Hunting and not training

[ed]

For the past month we have been bird hunting regularly and except for insisting on retrieve of down birds there is no training and only minimal handling.
Each time we go out finding birds gets better.

Since I have stopped handling we have interesting results.

He ranges further faster and finds birds much more effeciently. Problem now is he can get out of gun range quick. The pointer guys don't have to worry about this.

He also finds birds and retrieves them with no one firing a shot. There is no flush.Usually hens and when its very cold they are hard to get in the air. When I clean those birds there are puncture marks through the breast.

Yeah I know Its time to rein him in but the intensity and I have to say "style" is really something now.
Sit on the flush means I'll have to mess with a check cord and give commnads. It is not needed for hunting and might screw up what he has learned by himself.
We have developed a great technique to work with big running pointing dogs but thats another topic.
Picture you have a flusher with some real serious GSP's in the field. The competition to find birds first is fierce.These bird dogs are screaming and whining in the crates as we pull up to a field. When released they rocket out run hundreds of yards and stop on a dime. Then you step out with your Dale.

[southern]

again, send meat

[hicntry]

Ed, it sounds like he is learning to hunt more the way he would without human restraint. This could be a very good thing in my mind, as long as he can be reigned back in later. What he is doing is learning how to hunt with all his senses....not how you want him to hunt. When walking up birds, do bird hunters pay attention to the air currents and hunt the dog down wind of where they want the dog, or is walking in a specified formation more important? What will happen shortly is Brisco will move to the downwind side of a draw or an area to check the area.....he may be out of range but he is being the most efficient as a hunter. 'Pay attention to what he is doing and figure out why and you will both be more successful bird hunters. Just don't tell the others why you are moving over to where Brisco is.LOL Predators are "efficient" hunters. They will expend the least energy for the most return. Let him learn how to hunt his way and follow his lead a little. If Brisco is like Remington was, he will lead you and wait for you to catch up. It is experience he his gaining that will be beneficial to both. IMHO of course.LOL