bells and birds

[fisher]

I was at the dog park in St. Paul Battle creek to day with my 5 month old lab. I put his bell on and we were working the tall grass. A man come up after his pointer all he said was look at the bell he'll never find a bird. I have read thats its ok to use the bell or a beeper coaler. what do you think is this man right or and A!!hole?

thanks

Jeff Krop

[LABS4ME]

Bells usually do not decrease your success on birds. Many grouse hunters use them along with some pheasant hunters. A lot of guys are going the route of beepers... but again there should be no difference in bird getting capabilities between a beeper and bell. On occassion I have felt they did indeed tip your hand on really late season pressured roosters, but in some instances (ie: thick cattails) it may increase your chances as you always know where your dog is and you are able to use less vocal commands to keep it in check.

I vote a-hole...

Good Luck!

Ken

[uplander]

I 2nd that vote

[2thepointsetters]

If I didn't use a bell or beeper I would not be able to tell when my dog is point. I like the beeper better but I still use the bell once in awhile. And the beeper is way louder than a bell and it only makes noise when the dog is on a bird so i know it doesnt scare them away.

[settersit]

I vote A-hole also. I've grouse hunted with a bell on my setter for 8 years with no problems. Pheasant hunting, I could possibly believe it contributes to running birds, but then again, the hens always sit tight - I thought about a beeper for pheasant hunting, but I can't get over that "back-up alarm" sound when afield. Now that tinkle-tinkle sound of a bell brings a smile to my face.

[2thepointsetters]

Quote:

---

but I can't get over that "back-up alarm" sound when afield. Now that tinkle-tinkle sound of a bell brings a smile to my face.

---

Haha it takes a while to get used to the "back-up alarm" but I cant hunt without it now. I have it set to beep on point only. Its amazing that it doesn't bother the dog or bird.

[setterguy]

I always use a bell in the grouse woods, its part of the whole deal for me. To me, I like having silence when its time for action, and noise in between as opposed to silence when moving and beep on point. I guess there could have been times my dog was on point and I didn't know it, but I still prefer the bell. I guess we'll make it unanimous and vote that guy the mayor of a-hole township.

[Longline]

I have a lab and I always have a bell on her when we are pheasant hunting. I don't think it hurts any chances on getting birds since she seems to lock on point more then she flushes them. I think it really helps from my point of view as it has really made it a lot easier for me to get out of her way and not get taken out at the knees.

[jigging-matt]

When I fot my Britt last spring, I got a beeper collar. I really like it when I am in real tall grass and can't see him. I have a bell in his hunting box for back-up just in case the collar goes dead. Maybe the guy was just jealous?

[gspman]

The man was obnoxious and a bit uninformed. I personally am on the fence with bells and beepers. I think sometimes it doesn't affect the birds and sometimes it definitely affects them. I still think silence is the best way to go if it's possible. If not then you have no choice but a bell or beeper.

[BLACKJACK]

For years I used bells on my labs when I was hunting cattails but not anymore, I've went just the opposite and like to run silent, no whistle, no voice, just my labs tuned into me. I hate seeing those late season birds flushing out 100 yards away!!! You can get by with a bell in the early season but not for late season roosters.

[Jager]

I have a 7 year old German Shorthair.

I've run her with bells, beepers and with nothing.

I have not noticed any difference in getting birds with beel or beeper but the beeper sure helps finding her on point in tall grass and cattails.

And I have not seen any difference in early or late season.

[Tom7227]

Why does the guy have to be classified as an a--hole? Maybe he was curious. Maybe his experience was different.

If you read enough of the threads here one common theme seems to be that rude people belong in bars and not out hunting. How about carrying that idea in your posts? Seems that too many times when people encounter someone there is a reaction that assumes some sort of ill motive and the friction is instantaneous. Can't see the reason for it myself.

[Farmboy1]

Quote:

---

I've went just the opposite and like to run silent, no whistle, no voice, just my labs tuned into me. I hate seeing those late season birds flushing out 100 yards away!!! You can get by with a bell in the early season but not for late season roosters.

---

I agree. To me there is no reason to run a bell, beeper, or anything else. My dog is brown and almost melts into cover, but if I keep an eye on him at all times, we have no problems. Even thick cattails, you can tell where he is by the movement of the cover.

[brittman]

I like stealth too. With my older, slower paced Britt we no longer use a bell. With my 2 year old Britt a bell is a must.

I suspect a bell does scare some birds - especially grouse in heavily hunted woods, but I also believe it is absolutely necessary.

Human voice does more harm than bells, beepers, etc... learn to remain quiet with your dog and the pheasants will stay closer.

[2thepointsetters]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I've went just the opposite and like to run silent, no whistle, no voice, just my labs tuned into me. I hate seeing those late season birds flushing out 100 yards away!!! You can get by with a bell in the early season but not for late season roosters.

---

I agree. To me there is no reason to run a bell, beeper, or anything else. My dog is brown and almost melts into cover, but if I keep an eye on him at all times, we have no problems. Even thick cattails, you can tell where he is by the movement of the cover.

---

that probably works great with close or slow working dogs but you could never keep track of fast pointing dog that has a decent range that way.

[settersit]

Absolutely correct on that, in waist or chest high grass or cat-tails, your dog could be doing just what their trained to do and you'd miss seeing a beautiful point. To me that is the most satisfying aspect of bird hunting, watching the dog work!

[cw642]

OK I sat out long enough on this one. If I understand correctly you were at a dog park where no firearms are allowed. Then this guy was just being a jerk. I have always used either a beeper or a bell on my pointers. Nothing is worse than spending 1/2 hour trying to find a wide ranging pointer holding on a bird or birds 250yrds over the next hill. It also enables me to handle multiple dogs at once by letting me know exactly where each dog is at all times. I do have a slightly different opinion when it comes to a 20 yrd flushing breed. It's ok in certain situations but overall I think it's really unnecessary.

CW

[Farmboy1]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I've went just the opposite and like to run silent, no whistle, no voice, just my labs tuned into me. I hate seeing those late season birds flushing out 100 yards away!!! You can get by with a bell in the early season but not for late season roosters.

---

I agree. To me there is no reason to run a bell, beeper, or anything else. My dog is brown and almost melts into cover, but if I keep an eye on him at all times, we have no problems. Even thick cattails, you can tell where he is by the movement of the cover.

---

that probably works great with close or slow working dogs but you could never keep track of fast pointing dog that has a decent range that way.

---

IMHO, there is no reason for a dog to ever work past shooting range, 30-40 yds max, and he is a fast running pointer. Late season wild birds will often times not hold for a point, and if the dog is farther then that, I don't even get a shot. I prefer to shoot them, not watch them fly away.

I also will not speak to my dog in field, a small lip whistle, and hand signals will bag more late season smart roosters then anything else. I call it stealth mode.

[2thepointsetters]

Quote:

---

IMHO, there is no reason for a dog to ever work past shooting range, 30-40 yds max, and he is a fast running pointer. Late season wild birds will often times not hold for a point, and if the dog is farther then that, I don't even get a shot. I prefer to shoot them, not watch them fly away.

---

I thought pointing dogs are supposed to cover alot of area, not hunt in gun range. You might as well have a flushing breed then. Is your pointer bumping the birds so you keep him that close so you can shot at the flushed not pointed birds? Late season pheasants are a little nervous but they still hold well for a pointer that doesnt pressure his birds. I let the dog adjust his range for the cover on his own. In thick woods he stays closer (under 80 yards) but in open feilds he goes well over 100 yards all season with no trouble.

[settersit]

I couldn't have said it better myself. I wan't my dog to find birds that I would'nt find myself.

[uplander]

Amen! ..... Just got back in from grouse hunting today. Ran a bell all day only had 2 birds flush wild all day. And I'm almost 100% sure it wasn't the bells fault..Even in the stiff wind the birds held tight today it was most excelent..Even got a monster woodcock pointed today. That was a suprise. Ended up with 8 or 9 birds pointed and 3 for the pot.. Pretty good for 4hrs in the woods late season......Bell and all!

[cw642]

Quote:

---

IMHO, there is no reason for a dog to ever work past shooting range, 30-40 yds max, and he is a fast running pointer. Late season wild birds will often times not hold for a point, and if the dog is farther then that, I don't even get a shot. I prefer to shoot them, not watch them fly away.

---

What breed do you have? I doubt it is a "fast running pointer" that holds in at 30-40. If it is a Pointer you are missing out on a lot of great hunting by reigning it in that close. Why would buy a two hundred yard dog and only let it run at %20 of its potential?

CW

[Farmboy1]

Quote:

---

What breed do you have? I doubt it is a "fast running pointer" that holds in at 30-40. If it is a Pointer you are missing out on a lot of great hunting by reigning it in that close. Why would buy a two hundred yard dog and only let it run at %20 of its potential?

CW

---

I hunt a viszla, and I only hunt wild pheasants. I have enough birds flushing wild hunting with no sound to let the dog hunt 200 yds away. My dog does hunt 30-40 yds to each side of me, but he is there to hunt for me, not do his own thing. There may be a difference to guys hunting grouse, or game farm chickens, but wild birds are not that easy.

I guess I don't understand why you would let a dog hunt 200 yds away. Do you just wander around aimlessly looking for your dog? I am there to hunt, and part of that experience is watching the dog work. Most of the cover I hunt, I could not see my dog 50 yds away, let alone 200. Not seeing the dog would ruin the hunt.

I always thought guys who let their dogs run 250 yds away just said they wanted their dog to do that because it was not trained well enough to hunt with in range, but maybe they do it on purpose.

FB

[uplander]

I'm sure they said they let the dog range depending on the cover..In tight cover the dog should hunt close! In open cover the dog should be allowed to roll a bit.. If my dog bumps a wild bird 150 yrds. to my right front it really doesn't bother me because that's a bird I probably would never have seen because i wasn't planning to walk there. Hunt your dog how you want but you may be missing some chances by not letting them roll some times.. Trust them and let them do what they were born to do...And they will reward you with birds you may have otherwise gone by... Now, if you are hunting a fence row or ditch by all means keep them close. Since the birds will be confined to that cover source.. Do yourself a favor farmboy. From time to time......LET EM ROLL!!!! good luck uplander