Your opinion runs smack into the research by the late Gordon Gullion when it comes to grouse hunting. Over a ten year period of study in central MN, it was discovered that the most successful combination for grouse hunting was a pair of hunters and a single dog. Breed of dog didn't matter, but dogless hunting of any sort was farther down the success chart.
Late season pheasant hunting, without a dog, is mostly hiking.
Best,
Ted
Personally I could care less what Gordon Gullion, whoever he is, does in Minnesota. In reality I don't care how you hunt in Minnesota. If Gullion did something in Utah or Arizona or Nevada maybe I would be interested, but I doubt it. My own 60+ years of experience are more important to me and those successful hunting habits are well formed.
I like to hunt, not follow a dog or dogs who are doing
all the hunting and chasing with a bunch of
hikers following. To each his own.
My success rate more than satisfies me, late or early, high or low, this continent or another, but of course I hunt where the game is and I don't need a dog or someone in Minnesota to show me where that is. I don't use dogs to run lions up trees out here either. Dogs make great pets though, had lot's of them, but I didn't run around blowing whistles at 'em.
Whatever floats your boat......
Best,
