Thread: What is the correct distance

Hi guys,
Just interested to know what distance people think is the correct or good distance to have a dog work from you when deer hunting?
I've heard everything from "at your feet" to "10 metres in front"
Just wanting to know the pros and cons of both?

My initial thought would be to have it in close as too far out and they can take off, become too hard to read and run the risk of being spotted before you're even in a spot to see the deer. Cons of having it too close I spose you may miss the signs from your dog as well and it may limit its effectivenes. because its glued to one spot essentially

Fire it at me

BH

close enough to poke with the barrel.....
but throw ya tape measure away, if the dogs steady to game and under control i'm happy with my dogs to be within eye shot in the bush.
contary to what tussock says it's actually the nose you are using on the dog, not the eyes, hunting into the wind the value of a strong pointing breed really comes into play, as the natural desire to point and road in comes to the fore........ all you are hunting is the deer scent cone, if you intend waiting for the dog to spot the deer before you do then leave the dam thing at home.

I would of thought it was up to how the individual would like to hunt with it.

Close enough so you can stick the barrel in his ear if he's not listening it's quite surprising how they suddenly smarten their act up when I do that
They know what comes out of the bang stick and what it does

trip over ya dog much ?

i have steady dogs, and can see them slow right up even if they are out in front, we can start the roading process as soon as i instruct them to walk on, skills best learnt on the bird front..... if i want them closer i'll tap my leg, but i like my space to hunt as much as they do.
not sure where you hunt but most of our shit is uphill or down hill, walking along a footpath is different to the field, having the dog under control does not need to be attached to ya knee............. avoiding the retriever position is another hurdle to avoid as well....{just behind you}

I noticed the Aussies seem to like the dog way out in front approach, and some of the open bush in the Vic highlands it would be fine. Would cost you a lot of deer here in the NI bush.

A young dog will always stretch out as he gets older and more confident so it pays to keep a pretty tight heel when starting out. I had a bitch who when sidling along 10-15 metres below a ridgeline would leave my side, make her way quietly to the top the ridge to scent a different breeze, then come back and join me. All within eyesight of course. Nothing wrong with that in my books

Yep, nothing wrong with a dog showing a bit of initiative. However I have to emphasize this happened when she was older, and I knew she wasn't pissing off on me or self hunting

I'm more of a red and fallow hunter than sambar so the country we hunt in is flat and varies from thicker to less dense than the high country. I dont know if that affects the way I should do it at all.

Thats a good point people are brining up and one I've wondered - I have a 300WM and Australia being the great country that it is has banned supressors so the pup is going to be copping some noise.

Am I therefore better to keep her behind the muzzle i.e. very close?

Or should I say - Keep it behind the muzzle but allow it to take some slack as long as its obedient?

im going to train my next meat dog to hunt out in front, I will have the ability to cast it long right and left out to 10-30 meters depending on bush type, Out of sight is not a problem to me as you need to make maximum use of its nose , , i will teach it to hold point on deer sent from large distances , and during pointing training (witch would be on birds and fixed deer ) i would concentrate alot of time on roading-in training, having a start and stop command for it , and i would train the german style of finding when it comes back with its collar in mouth ,

Here's from that article by Herb Spanngl

"In bush hunting classic heeling is not the answer because you have to constantly turn around to see how your dog is reacting to the constant stream of airborne scents. The best position for the dog is far enough forward that it's shoulder is by your left knee. But beware, any further ahead and you are running the risk of the dog being spotted before you see the deer. Besides the knee position anchors the dog to a clearly defined place. You might think all that is too finicky but believe me, if you let the dog roam it will be hard to keep it close. Inevitably you end up worrying more about the dog than deciphering what is in front of you."

Hope it helps

Originally Posted by Kaimaicockher

im going to train my next meat dog to hunt out in front, I will have the ability to cast it long right and left out to 10-30 meters depending on bush type, Out of sight is not a problem to me as you need to make maximum use of its nose , , i will teach it to hold point on deer sent from large distances , and during pointing training (witch would be on birds and fixed deer ) i would concentrate alot of time on roading-in training, having a start and stop command for it , and i would train the german style of finding when it comes back with its collar in mouth ,

i think i can provide you with the raw material bro.

Originally Posted by kawhia

i think i can provide you with the raw material bro.

will pm you , i know some one who is looking for one also so will gave them a call also ,

of course...... common sence will mean every deer within 20kms will just ignore it.