Gorgeous walked-up ptarmigan over setters in Swedish Lapland

[@coldandaloof7166]

Absolute gorgeous land and birds. Nothing better in life than watching a good dog work in that kind of environment. Going out for woodcock tomorrow here in Ohio with my own dog.

[@fieldsportstv]

Have a great time.! ATB David

[@markbutler1616]

Superb. Great to see setters working at close quarters in such an amazing landscape. Thanks for posting and well shot Paul. 🐾🐾

[@theashbys8863]

What a great vid thanks all

[@erlendmichaelsen7175]

Nice working setters!

[@johnegan7622]

Haven't all the video yet (3mins in), but as a general observation I find it very interesting that in Finland and the other Nordic countries that Irish Red Setters and English Setters are in such general usage. I follow a number of Instagram accounts of Nordic hunters and setters of all types are much more popular than in the British Isles. I'm a member of 2 gun clubs in Ireland and I'm not aware of any fellow club member using an Irish Red Setter. The English Setter is quite popular, but usually it is the English Springer Spaniel, GSP or Labs.

[@colinjohnston5465]

Good shout, John, they also use them to retrieve. I have watched a film on KZbin which was an hour of hunting over Red and English Setters plus GWPs. It was great to see how well they all worked.

[@conlaiarla]

I am in North West Ireland and my club is pretty much dominated by Irish Setters . It's not only traditional but is the best way to shoot our topography. Off the point ( no pun intended) but the correct term is not " walked up " but shooting over Setters and of course Pointers .

[@colinjohnston5465]

@@conlaiarla for sure shooting over is correct. Walked up is with spaniels. My uncle used to breed Irish Setters in Scotland when I was growing up.

[@johnegan7622]

@@colinjohnston5465 It's great to see the breeds being taken care of so well and used for their proper use. I just would be afraid that because of the lack of use in Ireland and UK that the working lines will die out. As far as I know the English Setter in the UK is almost on the endangered list. I wish that that those involved in the redesign of CAP and the Glas schemes would recognise the contribution hunters make to conservation and would encourage the use of kale and other crops that would lead to more use of setting dogs. That said, my father and I have mostly hunted over ESS. Though I currently am doing a little bit of snipe shooting over English Setters with a chap from my club. There's something really wonderful in watching a dog locate game and then watch it stalk in to the flush.

[@colinjohnston5465]

@@johnegan7622 love shooting over pointing dogs and spaniels for that matter. We have 2 GWP (home bred) and 2 ESS (home bred) and an elderly Lab that we used as a peg dog from 2 to 5 years old (as we always do or did with our Labs) then we walk up over them. She loved walk up or in the beating line like you wouldn't believe and was a machine! And that is where we go wrong in these isles. We pigeon hole our dogs rather than letting them get stuck into everything. "Was" because she is a wee bit old ad sore now. Out on Saturday for the first day of the season. Only taking 1 dog as they are fired up after the Rona stopped their sport last year and working 2 at a time on a new syndicate can wait for another day. I can hardly sleep. It is like waiting for Christmas.

[@danhill6333]

Looks like a great time. Thanks for sharing. Carrying a nice 8 lb. 12 ga would be be good aerobic and anaerobic training for Paul. 😉

[@fieldsportstv]

You know he doesn't need it Dan 🤣. ATB David 👍👍

[@airvermincontrol5033]

I am bewildered as to why more people do not use Setters in the UK, we have had English Setters for over 30 years, though not for working, we have also adopted 2 working Setters from Romania, one is still loves to work as that all he knew for 5 years before his hunter gave him up, lovely to see the dogs being treated kindly, i hope this is the case off camera also.

[@fieldsportstv]

Absolutely, it is ALL about the dogs...to the point that Paul was v conscious of only shooting birds presented by the dogs. Any opportunity where a bird went over without the dog being involved he left it. The dog has to be rewarded for it's work. ATB David

[@nikchekharin9757]

Brilliant hunting

[@biteon]

That is stupid. Helecopters, lots of dogs, lots of guides. Hunting for sport. The proper way would be hike up there with no dogs get your christmas dinner pay nothing and go back. It is stupid to destroy good hunting grounds with this kind of “hunting” for rich people. This is not hunting, this is killing birds for fun and money.

[@andreaslotz3554]

Honestly i think you are right. I don't think it is good to be so super critical but i have had my fair share of guiding guests on chamis in tyrolia and i have to say that what you see here is not what hunting is in harsh conditions like the fjell.

[@andreaslotz3554]

It's not that i want to criticise the hunt of ptarmigan at all we have those magnificent birds in my home as well but hunting them means 1000m of elevation with no guarantee of success. It's usualy no dog or heli, only you and a shotgun. So chances are low and getting one is a huge success. I think what you see here is a beautyfull hunt but it's only for the rich and thats not what it is about. Sorry for the criticism and i still love your videos but its not what it is about. Best wishes Andy

[@jasper903]

Except this is highly regulated and actually brings financial aid to the conservation of flaura and fauna.

[@biteon]

@@jasper903 this regulations are set so only the super rich can have fun.

[@Охотапоперу-о5б]

I think you are right, although they seemed to be hunting in a distant area reachable only with helicopters. It is good to have guides to make sure that hunters behave properly there. I did see a Finish hunting documentary where hunters with a setter actually were hiking to get to the place for grouse hunting. Getting a single bird was a great success for them like you described. So it all depends on local regulation, if people use helicopters to get to places not quite reachable on foot, that is fine by me provided proper conservation policies are in place.