grouse hunting

[LongWayAround]

Hey guys, so I have a real rookie question.

Do you worry about your dog encountering bears while grouse hunting?

I just moved to CO from IA last year and felt like I really shorted my dog last season. We had a 3-day trip in SD for pheasants (where he had a 300-yard retrieve) and I think we duck hunted twice out here... I want to get the little dude some action this year so I'm trying to plan some high country duck/grouse hunting. I saw plenty of grouse while elk hunting last year and think I have a pretty good idea of how to seek them out. However, I've also seen several bears in the area (and I have an archery tag for one!).

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[LongWayAround]

View attachment 28449

Here's one of the pup with one of those South Dakota roosters last fall.

 

[lab-roamer]

We have both black bears and wolves. I worry about the wolves more than bears.

 

[hodgeman]

I hunt birds in grizzly country with my lab... I just don't worry about it- the dog will smell that bear a LONG ways off before he sees him.

Dogs tend to react very strongly to bear scent, he may not tear off after it but he will let you know something is up.

 

[LongWayAround]

Thanks guys. I wasn't too worried but didn't know what to typically expect.

 

[StrutNut]

Not CO but I have chased plenty of grouse in bear country in northern MN and you have a way better chance at a problem with a porcupine than a black bear. Porcupines can cause a major problem on your dogs and from what i understand the porcupines range includes CO.

 

[Cantharellus]

Agreed! Saw a porcupine last weekend actually.

 

[Redside]

My black lab does not like bears, has only growled at them in the past, but we have only encountered black, not a grizzly. I worry more about wolves too. There have been some mtn. lion dogs killed in MT by wolves, not sure about any bird dogs.