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Wm. Bates | all galleries >> Galleries >> A New Beginning...Picture A Day > Timber 12_06_08.jpg
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06-DEC-2008

Timber 12_06_08.jpg

We spent the day hunting again today. Here is Timber looking very dignified.

This was taken at the end of a good solid and productive point. If you look close you can see the chukar just about to break through the grass.



and here is a shot Wanda took through the grass a few points later.



Canon EOS 20D
1/2500s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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VerymarriedV 19-Dec-2008 17:42
If 7 days without Wanda makes one weak, what does 21 days do? :-(
willy 09-Dec-2008 05:02
Great photo of a handsome dog... and all along I've always thought of you as the lucky dog Bill.... ;)
Steve Patterson07-Dec-2008 23:23
Our dog just recently was introduced to electricity, also. Amazing how "smart" they become! And, so quickly!!! haha. Our dog even comes on command....can u imagine???
Wm. Bates07-Dec-2008 16:13
The bottom collar is where Timber has his ID tags and a little bell. The second collar is a training electronic stimulation and beeper collar.

When hunting we walk a fine line between having a dog in total control and letting his natural instincts run wild. Often the dog is at distance and when grouse hunting he may completely out of sight in the brush. The e-collar is a god send for training and working in the field. It allows us to correct and reward behavior instantly when giving a command when the dog is well out of reach.

The e collar is not to punish the dog when he doesn't do what he is supposed to. You set the stimulation to a very low level and when a command is given you a give him a little stimulation that is removed as soon as he performs. It allows me to train him at large distances we work at. Often the dog will be a couple of hundred yards away when a command is given. Timber performing and being in control at large distances is very important for both the his safety and for hunting.

Where we hunted yesterday was along a road that had some traffic. If a bird flushes his instinct is to chase and a road isn't a barrier. If he doesn't stop or turn when I say he could easily end up in the road and that could end badly.

Also he can't be chasing live stock or deer and other animals we run into in the field.

Also, his collar has a beeper which really is a new fangled bell. In the past all my dogs have had a bell, which as they run allows you to keep track of them when out of sight. The bells were kind of loud and some say hurt the dogs ears and hearing. I'll go with that. The beeper is a good solution. I can push a button and the collar beeps or I can set it to beep every 10 seconds or beep when the dog stops and goes on point.

I just leave it off and push the button when he is out of sight and I need to know where he is at.

But I'm kind of old fashion too. I missed the tinkle of a bell while we worked in the woods. There is something about the electronic sound of the beep that just isn't right. We had a bell that has a very soft jingle which really you can't here if he is more than 20 or 30 yards away. When it is really thick I only want Timber 50 yards or so away so I still get to hear that bell ring that reminds me of dogs past. It isn't so loud it will hurt his hearing or interfere with hearing a command.

I guess I'm a romantic. Grouse hunting is done a certain way. You hunt over an English Setter or two and you carry a old fashion double barrel shotgun. Mostly you hunt alone or with a very close companion. Every painting you see of someone hunting grouse will have a setter often an old stone wall (which we don’t have out west) and a man with aside by side shotgun. You don't shoot a fancy new semi auto that will throw lead as fast as you can pull the trigger. This isn't about shooting a limit of birds. It is about hunting a few birds, enjoying good dog work and doing it with style and grace.
Guest 07-Dec-2008 13:33
Wonderful shot of Timber... what is that second (orange) collar for??? I take it it's used for hunting??? Jv