Two new gundog questions h

Springwell

Hi,

I've acquired a Springer (a year old rescue dog but from working lines) and we've started basic retrieval and quartering work. I'm looking or somewhere in Ireland to get rabbit skins for wrapping his canvas dummies to start moving towards game retrieval. I'm not having much luck sourcing any in Ireland - does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, and this is a much longer shot, would anyone in the Wicklow/Dublin/Kildare area be willing to allow my father and myself join them for a days shooting just to watch and learn? It's a sport we're interested in but have little experience of and I'd just like to see if if it really is something we'd persue.

deerhunter1

Springwell wrote: »

Hi,

I've acquired a Springer (a year old rescue dog but from working lines) and we've started basic retrieval and quartering work. I'm looking or somewhere in Ireland to get rabbit skins for wrapping his canvas dummies to start moving towards game retrieval. I'm not having much luck sourcing any in Ireland - does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, and this is a much longer shot, would anyone in the Wicklow/Dublin/Kildare area be willing to allow my father and myself join them for a days shooting just to watch and learn? It's a sport we're interested in but have little experience of and I'd just like to see if if it really is something we'd persue.

Well reference the skins, if you cannot source any you can buy bottles of rabbit scent pheasant scent in most good sports shop, i used the pheasant scent to train my dogs, works a treat

charlie10

how do u use the scent deerhunter im guessing trailing a dummy behind u with scent on it. i have 4 bottles in the press that i never used

deerhunter1

charlie10 wrote: »

how do u use the scent deerhunter im guessing trailing a dummy behind u with scent on it. i have 4 bottles in the press that i never used

What I used to do was have two or Three dummies, using one first of all with scent on it throwing it and getting the dog to retrieve it, then I would walk out into a field and drop one in the rushes and bring her into the field and quarter her up to where the dummy was hidden, or drag it into the cover for a few yards to put a bit of scent on the ground. I also used to hide two of the dummies in the ditches without her seeing me put them there, bring her on and hunt the ditches till she found them hunting her into the wind where possible so she can pick up some scent. A small drop will suffice.
Also put them out the day before into cover and bring her on next day for a search, try and use different locations so that she wont get used to the one area, and expect them to be there.

charlie10

u would say its good stuff so ? i might start using it with the young lad even though he wont need it he hunted two birds already for me but didnt shoot them dont believe in rushing them. must try that scent now with maybe a few tennis balls and see how he goes .snipe02 had a good way of getting a dog to stay in cover , let the dog see u throwing the ball/dummie into the ditch maybe 20 yards away, and hunt the dog down the inside of the ditch not allowing the dog to come out till she runs to it. snipe02 will correct me if im wrong which i probably am

deerhunter1

charlie10 wrote: »

u would say its good stuff so ? i might start using it with the young lad even though he wont need it he hunted two birds already for me but didnt shoot them dont believe in rushing them. must try that scent now with maybe a few tennis balls and see how he goes .snipe02 had a good way of getting a dog to stay in cover , let the dog see u throwing the ball/dummie into the ditch maybe 20 yards away, and hunt the dog down the inside of the ditch not allowing the dog to come out till she runs to it. snipe02 will correct me if im wrong which i probably am

I would, it worked for my springer and lab

charlie10

very good cheers lad this what this forum is about, getting info from people who have had a positve outcome with a technique and passing it on

Springwell

Thanks guys - I'll look for that bottled scent. Do you have any issues switching the dog from dummies to game later on without using fur/feathers on the dummy just using the scent? Or does it come naturally?

deerhunter1

Springwell wrote: »

Thanks guys - I'll look for that bottled scent. Do you have any issues switching the dog from dummies to game later on without using fur/feathers on the dummy just using the scent? Or does it come naturally?

Well i had no issues, you could however if you want for added precaution get two wings at a later stage and strap them onto a dummy prior to the shooting season

Tommy87

I saw dummies that were covered with rabbit skins in knocknagoshel shooting grounds. I can't remember how much they were. He had pheasant skin ones as well. And the bottles of scent. Hope this helps.

deerhunter1

Tommy87 wrote: »

I saw dummies that were covered with rabbit skins in knocknagoshel shooting grounds. I can't remember how much they were. He had pheasant skin ones as well. And the bottles of scent. Hope this helps.

there on their website, they will post them

Stevegeraghty

Sportsden.ie sell rabbit dummy's and scent,
There are surely a few bunny bashers in your area that would gladly hold onto some skins for you, where in the world are ye?

Springwell

Stevegeraghty wrote: »

Sportsden.ie sell rabbit dummy's and scent,
There are surely a few bunny bashers in your area that would gladly hold onto some skins for you, where in the world are ye?

I'm on the Wicklow/Kildare border near blessington so would have thought there'd be rabbit shooting fairly locally.

I'll look at sports den too but from memory I think they were about €20 which seemed a bit steep when uk places are about £9

Stevegeraghty

Springwell wrote: »

I'm on the Wicklow/Kildare border near blessington so would have thought there'd be rabbit shooting fairly locally.

I'll look at sports den too but from memory I think they were about €20 which seemed a bit steep when uk places are about £9

Pm me your number lad, I'll drop off a few skins to ye next time I get a rabbit, I'm only up the road and in Blesso every few days

Springwell

Lass actually Thanks for that, will send a pm now

corco2000

what is the second dog? You said you have 2 in title rescue springer and...
Im close to you, haven't been out after rabbits but could go out and get you some if you are stuck. Skin the rabbit and wrap around ordinary dummy works, I find.

Springwell

That was bad typing on my part! It meant to say two questions (one about skins, one about finding someone to go shooting with)

The other dogs are a deerhound lurcher who lure courses, the retired Gordon setter who at 15 hasnt worked in several years a pair of spaniel x jrt who are just pets.

Eta thanks for the offer, ive been offered some by another poster but if he doesn't have the time I'll get back to you ASAP! Thanks again.