training a lab pheasants

I've got a 1.5 yr old choc lab who is unbelievable in the water with ducks and geese. He is super hyper so instead of wasting the hyperness on walking I've tried pheasant hunting with him. He doesnt run to far ahead of me stays pretty close but how do I get him to understand that we are not just going for a walk. I've got a few pheasant carcasses that I've saved. Any help would be much appreciated. Thamk you

Thank you for the input I've been dragging the wings and carcasses arounnd. I even saved a whole bird. Hes getting better when I walk him in the field next to my house he is starting to flush em and chase him his nose is always on the ground amazing dogs. Even though wi pheasant is over I still wanna do what I can to make sure hes the best. I'll never forget his 1st duck at 4 months old its just amazing how natural it came a little help training before maybe helped a little. Dogs are great, better than A Friend I never need to worry about them using me. THEY ARE MAN'S BEST FRIEND!

If your dog is into waterfowl, switching over to other game birds should be pretty easy. My 3 old lab was just introduced to pheasants this year. The first few birds were while we were dove hunting. It was before pheasant season so I couldn't shoot but she would find the pheasants and flush them. I was lucky enough to get to hunt on some land in Iowa last weekend. There were plenty of birds and as she would cross thier paths she started figuring out to trail them and flush them. It took her a bit but she got her first rooster after a couple hours of trying. Like other have said, go to a hunt club or talk to a local trainer that can get your dog on birds. If you have a wing or the skin of a phesant, you can drag that through the cover and get some training in. With my dog, the light buld went on when she trailed the bird, flushed it and then i shot it and she retrieved it.

Go get yourself some pigeon/quail/chukar/pheasants, and plant a few in the field. (You need a permit for putting game birds out.) Put your dog on a long check chord and walk him out to where the birds are planted and have him find the birds. Once he does this a few times he'll want to look for some more. Make it fun for him. This is how I got my 4 month lab to look for birds. GL

I would bet if he is in a field with live birds, that will flip the switch. Go to a hunt club, have them plant some birds and go hunt. Even if you have to walk him into them (into the wind so he smells them) once he understands there are birds "out there" he will begin to open up. Obviously not like a pointer, but within gun range. Not sure if the carcasses will help much unless there are feathers and some fresh scent. JMO...maybe start with a trainer and use pigeons...cheaper and easier to control.