Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: huntnfmly on April 20, 2011, 11:01:46 PM

Title: plain or feathered bumpers
Post by: huntnfmly on April 20, 2011, 11:01:46 PM: Hey everyone just wondering what you all think.I am training our springer and wondering what gave you the best results i use to use plain bumpers but i was in cabelas the other day and seen one that was set up with pheasant wings and a tail do you think it would be best to get him use to the feathers or will plain bumpers work just as well then use feathered ones to get him use to it.
Thanks
Title: Re: plain or feathered bumpers
Post by: Happy Gilmore on April 22, 2011, 12:05:44 PM: I assume bumpers just to play fetch with right?

no replacing real feathers. Lots of pigeons for sale on Craigslist right now. You can keep them for days in a big cardboard box with some newspaper in the bottom. Get two or three, pull feathers and use them....freeze them when they're dead-- re-use over and over.....
Title: Re: plain or feathered bumpers
Post by: huntnfmly on April 22, 2011, 12:15:58 PM: thanks for info
Title: Re: plain or feathered bumpers
Post by: canyelk48 on April 23, 2011, 07:03:55 AM: I buy the pheasant wings (pack of 6) from Cabelas, which is cheaper than the bumper that is already fitted with pheasant feathers, and cable tie one on to the canvas bumper. My dog loves them and is very birdy now. He was also gunshy, so I've been using a dummy launcher that uses .22 blanks. In less than 2 weeks and shooting only 5 or 6 a session per day he's gone from staying 25-30 yards away from me when I launch a dummy, to sitting right by me. At the sound of the shot, he's off like a rocket to retrieve the dummy, so I'm very pleased with the results of a feathered bumper combined with a launcher.
Title: Re: plain or feathered bumpers
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 23, 2011, 05:32:05 PM: I have used both and don't really see a diffrence. I do like to start young dogs/pups with wings.