Back out in the morning

D

duckn66

Well-known member
Headed back out in the morning to see if I have better luck connecting with some of those buzz bombs. Running that dang Obie with an ecollar to help keep him reeled in. Thought perhaps we were over needing that all together. I am hoping if I get some birds killed over him the next few times out that will keep him in a bit closer. If not I suppose I'll dump him out 5 miles from the hunting spot and let him chase the truck to wear him down.

Thinking about it though, the last few times out he was chicken hunting where he could and was encouraged to get his run on.
 
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I think if you can shoot some birds for him, he will likely keep more of an eye on you.

Good Luck
 
I will be out this weekend. Making a trip out to volunteer for the kdwp youth and womens hunt and will probably hunt just a bit myself either sat afternoon or sunday. If he is the type of dog that will want to be with you then you could try just hiding from him a bit so he will think he is lost for a second. Most of my dogs have responded well to that tactic. Not every dog will but most will try to keep an eye on you a bit better.
 
duckn66 said:
Headed back out in the morning to see if I have better luck connecting with some of those buzz bombs. Running that dang Obie with an ecollar to help keep in reeled in. Thought perhaps we were over needing that all together. I am hoping if I get some birds killed over him the next few times out that will keep him in a bit closer. If not I suppose I'll dump him out 5 miles from the hunting spot and let him chase the truck to wear him down.

Thinking about it though, the last few times out he was chicken hunting where he could and was encouraged to get his run on.
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I have some bigger running dogs and recently went to the garmin alpha. It's expensive and I was wondering if it was a dumb thing to pee away my money on. I found out its a great tool and very relaxing and nice to know exactly where your dog is down to the meter.
I had a safe full of guns I never shoot so I sold some to pay for the Alpha and am glad I did. I could of just bought it but was able to justify it in my mind that way LOL.
 
bobman said:
I have some bigger running dogs and recently went to the garmin alpha. It's expensive and I was wondering if it was a dumb thing to pee away my money on. I found out its a great tool and very relaxing and nice to know exactly where your dog is down to the meter.
I had a safe full of guns I never shoot so I sold some to pay for the Alpha and am glad I did. I could of just bought it but was able to justify it in my mind that way LOL.
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A GPS collar of a dog really take the worry out of running a dog.
The Alpha is the top of the line / State of the Art unit. I love mine.
 
The Alpha 100 may just be the answer Ive been looking for. Glad to know you guys are liking it. Do you have to pay a subscription for the service? Might have to add that to the Xmas list. :thumbsup:
 
Friday, Astro told me Champ was on point sixty yards away. Shot two roosters. Not sure I would have found the dog in time without it.

No subscription. Why wait til Christmas?
 
Crossing shot said:
Friday, Astro told me Champ was on point sixty yards away. Shot two roosters. Not sure I would have found the dog in time without it.

No subscription. Why wait til Christmas?
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how many times do you trip walking around looking at those things:eek: someone needs to carry a gopro so we can this amazing technology up close and in action:confused:
 
The Garmin Astro is expensive for sure....and worth every penny. I've had one for years and it paid for it self the very first time out.

I had three new pups the year I got it, and had put a lot of work and love into them. It was their first season, but not their first hunt. Surprisingly, my wife insisted we get the Astro.

The short version is:

I let two dogs out in an area where I knew there were multiple coveys. Dog one goes on point 175 yards out. Dog two goes on point at 463 yards (I remember it well). Being pups, I decided to go to the closest dog at 175 yards. I figured dog two couldn't hold whatever it was pointing until I got there. We move a covey at 175 yards and I knock down one.

I look at the Garmin and dog two is still on point. It's been some time so I'm impressed. I decide not to chase singles and go to dog two. I get to within 60 yards and I still cannot see dog two. As I get closer, I come over a small rise that was hiding a pond. Dog (pup) two has fallen though the ice!

I stand there, in 11 degree weather, in the middle of nowhere, by myself, wondering if I should try and save her. She's about 30 feet out on/in the ice. She's hanging on to the thin ice half in and half out and struggling to stay get of the water and to stay conscious. I decide that I'll bust though the ice until the water is at my waste and then I'll get out. Fortunately, the water was only got to waste deep where she was. I pulled her to safety and she's with me today.

Without that Astro, I'd have lost her. She'd have gone under and I'd have never found her. I would have spent a significant amount of time looking for her only to end up heart broken.

By the way, the long version includes my walk back to the truck with no pants on!!

At this point, I won't hunt without the Astro on my dogs. I used to hunt with beepers, but it really ruins the serenity of the hunt.

Buy the Astro, your dog is worth it.

Just my two cents.

Point!
 
Point is right on!!!!

How much would you do and pay to get your dog back, for me its a lot more than the cost of a Astro or Alpha.

Getting to shoot more birds is also a plus.
 
I get it, the point is sometimes we get so rapped up in technology we miss what we came to see.
I don't know how many times I catch myself looking at my cellphone when I should be watching the dog. I should just leave it in the truck but for sure that would the time I need it. :cheers:
 
BrownDogsCan2 said:
how many times do you trip walking around looking at those things:eek: someone needs to carry a gopro so we can this amazing technology up close and in action:confused:
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Never. But I have watched it take a dog we thought was a runoff and show us he's the best bird finder I've ever hunted behind. I've had it take me to a dog caught in a trap. I've had it show me my dog was on a road so I could get him off of it when a truck was coming. I've had it take me to a dog I didn't see until I was 5 feet away from him. I could go on and on...that thing is worth its weight in gold.
 
I ask this respectfully- is it fun for you guys to not see your dogs hunting because they are 3/4 mile away- then see on a gps that they are on point- walk to them and flush the bird?

I know this is going to read as ' i dont get it ' but i honestly wonder that.
 
I don't want my dog's finding bird's that I would have walked up myself, I want to see my dog's hitting objective's and searching for bird's. There is nothing better than clearing a hilltop or corner and finding your dog standing a covey of quail.
 
I like to see the dog some of the time, but the reason for pointing dogs is to go out and find birds and hold them till you get there. You don't want a pointing dog plodding along in gun range. That speed and nose is used to greatly increase the area covered beyond what you walk.

Just because you can see where your dog on the unit, doesn't mean you are looking at it all the time. When the dog is on point and out of sight the beep from the unit tell you to take a look to see where they are standing.

But even more important is the greatly increased level of safety the unit brings. Even if the pointing dog is not ranging out hundreds of yards, a GPS unit is great.

I also hate to hear all the hollering and whistling that goes on when people are trying to hack a dog back in. The flushing guys are bad about that too. With a tone button on the unit you can quietly turn a dog back toward you.

Those of you that have not been out and hunted with a pair of solid pointing dogs don't know what you are missing. Few things better.

Feb14_263.jpg
 
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Point! said:
The Garmin Astro is expensive for sure....and worth every penny. I've had one for years and it paid for it self the very first time out.

I had three new pups the year I got it, and had put a lot of work and love into them. It was their first season, but not their first hunt. Surprisingly, my wife insisted we get the Astro.

The short version is:

I let two dogs out in an area where I knew there were multiple coveys. Dog one goes on point 175 yards out. Dog two goes on point at 463 yards (I remember it well). Being pups, I decided to go to the closest dog at 175 yards. I figured dog two couldn't hold whatever it was pointing until I got there. We move a covey at 175 yards and I knock down one.

I look at the Garmin and dog two is still on point. It's been some time so I'm impressed. I decide not to chase singles and go to dog two. I get to within 60 yards and I still cannot see dog two. As I get closer, I come over a small rise that was hiding a pond. Dog (pup) two has fallen though the ice!

I stand there, in 11 degree weather, in the middle of nowhere, by myself, wondering if I should try and save her. She's about 30 feet out on/in the ice. She's hanging on to the thin ice half in and half out and struggling to stay get of the water and to stay conscious. I decide that I'll bust though the ice until the water is at my waste and then I'll get out. Fortunately, the water was only got to waste deep where she was. I pulled her to safety and she's with me today.

Without that Astro, I'd have lost her. She'd have gone under and I'd have never found her. I would have spent a significant amount of time looking for her only to end up heart broken.

By the way, the long version includes my walk back to the truck with no pants on!!

At this point, I won't hunt without the Astro on my dogs. I used to hunt with beepers, but it really ruins the serenity of the hunt.

Buy the Astro, your dog is worth it.

Just my two cents.

Point!
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Point that story right there just convinced me to get one..i just got a new puppy today to replace my now retired setter and as soon as she can handle one i will be purchasing one
 
Hey troutman....thanks for the positive contribution to this site.
 
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