By David DiBenedetto

I have a confession to make. Yesterday I cheated on Pritch. I left her home while I went marsh hen hunting with a friend. Worse yet, my friend brought his dog, a Boykin named Seamus (pictured above with a few birds). And here’s the final kicker. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Marsh hens, often called rails, can only be hunted on a full or new moon tides when the Spartina grass of the Lowcountry marshes is covered by water. The rails find cover on the slightly higher marsh hummocks, and that is, of course, the best place to hunt them.

This was my first true rail expedition, but my hunting partner, Stephen Johnson, had the particulars dialed in. We would run the jonboat up to a likely spot, hop out in shin deep water and wade toward the higher patches of ground while the dog zig-zagged ahead of us. The birds, singles, would flush in front of us, behind us, and right at our feet. As Stephen put it, pursuing rails is a cross between upland hunting and flats fishing.

But back to the dog. Seamus wasn’t absolutely perfect (which was refreshing in it’s own way), but he was a real pleasure to hunt behind and he nosed up a few birds where we were sure there were none. And for the morning I enjoyed not tooting on whistle, hollering to get my dog in range, or worrying about the stray possibility of an alligator. But best of all, I learned what skills a good rail dog needs (hunting close, working the right cover, boat skills), and this morning I started working on them with Pritch.

The early rail season closes in a few days but will reopen in a month, and Pritch and I will be ready. And once again I’ll have my pup to thank for getting me interested in another type of bird hunting—reason enough to get a gun dog. I’m already counting the days.

But yesterday I had good time without my pup. And I always learn something from watching another hunter handle their dog. How about you? Do you enjoy hunting behind another man’s dog? Or do you experience pangs of guilt while your pup is on the couch?

Comments (8)

from FSU70 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Boykin's are great dog's. We have several members in our Dove club that use them and they do a great job. They were developed by Low Country land owners to hunt the rice paddies and swamps of South Carolina from a small boat without tipping it over. So hunting rails is using this great little hunter for what it was designed to do. As far as hunting with another man's dog ? Not sure what to say to that other than if I did that and my dog found out he'd bite me ! Kinda like borrowing another man's wife, as Doctor Phil would say, "And how's that working for you ?"

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coyute wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Poor Pritch! I do enjoy hunting behind another man's dog but I feel a twinge of guilt when I do.

Are the rails good eating? Taste-wise, what are they similar to?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Man, kinda like going out on a date with another Girl! Better hope Pritch doesn't find out, she will chew your waders up!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

coyute- I'll let you know what a rail tastes like after I eat one tonight. No doubt the birds have a rep for having an oily/fishy taste (hence the nickname mud chicken) but as with most game that can be taken care of in the preparation. I soaked mine in a light brine and am marinating them in a Teriyaki sauce now...will wrap in bacon and grill tonight. Will keep you posted. -D

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from pinopolis wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

absence makes the heart grow fonder. can't wait to hear how the marsh hens taste.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jamesti wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

last year after just one hunt, my dog split the pad on the bottom of his paw and was out for the rest of the season. as much as i hated going without him, i couldn't risk him getting hurt even more by rushing him out. i felt guilty but it was a necessary evil.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Coachcl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

This weekend was the 1st time we took out only one dog. Cisco has gotten too old, blind, and deaf. We are afraid she will get lost and not find her way back to us. Casey will just have to learn to do without and hunt up some birds by herself.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muddman wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Probably a good thing Dave, I dont like putting dogs in the water this time of year beacause of the gators. Especially a marsh.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from jamesti wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

last year after just one hunt, my dog split the pad on the bottom of his paw and was out for the rest of the season. as much as i hated going without him, i couldn't risk him getting hurt even more by rushing him out. i felt guilty but it was a necessary evil.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FSU70 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Boykin's are great dog's. We have several members in our Dove club that use them and they do a great job. They were developed by Low Country land owners to hunt the rice paddies and swamps of South Carolina from a small boat without tipping it over. So hunting rails is using this great little hunter for what it was designed to do. As far as hunting with another man's dog ? Not sure what to say to that other than if I did that and my dog found out he'd bite me ! Kinda like borrowing another man's wife, as Doctor Phil would say, "And how's that working for you ?"

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coyute wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Poor Pritch! I do enjoy hunting behind another man's dog but I feel a twinge of guilt when I do.

Are the rails good eating? Taste-wise, what are they similar to?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Man, kinda like going out on a date with another Girl! Better hope Pritch doesn't find out, she will chew your waders up!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

coyute- I'll let you know what a rail tastes like after I eat one tonight. No doubt the birds have a rep for having an oily/fishy taste (hence the nickname mud chicken) but as with most game that can be taken care of in the preparation. I soaked mine in a light brine and am marinating them in a Teriyaki sauce now...will wrap in bacon and grill tonight. Will keep you posted. -D

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from pinopolis wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

absence makes the heart grow fonder. can't wait to hear how the marsh hens taste.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Coachcl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

This weekend was the 1st time we took out only one dog. Cisco has gotten too old, blind, and deaf. We are afraid she will get lost and not find her way back to us. Casey will just have to learn to do without and hunt up some birds by herself.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from muddman wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Probably a good thing Dave, I dont like putting dogs in the water this time of year beacause of the gators. Especially a marsh.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.