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Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no #6925453 10/19/17 04:33 AM
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Michael Wilson Online Content OP
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Trying to decide if I should put a bell on my dog or not. This is my first year quail with a dog. Will be hunting some public land such as the Matador WMA and others. Thanks


God Bless and Semper FI
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926395 10/20/17 12:57 AM
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get a gps collar,,, I hunt with a guy with a collar that beeps constantly,,, it has to bother the dog.

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926505 10/20/17 03:01 AM
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If you are on a tight budget definitely use the bell. It's better than being without help keeping up with your dog. If you got the funds go with a Garmin Alpha. It gives peace of mind and makes the hunt much more enjoyable. Best money your could spend

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926691 10/20/17 12:40 PM
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how does your dog range? never used a bell, never had gps,that tell you how old I am?


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926770 10/20/17 01:38 PM
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I've wondered about this too just as a safety measure. I have a GSP who is obedient but does wander. Heard great things about the Garmin Alpha too.


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Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926801 10/20/17 01:58 PM
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Nothing wrong with a bell until you get tired of listening to it.

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926820 10/20/17 02:07 PM
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I've used bells but my hearing sucks so it didn't work for me.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926878 10/20/17 02:50 PM
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I tried last year but it was late in the season. The grass was a little over grazed in my opinion. She was out about 60 yards running long zig zags. She hit scent and cut back. She took a few cautious steps and the covey went up. 30 yards ahead of her. I ended up taking the bell off right there. I've tried it a few other times late in the season and saw the difference....I think.... Here's what I think...

If the grass is dense enough for the birds to want to hide it will work. If it's not the birds are going to run and get up. It's not about seeing your dog in the cover as much as wheather or not the birds will hold. I honestly quit using it. Get a light weight blaze orange vest for your dog. Keep them in sight. That's the silent option.

When I hunt public land I figure I have to do everything I can to be as stealthy as possible. It makes the difference in my opinion. I might try the bell again if I ever hunt grass taller then my dog or pen raised birds.

Last edited by Wacm; 10/20/17 02:51 PM.
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #6926885 10/20/17 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted By: CCBIRDDOGMAN
I've used bells but my hearing sucks so it didn't work for me.


^^^This... bells are old school and I used to use them all them time in heavy cover, but nowadays with GPS collars, I rarely see them used. Besides, unless the dog was running with the Liberty Bell around his neck, I'd never hear it.


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Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6926948 10/20/17 03:41 PM
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GPS is cheaper than replacing your dog



Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6927303 10/20/17 10:24 PM
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After several hours of hunting with a guy that used a beeper on both his dogs, I was considering shooting him. Never hunted behind a dog with a bell, but it would have to be just as bad.


We all need to practice Whoa more.
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: nak] #6927304 10/20/17 10:25 PM
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No

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6927334 10/20/17 10:47 PM
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Thanks


God Bless and Semper FI
Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6927347 10/20/17 11:03 PM
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Never.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


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Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: bill oxner] #6927605 10/21/17 03:20 AM
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Never have but to each his own.


Bobby Barnett

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6943957 11/02/17 07:36 PM
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I've used bells. They don't have much range and it's difficult to find one that will last long on a bird dog's neck.

But they do work better than nothing if you're hunting some tall or thick stuff.


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Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6945227 11/03/17 07:50 PM
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I would say yes based on my quail hunt at Chaparral WMA last weekend. Bear in mind I was introducing a 8 month old GSP to quail hunting. I put bells on her and her 3 month old side kick and glad I did. The 8 month old would be out of sight in no time. The bell gave me a good indication of how far out she was ranging. When the sound got quieter I called her back to me and repeated that process the entire day. We only jumped one covey and she actually ran past them. The jumped as me and my wife approached them so don't think the bell disturbed the birds.

I looked at gps collars but they are out of my price range at this time. As long as my dog returns to me on recall I can keep her from ranging out too far and getting lost.

Re: Hunting quail with bell on dog yes or no [Re: Michael Wilson] #6946475 11/04/17 11:28 PM
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I hunted mine with a beeper collar last weekend. She didn’t get out of hearing to many times. I ran her with out a beeper this morning and she was almost always in site.


God Bless and Semper FI
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