Ever since I bought a drahthaar, I have been curious about how often or what breed of dogs are used for big game hunting or tracking or both. Also, are the drahthaar use mostly for fowl or fur or both?

Norseman,
the drathaar is one the most complete hunting dogs. I have seen them used to "point" birds, retrieve ducks from the water at freezing temeratures, track wounded game, and courageously help inmovilize a wounded boar while its owner finhished it off with a knife.
they are probably not as specialized as an english pointer, a lab, a bavarian mountain blood hound, or an argentinian dogo, respectively, but no other dog I know off will work succesfully in so different fields.
montero

Gentlemen

Mind you, but what kind of doggy is this drahthaar. Picture please

/ JOHAN

Gentlemen

I did a search on the web and in this country they call it vorsteh. Is this the same doggy?
This dog is fairly common in Sweden. Some of my friends loves them.

/ JOHAN

The german wirehair is registered with the AKC also known as American Kennel Club which are of lower standards compared to the drahthaar which are registered with FCI. AKC requires no hunt test. FCI requires various hunt tests as well as hair, teeth, blood and mental health.
Here are the links,

Germany www.drahthaar.de

American www.vdd-gna.org

I used to own a Langhaar, she sadly died last year at the age of 14. I've seen a lot of Drahthaars at work in the Netherlands and Germany. Their reputation is one of hardiness, hunt-all-day and come back for more type of dog. My uncle used to put his out of the car two click before reaching the hunting field to take the edge of him so to speak. They aren't very popular in bird field trails, at least I didn't see many. Somehow the breed Drahthaar and nifty quartering and pointing doesn't seem to match. Personally I always thought a Drahthaar on point always looked a bit clumsy, much unlike a Langhaar e.g. (not meaning to start a controversy here, just my esthetical point of view).

Frans

Sometimes called a "German Wire Haired Pointer" over here, I believe. - Dan

QUITE A FEW ARE USED IN AUSTRALIA FOR SAMBAR DEER HUNTING AS WELL

My shorthairs were very good at big game - sometimes not well-timed, however. I was pheasant hunting out on Grizzly Island and they herded a very large Tule elk bull to me. The bull was not happy, but fortunately did not choose to come after me. They ran raccoons, possums, rabbits, etc. and tracked wounded big game very well.

I also had a wirehaired dachshund from German parents who trailed wounded big game quite well, flushed pheasant and quail for me. Her father was a "Gebrauchsieger" (sp?) in Germany who had killed quite a few badgers and fox. Unfortunately, she picked a fight with a drahthaar and was killed.

My old GWP was the first bird dog I ever owned and when we had the time to hunt was a piratical wonder. I turned down $1500 for her flat because she was family but the guy was serious and even offered to go to the bank and get cash. No deal. She never had the opportunity to track mammals but could bloodtrack a winged pheasant with the best. The only problem was that as she aged, she got a little scharf and only I could handle her. Because of that when I retire and am ready to go for another bird dog it will probably be a vizsla or a Brittainy Spaniel. However, for a gung-ho, "let's get'em, Dad" all-round hunter you will have a hard time beating the drahthaar.

Visla's are Grrrreat!!

I Have always worked ESS in the UK, but hunt over a pair of Vislas in Cyprus. Those old girls, (13 now) have probably had their last season, but over the years their temprement has been invaluable. We hunt very heavy cover for both Partridge and hare, and they will work it all day long. The best thing is that they are soooo calm.

In fact a friend was climbing the walls one day when I took him shooting . Brandy pointed and flushed 5 hares. Each time I put Mario in prime position on the other side of the flush. Each time Brandy would break the point on the flush command and go round the other side to flush the game towards me!!! It was one of my best days shooting ever!!!

A fantastic breed in my book.