EFFECT OF MAN'S AIDS ON GROUSE 397 



era in grouse-dog history. Skeet and similar clay bird shooting have produced many splendid 

 wing shots who are turning to partridge as the top gunning bird of the northeast. This, in 

 turn, has revived interest in grouse dogs of all kinds. Along with this development is the 

 happy circumstance that agriculture has long since passed its peak in the northeast and each 

 year finds thousands of acres of cleared land reverting to brush and — grouse cover. History 

 will record the outcome of these two highly significant trends. 



To the old line spaniels, setters, and pointers has been added a newcomer — the highly 

 adaptable, all purpose, German shorthaired pointer. Although not fully tested, it gives 

 promise of great things as a cover dog. It is especially tractable, smart and its extra dash of 

 hound blood gives it a great instinct for hunting. However, it is not as stylish as the setter 

 or pointer and its usual dark color is a great handicap in close cover where it becomes vir- 

 tually impossible to hunt without a bell. Its chief advantage seems to be that it is more easily 

 broken and handled by the amateur. Other largely untried breeds may also merit explora- 

 tion. 



Among experienced grouse dog men, those who are able to lay aside strong personal likes 

 and dislikes as to breeds or strains generally agree that, today, the making of a good grouse 

 dog is more a matter of the individual dog (what he has in him inherently) and the training 

 he receives, than it is a matter of a certain breed or strain. However, breeds and strains do 

 have some generally well recognized characteristics and it behooves the uninitiated prospec- 

 tive buyer of a grouse dog to ask himself just what it is he wants his dog to be able to do 

 and to keep in mind just where and under what conditions he expects him to do it. A thought- 

 ful consideration of these items will help to indicate the best type or breed for a given job. 



As to the broad question — dog or no dog — ^the authors leave that one to the hot stove 

 leagues and publications of the sporting world. The authors themselves are divided. If 

 pressed for an answer it would have to be — a good dog, yes; anything less than that, no. The 

 writers have naturally known many grouse hunters and seen many alleged grouse dogs in 

 action. All too few of the latter have been properly bred, trained and handled. 



The answer to this question also hinges on the type of country to be hunted. In places 

 where a sparse grouse population is under great hunting pressure, a dog is of doubtful 

 value, except perhaps as a retriever. In such situations grouse become so wary that dogs are 

 of little value as pointers or finders. They are also of doubtful value in the big woods wil- 

 derness areas. In thick brushy coverts where birds are reasonably plentiful and the hunting 

 pressure moderate, their value is almost unquestioned. 



In the early days of the Investigation, the authors attempted the use of grouse dogs as an 



aid to its field work on areas where birds were being followed closely throughout every 



season of the year. Tests were made on the Connecticut Hill area with the best grouse dogs 

 locally available. Each dog was handled by his own master. 



Somewhat to the surprise of their masters, and to the disappointment of all, even the best 

 of the dogs failed to do any kind of a job under spring, summer and winter conditions. Even 

 in the fall, the fact that dogs have "good" days and "bad" days, made results anything but 

 comparable. In the spring, scenting conditions are so exceptionally poor that it is not 

 unusual to have a good dog pass within a very few feet of a nesting grouse and never detect 

 its presence. In the summer, conditions of heat and rank vegetation quickly exhaust the most 

 stout-hearted and best conditioned dogs, rendering them virtually inoperative. In the winter, 

 increased tree roosting and snow roosting take the birds out of the scenting range of dogs; 

 and very deep snow or soft crust, shackle a dog very effectively. 



