Optimum hunter to dog ratio

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Bucky

New member
I was just wondering what would you prefer as the proper hunter to dog ratio. For this discussion lets say we are hunting 2-4 hours a day so rotating dogs would not be neccessary. I think it would be pretty obvious the dogs would have to get along, stay under control etc. Does the type of dog matter (pointer vs flusher) etc. This weekend my 2 brothers and I are all going to a game farm and each own a GSP ( I will only bring one of my two) and of course each of us would like to hunt with our dog.

Thanks
Bucky
 
For me personally...

I think it is a matter of personal taste. Personally, I like hunting with one dog and one other person. However, this is largly because of the type of habitat I hunt. The cover just isn't big enough to warrent two dogs and there really aren't that many birds to go around. I'm selfish, I want him on as many birds as possible. Now if I hunted out West more (and I wish I did), I can see where I would be more open to larger parties and more dogs.

For me there's just something more intimate about hunting with my best friend and one other person. That way my dog can really get some work in.

For what you're describing, a short 2-4 hour hunt on a preserve, 3 dogs and three guys sounds a little crowded to me. I have hunted a preserve with one dog and three guys. I had the guys stay together as the dog worked. That way we minimized any wild flushes. I then rotated the guys on points. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Maybe you could do that and rotate dogs. Hunt each of them for an hour or so? Either way, 3 dogs in 3 hours just isn't a lot of time. Then again, if you're working on honoring and backing, this might be an ideal situation.

As to pointer vs flusher... Sounds like you've made up your minds.
 
I think it depends on what habitat you are hunting. If it is straight row crops, you can get away with less dogs as the birds feel less comfortable and will run the rows to the end of the field before flushing. This requires less dogs. I think a ratio of 4 hunters per dog is fine and could even get by with a ratio of 5 to 1. Also, I am assuming this based on flusher dogs not pointers.

If it is CRP or other non crop land, you need more dogs as the birds will tend to stay tight whether you are using a pointer or flusher. Another factor is how trained the dog is. Dogs that have big parties experience will usuallly adapt to cover multiple shooting lanes effectively.I hunt over labs that are trained to work back and forth in front of the guys next to me but not passed them. It just seems if you let them get passed that you don't have control. I can easily work a draw or slough with two other guys and feel like the dog is covering the ground efficient. Therefore, I think a 3 to 1 ratio works.

Just my thoughts
 
I always felt it depends on how many guys are hunting, the more guys the less dogs. The fewer guys the more dogs. But never more that 1 dog per hunter. I've hunted with 5 guys and 8 dogs in the past. It turns into a mess after a while.
 
GoBadgers said:
I always felt it depends on how many guys are hunting, the more guys the less dogs. The fewer guys the more dogs. But never more that 1 dog per hunter. I've hunted with 5 guys and 8 dogs in the past. It turns into a mess after a while.
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I agree with you GoBadgers, if you have quite a few guys you only need a couple dogs, and the smaller the party I'd like to have a few more. But as you said if nearly every guy has a dog it gets pretty chaotic! Our group usually has 15-20 that have all hunted together for about 20 years and we usually have 2-3 dogs and rotate them 2 fields on then a field off and we do pretty well! Only another 28 days left for us Kansans! :cheers:
 
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