Upland hunters?

[Watrdawg]

Gonna be bitter sweet, dog hasn't had a good year, I'll probably only get 1 or 2 big hunts out of her before she needs to hang it up. Hoping to get one last run on quail, not sure how I'll hunt after, been running her since I was 16, and she was a pup.

I know exactly what you mean. I waterfowl hunt a lot and last season was the last one I hunted with my old guy. He will be 13 this December and he was my first ever real hunting dog. Last waterfowl season was his last. He had a really hard time the last couple of hunts. He's completely deaf now and sleeps most of the day. Going to be a very sad day when he passes.

[Watrdawg]

Have any of you guys ever used or owned a Boykin Spaniel?

I get home September 1 and dove season opens September 3!!!!!!!!!! That and duck hunting are pretty much the only bird hunting we have around me. Quail are almost none existent now. I'm hoping to get some land one day and try to start my own reintroduction program.

I've duck hunted with a couple of friends that have Boykins. They also run them in AKC Hunt Tests. Great little dogs. Only problems I've seen with them is on big geese. They can be a bit tough for them sometimes. Especially a cripple goose still full of piss and vinegar. Other than that I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with a Boykin.

[CRAMBONE]

I've duck hunted with a couple of friends that have Boykins. They also run them in AKC Hunt Tests. Great little dogs. Only problems I've seen with them is on big geese. They can be a bit tough for them sometimes. Especially a cripple goose still full of piss and vinegar. Other than that I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with a Boykin.

Kind of had the same thought with the Boykins size, but we don't get a lot of geese. I've only been goose hunting once. For waterfowl it's mostly woodies, mergansers, gadwalls and mallards. I think a Boykin would fit my needs well. And they are so damn cute! Little fluffy puppies!

[Watrdawg]

They would be great for all kinds of ducks. Good in a dove field also. Make sure you get one from good field stock. If you go to Retrievertraining.net/forums and then to the classifieds section there are good litters from time to time. There is a great litter there now but those pups are way expensive.

[CRAMBONE]

There is a great litter there now but those pups are way expensive.

Ugh yeah. Probably good dogs but I could buy my new shotgun and the Boykins I have been looking at for that price.

[Watrdawg]

A good pup with a good hunting pedigree should run in the $750-$1000 range. Those prices for that litter are way out in left field. My current lab's parents are a National Amateur Field Champion sire and a Field Champion bitch and I paid that much for him. Only reason I did was that I also compete in field trials in the off season with my dogs and this was a once in a lifetime chance for me. Otherwise I'm not paying anywhere ner that much for a regular hunting dog. My first dog was $650 and he's been unbelievable these last 11 years.

[J-Dub]

Im more of a pointing dog guy, but those little Boykins have always interested me....English Cockers too.

[J-Dub]

Got out on Sunday 9-4-16 and found one group of sharptails. We were working with the wind so the dogs flash pointed right before they busted through the group. Me being undisciplined took two shots at non-pointed birds and missed on both shots....shocker. I'll be out and about this weekend looking for more. Sage grouse opens in a couple of weeks, and I'm hell bent for leather to bag one....just one.

[HeruMew]

Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful land, beautiful dogs, and a good 'ol day out huntin'.

Always enjoy seeing pictures like these, they feel authentic in my eyes.

What kind of pack is that? Looks like a pretty quality rig.

[J-Dub]

Thanks, I'll be hitting it hard this weekend for sharptails again, hopefully it doesn't warm up so quickly this week. Word on the street is the blue grouse didn't have a banner year. The pack is an orvis sling pack. I like it because the hip belt hat molle webbing so you can configure it how you want it.