Thanks for the report. We had some paw damage from crusty snow/ice last week, but I have Friday off, so I am hoping he’s all healed up. I’ll look for corn.
I think I’ve recommended these before here but https://dogbooties.com/ have worked well in winter for me to prevent ice balls from building between the pads.
I think I’ve recommended these before here but https://dogbooties.com/ have worked well in winter for me to prevent ice balls from building between the pads.
And maybe I have asked this before, but does your dog have problems slipping with them on? That concerns me.
The issue I’m dealing with from last hunt is actually the skin around his nails (cuticles?). It really took a beating from busting through the icy crust on top of the snow. They’re looking better now, though.
I’m going to try out Musher’s Secret paw wax. It is supposed to help protect the pads and prevent the dreaded ice balls. We’ll see how it works.
I had the first ever issues with pads from crusted snow a couple weeks ago on my 8 year old lab. Got a pair of dog booties from a friend, the XL’s were too small- so those didn’t work. I then put duct tape on backwards/sticky side up around his paw and up the ankle a bit. Then put duct tape on the normal way to lock it into place a bit. It worked just fine, did not bother him at all, and he hunted just fine in the snow that he was previously refusing to hardly even walk on.
I had the first ever issues with pads from crusted snow a couple weeks ago on my 8 year old lab.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mnrabbit wrote:</div>
I had the first ever issues with pads from crusted snow a couple weeks ago on my 8 year old lab.Glad to hear I’m not the only one.
I’ve always had what I would call a “tough dog” with zero pad, snow, cold, etc. issues. But there must have been something just right about the way this snow froze and crusted. His pads were a bit beat up and with the depth of the snow his… ummm… scrotum drug right on top of it and looked very sore to say the least, but that didn’t seem to bother him. For a dog that loves snow, he has gingerly walked on snow now the last few weeks, avoiding snow if possible. But the duct tape pads did the trick for hunting.
ummm… scrotum drug right on top of it and looked very sore to say the least, but that didn’t seem to bother him.
At least he could lick it to soothe his pain. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mnrabbit wrote:</div>
ummm… scrotum drug right on top of it and looked very sore to say the least, but that didn’t seem to bother him.
At least he could lick it to soothe his pain.
That reminds me of a joke.
Two guys were walking down the sidewalk and saw a dog licking himself.
The one guy said “Man, I wish I could do that.”
The other replied “I suggest you pet him first.”
I was out 2x last week and 2x this week and have noticed the same issues. This is the first time i have really noticed. He is bleeding almost instantly when we hit the field. It doesn’t seem to slow him down until we get home. I had him sit for a pic in the road last Monday when it was -10 and the poor guys bloody ball bag froze to the road ????, that didn’t bother him at all. Short season, he dosen’t want to stop!
I went yesterday for about 2.5 hours and managed to fill my 3 bird limit. I went right to the areas with standing corn that held all the birds a week ago, and that’s where I found them again. After the initial flush of about 25 birds, they all scattered and flew into remaining cover nearby and I took my time and hit those patches afterwards. The birds held tight in those spots and Cosmo almost grabbed a hen – she got a mouth full of tail feathers. I might try to go one more time before the season ends here.
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Anyone been out hunting in the last 10 days besides me? I’m hoping to go maybe one or two more times before the season ends in 6 days.
I have been out at least 2x a week all month. However, today was most likely my last trip! I went through a rough shooting patch earlier this month, but straightened out the barrel these last few hunts. Birds were holding tight today.
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Way to go. I went on Friday 12/27 and dropped a double out of the cattails at the first spot. Hunted for another 2.5 hours and couldn’t get the third one. Saw a lot but the snow has all hardened now and its super loud when I walk so they can hear me coming a long ways away.
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Nice.
Last I was out was the 20th. Slow day with one miss for me on a rooster that surprised the heck out of me (couldn’t see my dog).
I had plans to hunt this past weekend, but mother nature didn’t want to cooperate, and hunting in driving December rain didn’t appeal to me. I saw more roosters than I’ve ever seen on the drive to and from my MIL’s this weekend, though. The FW has to work today and tomorrow, so with me on dad patrol, I think my 2019 season is over. Bummer
I was out on the 27th. We got our birds. With some better shooting we could have been done early. The last month has been terrible on the dogs feet. I have never seen the dogs feet get beat up like this year. I have a question for those that use bismuth. I use a 20 gauge and will be using Hevi Bismuth next year. Do you use #4 or #6 shot? I used Hevi Metal this year and feel that it rips through the birds.
My lab is 10 years old. I have some help on the way for next year. Just got a Griffon pup.
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I use a 20 gauge and will be using Hevi Bismuth next year. Do you use #4 or #6 shot? I used Hevi Metal this year and feel that it rips through the birds.
If you are hunting by yourself with a pointer I’d probably use #6. Personally I use Kent bismuth #5 1.5oz with IC choke. It’s a bit heavy but I don’t like runners and often hunt in groups with flushers. If I kick one up right at my feet I have to give them a second with this load or it can get messy.
Good looking dogs! I agree, this has been the worst year for tearing up the dogs paws ans very loud and crunchy hunting. It really is rewarding putting down some late season birds. Nice work fellas
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dennis Williams wrote:</div>
I use a 20 gauge and will be using Hevi Bismuth next year. Do you use #4 or #6 shot? I used Hevi Metal this year and feel that it rips through the birds.If you are hunting by yourself with a pointer I’d probably use #6. Personally I use Kent bismuth #5 1.5oz with IC choke. It’s a bit heavy but I don’t like runners and often hunt in groups with flushers. If I kick one up right at my feet I have to give them a second with this load or it can get messy.
The single biggest factor for me that effectively helps me harvest more birds when it comes to ammo is to use high velocity loads. Wing Shok and Prairie Storm both make a 2 3/4 inch 12 gauge load that’s 1500 fps. It makes a huge difference because it gets there quicker than most other loads. They cost about $20 a box now, that’s the only downside.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ralph Wiggum wrote:</div>
Thanks for the report. We had some paw damage from crusty snow/ice last week, but I have Friday off, so I am hoping he’s all healed up. I’ll look for corn.I think I’ve recommended these before here but https://dogbooties.com/ have worked well in winter for me to prevent ice balls from building between the pads.
I can agree with the paw damage this year. Never had an issue until this year. Question on the dog booties. Do you do anything extra to keep them on or just use the velcro they have on the booties?
Thanks,
Gerty
I can agree with the paw damage this year. Never had an issue until this year. Question on the dog booties. Do you do anything extra to keep them on or just use the velcro they have on the booties?
I also never had paw damage till this year. While I couldn’t get the boots on my lab, I was going to put duct tape over the booties to lock them in. I had also read of people putting duct tape on sticky side out around the dogs ankle, then the boot, allowing the boot to stick to the tape, then another piece of tape on the outside to lock it in.
I ended up just putting on duct tape sticky side out directly around the paw, ankle, and then one time around normal to lock it in. Essentially just create a one time use boot with duct tape, and it worked just fine and did not bother my dog at all.
I can agree with the paw damage this year. Never had an issue until this year. Question on the dog booties. Do you do anything extra to keep them on or just use the velcro they have on the booties?
Thanks,
Gerty
I get the “velstretch” ones and just use that. It’s an elastic band with velcro on it, you stretch it so it wraps really tight. You’ll still lose them occasionally though and depending on thickness they wear out or rip after some time but they’re only $3. I like having a supply of $3 boots rather than risk losing a boot from one of those fancy $70 sets.
In the winter and cold they generally stay on pretty well. The times I lose the most is when there is water. In that case the thinner 330 denier ones are better because the water will drain quickly. The 1000 denier will fill up and hold it pretty well and when it’s that heavy it will pull off easily.
I’m going to try out Musher’s Secret paw wax.
It worked well for me and our group this year on our December trip.. We had four dogs and the ones that used musher’s wax did not have bloody paws. The one dog that didn’t use the wax got tore up pretty good.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ralph Wiggum wrote:</div>
I’m going to try out Musher’s Secret paw wax.It worked well for me and our group this year on our December trip.. We had four dogs and the ones that used musher’s wax did not have bloody paws. The one dog that didn’t use the wax got tore up pretty good.
So far, I like it. Definitely makes the paw ice balls easier to remove, too. And Ripley enjoys the paw massage.
Well, pheasant season has come and gone again–it always goes way too quickly. I really wish it’d stay open for a few weeks longer.
I guess it’s time for the coat stripping and bath that Ripley desperatley needs. The beard has a high level of stank right now!
Well, pheasant season has come and gone again–it always goes way too quickly. I really wish it’d stay open for a few weeks longer.
It really does come and go too quick. My first ever hunt was in 2009, got a dog in 2012, and it has quickly become my absolute favorite outdoor activity.
It really does come and go too quick.
I’ve been saying it for years now: open the season 2 weeks later and then keep it open longer into January. Seasons have changed and so has the crop harvest, which is later than ever now. October hunting amongst all kinds standing crops is generally not productive. Not sure about you guys but I’d rather hunt in January when its 20 degrees out than in October when its 60 and there’s a sea of corn. The success I have every year comes in late November and in December when the majority of crops are gone.
Honestly, I can’t imagine that leaving the season open a few more weeks would have much impact on pheasant populations. I’d guess that the numbers of hunters afield would be relatively low, and winter survival is pretty harsh, too. Better that they’re in my freezer than dead in a field.
I’m open for a later season for the most part. My one worry for the population would be if you drive a number of hens out of prime winter cover right before a snowstorm and they are caught out in the open or somewhere they might not be able to survive. I also think there would be less hunters in January then October, so however that factors in…
To me the season is too short because having a quality dog is a year round commitment, except you only really get to use them for 3 months. If pheasant season went through January, then I probably wouldn’t really ice fish… I don’t even think about ice fishing until pheasant season is done. So this week now I’ll start getting my gear out of storage.
End of the Wisco season this weekend for my lab and I. Definitely tough going, and snowshoes helped get over the drifts (for me anyway). Dog worked her arse off and loved every miserable minute of it. Very little action in the cattails, surprisingly more birds seemed to be sheltering under low hanging pine branches on sidehills near pond.
I agree with a lot of what mnrabbit said.
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