I'm an admitted selfish bird hunter. I like to hunt alone, or maybe 1 other guy, especially when we can work out our own small pieces of cover. That's my preferred method because I can't smell birds, and the dog can. I want to turn him loose and then just follow without worry of not staying in line or hunting over into another's "zone". We zig-zag through cover @ the dog's pace. Sometimes that means I've got to hustle a little, sometimes that means I've got to stand still and let him work things out before continuing. Also, I don't want to chit-chat while afield, nor do I want to really hear any talking including dog commands. My dogs have all been whistle-trained and other than telling them "Good Boy" upon a retrieve, I want SILENCE save for the rustling grass of doggie and I moving through cover.
Slamming doors, yacking, hollering dog commands, and birds flushing wild well beyond shotgun range are all very interrelated. And so, I've become a selfish bird hunter.
Great day hunting.
