It's all about the Dog


Late Season Woodcock

great pics! Thanks for sharing.
Steve

Great pix! Can you share some details on your shotguns?

The Hammer Gun is a W Richards 20b 1885 Nitro Proofed 28" Damascus Barrels choked Cyl/Cyl

The Side Lever is a Purdey 1895 16b 30" Barrels choked Cyl/IC

The Hammer Gun is my Rain Gun

Great to see these classics are still in use. Never tire of seeing such craftsmanship and elegance.

Zephyr,

Wonderful pics. A great dog surrounded by classic shotguns & some hard

earned birds! Trophy photos don't get much better, congrats.

Keep posting, love to see more

I pity the fella who isn't moved by the beauty of those guns, the grouse and timberdoodles and that lovely setter.

Like!

.

Wonderful photos - great looking dog and guns.

Out of interest where did you get the dogs collar bell ?

Charlie

.

The Bell is a Nova Scotia Tolling Dog Bell is one of a handful that my Father bought in the late 60's in a Hardware Store in Nova Scotia while Bird Hunting there. You can see the large clapper the produces a low tone that is easily heard by old hunters with reduced hearing.
The Collar I make as I was never happy with what one could by You can also see a leather Bell Keeper that keeps the Bell organized on the collar. The brass hardware is from previous collars, the leather from Tandy, a couple of Rivets and your in Business

.

Thanks for the information!

A question if I may - does the rectangular / oblong brass piece on the collar serve a purpose?

I get the ring joining the two folded and riveted ends - attach leash / lead - and I get the bell restrainer but not the second piece of brass.

Good looking collar and something that I am working on copying with a solid bell like yours for hunting in Europe.

Cheers

.

.

And then please tell me how you manage to cock one or two hammers, swing onto and drop a flighting woodcock or snipe with a hammer gun!!

Take my hat off to you.

.

Since I hunt over a pointing dog there never a real concern about a loaded gun until the dog goes on point. At the point I will cock both hammers, after the flush if I fire one barrel, both barrels or none I can then "open" the action and let down what ever hammer is still cocked. This system works best for me.
If one feels inclined to walk through the Covert or field with a loaded gun and shoot at wild flushed birds you would be surprised at how natural and quick you can cock one hammer as the gun comes to your shoulder.

Oh yeah, started on a single hammer 410. Great pics

Outstanding!

We really need to get together for a hunt next fall. October, Vermont, Setters and doubles make New England great.

Scout


Boo


Jem

Are those woodcock good eating?

Thanks.

BH63

.

Hunting in Vermont, with fine guns over great working setters! Now that would be something worth crossing the pond for!!

An AR group fine guns pointed bird shoot !!

Food for thought?

.

Woodcock is a migratory bird with very dark breast meat and white meat on the legs. Personally they are one of my favorite game birds for the table. The breast cooked rare is as good as any filet you could eat. Over cocked they taste like bad liver.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
.

And then please tell me how you manage to cock one or two hammers, swing onto and drop a flighting woodcock or snipe with a hammer gun!!

Take my hat off to you.

.

I hunted grouse and woodcock with a double hammer 12ga and a flushing lab.

Practice is how one gets the hammers cocked on the flush.

I would hook my thumb over both hammers and pull them back as I was shouldering the gun.

quote:

If one feels inclined to walk through the Covert or field with a loaded gun and shoot at wild flushed birds you would be

If one carries a unloaded gun one well get very few birds.

quote:

It's all about the Dog

Very true a great bird dog is a joy to hunt with.

Great photos thanks for sharing.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

If one feels inclined to walk through the Covert or field with a loaded gun and shoot at wild flushed birds you would be

If one carries a unloaded gun one well get very few birds.

p dog....When you hunt over a pointing dog and you plan on shooting only pointed birds, you don't have to load your gun till you walk up to the dog on point.

That’s awesome. Woodcock always make me think of that story by Turgenev.

quote:

Turgenev

Are you referring to A Sportsman's Sketches ?

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:

quote:

Turgenev

Are you referring to A Sportsman's Sketches ?

Yes. Specifically Ermolai and the Miller’s Wife. The opening scene of that story is awesome.

Nice Timber Doodles. Is your setter a Llewelyn? She looks like mine . Beautiful gun

My favorite birds, smaller bore doubles and pointing dogs. It IS all about the dogs.

I do miss woodcock here in the west. Seldom are they seen.

quote:

Originally posted by twilli:
Nice Timber Doodles. Is your setter a Llewelyn? She looks like mine . Beautiful gun

Sorry to miss your post the dog is an Old Hemlock Setter

I have to see the photos again and they are just beautifull ...as a fan of bird dogs and bird hunter these are one of the best photos i saw lately thanks for sharing again .,