training on the river

[92xj]

What are the rules/laws about training your dog on the river?
Can you go out to any public land, shoot a gun, with non toxic shot, throw a dummy with decoys out, and have the dog retrieve or would you get a ticket for duck hunting? 

[good2go]

I would say make some poppers or get a starters pistol. A dummy launcher would be a good idea also. I personally would not be as worried doing water work as I would planting birds for field work on state land.

I'm thinking bumpers. If you are using frozen or live birds things maybe very different.

[ghosthunter]

If you are training a young dog make sure you have him solid on the come back whistle before training in a river.
Most rivers are real high right now and swift. I would not put a young dog in the river now.
Almost lost my lab years ago training in the river.

[Happy Gilmore]

Don't train dogs in a river. Wait until it is hot out and water is low if you think it is important. I live on the river. Can't think of anything productive that comes from it. I won't hunt my dogs on the river in the winter except for a few spots I know are safe and they can swim way down river and still get out and find me.

If you use ducks, they must be farm raised with a toe clipped and it's a good idea to have a receipt from the person you bought them from. Using ducks you shot no matter what the condition is wanton waste. Ticket time.