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Bird Hunting
Bird hunting technique
Uploaded on November 25, 2011Whatcha think of this technique. I've witnessed it several times lately. A bird hunter uses pointing dogs that take off and hunt by themselves, and the owner follows them with electronics. The dogs can be hundreds of yards away from the hunter! I've had several of these pointer dog flush birds in front of me out of range lately, and one drove a bird towards me that I got. The hunter was far away out of site! One guy, I talked to. I put him in my car after I was done hunting, and we went looking for his dog as it was out of range of his electonics, and he had long range electronic collars!
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Some people like far ranging dogs in open country- 0ne hundred yards or so. However, they should always be under the hunters control. If they go on point, they should be steady until the hunter reaches them to flush. I have a rule of thumb that the dog should always be in range for whistle control even when using an electronic collar (they do fail). I like my Pennsylvania pointing hunting dogs to be within 40 yds- closer to gun range and more visible in our dense cover. When I hunt the Dakotas, they do range up to 100 yds. but are always under control and will return on command. The dogs that you mention don't seem to follow a technique of hunting that I am aware of.
I talked to a trainer that said, "Yes, different strokes for different folks" Said there are pointers that can hold point a 1/2 mile away, and the hunter approach their pointing dog. The other day (Wed. before Thanksgiving,) I told this guy once he reached me that I wanted to be friends with his English Pointer, and pet him, but his electronics were so loud that I couldn't bend over the dog! I mean it was loud. He had two signals going. I can't imagine a bird would hold with that loud sound going off. And you would think it would bother the dog having it next to its ears. I like to watch my dogs work. That is why I hunt birds. If mine flushes a bird, I want it flushed within range watching the dog flush it. I've got a young chocolate that will range out maybe 40 yds. and I get worried, but then she will hunt back towards me, and always hunt back with just a voice signal, but she has to have the threat of a training collar on.
"we went looking for his dog as it was out of range of his electronics" That is a very interesting way to hunt, but not one I would embrace. My nephew allows his dogs to range farther than mine,but they are always under his command.
The problem with the command thing from my perspective...these guys that allow their pointers to take off like beagles hunting rabbits, is you don't get the pleasure of watching your dog work. You run the risk of your dog getting injured running into another hunters territory, and his dogs. I've witnessed some big, aggressive male labs, and others that don't accept another dog hunting in their territory. This guy I took looking for his dog was a trainer as well, and said, "hope he doesn't get out onto that hwy." that paralleled where we were at. Then he says in regards to a car flying down our dirt road next to the hwy.."hope he slows down, and doesn't run over my dog." NO thanks. My dogs are my best buddies. I wouldn't subject them to that.
I keep my labs working close ... well as close as I can. It is hard to keep them back when they get on a runner. If it's safe terrain I'll make the effort to run with them. It's good exercise. My French Brittany pup, Coral, has proven surprisingly easy to bring under control. And NO electronics. She still manages to slip off in the thick stuff sometimes but I giver hell when she finally does show up and then I make her heal for quite a while as punishment. Next time when I call "puppy" she is back suck to me like a sweaty shirt. We hunted almost every day for more than six weeks. That kind of consistent work is the best training for any dog, new or veteran. No electronics needed. Just patience and good breeding ... for both man and dog.
Ontario..I do as well. I've got a young, long legged female chocolate that was the runt of the litter, and what an aggressive, hunting lab. Hunts a 180 in front, and around me, and comes back in range with just a slight voice command. Prances over and around things like a deer. Her retrieving isn't strong, and I work on that, but what a joy to hunt with. This late season pheasant hunting has convinced me that I made the right decision to hunt with a flusher.
I agree, Sayfu. Once the birds have been chased around it's hard to get them to hold for a pointer. Just as well let the flushers have at em. The bird refuge I hunted was all run and gun. Those birds were real spooky.
My labs are also good about deer and cattle ... and porcupines. Getting them to that point takes time in the field. I see these guys coming out for their annual couple of weekends of bird hunting and getting all bent out of shape when their kennel dogs run after everything. Hunting dogs aren't some piece of equipment you can put away for most of the year and then take out of the pen for a few days and expect flawless operation. My dogs had been field hunting for geese the month before starting them on pheasants. Still with all that preparation, it took a couple of days pheasant hunting to get them totally back in the groove about staying in range and who's going to do the retrieving (the two labs reverse roles for waterfowl and uplands). If they'd come to the fields green I'm sure it would have taken longer.
I have hunted over setters and pointers with beepers that were allowed to run all over. I really didn't enjoy it that much. By late season the pheasants were all in the thick stuff. I'd rather hunt by sight than sound. You're hunting over a beeper, not a dog.
I enjoy watching a dog on point but, frankly, I find it much more exciting to hunt with flushers. You know when they're birdy but you usually don't know when the bird is going to get up (although my younger lab will point the bird if it will hold).
Had an exciting thing happen for me recently just before the end of our season. I've watched my young, female chocolate lab begin to use her nose vs. just sprinting around flushing early on..she just turned 3 yrs. old. She has slowed down, and uses her nose. I watched her, at close range from me, go on point for a split second looking right at the bird I could not see, and then jump in, and flush a rooster. Those visual images stick with me for a long time.
My four year-old lab Opal has been pointing birds that will hold since she was three months old. She's really getting it perfected. I see her holding pheasants on point at least once or twice a day now, usually hens though. Funny thing is I can't get her to break point and flush the bird if it won't move. Once it moves she'll jump it. Her points aren't classic. Usually has her head up and arched. Aw, who cares! She's enjoying herself and I get plenty of shooting.
Ontario...That's nuthin. When my young female lab points with her head twisted, and pointing one way, and one eye looking another way, I know she has pointed two pheasants!
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I keep my labs working close ... well as close as I can. It is hard to keep them back when they get on a runner. If it's safe terrain I'll make the effort to run with them. It's good exercise. My French Brittany pup, Coral, has proven surprisingly easy to bring under control. And NO electronics. She still manages to slip off in the thick stuff sometimes but I giver hell when she finally does show up and then I make her heal for quite a while as punishment. Next time when I call "puppy" she is back suck to me like a sweaty shirt. We hunted almost every day for more than six weeks. That kind of consistent work is the best training for any dog, new or veteran. No electronics needed. Just patience and good breeding ... for both man and dog.
Some people like far ranging dogs in open country- 0ne hundred yards or so. However, they should always be under the hunters control. If they go on point, they should be steady until the hunter reaches them to flush. I have a rule of thumb that the dog should always be in range for whistle control even when using an electronic collar (they do fail). I like my Pennsylvania pointing hunting dogs to be within 40 yds- closer to gun range and more visible in our dense cover. When I hunt the Dakotas, they do range up to 100 yds. but are always under control and will return on command. The dogs that you mention don't seem to follow a technique of hunting that I am aware of.
I talked to a trainer that said, "Yes, different strokes for different folks" Said there are pointers that can hold point a 1/2 mile away, and the hunter approach their pointing dog. The other day (Wed. before Thanksgiving,) I told this guy once he reached me that I wanted to be friends with his English Pointer, and pet him, but his electronics were so loud that I couldn't bend over the dog! I mean it was loud. He had two signals going. I can't imagine a bird would hold with that loud sound going off. And you would think it would bother the dog having it next to its ears. I like to watch my dogs work. That is why I hunt birds. If mine flushes a bird, I want it flushed within range watching the dog flush it. I've got a young chocolate that will range out maybe 40 yds. and I get worried, but then she will hunt back towards me, and always hunt back with just a voice signal, but she has to have the threat of a training collar on.
"we went looking for his dog as it was out of range of his electronics" That is a very interesting way to hunt, but not one I would embrace. My nephew allows his dogs to range farther than mine,but they are always under his command.
The problem with the command thing from my perspective...these guys that allow their pointers to take off like beagles hunting rabbits, is you don't get the pleasure of watching your dog work. You run the risk of your dog getting injured running into another hunters territory, and his dogs. I've witnessed some big, aggressive male labs, and others that don't accept another dog hunting in their territory. This guy I took looking for his dog was a trainer as well, and said, "hope he doesn't get out onto that hwy." that paralleled where we were at. Then he says in regards to a car flying down our dirt road next to the hwy.."hope he slows down, and doesn't run over my dog." NO thanks. My dogs are my best buddies. I wouldn't subject them to that.
Ontario..I do as well. I've got a young, long legged female chocolate that was the runt of the litter, and what an aggressive, hunting lab. Hunts a 180 in front, and around me, and comes back in range with just a slight voice command. Prances over and around things like a deer. Her retrieving isn't strong, and I work on that, but what a joy to hunt with. This late season pheasant hunting has convinced me that I made the right decision to hunt with a flusher.
I agree, Sayfu. Once the birds have been chased around it's hard to get them to hold for a pointer. Just as well let the flushers have at em. The bird refuge I hunted was all run and gun. Those birds were real spooky.
My labs are also good about deer and cattle ... and porcupines. Getting them to that point takes time in the field. I see these guys coming out for their annual couple of weekends of bird hunting and getting all bent out of shape when their kennel dogs run after everything. Hunting dogs aren't some piece of equipment you can put away for most of the year and then take out of the pen for a few days and expect flawless operation. My dogs had been field hunting for geese the month before starting them on pheasants. Still with all that preparation, it took a couple of days pheasant hunting to get them totally back in the groove about staying in range and who's going to do the retrieving (the two labs reverse roles for waterfowl and uplands). If they'd come to the fields green I'm sure it would have taken longer.
I have hunted over setters and pointers with beepers that were allowed to run all over. I really didn't enjoy it that much. By late season the pheasants were all in the thick stuff. I'd rather hunt by sight than sound. You're hunting over a beeper, not a dog.
I enjoy watching a dog on point but, frankly, I find it much more exciting to hunt with flushers. You know when they're birdy but you usually don't know when the bird is going to get up (although my younger lab will point the bird if it will hold).
Had an exciting thing happen for me recently just before the end of our season. I've watched my young, female chocolate lab begin to use her nose vs. just sprinting around flushing early on..she just turned 3 yrs. old. She has slowed down, and uses her nose. I watched her, at close range from me, go on point for a split second looking right at the bird I could not see, and then jump in, and flush a rooster. Those visual images stick with me for a long time.
My four year-old lab Opal has been pointing birds that will hold since she was three months old. She's really getting it perfected. I see her holding pheasants on point at least once or twice a day now, usually hens though. Funny thing is I can't get her to break point and flush the bird if it won't move. Once it moves she'll jump it. Her points aren't classic. Usually has her head up and arched. Aw, who cares! She's enjoying herself and I get plenty of shooting.
Ontario...That's nuthin. When my young female lab points with her head twisted, and pointing one way, and one eye looking another way, I know she has pointed two pheasants!
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