Hunting with Springers, Finland

[Naj]

Interesting to see that they were undocked. I wonder if docking is illegal?

I was surprised about the duck holding to within gunshot, unless it was set-up for the camera. For me jump shooting is sneaking up on drains, burns & wet spots in the hope of surprising a duck.

Naj

[Stihl 090]

Interesting to see that they were undocked. I wonder if docking is illegal?

I was surprised about the duck holding to within gunshot, unless it was set-up for the camera. For me jump shooting is sneaking up on drains, burns & wet spots in the hope of surprising a duck.

Naj

All except last phessy was setup by the looks of things.
A great vid either way.

[Gundogguy]

Those dogs are gorgeous. So long and lean. Almost makes me want a springer... almost :-P That duck hunting at the beginning was real intriguing... Would that be what you folks call jump shooting? Does the dog typically hunt like that in the water and flush ducks?

Exactly Cass when i saw that video, It took me back to my early days. Me, Banner (ESS) dog hunting the shallow water producing many multiple shots and retrieves. Never really did enjoy hunting from a hide or blind. My 1st and only triple came from jump shooting mallards in a shallow river. banner dog was my 1st truly proper spaniel.
For me the work that our young Finnish friend is doing is what i envision as the foundation for the AKC Spaniel Hunt test, different types of game different conditions, with good solid manners. That to me is a Master Hunter . Not this gobbly gook we have now. which is an obedience test with birds thrown in for diversion

[Jonas]

Interesting to see that they were undocked. I wonder if docking is illegal?

I was surprised about the duck holding to within gunshot, unless it was set-up for the camera. For me jump shooting is sneaking up on drains, burns & wet spots in the hope of surprising a duck.

Naj

Yes Naj, unfortunately docking is illegal in Finland. Entering into any competition with dog who has docked tail is illegal as well. It is legal to import one with docked tail but you can't trial it in Finland!

Shooting ducks over spaniel in shore lines of Baltic Sea or shallow waters in lakes (as in the video) is quite popular sport here in Finland. Of course it depends on the ground where you are shooting whether or not this type of duck shooting is wise. If there is no real cover for spaniel to hunt there is absolutely no reason to let the dog hunt the ground. We are lucky to have lot of large areas with shallow water and grass-type thick cover where ducks are prone to tuck in or where they will try to swim around/away from the shooter. Ducks might stay and provide a good flush, sometimes they will break as shootable loose birds, sometimes they will depart far out of range thus not providing shot. In my experience you will quite often get nice flushes and shots but mostly the bag is filled with wounded birds, shot but not found preceding evening. Too many people shoot without dogs or with poorly trained dogs....

In case of ponds, ditches or other small wet spots I would do exactly as you described and sneak in there.

For me this type of duck shooting is just an example of spaniels being ultimate all-rounders, suitable and useful for vast variety of shooting.

The video linked is a trailer for the coming movie and I have high hopes that the actual movie will be even better than the trailer. I happen to know that they have very good clips, especially about shooting wild grouses over a spaniel with proper flushes.

[Naj]

Thanks, Jonas, it looked fun however it works! I would imagine that hunting the overgrown margins of lakes would be very productive early season when there are a lot of uneducated birds about.

Naj

[Comet]

Great clip! Its great seeing different areas of the world & well trained spaniels having fun!

[Megsdad]

Great vids and dogs. How did the cameraman on the second retrieve not get shot? Just wondered

[Judy]

He can't have, he filmed the next shot too...

[Hepe]

Us Swedes shudder in fear now when the Finnish people come over to our trials with their dogs! We wish it was not so but we are impressed!
Helene

[Ironbeard]

Thank you Helene! Hope we will have more cooperation with Nordic Countries in future. Maybe the Nordic Championships