Classic Setters Visits October Setters for a Western Bird Hunt

This November we finally made the trip to try hunting Huns and Chukars with friends Lisa and Cliff Weisse (October Setters) in Idaho.  We had unusually good weather while there, though we had to dodge high wind warnings and road closures on the way there and back through Wyoming.  Lisa and Cliff were great hosts.  We encountered birds on every hunt and the dogs did great.  We learned that while the birds usually held for the dogs they often flushed out of range as we approached.  A highlight of the trip was getting to see each other’s dogs hunt, including hunting over two of their dogs out of our Mori and their Autumn.  We also saw our two young dogs go from bumping coveys to pointing over the course of just a few bird encounters. This is one of the best qualities of Ryman-type setters—they have strong natural hunting instincts and with a limited number of bird encounters they learn how to handle wild birds. We also enjoyed spectacular scenery hunting in sagebrush steppe with mountain views and unexpectedly found several coveys of California quail.  I think we will be back next year!