Hunting with vizsla
The Vizsla is an outstanding hunter. Blessed with a refined sense of smell, great eyesight, and a loyal heart, the Vizsla is a formidable opponent to a wide variety of game. Vizslas range much more closely than do German Shorthairs and other pointers, as they like to keep their masters in sight at all times. Hunting at a moderate pace allows them to conserve energy, and, as a result, they can hunt long and hard without becoming winded. This is the perfect hunting dog for an individual on foot, who likes a relaxed, leisurely hunt.
Vizslas will hunt meticulously, taking care not to scare up game accidentally. On the other hand, whereas many a hot-blooded pointer has passed by game in the intensity and the excitement of the hunt, rarely does this happen to Vizslas. They are ideal for hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock in dense wooded cover. Also, pheasant sitting tight in a corn row or field of tall grass are hard-pressed to fool this hunter and go unnoticed. Vizslas have also been lauded for their performance against quail, especially when hunting small congregations of birds on restricted parcels of land. They are also effective at rooting out rabbits.
Vizslas are not only excellent pointers, but skillful retrievers as well, especially when game has fallen into heavy thicket or
wooded areas. They will readily retrieve dove, although it may be difficult for these bundles of energy to wait patiently by their
master’s side until the next bird falls.
Like most pointers with short coats, Vizslas are excellent swimmers. They won’t hesitate to plunge into icy water to retrieve fallen birds, including ducks and geese. However, intense water-fowl hunting in frigid conditions may be too extreme for the average Vizsla, because its short haircoat provides little insulation against cold water.