Jerry,
Cost was 130 plus tip for the dog handler and I felt he had really earned it.
The grouse were charged at 130 for the first 1 1/2 brace, 95 per brace thereafter, no bag limit but the 'industry standard' seems to be a maximum of about 10 brace on a perfect day with really good dogs and average or better guns.
It is blindingly expensive and I am not sure I would do it again. I really am not a 'lead enema' type shooter, I am not fast enough, nor proficient enough, to take the birds at a range that means a kill or miss and the tendency must be to prick a lot of birds if taken at range. I had anticipated a range of different shots other than pure driven, dictated by the wind and contours but was only presented with straight going away birds which was a disappointment.
Furthermore, I would have loved to have been able to take my lab to pick up with however this was gently discouraged as the GWP's that were is use would handle everything. Furthermore, my dog is by no means totally steady and to have had him bumping the coveys would have made the day tricky.
Having been there, I can see that keeping one's mutt on a lead over very difficult terrain would have been the final straw on a wonderful but exhausting day!
if you are seriously interested I can put you in touch with the truly wonderful dog handler, Roy, or the lady dog handler who organised it all for me. Both work at the highest level and come highly recommended. Send me a PM.
Last edited by Toby Barclay; 09/15/11 01:29 PM.
