Posted from: http://youtu.be/D03y9AuWJD8
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Posted from: http://youtu.be/D03y9AuWJD8
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https://www.fieldandstream.com/is-shock-collar-on-your-bird-dog-good-bad-orboth/
Here’s a joke: “What’s the only thing two dog trainers can agree on? The third trainer’s bad methods…when he’s not around.” That’s funny because it’s true. The fact is, handlers favor their own methods. Depending on the dog, the training method, and the hunting or training situation, the use of e-collars and electric shocks can be a highly subjective decision.
Early e-collar adapters purchased them from companies like Sensatronics, that made receivers the size of milk containers that weighed just under a pound. The “Superheterodyne Electronic Dog Trainer” hit the shelves in 1962. Since then, e-collars have come a long way. They’re smaller and lighter, and feature things like vibrations, sounds, and GPS tracking. But dog owners remain split on whether to use shock collars or not. Some handlers swear by them while others wouldn’t take a case of e-collars for free.
Despite significant improvements in e-collar technology, many countries would like to see them disappear. A recent claim from the Dog’s Trust, the largest dog welfare charity in the UK, stated that research proved e-collars delivered bursts of electricity up to 6,000 volts for 11 seconds at a time. Although the voltage was exaggerated (the cited shock of 6,000 volts is actually only used in sheep and cattle fencing rather than dog e-collars), the UK along with several other European countries is putting laws into effect to ban e-collars.
Here in the U.S., e-collars are still available, and we have a choice between e-collars and the positive method for our dogs. To help in your decision, here are what some hunting and dog training professionals from both sides of the aisle have to say about using e-collars.
Why Positive Training Delivers a Clearer Message
Robert Milner, the author of Retriever Training for the Duck Hunter, Retriever Training-A Back to Basics Approach, and Absolutely Positively Gun Dog Training, has used both approaches throughout his long and distinguished career. “When I founded Wild Rose Kennel in 1972, I trained over 1,000 dogs with e-collars,” Milner says. “I used them until 1982. That was the year when I first went to the UK. Over there, I learned about their shooting practices, dog training methods, field trials, and ultimately made significant changes. I converted Wildrose to all UK breeding stock and then shifted to many of their positive training methods. The Brits favor more gentle methods than many of those used in the states.
“To my mind, e-collars work by avoiding the negative. Call it a nick, call it a stimulation, call it what you want; a shock is a shock, and it is unpleasant. The nick has two behavioral effects on a dog. The first is that the dog is punished for doing something wrong. The second is that the punishment is stopped when the dog corrects its behavior. That is known as a successful escape response. E-collars basically work by creating a condition in which the dog can escape.
“Positive training delivers a clear message of what a handler wants a dog to do and then encourages it to choose to do it. I learned the importance of positive training for gun dogs several years after I sold Wildrose Kennels, and it was through a program that had nothing to do with hunting. In the years following 9/11, I was contracted by the Memphis Fire Department to rebuild the disaster dog program for their FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. The job of each Task Force was to sniff out buried victims and then to report the location to the handler to begin a rescue. I bought young started Labrador gun dogs and placed them with new handlers and commenced training. After two to three months into the project, I measured our progress and projected that it was going to take 18 months to get the team operational. A year and a half was far too long, and that’s when I discovered positive training which begins with the use of clickers. I learned it, and taught it to the dogs and handlers. By telling the dogs what we wanted them to do and then encouraging them to do it, we reduced the training time down to six months. That’s a 300-percent reduction in training time. What I learned is that positive training is three times easier for a novice trainer to learn, and that it’s much faster for the dog to achieve a given performance level. I gave away all my electric collars and have used positive training methods ever since.
Why Better Genetics Lead to Better Behavior
Jeremy Criscoe, a breeder, trainer, and handler with 30 HRCH and 15 Master Hunter titles says that if he has to shock a dog, “I’ll give him away and get another dog with better genetics. Why should I have to train a dog to force fetch if I can breed one that naturally retrieves? Breeding takes more time and insight, but it’s a long-term solution that improves the breed.
“Collars change the natural way dogs work by temporarily fixing issues. Take an eye-strong dog that is marking dead birds. He’s not using his nose, right? Handlers then must use collars to control the dog’s behavior and to get him into the reeds to locate the bird. If that dog then wins a title, he’ll get bred, and the sight-marking characteristic is passed along. But if you breed a dog that uses his nose on marks, then you don’t need an e-collar.
“I’ve been a fan of positive training since I read Robert Milner’s first book. It’s a way to get a more natural response from a dog. I want dogs that will crash into the water because they want to retrieve. I want their paws kicking up dirt when they get underway. Those characteristics come from careful, insightful breeding. Focus on the breeding, and you won’t need any training aids.
How a Properly Used E-Collar Can Be a Valuable Training Tool
Josh Miller is a pro trainer from Wisconsin and the winner of seven North American Shed Hunting Dog Association World Championship titles. He’s also the Product Training Specialist for SportDOG Brand. “I don’t know that one can say with 100-percent accuracy that one method is better than the other,” Miller says. “Both camps have passionate followers, but having a choice is the most important part of the question. Dogs, handlers, and situations vary significantly, and in my experience, there are times that call for a collar, and also times that do not. I train young dogs to be responsive without collars. When we’re ready for the next step, I’ll certainly use them for reinforcement at a distance as well as for finish work.”
Miller looks deeper at the issue and believes that the manner with which trainers use an e-collar is what sparks the debate. “When handlers properly use collars, they are a tremendously beneficial training tool,” he says. “But the way some folks use them is opposite of the correct way. The e-collar should be a long-range check cord or leash, something that motivates your dog to follow the command. Let’s say your dog is at a distance, and you call him to come, and he doesn’t pay attention. In most situations, the handler gives the command followed by a stimulation. The dog doesn’t know what is going on, gets scared, and runs for safety—which is to the handler. The collar gets the credit for having worked, but it’s really off base. The preferred way to use the collar begins with yard work and teaching the dog to obey the come command. So, when the dog is at a distance and the handler issues the come command and the dog doesn’t respond, the stim button is pressed and held at a low level. When the dog changes direction and heads back towards the handler, the button is released. Used that way the dog clearly identifies that he’s being stimulated when he’s misbehaving and the shock disappears when he’s following the command. Properly using collars makes them a go-to training tool.
“The same holds true for collar placement, especially for staunching up dogs and keeping them from creeping. Place the collar around the belly. That way the dog’s head remains high, and he doesn’t shake it when a stimulation is delivered. Breathing is improved as the windpipe is open, and less stimulation is needed because of the direct contact of the collar with the belly. When the collar is used properly, it serves its real purpose as an invisible leash when walking, as an invisible check cord when pointing, and as an overall tremendous training aid. But it should be used as a reinforcement of what has already been taught.”
How to Use an E-Collar on a Bird Hunt
“A lot has changed over the years with regards to dog training,” says Thor Kain, whose dog Blast Zone won this year’s Cover Dog of the Year and the Mike Seminatore Award for the top, all-age English setter cover dog. But what is important to the topic at hand is that Kain won third place for Handler of the Year. “The old way of training included a spike collar, a check cord, and a good beating. Good genetics in a dog results in easier training, and when it comes to e-collars, I think of them as a very long check cord. E-collars can be used for correction or to get a dog to pay attention. The only time I use my collars for correction is when they are chasing deer. Other than that, I work dogs with a check cord until they stand pigeons and are steady to wing and shot with a check cord. Then I’ll introduce them to an e-collar. I never ask a dog to do something with an e-collar that I wouldn’t ask them to do with a check cord. If you do, you’ll get a confused dog that does things out of fear.
“I run collars around a dog’s neck when I’m training, but when I put them on birds, I shift the position to their belly. When the collar is on their belly, the stim comes from an area that is far from their head. That’s important because as a field trialer, I don’t want the dog to have any association between the stim and the bird. I also want my dogs to make commitments, which is to either point or to knock the bird. If he knocks the bird, I can correct that behavior by standing him up. Handlers who stim dogs to stop them from creeping, train their dogs to make false points. The first order of business is that the dog points at first contact with scent. If the bird has moved and the dog is relocating to pin the bird and the handler stims him, then the dog will learn not to move. That’s where a lot of false points come from. I don’t use stim in that instance and would much rather the dog be bold and bust the bird. Then I know what correction is needed. When dogs chase flushed birds, hold down the stim button and roll the intensity knob until it is high enough for them to stop. The gradually increasing intensity teaches them what is coming the next time, and you’ll have staunch dogs very quickly. I use the collar to get the dog to listen to me. After I have his attention, the rest of our training with the check cord kicks in.”
The Takeaway on E-Collars for Bird Dog Owners
In the end, to use e-collars or not to use e-collars really isn’t the question. Instead, the question is which training method is best for you and your dog. For some, the positive method is the best way to handle your pup. For bigger running dogs that need an occasional reminder of lessons learned, an e-collar provides some reinforcement. There is no right or wrong answer here, but how your dog handles makes all the difference in the world. And that’s a decision for every professional, amateur, and recreational handler and trainer to make as they see fit. If you do choose to use an e-collar here are some reliable options:
The Best Models for Dog Collar Training
Garmin Tri-Tronics: In 2011, GPS-giant Garmin purchased Tri-Tronics, the e-collar specialty company, to form Garmin Tri-Tronics.
Dogtra: For over 30 years, Torrance, California’s Dogtra has produced a wide variety of high-quality e-collars and other training gear.
SportDOG Brand: Headquartered in Knoxville, TN, SportDOG Brand is the sporting dog training gear company owned by Radio Systems Corporation.
DT Systems: The Dallas, Texas-based D.T. Systems has been manufacturing high-quality e-collars and dog training gear since 1983.
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Posted from: http://huntinginsider.com/bear-edge-release-new-ultra-lightweight-frame-lock-knife/
Compact and Portable Jacksonville, Alabama – Bear Edge Knives, a Bear & Son Cutlery brand, adds two minimal-frame lock knives to their 2019 product line with the Bear Edge 71526 and the 71527. These compact and portable pocket knives reduce carry weight while offering a durable and razor-sharp cutting edge. They are ideally suited for […]
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https://www.fieldandstream.com/three-things-to-look-for-in-fishing-kayak/
You can fish casually out of just about any kayak, as long as it floats. But if you’re serious about catching fish you should consider buying a boat that’s designed for the purpose. Here are three things to look for when buying yours:
1. A Comfortable Seat!
Comfortable, lawn-chair style seats help you stay out on the water longer without your butt going numb. They’re also easier to stand up from than more traditional sit-on-top kayak seats, so look for this option if you do a lot of sight fishing or fly casting.
2. Speed AND Stability
There’s nothing wrong with a cheap kayak if you’re just kicking around the pond in your back yard. But if you plan to fish bigger water where you have to paddle to get to the fishing you should look for an option that tracks well. Tracking measures a kayak’s ability to glide forward in a straight line after you stop paddling. The better your boat tracks, the less effort you have to put into paddling to your fishing spot.
The best tracking kayaks are long and skinny, not great for fishing. A good fishing kayak will feature decent tracking performance and a shorter, wider hull that’s easy to turn and won’t tip over easily. Kayaks with catamaran-style or “multi-hull” designs are designed to help balance these competing priorities. They are not as fast as long, skinny touring kayaks, but they won’t flip easily either, so you get the best of both worlds.
3. A Pedal Drive
Most serious kayak anglers who spend time in lakes, rivers, or ocean bays and inlets where the water is deeper than a couple of feet prefer a kayak with a pedal drive. There are two main types, prop drives (which you pedal like a bicycle, made by companies like Native, Old Town, Wilderness Systems, and others) and fin drives (which you pedal like a stairmaster, primarily made by Hobie). You can fish pedal boats in shallow water by popping up (or taking out) the pedal drive, but if you spend most of your time in very shallow water a paddle-only kayak may be a better investment.
Pedal drive kayaks are the most expensive kinds of fishing kayak, but they are cheaper to run than a power boat, and they let you catch almost as many fish. They’re very popular with kayak anglers because you can use your feet instead of your hands to move them around the water. This lets your hands stay free for casting, hooking, and fighting fish, and gives you the ability to fish in wind and current as easily as if you were using an electric trolling motor.
Buyer’s Tip: Just want a fun, cheap boat you can pack up and store easily? Here’s an interesting option. It’s not something we recommend for fishing (sharp hooks and knives don’t mix so well with this type of boat) but it would be a fun kayak to store up at the lake.
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https://www.wideopenspaces.com/you-do-your-business-anywhere-with-this-toilet-backpack/
Have you ever been hunting or camping when the unthinkable happens? Can you remember a time when the moment comes and you have no where to go, no escape, no plan?
You probably bring toilet paper on every camping trip, but it isn’t always that simple. There isn’t always a dimly lit ditch. There aren’t always a bunch of trees and thick brush blocking you from a massive field of view.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. With this portable toilet backpack, you can basically set up wherever you want and take care of your business in luxury and privacy. Just cross your fingers and hope none of your friends decides to mess with you.
Watch the video below:
Carry your own toilet wherever you go!
Posted by Impressive Things on Monday, June 24, 2019
I’m sure we can all think of at least one dire time when we could’ve used one of these!
There are actually a lot of these to pick from online, ranging in both quality and price, but these are certainly a necessary addition for everyone’s wishlist.
Portable toilets can run anywhere from $40 to $200, so start saving up now and figure out what features are important to you.
The other major plus of this product is the fact it doesn’t take up any space in your truck, and it weighs close to nothing.
If you don’t already have a way to do your business when you’re out in the wilderness, take it from someone who’s experienced the worst-case scenario: it’s always better to play it safe!
The only other things you’ll need are toilet bags or more generic plastic bags and a toilet seat (if one isn’t included) to make this privacy shelter functional.
NEXT: WYOMING MAN UNLAWFULLY TAKES 500 POUNDS OF ANTLERS FOR DOG CHEW COMPANY
WATCH
The post You Can Do Your Business Anywhere With This Toilet Backpack appeared first on Wide Open Spaces.
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Posted from: http://huntinginsider.com/plastic-pollution-is-coming-from-an-unlikely-suspect/
Single use plastic is the most obvious of offenders when we consider ocean plastic pollution. Yet the biggest offender of plastic pollution is something that might not be front of mind: our clothes. Over 35% of the projected 1.5 million metric tonnes of microplastics found in the oceans come from synthetic textiles1. What’s even more concerning […]
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Just bought your first fishing kayak? Welcome to a great sport! Catch fish, get exercise, spend more time outside. Just make sure you’re safe on the water. Here are three things you need to buy before you head out on your first trip. All are required by the U.S. Coast Guard; you will get a ticket if they stop you and you don’t have them on your kayak.
A Bright Light Pole (With A Flag)
If you’re fishing in water that gets heavy boat traffic it’s a good idea to make yourself as visible as possible. A brightly colored flag will help catch the attention of any other boaters out there during the daytime. If you plan to fish at all at night (when lots of fish bite best!) make sure your flag comes topped with a 360-degree light. Coast Guard regulations state you must have one capable of signalling for help if you are in distress.
A Loud Whistle
Coast Guard regulations state that “All vessels are required to carry an efficient sound-producing device, such as a whistle or horn that is audible for at least one-half mile.” Your loudest option is to carry a portable air horn, but these can expire or get corroded, so you have to make sure they’re maintained and replaced each season. A cheaper and more reliable option is a classic survival whistle, which you can attach to your lifejacket for easy access and works regardless of how often you dunk it in the water.
A Good Life Jacket
The most obvious piece of safety equipment for kayak anglers is a properly-sized life jacket. There are many models designed specifically for anglers. Low-profile inflatable life jackets give you lots of freedom of movement, but they need to be maintained and are not as reliable as simpler foam models.
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Posted from: http://youtu.be/JQKLkcC_D3c
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Sunblock is smelly, expensive, and can get on your lures, which some anglers believe will turn fish away before they strike. It will also kill fish in your livewell if you’ve got it on your hands when you reach in to grab a bait. If you fish a lot but don’t want to deal with the hassle of slathering lotion all over yourself a couple of times a day, consider purchasing clothing designed to keep the sun off your skin instead.
A Long-Sleeve Shirt With a Hood
Many companies now make long-sleeve, quick-drying lightweight shirts with high SPF ratings that protect your arms and torso from the sun. We prefer these shirts with built-in hoods that you can flip up over the back of your baseball cap to keep the sun off your neck and ears. These shirts come in lots of color patterns and are surprisingly cool even in hot and muggy weather.
A Button-Up Fishing Shirt
One drawback to these lightweight sun shirts is that they can look less flattering on sweating anglers who don’t hit the gym that often. Button-down shirts made of slightly stiffer (but still quick drying) fabrics do a better job of masking man boobs and love handles, and you can wear them overtop of lightweight sun gear to add gear pockets to your outfit. Many come with oversize collars you can pop to help protect your neck from the sun. Pair them with …
An Oversize Sun Hat
Wide-brimmed hats made of canvas, straw, or synthetic fabrics protect your face, neck and ears from the sun. They also cut down on overhead glare, helping you spot fish more easily. Stick a few flies in the brim for the River Runs Through It look that probably got you into fishing in the first place.
Quick Drying Pants
Convertible nylon pants/shorts dry so fast you can wear them in a river and then hike up a mountain in them a half hour later. They’re great for kayak fishing, beach fishing, or just hanging out on the dock with the boat, and you can wear them to the bar after a long day on the water without looking stranger than normal.
Waterproof Socks
Don’t forget your feet! Shoes are no fun when you’re fishing off the beach or in your kayak, and sandals don’t do much to keep them out of the sun. Keep your soles protected from hot sand and your toes out of UV rays with a pair of waterproof, breathable socks.
Fishing Masks
Your skin gets hit twice by the sun’s rays when you’re fishing. Once from the sun directly, once after bouncing off the water. Your face takes the brunt of this. Lightweight fishing masks do a great job of protecting your neck, cheeks, nose and ears from the onslaught. They’re also great for hiding your identity if your buddy posts your pic on Facebook when you’re playing hooky from work.
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New Family-Friendly Pricing for 2019 LAKELAND, Fla. (June 27, 2019) —Tickets are now on sale for the Florida Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo presented by Suzuki KingQuad, July 26-28 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Fla., and can be purchased online at www.fieldandstreamexpo.com. Discount Adult tickets can be purchased for $10 (ages 13-over) at participating O’Reilly Auto […]
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