Oh snap...maybe I've hunted with Oldtrapper...
The thing, to me about bird hunting with dogs...is it's awesomely addictive. Going to navhda or club events (even one per year), scouting and pointing in the off season, training with farm raised birds...it's like cub scouts for dogs. Really fun for me, my wife and the dogs.
And, you'll rarely lose another cripple again. My dogs have come back with lots of birds that I thought I had missed with a retrieve to hand. Come to think of it, maybe I better practice more on some clays.
Personally, I only hunt when my dogs can go with me. It's just not enjoyable stepping into the swamp or woods or on the bays without a dog by my side. Heck I even take one fishing most times and they enjoy that too.
