Scott Linden Outdoors

Think about this as you mentally prepare for the coming season:

Dog points. You marvel. Then the fun begins, because you should flush the bird, not your dog. But how do you do that without buggering up your shooting?

1. Choose your route with care. When approaching the birds, swing wide around the dog and you’ll cut off one of the bird’s escape routes.
2. Two gunners performing a pincer movement means even fewer bolt-holes for a cunning rooster more inclined sprint than fly.
3. If you can put the bird between you and the dog there’s a good chance it will fly, not run.

Flanking your dog also minimizes his chance of breaking point. “Allelomimetic behavior” is a highfalutin’ word for that flock of birds that jinks in unison, or pair of wolves on the hunt, trotting in parallel. Sauntering close alongside a pointing dog is an invitation to follow you into the flush – that’s how we teach “heel,” after all.