Lets discuss range

I'm walking Cracker and Muffin each morning. I keep Muffin on a leash, but let Cracker run free around the rural subdivision, but controlled with the e-color. She's so fast that she sometimes gets out of sight. She does the same thing while hunting. There's seldom a problem with the Garmin, until she gets behind. That disrupts our hunt from the vehicle.

I never minded how big my dogs ran as long as their range was between ten and two. What do you look for in range from your bird dogs?

Never behind, 9 and 3 to the front, 200 yards max while I am on foot, let em roll if on the utv.

In big country 600 to 800 yards. My big runners find 20 birds for every bird my 200 yard dog finds

I am mostly a public land hunter. Therefore hunting usually involves small properties like WIHA, WMA, WA, APHP, NWR, Corps, BLM, and various other State, School, and Federal lands. These are usually surrounded by private land and roads. Some can be very small and bordered by houses, ranches, parks, highways, etc. When hunting on the larger public land properties, there potentially are other hunters out not necessarily hunting the same game as you and people out doing other things. As well, all hunting is on foot. This is one of the reasons for my choice of bird dog being the Vizsla. With exceptions, my breed of choice is known for being a close hunter. Because of the type of properties I have to hunt, I don't really want a long ranging dog all the time. My current Vizsla is about perfect for me. He can range far if the terrain is very open. On very thick terrain, he will usually stay in sight and sound range. In between he may range out of sight a lot, but will check in from time to time. He is very attentive to me and though he has taken longer than my other Vizsla, he is maturing and starting to read me and the moment as to what type of hunting is expected of him that day, including ranging. If I hunted mostly large private ranches or lived near big western public land properties to mostly hunt, I would want a balls to the wall long ranging dog.

I've only had my GSP out twice in his life. When he was a year old his range was about 300 yards but last year (7) he stayed close. I'm hoping he will start ranging further now that I have a quail only lease I can hunt as often as I want. I do have a another dog who will be with a trainer starting in Oct. When the little jackass gets out of the yard his range great

Same here... Never behind 3 and 9. I have always let her go and she has made me very proud. I do a fairly good amount of Southern Arizona quail hunting and have plenty of space. This allows me to let her cover a lot of ground.

My Garmin found Cracker on point at 700 yards last year. I should have been happy because she was still solid when we got there. The problem was that she skipped coveys to get there. I didn't like that.

They can't find them all Bill. But I know what you are saying, Ace our EP will range out pretty far but when I just let him roll on his own, he misses birds, if I keep him checked in with a vibe here and there, he finds alot more birds. Also, he likes to chase hogs so I have to watch out for that too. All I want at our lease is for them to stay in sight or at least not stay out of sight too long, but out there, 1,000 yards is still in sight unless they drop down into a creek. As long as they have a Garmin on, I pretty much let em rip tater chip.

I mostly hunt on foot so I try to keep them within a hundred yards. A wide swinging dog is alright if it is in country where you can see him but I'm happier with a hard hunting dog that wants me to see how much fun they are having.

Are you hunting birds, dogs, or a Garmin signal? 800 yards is half a mile. I am not sure I can see a dog at half a mile, all things considered. Maybe your big runners are just better bird dogs. The 20 to 1 ratio is hard for me to swallow.

In the next topic, does bigger range equal more birds... The answer is No.

I don't look for range so much as I do drive. If a dog is hunting hard at less than 100 yards, am good with that. If a dog us running over 500 yards just to run, am not okay with that.

My Honky Tonk Attitude female was never beaten while wild quail hunting. She was fast and wide. I don't remember another dog ever finding another covey behind her. NSTRA usually favors close working dogs. She won our Region when she was two years old.

If that were true flushers would be the bigger bird finders

It's a shame quail hunting is so exclusive. I could show you within 30 minutes of your house.

They are.



...I couldn't resist.

My comment is that of a put and take quail hunting. I keep my dogs close with their ranging as I have limited area to work and clients not interested in walking long distances. Close ranging works for what I do with quail and everyone has fun.