrels in the yard routinely. I think the beagles are learning from them!

birdshot · March 31, 2013, 10:41 PM

I also live in an area where telling someone you have a "squirrel dog" gets a funny look. Mine is a Rat Terrier and she has all the go I can handle. I wish she was more vocal on the tree but fortunately she does not range more than a hundred yards and I can usually locate her fairly quickly. Her vision is better than her nose.

L_Killkenny · April 1, 2013, 12:37 PM

Double post

Prof Young · April 1, 2013, 11:16 PM

I have a miniature Schnauzer that loves to chase squirrels so I thought I could teach him to squirrel hunt. Well he chased one up a tree, I shot it down and he ran to it. When it didn't run away he looked at me like "what the heck is the point if it doesn't run away."

Live well, be safe
Prof Young

March 31, 2013, 04:56 PM	#27
pmeisel Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Location: WV Posts: 271	I have a Jack Russell and a Manchester terrier, they tree squirrels in the yard routinely. I think the beagles are learning from them! __________________ Paul

April 1, 2013, 11:16 PM	#30
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,403	Schultz wouldn't go for it. I have a miniature Schnauzer that loves to chase squirrels so I thought I could teach him to squirrel hunt. Well he chased one up a tree, I shot it down and he ran to it. When it didn't run away he looked at me like "what the heck is the point if it doesn't run away." Live well, be safe Prof Young

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March 30, 2013, 02:21 PM	#26
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I think any breed a dog with half a nose and a will to hunt could be a good squirrel dog. Hardest thing to teach most of 'em is not to chew 'em up when they fall from the tree still kickin'. I made the mistake one day bird huntin' when the birds were absent, to shoot a coupla squirrels on the way back to the truck for supper. From that day on, my GWP couldn't walk by any large tree without stopping and looking up. For turkeys, fall is when one would use a dog. In most states where it's legal to use dogs for turkeys, it's only legal in the fall. I use mine like overhead described. To scatter a flock so that one can use assembly calls to bring them back to the spot they were scattered from. This only works if the flock is scattered in more than one direction. You scatter the whole flock as one and they generally keep going and don't come back. Get even one or two to in a different direction and the whole flock will come back to the exact spot they were scattered from. Many times within just a few minutes. Dogs with their better speed get closer before the flush and tend to make the birds fly. When they fly, they tend to scatter better than when they just run. I also have shot turkeys from points from my bird dogs. If you ever wonder where those big birds go sometimes when they just seem to disappear, they are well adept at crouching down and disappearing under cover like a pheasant. When they bust tho, they bust like a giant grouse and just explode into the air. Sometimes if you get lucky, they stick their head up first. Surprisingly, every bird I have shot from behind a staunch point has been a mature tom.

April 1, 2013, 12:37 PM	#29
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	Double post