I know this is a topic that gets beat to death on the net so bear with me. I did a search on the subject on this site and found a thread about what "kind" of bell, but not "if" one should be used. What are your thoughts...specifically related to grouse. I'm at a crossroads. I've never used a bell while grouse hunting, cause I thought it would spook the grouse. I do however use them while hunting pheasant and woodcock. This being said, I've not gotten shots at a few grouse this year because I couldn't find my dog on point in time. My last time out, I ran a bell. I didn't notice a decline in my flush rate, but not sure if some of my flushes would have been over more solid points if I didn't have the bell on. I know one time out isn't going to be enough evidence to support either theory, so wondering what you do. I'd be interested to hear about beeper collars also if you use them. I don't want to start a whole other topic here on dog range, so let's say I run what "I" consider a medium range dog in the grouse woods, definately under 100 yards, averaging in the 30-60 yard range and hunt the thick nasty cuts.
NJP158
NJP,
Using a bell is a personal decission, I have friends and clients who use them even with their beeper collars. Most young Grouse which is really the birds most Grouse hunters get to shoot,
are seldom spooked by a bell, older mature Grouse are a completley different matter. Some men love the sound of the bell in the Grouse woods, I gave up on the bell years ago, when the T&B collars became dependable and worked properly. Training and hunting with a master initiated
T&B collar is fantastic, no noise unless the master initiates the beeper, as a locator. The master/owner then understands he has control of his companion at a much greater distance. There is no worry as to how big a Grouse dog then works. We use the beeper as a command and locator tool, different beeps initiated by the master mean different commands to the dog, the most important being the recall command. Gun dogs are very smart, they learn very quickly the different commands using the T&B collar. When an owner talkes to me about range I advise him that range is not a determining factor with a good Grouse dog, bidability is the key, unless the dog has no pray drive and works to close. You want the dog to work for you
and find the Grouse no matter what range the Grouse happens to be from the master. A good Grouse dog will find and set the Grouse for his masters gunning, a great Grouse dog will
do a walking point without spooking the Grouse, until the Grouse finally sets up, many times this happens out of bell hearing range, especially on a windy day. Thechnology has made bells today, to a serious Grouse hunter, an obsolete tool, however it sure is nice to hear one in the woods from time to time. The simple fact is this, the less noise you make in the woods the more Grouse you will put in your game bag, rookie Grouse hunters have no way of understanding this fact, they simply lack the actual experience in the Grouse woods. Good T&B Collars cost serious money, especially if you want a dual set for running two dogs at the same time. We recommend the older 2000 and before, Dogtra T&B Collars, they are very high quality and work dependably for many years. The newer DT H2O T&B collars work well also. Both these
collars have the beeper units on top of the dogs neck, behind the dogs ears, and the shock unit under the dogs neck, balancing the collar on the dog, and allowing the beeper to be heard for a great distance in the Grouse woods.
Hope I have helped you a might.
Pine Creek/Dave
You can see the Beeper portion clearly in this picture of Daisy as she delivers the Grouse to hand, on a Grouse hunt in NH. You can also see the shock portion of the collar on Penny in the back ground. Notice I have no bell on either dog.
![Image]()
Using a bell is a personal decission, I have friends and clients who use them even with their beeper collars. Most young Grouse which is really the birds most Grouse hunters get to shoot,
are seldom spooked by a bell, older mature Grouse are a completley different matter. Some men love the sound of the bell in the Grouse woods, I gave up on the bell years ago, when the T&B collars became dependable and worked properly. Training and hunting with a master initiated
T&B collar is fantastic, no noise unless the master initiates the beeper, as a locator. The master/owner then understands he has control of his companion at a much greater distance. There is no worry as to how big a Grouse dog then works. We use the beeper as a command and locator tool, different beeps initiated by the master mean different commands to the dog, the most important being the recall command. Gun dogs are very smart, they learn very quickly the different commands using the T&B collar. When an owner talkes to me about range I advise him that range is not a determining factor with a good Grouse dog, bidability is the key, unless the dog has no pray drive and works to close. You want the dog to work for you
and find the Grouse no matter what range the Grouse happens to be from the master. A good Grouse dog will find and set the Grouse for his masters gunning, a great Grouse dog will
do a walking point without spooking the Grouse, until the Grouse finally sets up, many times this happens out of bell hearing range, especially on a windy day. Thechnology has made bells today, to a serious Grouse hunter, an obsolete tool, however it sure is nice to hear one in the woods from time to time. The simple fact is this, the less noise you make in the woods the more Grouse you will put in your game bag, rookie Grouse hunters have no way of understanding this fact, they simply lack the actual experience in the Grouse woods. Good T&B Collars cost serious money, especially if you want a dual set for running two dogs at the same time. We recommend the older 2000 and before, Dogtra T&B Collars, they are very high quality and work dependably for many years. The newer DT H2O T&B collars work well also. Both these
collars have the beeper units on top of the dogs neck, behind the dogs ears, and the shock unit under the dogs neck, balancing the collar on the dog, and allowing the beeper to be heard for a great distance in the Grouse woods.
Hope I have helped you a might.
Pine Creek/Dave
You can see the Beeper portion clearly in this picture of Daisy as she delivers the Grouse to hand, on a Grouse hunt in NH. You can also see the shock portion of the collar on Penny in the back ground. Notice I have no bell on either dog.
I have abandoned the point-only beeper for the Astro and because ATS is no longer in business.
I run a Flewelling bell along with the Astro for the instant feedback it delivers re location and action occurring in the grouse woods.
While any and every factor of the hunting day can be an actual, or imagined, factor in any particular ruffed grouse response...a bell will do no harm, comparably.
Ruffed grouse imagined responses to noise, etc. can be very creative on Internet message boards...as can when grouse dogs relocate.
Can't comment on e-collars past trash critter concerns...never needed them.
I will add that not all bells are created equal...as neither is the hearing equal with all people...fit & try.
A grouse dog should range based upon the cover and the birds as two criteria...more than that is often simply marketing and personal puffery.
Fret not over keeping a grouse dog at a certain distance...more important stuff is ongoing when a dog is paws down.
Time and Experience will best deliver any decision afield to any individual.....if permitted.
I run a Flewelling bell along with the Astro for the instant feedback it delivers re location and action occurring in the grouse woods.
While any and every factor of the hunting day can be an actual, or imagined, factor in any particular ruffed grouse response...a bell will do no harm, comparably.
Ruffed grouse imagined responses to noise, etc. can be very creative on Internet message boards...as can when grouse dogs relocate.
Can't comment on e-collars past trash critter concerns...never needed them.
I will add that not all bells are created equal...as neither is the hearing equal with all people...fit & try.
A grouse dog should range based upon the cover and the birds as two criteria...more than that is often simply marketing and personal puffery.
Fret not over keeping a grouse dog at a certain distance...more important stuff is ongoing when a dog is paws down.
Time and Experience will best deliver any decision afield to any individual.....if permitted.
If you "run" a slow dog a beeper would be a better option, especially if the birds have had some pressure.
If you run a dog that has a set of legs and lungs to complement his wit and nose, a bell and GPS collar are very hard to beat. Here's a few grouse "rookies" still running bells.
![Image]()
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EooC7GojJ80
(I have a female out of Zeena the first dog, Madison whelped Zeena as well)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-58nisr_dc
(My youngest dog was sired by Boston)
If you run a dog that has a set of legs and lungs to complement his wit and nose, a bell and GPS collar are very hard to beat. Here's a few grouse "rookies" still running bells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EooC7GojJ80
(I have a female out of Zeena the first dog, Madison whelped Zeena as well)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-58nisr_dc
(My youngest dog was sired by Boston)
I too am hunting silent these days, no bell or beeper. The Astro has taken the place of those noise makers for me and I really enjoy the quiet calm. I suspect that my dogs are enjoying the quiet as well although they haven't mentioned it.
I hunted with a bell for decades and with a beeper for maybe 20 years. There were times I felt that the bell made grouse more jumpy but who knows for sure? I always ran my beepers in point mode only because I could not stand listening to that shrill beep all day long. I think the Astro has been a huge leap forward.
I hunted with a bell for decades and with a beeper for maybe 20 years. There were times I felt that the bell made grouse more jumpy but who knows for sure? I always ran my beepers in point mode only because I could not stand listening to that shrill beep all day long. I think the Astro has been a huge leap forward.
I have always hunted my bird dogs with a bell. I guess I just like hearing the sound of it in the woods (especially when it suddenly goes silent). I do not think that it has ever been the cause of a grouse spooking. In fact, it may hold a grouse better as with the constant sound it makes since the grouse knows where the possible threat is. When my dog goes on point I use the locator button as I am approaching the dog. I also have the Dogtra 2000 T&B, going on 9 years now and have never had a problem with it after almost daily use during that time period. Without a doubt, the best collars made. Think of it this way, there is no way that you are sneaking up on a grouse. They ALWAYS know you are coming...it is just a matter of how itchy they get as you approach their comfort zone and it does not matter how quiet or noisy you are.
One other thing the Pine Creek hit on...smart bird dogs figure out commands pretty quickly. For instance, the locator mode on the T&B collar means two very different things to my dog. If she is on point, I use it to locate her and she would never move off point. However, when she is in the woods hunting or in the yard, one hit with the locator beep and she is by my side quicker than a grouse can put a tree between him and I.
Gentlemen,
Let me clear up one point, because something is obsolete does not mean it is bad, or never used. Traditional hunters of which there are many, love to hunt in a traditional manner. Long Bow Archers and the Bell on a Grouse dog, are just 2 of those great American traditions. Sudden changes of noise in the Grouse woods, do spook mature Grouse, no matter what the noise happens to be, even the wind can set a spooky Grouse into flight. A Bell can certainly do it at different times, the Beeper can also do it from time to time, that is why they invented the hawk scream, on some of the collars. It does work fairly well on young Grouse, making them freeze due to fright, however again with the mature older Grouse it forces the bird into deeper safer cover, almost immediately. It is true that you really can not sneak up on a Grouse, 90% of the time the Grouse knows exactly when a predator enters it's safety zone, however young Grouse must learn to use their safety zone to survive and many fail the test, and are killed by predators and a few are actually killed by man, sport hunting, with or without a Grouse dog. Few Grouse hunters take fully mature older Grouse, most take 1st and 2nd year birds, lots of these birds are taken early in the Grouse season. If a Grouse hunter is lucky enough to take a mature Grouse he has a real prize and usually it gets mounted. Most of these birds are large, but not all. Looking closely at their wings at certain feathers that come in later in life can usually idendtify these mature birds. Walrod talks about this in his book, (A Grouse Hunters Guide) and Bill Palmer (PGC's formost Ruffed Grouse Biologist - Retired) always talked about this in his lectures for the RGS - Grouse Camp, at Penn State.
In fact both of us had this educational piece in our slide shows, at the RGS - Grouse Camp, we both thought it was that important. There is a lot to learn about Grouse, Grouse hunting and Grouse dogs, equipment and Grouse guns.
Its an enteresting sport, in our family it's a way fo life. I hope each Grouse hunter educates himself or herself and becomes the very best wing shooter they can be,
and is blessed by God with a least one Great Grouse dog.
In this Grouse hunting sport nobody knows everything, after about 30 years you know a little something, after 40
you know even more, and after 50 years you realize each time in the woods with your dog, is a God granted gift, as your education continues.
Pine Creek/Dave
Mike W with his incredible Small Munsterlander Grouse Dog, Pine Creek L.C. Mike is starting to learn a little something about Grouse Hunting, he has been at it about 12 years now.
![Image]()
Let me clear up one point, because something is obsolete does not mean it is bad, or never used. Traditional hunters of which there are many, love to hunt in a traditional manner. Long Bow Archers and the Bell on a Grouse dog, are just 2 of those great American traditions. Sudden changes of noise in the Grouse woods, do spook mature Grouse, no matter what the noise happens to be, even the wind can set a spooky Grouse into flight. A Bell can certainly do it at different times, the Beeper can also do it from time to time, that is why they invented the hawk scream, on some of the collars. It does work fairly well on young Grouse, making them freeze due to fright, however again with the mature older Grouse it forces the bird into deeper safer cover, almost immediately. It is true that you really can not sneak up on a Grouse, 90% of the time the Grouse knows exactly when a predator enters it's safety zone, however young Grouse must learn to use their safety zone to survive and many fail the test, and are killed by predators and a few are actually killed by man, sport hunting, with or without a Grouse dog. Few Grouse hunters take fully mature older Grouse, most take 1st and 2nd year birds, lots of these birds are taken early in the Grouse season. If a Grouse hunter is lucky enough to take a mature Grouse he has a real prize and usually it gets mounted. Most of these birds are large, but not all. Looking closely at their wings at certain feathers that come in later in life can usually idendtify these mature birds. Walrod talks about this in his book, (A Grouse Hunters Guide) and Bill Palmer (PGC's formost Ruffed Grouse Biologist - Retired) always talked about this in his lectures for the RGS - Grouse Camp, at Penn State.
In fact both of us had this educational piece in our slide shows, at the RGS - Grouse Camp, we both thought it was that important. There is a lot to learn about Grouse, Grouse hunting and Grouse dogs, equipment and Grouse guns.
Its an enteresting sport, in our family it's a way fo life. I hope each Grouse hunter educates himself or herself and becomes the very best wing shooter they can be,
and is blessed by God with a least one Great Grouse dog.
In this Grouse hunting sport nobody knows everything, after about 30 years you know a little something, after 40
you know even more, and after 50 years you realize each time in the woods with your dog, is a God granted gift, as your education continues.
Pine Creek/Dave
Mike W with his incredible Small Munsterlander Grouse Dog, Pine Creek L.C. Mike is starting to learn a little something about Grouse Hunting, he has been at it about 12 years now.
Here's a photo of a fully matured bird, incredibly lucky that his stupidity didn't bring him an earlier demise in life. Shot over a nice belled find on a brace of birds last year, the bigger ones seem to fly slower or perhaps they're just a bigger target.
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
I would have to say there are only two objective truths regarding grouse hunting: They are hard to hit and they are fun to hunt, beyond that it's subjective to situation and opinion.
I would have to say there are only two objective truths regarding grouse hunting: They are hard to hit and they are fun to hunt, beyond that it's subjective to situation and opinion.
Gentlemen,
Remember the more isolated the Grouse population is, and the less predatoized the bird are, the more tame & foolish they seem to become. I have seen few times here in Pa where a big mature Grouse was slow and easy to hit, just to many predators here. Now up around the Canada border some place, or parts of northern NH, the Grouse are definiely different, and not as spooky. I have hunted Grouse in many different places thru out the world, the ruffs in Pa are still my favorite Grouse to hunt, its not how many Grouse
a man takes that is important, its the dog work and how the Grouse is taken that makes the sport so incredible.
When a sportsman walks out of the Pa forest with 2 fine
mature Grouse, taken on the wing, with his old double bird gun, that his Grouse dog has handled to perfection for him, there is no finer sporting accomplishment known to man.
In our families mountain tradition, all the Oympic Gold metals ever won, can never match it.
Pine Creek/Dave
![Image]()
![Image]()
Remember the more isolated the Grouse population is, and the less predatoized the bird are, the more tame & foolish they seem to become. I have seen few times here in Pa where a big mature Grouse was slow and easy to hit, just to many predators here. Now up around the Canada border some place, or parts of northern NH, the Grouse are definiely different, and not as spooky. I have hunted Grouse in many different places thru out the world, the ruffs in Pa are still my favorite Grouse to hunt, its not how many Grouse
a man takes that is important, its the dog work and how the Grouse is taken that makes the sport so incredible.
When a sportsman walks out of the Pa forest with 2 fine
mature Grouse, taken on the wing, with his old double bird gun, that his Grouse dog has handled to perfection for him, there is no finer sporting accomplishment known to man.
In our families mountain tradition, all the Oympic Gold metals ever won, can never match it.
Pine Creek/Dave
John S,
I fully understand, that is why we developed the master initiated train/hunt command system, I hate the run mode on these collars, beeping every time the dog stops for any reason.
Using it only when needed helps eliminate all that truck
back up noise, I really wish both DT and Dogtra would engineer a hawk scream into their collars, to eliminate
it all together.
Pine Creek/Dave
I fully understand, that is why we developed the master initiated train/hunt command system, I hate the run mode on these collars, beeping every time the dog stops for any reason.
Using it only when needed helps eliminate all that truck
back up noise, I really wish both DT and Dogtra would engineer a hawk scream into their collars, to eliminate
it all together.
Pine Creek/Dave
I have a hawk scream and a bob white on my collar, sport dog, and I have it set for locate only.
John S,
Very good way to work, I am now going to invest in the new Sport Dog TEK - Tracing/training collar. We tested one in the big Potter County forest, on an actual 3 day Grouse hunt. It really worked quite well, when the signal was lost the unit automatically regenerated the signal, and picked up the dog again. The collar tracked no matter how far away our Grouse dogs worked. Sport Dog says they are good for 7 miles now, and they are completely water proof. Now my only question is, are these new tracking/training collars high quality, how long will they actually work, and will they be repaired quickly if they need fixed, nobody at this point seems to know. The unit can be purchased thru Lion Country - www.LCSUPPLY.COM or 800-662-5202. $499.99 for the complete unit with free shipping and e-collar recovery system, and a free 30 day trail, with wall charger included.
$399.99 for the tracking system only, to be used with another T&B Collar. No free shipping or recovery system however.
The really great engineering in this unit allows up to 12 dogs to be run at the same time and on the same hand held controller, the extra collars are $259.99 each for the complete unit or $159.99 for the tracking unit only.
Pine Creek/Dave
Very good way to work, I am now going to invest in the new Sport Dog TEK - Tracing/training collar. We tested one in the big Potter County forest, on an actual 3 day Grouse hunt. It really worked quite well, when the signal was lost the unit automatically regenerated the signal, and picked up the dog again. The collar tracked no matter how far away our Grouse dogs worked. Sport Dog says they are good for 7 miles now, and they are completely water proof. Now my only question is, are these new tracking/training collars high quality, how long will they actually work, and will they be repaired quickly if they need fixed, nobody at this point seems to know. The unit can be purchased thru Lion Country - www.LCSUPPLY.COM or 800-662-5202. $499.99 for the complete unit with free shipping and e-collar recovery system, and a free 30 day trail, with wall charger included.
$399.99 for the tracking system only, to be used with another T&B Collar. No free shipping or recovery system however.
The really great engineering in this unit allows up to 12 dogs to be run at the same time and on the same hand held controller, the extra collars are $259.99 each for the complete unit or $159.99 for the tracking unit only.
Pine Creek/Dave
Joe, did you finally come out of the woods long enough to turn on the computer.
![Image]()
I use the astro, beeper (point only mode, low volume) and zapper. Don't necessarily need the beeper, but I find it helps me get to points quicker. Also, if your hunting with someone else without an Astro, it helps them get to the point.
I use the astro, beeper (point only mode, low volume) and zapper. Don't necessarily need the beeper, but I find it helps me get to points quicker. Also, if your hunting with someone else without an Astro, it helps them get to the point.
The beautiful music of the Bell communicating Link's status.
Steady jingle he is searching,
jingle speeds up he has ran into an interesting scent,
jingle slows down and becomes erratic... get ready!,
jingle stops found Bird!.
Yelp, the bell works for me along with a Sportdog 1875 in locate mode for the occasional lost to find times.
The beeping drives both me and my dog nuts; however, the bell is such sweet music to my ears.
Steady jingle he is searching,
jingle speeds up he has ran into an interesting scent,
jingle slows down and becomes erratic... get ready!,
jingle stops found Bird!.
Yelp, the bell works for me along with a Sportdog 1875 in locate mode for the occasional lost to find times.
The beeping drives both me and my dog nuts; however, the bell is such sweet music to my ears.
I'm surprised with all the talk of collars, etc., none of the guys here seem to be tritronics fans.
Generally on grouse I run a tri-tronics ecollar. I do have a beeper collar as well, but it's a sport dog (the mixed match pair is a long story), so I can't control it with the tritronics transmitter for locate mode. It's either point mode or run mode only. On pheasant and woodcock it hasn't been an issue and I run the beeper collar on run mode.
Fortunately, I spend most of my time in the woods grouse hunting, but don't like the same set up I use for pheasant. Generally I run completely silent, no locator no bell. But as I said this isnt' working out as great for me this year for whatever reason. I think my style of grouse hunting is evolving from the way I hunted in the past, and this is just no longer feasible. When your losing birds because you can't find your dog on point clearly it's time for a change, but not sure what yet. I like walking through the woods with no sound when possible, no bell, no beeper, etc. I would love to throw down the cash on an astro, but the price is steep, and I don'tknow if I'm ready to take that jump yet. A beeper collar that I can control with my TT transmitter seems the most economical (locate mode) and closest to my current style of hunting. This being said I don't want to buy it, and then 2 months later end up with the astro anyways.
My gut is telling me to go with the astro. But then the question is, do you buy the astro with the ecollar, even though you have a perfectly good TT ecollar already, or do u just by the tracking collar?
It's starting to feel like my Harley...swapping a perfectly good set of pipes (or bars or floorboard...lol..name the accessory) for something cooler...even though the old one isn't broken.
Generally on grouse I run a tri-tronics ecollar. I do have a beeper collar as well, but it's a sport dog (the mixed match pair is a long story), so I can't control it with the tritronics transmitter for locate mode. It's either point mode or run mode only. On pheasant and woodcock it hasn't been an issue and I run the beeper collar on run mode.
Fortunately, I spend most of my time in the woods grouse hunting, but don't like the same set up I use for pheasant. Generally I run completely silent, no locator no bell. But as I said this isnt' working out as great for me this year for whatever reason. I think my style of grouse hunting is evolving from the way I hunted in the past, and this is just no longer feasible. When your losing birds because you can't find your dog on point clearly it's time for a change, but not sure what yet. I like walking through the woods with no sound when possible, no bell, no beeper, etc. I would love to throw down the cash on an astro, but the price is steep, and I don'tknow if I'm ready to take that jump yet. A beeper collar that I can control with my TT transmitter seems the most economical (locate mode) and closest to my current style of hunting. This being said I don't want to buy it, and then 2 months later end up with the astro anyways.
My gut is telling me to go with the astro. But then the question is, do you buy the astro with the ecollar, even though you have a perfectly good TT ecollar already, or do u just by the tracking collar?
It's starting to feel like my Harley...swapping a perfectly good set of pipes (or bars or floorboard...lol..name the accessory) for something cooler...even though the old one isn't broken.
NJP158
Ironically I found myself in about the same situation as you earlier in the season. If you have been reading my post you will notice that I keep abusing the statement <span style="font-weight: bold">"so thick!"</span> when I am trying to describing my best covers. I just can't seem to come up with a better phrase to describe them. Well, it so happens I was out earlier this season and once again in cover<span style="font-weight: bold"> "so thick!"</span> that when I return to my vehicle and was unloading I noticed that I had lost the transmitter for my ecollar. Broken hearted I debated the possibilities of using my GPS and trying to track back my day's route. When my temper had cooled down I was able to realize that my SportDog 1825 transmitter that had served me so well for over 10 years was gone for ever.
Now it was decision time, what type setup was I going to go with as a replacement. I dug in and reviewed all I could find about the new SportDog TEK System, the reviews seemed great with one just one thing missing. Link and I both Hunt as much with our ears as any of our other senses. I just couldn't buy into attempting to follow an arrow on a small digital screen. It sounded to me like I would be playing some sort of video game and I have a
hard enough time reading my GPS screen especially when I begin to tire.
If you had the chance to watch the video I posted on your other topic, you will readily see that I have darn tough time just getting to Link on Point, using all my available hand and eye coordination, without needing to re-focus and view a small screen.
I opted for the new SportDog 1875 and haven't looked back and doubt very much if I will.
ps: You can tell how bored I am with Deer Season On, as I have made more post on this forum since Monday than I have in 2 1/2 years.
Ironically I found myself in about the same situation as you earlier in the season. If you have been reading my post you will notice that I keep abusing the statement <span style="font-weight: bold">"so thick!"</span> when I am trying to describing my best covers. I just can't seem to come up with a better phrase to describe them. Well, it so happens I was out earlier this season and once again in cover<span style="font-weight: bold"> "so thick!"</span> that when I return to my vehicle and was unloading I noticed that I had lost the transmitter for my ecollar. Broken hearted I debated the possibilities of using my GPS and trying to track back my day's route. When my temper had cooled down I was able to realize that my SportDog 1825 transmitter that had served me so well for over 10 years was gone for ever.
Now it was decision time, what type setup was I going to go with as a replacement. I dug in and reviewed all I could find about the new SportDog TEK System, the reviews seemed great with one just one thing missing. Link and I both Hunt as much with our ears as any of our other senses. I just couldn't buy into attempting to follow an arrow on a small digital screen. It sounded to me like I would be playing some sort of video game and I have a
hard enough time reading my GPS screen especially when I begin to tire.
If you had the chance to watch the video I posted on your other topic, you will readily see that I have darn tough time just getting to Link on Point, using all my available hand and eye coordination, without needing to re-focus and view a small screen.
I opted for the new SportDog 1875 and haven't looked back and doubt very much if I will.
ps: You can tell how bored I am with Deer Season On, as I have made more post on this forum since Monday than I have in 2 1/2 years.
The cabin fever is really getting to me so I think it is time to hit the Bike Trail for a bit of exercise. Link and I started trail riding about 8 months ago at advice of his Vet. We were both more than a tad out of shape.
Since then Link has managed to loose an amazing 20lbs. If he hadn't we certainly wouldn't be enjoying this Bird Season as much as we are.
There is a video of one of our first rides posted here
http://saxeyhaley.fitnessforlonglife.com/a-day-with-my-buddy-link/
Give it a look see and you just might get a kick out of it!
Yes, we will most certainly be wearing our "Blaze Orange".
![Image]()
Happy Trails
Since then Link has managed to loose an amazing 20lbs. If he hadn't we certainly wouldn't be enjoying this Bird Season as much as we are.
There is a video of one of our first rides posted here
http://saxeyhaley.fitnessforlonglife.com/a-day-with-my-buddy-link/
Give it a look see and you just might get a kick out of it!
Yes, we will most certainly be wearing our "Blaze Orange".
Happy Trails
I'm not sure there is a "perfect" setup. If there is, I haven't found it yet. The reason you don't hear much about Tri Tronics beepers is because they suck. I have 2 of them. Old style and new and both are sporadic. I don't think there is a better ecollar out there but the beepers are junk. I've missed many opportunities of a dog standing a bird and not knowing because the beeper had not been indicating the dog was on point. That said, I still use it and like it when it works properly.
I don't buy into sneaking up on grouse. They know you are there long before you think they do. People have been killing grouse for years using both bells and beepers. Finding your combination will boil down to preference.
I am in the same boat with toying with buying an Astro. I've hunted with friends that have them. They also have pros and cons. The people who have them seem to spend much time in the woods looking at a GPS screen. I believe you miss out on so much of what you should be enjoying. I have also seen many times where they lose communication with the dog due to terrain.
I run the dogs with bells and beepers (point only). I don't like the hawk scream because I think it is more annoying than the beep, plus you can't hear it as well as a lower toned beep. When you have a dog that ranges and is on point, that hawk scream is tough to pin point, at least for my ears.
With all of these options available, we'll have to start breeding dogs with longer necks.
I don't buy into sneaking up on grouse. They know you are there long before you think they do. People have been killing grouse for years using both bells and beepers. Finding your combination will boil down to preference.
I am in the same boat with toying with buying an Astro. I've hunted with friends that have them. They also have pros and cons. The people who have them seem to spend much time in the woods looking at a GPS screen. I believe you miss out on so much of what you should be enjoying. I have also seen many times where they lose communication with the dog due to terrain.
I run the dogs with bells and beepers (point only). I don't like the hawk scream because I think it is more annoying than the beep, plus you can't hear it as well as a lower toned beep. When you have a dog that ranges and is on point, that hawk scream is tough to pin point, at least for my ears.
With all of these options available, we'll have to start breeding dogs with longer necks.
The trail riding looks like a good time. A few years back I picked up cross country skiing with the dogs. It's a blast. My favorite time is to go out at night when theres snow (obviously) and a full moon. It's unbelievable bright in the woods with a full moon and snow and you get to see soem things you don't during the day. There are some groomed trails by me we hit occasionally, but I like it better just getting in the woods where there are not set ski trails. It's a lot funner than I ever thought it would be.
In the beginning I was between snowshoes or skis. The shoes are more manueverable, but the ski's are more fun.
Brdogs- I have no doubt your right about sneaking up on a grouse. I just wonder if there's a difference between us walking through the woods, and the grouse knowing where there at a distance as compared to a dog in close proximity with a beeper going off. To be honest I haven't hunted grouse enough with a bell or beeper on to make that call, but I do know I would be much more relaxed, and enjoy myself more if I wasn't constantly trying to know exactly where my dog was. My next few times out I will most likely be running with a bell and/or beeper I think and hoping I can prove to myself that they make no difference in the number of actual points with the grouse still there. I even would be willing to take the occsional bird flushing due to a bell or beeper as I'm already losing birds because I can't locate the dog in time.
In the beginning I was between snowshoes or skis. The shoes are more manueverable, but the ski's are more fun.
Brdogs- I have no doubt your right about sneaking up on a grouse. I just wonder if there's a difference between us walking through the woods, and the grouse knowing where there at a distance as compared to a dog in close proximity with a beeper going off. To be honest I haven't hunted grouse enough with a bell or beeper on to make that call, but I do know I would be much more relaxed, and enjoy myself more if I wasn't constantly trying to know exactly where my dog was. My next few times out I will most likely be running with a bell and/or beeper I think and hoping I can prove to myself that they make no difference in the number of actual points with the grouse still there. I even would be willing to take the occsional bird flushing due to a bell or beeper as I'm already losing birds because I can't locate the dog in time.
Gentlemen,
Yep the cabin feaver is definitely effecting us all, you can tell by how many postings all of us have made.
Sure looking forward to Monday when grouse season comes back in.
Pine Creek/Dave
Yep the cabin feaver is definitely effecting us all, you can tell by how many postings all of us have made.
Sure looking forward to Monday when grouse season comes back in.
Pine Creek/Dave
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