Collar Bells?
- Thread starter hwbowles
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davidtodd
New member
We have used a bell ever since my son got his GSP, and it has proved VERY good!
However, the last few years we have been using a collar with a locator mode , because if we can't hear the bell we know he is on point, but just where in the cat tails or heavy bush ??!!
It has been invaluable and has been the direct result of taking birds where without it we would have not had the opportunity.
We only use it when we can't here the bell, then give it a shot and the collar will sound, letting us know where Louie is!!
I love the bell however, we got ours from cabellas, and one also from Ugly dog.com.
They tend to get torn off, lost, etc, so we always have a spare!!
DT
However, the last few years we have been using a collar with a locator mode , because if we can't hear the bell we know he is on point, but just where in the cat tails or heavy bush ??!!
It has been invaluable and has been the direct result of taking birds where without it we would have not had the opportunity.
We only use it when we can't here the bell, then give it a shot and the collar will sound, letting us know where Louie is!!
I love the bell however, we got ours from cabellas, and one also from Ugly dog.com.
They tend to get torn off, lost, etc, so we always have a spare!!
DT
Have used a bell on my Golden for years, as he blends in so well in high crp grass. Apparently it doesn't affect the birds...at least it doesn't seem to flush birds early, otherwise it wouldn't use it. It's invaluable in a high corn field and I always use it in sorghum fields.
Kismet
UPH Guru
I loved the sound of the bell on my GWPs and used it to keep track of their movements in high cover. It was an element of "the hunt" in my mind. I have to believe that it spooked birds at times, but I think it helped more than it hurt my hunts with the pointers.
With Mick, a springer, I don't use one. He mostly stays close enough, and since his hunting style is not intended to lock the bird down, but to "spring" it, I figured he'd just keep the birds running ahead with his movement and sound of the bell.
No scientific experiment here, just what I thought.
I have become proficient at reading the tops of high grasses and weeds to mark his passage, even on windy days. Maybe we could start field trials for hunters, where they had to track their dogs through the tall grasses?
With Mick, a springer, I don't use one. He mostly stays close enough, and since his hunting style is not intended to lock the bird down, but to "spring" it, I figured he'd just keep the birds running ahead with his movement and sound of the bell.
No scientific experiment here, just what I thought.
I have become proficient at reading the tops of high grasses and weeds to mark his passage, even on windy days. Maybe we could start field trials for hunters, where they had to track their dogs through the tall grasses?
Cornhusker
New member
When hunting woodcock in grouse in Northern MI, it is so thick that you need some sort of locator on the dog to know where he/she is. The problem, which has already been mentioned, is that you never really know when the dog in on point. Do they work, absolutely...but when you get into some thick cover you may know exactly where to approach when a dog is on point
BritChaser
Well-known member
Always bell my Brit when the cover covers him. Last weekend another hunter had a beeper collar on his GSP. What an awful noisemaker - beeps as long as the dog is in motion. His nephew thankfully asked him, "Can you turn that damn thing off?!"
Cornhusker
New member
Good point....I have my beeper collar only set for when he is on point. You learn the sound of the point and can shit it off as soon as it alarms which is important when woodcock hunting.
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
I've run bells in the past but when the dog goes on point and the bell stops you have no way to locate the dog. I have gone to a Dogtra Beeper collar (T&B 2500 series) and love it. I run in "Point Only" mode. I think with any bell or beeper collar you run the risk of busting birds but the advantages far out weigh the disadvantages. I have seen my dog go on point, the collar start to beep and the bird flushes from the beep. Doesn't happen very often, but it has.
I run a beeper on my younger GSP that beeps while the dog is running. When she is on point it does a hawk screech that is supposed to hold the birds. The older boy gets a bell as I can trust him on birds. I don't mind the beeping and I've never seen it push birds anymore then a bell.
I also have two different collars, one that isn't much louder then a bell. The tri-tronics one is much louder and I can always hear where the dog is.
I also have two different collars, one that isn't much louder then a bell. The tri-tronics one is much louder and I can always hear where the dog is.
AtTheMurph
Well-known member
I have used bells for years when in deeper cover. Typically I don't use anything but in a few spots we hunt it is needed. Also like to use them when woodcock or grouse hunting in woods.
I don't think they scare the birds anymore than a group of 6 foot men trouncing through the grass.
Helps give an idea where dogs are but you still have to pay attention. If you don't know where your dog is and they go on point you'll be looking hard. Try imagining a Vizsla locked on point in deep cattails. You aren't going to be able to see a cattail colored dog in cattails very well! I know because I lost my dog for 45min one time in a ditch.
I don't think they scare the birds anymore than a group of 6 foot men trouncing through the grass.
Helps give an idea where dogs are but you still have to pay attention. If you don't know where your dog is and they go on point you'll be looking hard. Try imagining a Vizsla locked on point in deep cattails. You aren't going to be able to see a cattail colored dog in cattails very well! I know because I lost my dog for 45min one time in a ditch.
HolyMoses
New member
i have the beeper collar, but plan on adding a bell to compliment it.
I couldn't stand the constant beeping of the collar, so I only use it to locate him when out of view and to know when he is on point. the problem I am having is i am sick of hitting the button to locate him.
Going to add a bell to his collar and hopefully have the best of both worlds.
I will add too.....there is something majestic about the sound of the bell dinging as the dog works in the early morning frost.....maybe i am just weird, but I always got the "this is what it is all about" feeling with the bell.
I couldn't stand the constant beeping of the collar, so I only use it to locate him when out of view and to know when he is on point. the problem I am having is i am sick of hitting the button to locate him.
Going to add a bell to his collar and hopefully have the best of both worlds.
I will add too.....there is something majestic about the sound of the bell dinging as the dog works in the early morning frost.....maybe i am just weird, but I always got the "this is what it is all about" feeling with the bell.
BritChaser
Well-known member
Would love to hear all about woodcock hunting. We have a season here in Kansas but I haven't a clue as to where or how to do it. How about starting a thread on it and see who comes up with what.
only a pointer
Banned
As much as I hate to say it all those bells, beepers,tube shock collars went out in the stone ages alpha garmin best collar you will ever have and will get you more birds, you always know where your dog is at if a guy had a bell on his dog hell with it I will just sit in the truck lol
Tbear
UPH Master
I'm not a pointer guy so sorry. So here my 2 cents as a guy on the outside hunting occasionaly with guys that own pointers. Beeping color on just point mode I don't mind it. Beeping color on all the time just ruins it for me. Its loud and I can't enjoy nature. A bell is a little better but still just ruins it for me. Now I have a buddy that runs a setter and owns a Garmin alpha. Is quite he always know were his dog is. Its the way to go. :thumbsup:
Pheasant hunting no bell because public land birds wont hold as well for me. Grouse and woodcock I think a bell is good until the leaves come down, by about that time grouse can be spooky too. I am kind of amazed at all the different bells that can be used. Some have different tones and some are quite a bit louder than others. Woodcock are usually gone by the time the leaves all come down but a bell doesn't bother them at all from my experience. I'm not a huge fan of the constant beeper it starts to get on my nerves after a while.
519vx
Member
I'm with mmelton on this one. Think about it for a minute. Your a rooster on public land that's been chased and probably shot at. You're crouched down in a clump of weeds. You're on alert to begin with, then you hear ding ding ding. It gets louder and louder and now you have the noise pinned as to where its coming from. You gonna hang around?
I say this with some first hand experience as I used to use bells on my goldens on stocked birds here in Wisconsin. It seemed the dogs worked birds longer and I had a lot of out of range flushes. My dogs work pretty close to begin with, but when the bell came off, the flush and harvest rate went WAY up.
I say this with some first hand experience as I used to use bells on my goldens on stocked birds here in Wisconsin. It seemed the dogs worked birds longer and I had a lot of out of range flushes. My dogs work pretty close to begin with, but when the bell came off, the flush and harvest rate went WAY up.
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rascal
New member
I use beepers on point only mode as well. I used bells 20 odd years ago...they are nostalgic to a point but SOO ANNOYING. I personally cant stand the constant noise. I too like to just enjoy the peace and quiet and listen for where the dog is in the cover. I definitely think the bells alert every living creature out there....hmmmm maybe I should go back to bell and my dog wouldn't find as many SKUNKS! lol
