Ptarmigan Hunting & Training in Norway
Ptarmigan (rype in Norwegian) are the wild grouse of the Norwegian mountains, and hunting them is unlike any other bird hunting I've experienced.
They live at high altitudes, often above 1,000 meters, in terrain that's rocky, exposed, and physically demanding. The birds can hold tight or flush wild depending on weather, pressure, and their own instinct. A dog needs range, stamina, a strong nose, and the ability to adapt.
It's not unusual to hike 15-20 kilometers in a day, climbing and descending steep terrain, with weather that can shift from sun to sleet in an hour. The dogs work hard—Brage regularly covers three times the distance I do—and the rewards are unforgettable: a solid point at the edge of a ridge, the flush, the shot, and the retrieve.
This is what I'm training for. This is why we put in the hours.