A first class pigeon pen. Photo by John McGonigle.

My first English springer spaniel pup arrived nearly 40 years ago while southeastern Pennsylvania was alive with wild pheasants. Those pheasants played a major role in developing my first few springers.

Jump forward nearly 20 years to my fortuitous involvement with the Valley Forge Field Trial Association. Ed Whitaker, its honcho, owned, licensed and maintained dog training grounds nearby, and regularly kept both pigeons and pheasants penned there. That is where I learned the real value of birds.

Birds allow you to accomplish so many different things--critical things--that with a gun dog there is just no substitute. Trainers and authors recommend using birds and planting birds, but they rarely say how best to use them or how to plant them.

Pointing dogs usually do not need as many birds shot over them because they often are not required to retrieve. Their trainers have the luxury of using homing pigeons and/or quail. Both return to their pen after use, thus saving a significant amount of money.

Spaniel trainers shoot most planted birds during training, however, so cost is a significant factor. On the other hand, training a dog on wild birds is no longer possible in the East (if it really ever was) so if you genuinely want a good gun dog you must pay for training birds…plenty of birds. I do not believe it is easy finding, accessing and training on wild birds in many other regions of the country, either.

Pigeons and hen pheasants are the traditional birds used for training flushing dogs. If one can be guaranteed strong flushing chukars, they work well, too, and are a bit less expensive than hen pheasants. A bonus with pheasants and chukars is that they are good to eat, so care for them once they’re shot. We generally just “breast” these birds; they are especially good grilled.

Avoid quail with flushing dogs, as they regularly flush too low and encourage your dog to break or chase. For the same reason, they often offer unsafe shooting scenarios, as well.

Good, wild pigeons make great training birds, and are generally less expensive than gamebirds. They are fairly hardy, flush and fly well, and have adequate scent for gun dog training.

Pigeons can often be trapped or caught without going too far, are available from farmers who have kids catching them, or are available at some livestock auctions in farm country. Bridges and highway underpasses sometimes offer opportunities to catch pigeons, but try to keep a low profile. If someone observes you trapping pigeons, never tell them you are going to shoot the pigeons for your hunting dogs. (Check the legality of such trapping in your state.)

Trapping and shooting pigeons for dog training is legal in Pennsylvania, where I live. Not everyone approves, however, so do not be overly public or vocal about using/shooting birds, even wild pigeons.

How to keep birds is outside the scope of this article, though keeping small numbers of pigeons for short periods of time is quite simple. Just be sure to keep them protected from predators, and provide food (for example, cracked corn) and fresh water.

Planting pigeons is easy. Grasp one over its back, holding its wings against its sides. Spin the pigeon’s upper body using your wrist and forearm until the bird can no longer hold its neck and head straight. Once the head is rotating easily and loosely, continue for 10 seconds or so, then check to see if the bird’s eyes and head are droopy. If they are droopy the bird is ready to be “planted,” or tossed on the ground in light cover. Pigeons have a difficult time flushing/flying from heavy cover.