So, are you gearing up for the upland hunting season that is almost here? But before loading the dogs and hitting the road. Did you know? For bird hunting in America, you need licenses and permits, and follow the rules of every state before jumping at the opportunity to experience hunting.
There is so much to learn, you need to know about license costs, minimum requirements of hunting, season dates, bag limits, species available in every state, and so much more.
But if you are a first-timer planning a quest to find a sage grouse or ptarmigan, or prairie chickens. Then you’ll need a master pointer or flusher by your side. Because these hunting dogs don’t just make the hunt easier, they make the experience way more fun. Let’s kick up the hunting season in full swing.
Dog Breeds That Retrieve Multiple Birds in One Hunt
Hunting dog breeds aren’t merely tools in a hunter’s repertoire but a trustworthy and reliable partner that excels in just about any job hunters give them. These pointing dogs and bird dog breeds help immensely, not just in bird hunting but also in retrieving upland birds.
These pups are originally bred for these tasks and excel in different skills, from upland game hunting style to wetland retrieving game.
1. English Springer Spaniel
This pup is the godfather of all English hunting spaniels. Since the 19th century, this pup has served as a great hunting companion and efficient gundog. It came from the same breed and litter as the cocker spaniel but was distinguished by its larger size and an inclination towards flushing birds and springing on game.
As per WebMD, Springer spaniels are known for their relentless drive and excellent noses, making them true-born pheasant hunters. These pups are even-tempered and intelligent and make great family dogs.
But these high-energy dogs require avid mental and physical stimulation and training to ensure their obedience and to keep them from being destructive.
2. German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer excels at hunting a variety of game birds throughout the season. But they particularly shine in pheasant hunting due to their exceptional nose and ability to track running birds.
The German shorthaired pointer is an all-purpose dog breed that is capable of versatile roles in upland bird hunting. Whether you give this pup close-range tasks or an open territory. The German shorthaired pointer is the descendant of the Spanish pointing breed and is easily identified by its liver colored short coat that is speckled and marked by large patches of solid color known as saddles.
Omlet mentions that this great dog of beauty is an obedient and energetic hunter. Just make sure to get this pup a bell or something bright neon in color to wear because its beautiful brindle or merle coat helps it blend well in thick cover. Hence, it gets quite difficult to see it in an outdoor setting
German shorthaired pointers are friendly and intelligent dogs that are very willing to please, making them great companions. But they need a lot of exercise to satisfy their high activity level, and are also known for being great with kids.
3. English Pointer
The most popular bird dog around the Southeast United States of America. This pup is renowned for its pointing ability for quail, pheasant, woodcock, and grouse. An enthusiastic hunting dog breed that requires a lot of exercise and play, the English pointer makes a wonderful house pet and devoted companion.
Orvis notes that English pointers make outstanding grouse dogs and are known for their sharp noses and intense pointing style. English Pointers bring excellent heat tolerance and a natural drive to hunt, making them effective in warm climates.
This pup has tremendous speed and can flush birds so effectively that it beats most pointers in pointing field trials. The English pointer doesn’t thrive in cold weather. Excellent in catching a scent and directing a hunt, the pointer starts showing pointing abilities from the age of 8 weeks old.
4. Labrador Retriever
What was once a staple on fishermen’s boats became an excellent water dog with fine-tuned hunting abilities when the St. John water dogs were crossed with retrievers, spaniels, and setters to create an obedient and dutiful service animal.
Britannica affirms the Labrador retriever is an exceptional gun dog and a good house dog at the same time. Whether you intend to hunt from pit blinds, boats, under large decoys, or within a remote location, this versatile breed will be your steady partner.
Known for its loyalty and sense of duty, the Labrador retriever is exceptional at adapting to different hunting scenarios, which also makes them well-suited for family life. Labrador retrievers are exceptional pheasant dogs and possess an incredible nose that makes them suited for hunting pheasant.
These medium-sized athletes have a robust build and great endurance. Sporting breeds like the Labrador retrievers are the champions of both upland game hunting and wetland hunting, and retrieving its dense and water-resistant coat and webbed feet make them great swimmers and an asset for any hunting partner.
5. Boykin Spaniel
A true southerner with a liver colored wavy or curly coat, amber eyes, a docked tail, and humble history makes the boykin spaniel unique from the other breeds on the list. This excellent swimmer and spirited hunting dog breed has a great nose that helps in making this sporting breed a versatile hunter.
Continental Kennel Club says this official state dog of South Carolina, or the Quail country, was originally bred or developed to hunt wild turkeys in the Wateree River Swamp during the early 1900s.
It possesses a high intelligence and endearing loyalty. But did you know? The original boykin spaniel was actually a stray dog found outside a church in South Carolina and was named Dumpy.
But this one dog, which was a rescue pup for one man, turned out to be a treasure for another. The stray dog already had a keen sense and natural ability for bird hunting.
Hence, dumpy and his next generations were crossed with Pointers, springer spaniels, water spaniels, and Chesapeake Bay retrievers to form the modern-day Boykin spaniel.
6. Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers have an affectionate nature and fun-loving attitude, which makes them not only great with kids but also cool service dogs and emotional support animals for mentally and physically suffering humans. These pups are excellent family dogs and good house dogs, but also wonderful at retrieving downed birds.
These descendants of the flat-coated yellow retrievers and Irish setters are naturally skilled hunters, great at flushing birds, and have a strong retrieving instinct.
But equipped with keen noses, these golden pups don’t just have a naturally strong desire to retrieve but are true dual-purpose dogs that work exceptionally well over water, as in upland areas.
Petplan says Golden retrievers have sharp instincts and are great at navigating dense foliage for finding birds. They are perfectly suited for upland situations where they perform well, staying within gun range, but are also exceptional in retrieving waterfowl.
7. Mountain Cur
Although these strong, agile, and tenacious pups are known for their excellence in big game hunting. The mountain curs are also highly capable of navigating upland game hunting amid rocky terrains and uneven landscapes.
PetMD says that their keen sense of smell for tracking small animals like raccoons and squirrels, coupled with their natural hunting instincts and tracking abilities, makes them great aids in bird hunting as well.
These dogs are highly trainable and intelligent, possess a strong muscular build which gives them their speed and endurance, and make them versatile companions for hunting.
8. Vizsla
Highly praised and regarded by warlords and Hungarian nobility were carefully developed for improved hunting skills. Vizsla translates to “pointer“ in Hungarian. This pup is equipped with boundless energy, an excellent nose, and wonderful catching and hunting abilities for upland game.
This quiet dog that rarely barks and is quite attached to its owner is quite an ancient breed that dates back to the 10th Century and was originally the hunting dogs of the Magyar People. This resilient breed faced near extinction in the post-World War II era after the Russian control of Hungary, but was saved by Hungarians who smuggled them across the pond to Austria and America.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, Vizslas are known for their speed and endurance, excelling across a broad spectrum of bird species present in vast prairies and grouse woods. Like the prairie grouse, ducks, and the Hungarian partridge. But these fiercely loyal pups don’t only excel in hunting upland game but are also great retrievers on land and water.
Did you know? The Vizsla has significantly contributed to the creation and breeding of many other excellent gun dogs like the German Shorthair Pointer and Weimaraner. The Viszla has a single short and smooth coat, which makes the Vizsla susceptible to cold; hence, if you are a new owner, try to keep these dogs indoors or in a warmer environment.
9. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever is more of a charmer and a retriever than a hunting dog breed. Also called the little river duck dog, these pups resemble a Nederlandse-Kooikerhondje in character and looks.
Both of these breeds are used as decoys to attract curious waterfowl like wild ducks with their playful nature and fluttering tails. These small dogs originated in Nova Scotia and are known for thriving even in ice-cold weather.
These cute and fiery red tollers draw ducks to the shoreline. So they can be in the gun range of hunters. Purina says nowadays these red tornadoes compete in hunting trials and are known for their intelligence, outgoing, and affectionate nature.
10. Cocker Spaniel
Who knew the English cocker spaniel was named for its woodcock hunting abilities? This playful and colorful dog is one of the oldest types of spaniels ever known. The English cocker spaniel is a great gun dog is famous for hunting, flushing, and retrieving game in heavy cover.
The American cocker spaniel is more of a companion dog due to its small stature and size. Both breeds have a similar ancestry, but were regarded as distinct from one another in 1946.
PDSA notices Cocker spaniels are affectionate, playful, and intelligent dogs that have a great affinity for children and make an excellent house pet and working dogs. They are differentiated by two different lines of breeds – field and show, but it’s best to talk to a reputable breeder to find which dog is the better choice for you.
Field lines of cocker spaniels have more energy and require more exercise, but are obedient and eager to please, like gun dogs. These pups have distinct medium-length parti-colored flat or slightly wavy coats that are roaned or ticked with a combination of liver, red, or black shades.
Conclusion
The tradition of hunting has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. It is a complex and multi-faceted activity that isn’t all about catching game but also involves a deep connection with nature and a sense of community. Hunting dog breeds play a major role in providing companionship and assistance throughout, and it becomes something more, a connection to the past.
Some avid upland game hunters even call this ancient practice a spiritual experience that bonds them with their ancestors and helps them value the abundance of food we have today, which wasn’t easy to come by in the olden times. Hence, hunting isn’t just a brutal sport; it reminds us of the times when humans faced challenging survival issues.
Some other good hunting dog options include medium to larger dogs like the Drahtaar or German wirehaired pointer, Brittany spaniel, English setters, Bracco Italiano, and American Water Spaniel.
