The red willows tip is right on. Another important thing to remember about cattails is to hunt the shorelines with a treeline bordering them. Areas of the cattails that have knocked down areas, or openings in them also tend to hold more birds in the area.

Went out last night for the last hour 1/2- but the first three spots I hunt were taken so I moved on. Ended only gettting about 30 min to hunt and had got a nice point from my Brit walked up thinking for sure it would be a hen but ended up being a JR Rooster. Not bad 30 min one bird- was very surprized to see so many hunters out for a Wednesday afternoon.

With no snow, i am focusing on the edges. These birds unless pushed deep will still want to be on field edges etc. feeding. During the last hour I will focus on some thicker cover.

Here is a pic of my pointer from this weekend locked up on a bird on the edge of the grass and cattail. i attack phez hunting like fishing and focus on transition areas between food and cover. Adam

what was the bird on the receiving end of the point?

A hen followed by a rooster.

presumably found his way to your dinner table!

That one did but if you have seen me shoot you wouldnt presume anything.

Thanks for posting the pic. Makes me want to bring the camera the next time I take the shorthair out.

Looks like the dog has the tip of his tail painted? GOOD one

Thats blood. Its happens to my setters also, they rub the skin off all the way down to bone from going through the thick stuff. That is the sign of a hard working dog.

Don't most breeders clip the tails when they are young to avoid that? I know my dog has his tail clipped, and every other GSP I've seen also.

That's an English Pointer, not a shorthair.

Sorry my post kind of hijacked the topic. His tail bleeds all season long, it hits everything and once its open it doesnt take much to open up again. It will heal up about may. It is an english pointer and part of there style is there tail so they are not docked like a GSP.

Back to the original topic, sunday I plan on hitting LQP I will focus on short grass next to food or shelter belts. If there is alot of snow I will hit the cattails. Most of the reason I hunt is watching my dog and with a pointer it is just more fun to watch them in the grass so that is where i will start. The ice should be good so one tactic i like is going to the inside of a slough and working it inside out as well. Adam

Aren't you a police officer?

Nice looking dog, is that the same one you've had for a few years now?

Full Choke, 4 shot, and a good aim... oh yea,
If I don't hit em.. I release them..