Using coots to train your dog

[freefall319]

I was thinking about shooting a buch of coots,freezing them and using them to train my pup with later this year. Has anyone else done this? Or should i just use ducks or attach wings to bumbers? Any advice would be appriciated.

[mlgorecki]

I've done all three and don't really have a preference. I've also done it with freshly killed geese that I keep in the garage for a couple of days when it's cold. Yeah, the Dokken dead fowl dummies work okay, but they don't have the dead weight/limpness of a real goose.

I will say, get that pup on real feathers immediately, even during initial obedience/pottie training. Dogs can become feather/bird shy. It's not real common, but it does happen.

[alanv315]

iv used coots during our training, but you also want to use birds that he will be familiar with during hunting season, allthough you might not think there is any difference , your dog might, i would deffinatly switch it up on him, dont shoot 100 coots and only use coots for your live bird training, when we train, i use everything from the smallest greenwing teal to the biggest gander, i have a frezer downstairs just for training bird ,and one more thing, DO NOT over use any dead bird, train two maybe three times and despose of it.

[mlgorecki]

...DO NOT over use any dead bird, train two maybe three times and despose of it.
I've often wondered about this. Thanks.