Thread: Considering an Indicator Dog for Bush Hunting: Seeking Advice and Opinions

Originally Posted by TakaRat

How effective are thermals in thick bush?

Handheld thermals are useful in bush hunting situation. Just don’t go getting one bigger than 25 mm. 25 mm and smaller have better field of view, definition and sensitivity are more than adequate for bush hunting ranges. Others will probably leap up an say you need the biggest and best available but I’ve been using a cheap Hikmicro LH15 for last 4? years and it’s been plenty good enough. Used bigger flasher ones and they frankly can be a pain in the arse.

Originally Posted by mikee

As said (and most likely not what to hear) a dog is somewhat of a long term commitment.
As an example we have a pointer (did have 3) and live in town.
The need a good off lead run in a safe place every night to save wear and tear on the section and house.
Every night I take them to a local area for an hours run off lead (sometime a bit of training), in the last year I have missed 10 nights walks total.
Our hunting season is 4 months and if I get out one day every weekend thats a total of 12 days actual hunting.
My dog(s) is really a hunting companion/company rather than a hunting dog but thats fine with me. We do OK and have a great time together
A well behaved house dog you can take hunting is easier to achieve than a full blown hunting machine.

It is possible but takes a lot of work and more importantly EXPOSURE to animals is whats is needed.
OH and i accept training a bird dog is different than a deer dog but they are both dogs.

If you do get a pooch..............enjoy it, relax and don't try to train it into a machine.
Lastly (this was posted on an overseas forum I belong to and its the best advice for any hunting dog I have heard)
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Mate,that is pure gold.

I regularly go months and months without taking my dog out but as soon as we do get out therw he just snaps back into it so I wouldnt get all caught up worrying that omce every 6 weeks should put you off. Do the early legwork and get everything rock solid and theres no reason the dog will go soft between outings. A lot of countries in europe etc you might literally only have 3 or 4 months in a whole year that you can hunt in and that doesnt seem to stop handlers breeding and training excellent indicator dogs

Fella I know borrows a lab for duckshooting...owner doesn't shoot at all. Just one of those cheeky moments to ask...would you like me to take your dog out?? Win win all around.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Fella I know borrows a lab for duckshooting...owner doesn't shoot at all. Just one of those cheeky moments to ask...would you like me to take your dog out?? Win win all around.

we used to take my mates mothers pedigree boxer out pig hunting as a holder - I think old Butch lived for it - a real dog