coyotecountry
New member
When training my GSP pup with a scented dummy does one scent work better than another? I've been told to train with pheasant scent but we don't have pheasant up here, does that matter?
Training my GSP pup on scent?
- Thread starter coyotecountry
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illinois hunter
New member
I have 4 brits but I dont think it would matter. Ive used scent pheasant and quail scent. But if you can by a few birds from a farm it would be well worth the money. You can tie a string to the leg and other end to pole and not lose the bird.
Homing pigeons are the way to go. Set up a small loft and get about 6 of them. I've trained Elhew English Pointers for a long while and the pigeons seem to set them up well for whatever birds you can put in front of them. I think the bird scent is probably closer between the different birds than we think. We use traps to launch the birds when pointed and blank guns and the birds fly back to the loft for the next days training. I wouldn't hesitate to use pheasant scent on a dummy there as it seems to be stronger than the quail scent to me at least...lol
illinois hunter
New member
Mcdonald how long do you need to keep pigeons before using them?
Don Fischer
New member
If you get ferals, about 30 days. I got my first homers last winter and have them on nests now. Four eggs hatched and two waiting. Gonna call the guy I got them from and see what he thinks. Even if they still leave here, he's on the way to town.
I used ferals for 20+ yrs with great results. Get them on a nest and they do come back. Otherwise about 30 days. Even then you'll probably lose a few. Have had ferals come back from right at 100mi. Almost a guarenteed deal from 50mi.
Gave a friend 9 feral squabs a couple weeks ago. They were flying and eating/drinking on their own. Bridge of their nose was still pink and he let a couple out that hadn't a clue how to get back. One finally did but the other is living on the roof of his loft. If you can get birds that young, you shouldn't have a problem. The one's I gave himhad never been outside a loft before. Don't put them out, open the bobs and let them come and go a few days on their own. Then every couple of days drop one bob till they are all down.
BTW, use bumpers to train retrieving with. Use birds to train a dog on scent
I used ferals for 20+ yrs with great results. Get them on a nest and they do come back. Otherwise about 30 days. Even then you'll probably lose a few. Have had ferals come back from right at 100mi. Almost a guarenteed deal from 50mi.
Gave a friend 9 feral squabs a couple weeks ago. They were flying and eating/drinking on their own. Bridge of their nose was still pink and he let a couple out that hadn't a clue how to get back. One finally did but the other is living on the roof of his loft. If you can get birds that young, you shouldn't have a problem. The one's I gave himhad never been outside a loft before. Don't put them out, open the bobs and let them come and go a few days on their own. Then every couple of days drop one bob till they are all down.
BTW, use bumpers to train retrieving with. Use birds to train a dog on scent
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