Robo Fetch

I love duck hunting and all but if I didn't have a dog I probably wouldn't go. The biggest problem that I see with this device are birds that don't fall in open water making retrieval all but impossible without a dog. Hell, I even abstained from pheasant hunting until I got my own dog. Not a fan of wanton waste.
RM
 
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With all the rc technology out there, I'd like a trolling motor type setup that drives your boat down the creek to hide while you hunt, and back to you in the blind on demand. It would save a lot of trudging around in the marsh for old parts. On the other hand, sometimes a good walk in the cold is needed to warm up.
 
RM Anderson said:
I love duck hunting and all but if I didn't have a dog I probably wouldn't go. The biggest problem that I see with this device are birds that don't fall in open water making retrieval all but impossible without a dog. Hell, I even abstained from pheasant hunting until I got my own dog. Not a fan of wanton waste.
RM
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Like you, my dog is the biggest reason I hunt, especially when there aren't many birds around. Agreed that this new machine doesn't help with birds in the bushes, apparently in their world every duck falls in the water. :rolleyes: To your point about pheasant hunting, I don't consider a guy guilty of wanton waste simply because he doesn't have a dog, provided he makes a good faith effort. Been there, done that, for waterfowl and upland birds. It can be a chore.
 
SJ Fairbank said:
With all the rc technology out there, I'd like a trolling motor type setup that drives your boat down the creek to hide while you hunt, and back to you in the blind on demand. It would save a lot of trudging around in the marsh for old parts. On the other hand, sometimes a good walk in the cold is needed to warm up.
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Shoot, there is no reason you couldn't do that today, given enough battery power. The Minn Kota I just bought let's me drive via my cell phone (at least w/in BT range), or set a course as well as spot lock for virtual anchoring. I'm sure all mfrs offer the same. Just create a track from blind to wherever and a few very slow loops then back to within BT range - and if you're not ready the send it off again.
 
HenryHawthorne said:
Shoot, there is no reason you couldn't do that today, given enough battery power. The Minn Kota I just bought let's me drive via my cell phone (at least w/in BT range), or set a course as well as spot lock for virtual anchoring. I'm sure all mfrs offer the same. Just create a track from blind to wherever and a few very slow loops then back to within BT range - and if you're not ready the send it off again.
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I thought of that after I posted. I have a Riptide on a boat but never thought to use it that way. A duck boat with the spot lock enabled motor and power poles would be cool. Kind of disappointed I won't be researching a new toy. :)
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Like you, my dog is the biggest reason I hunt, especially when there aren't many birds around. Agreed that this new machine doesn't help with birds in the bushes, apparently in their world every duck falls in the water. :rolleyes: To your point about pheasant hunting, I don't consider a guy guilty of wanton waste simply because he doesn't have a dog, provided he makes a good faith effort. Been there, done that, for waterfowl and upland birds. It can be a chore.
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Not trying to guilt shame anyone, just my own comfort level on retrieving game. By my own estimation I guessed dogless pheasant hunters would lose a third of the birds they shot. AI has it pegged higher:

Without a dog to assist, hunters lose an estimated 40% to 55% or more of the pheasants they shoot. These unrecovered birds (crippling loss) are usually winged but alive, quickly running and hiding in thick cover where they are virtually impossible to find without a scent-tracking dog.

RM
 
RM Anderson said:
Not trying to guilt shame anyone, just my own comfort level on retrieving game. By my own estimation I guessed dogless pheasant hunters would lose a third of the birds they shot. AI has it pegged higher:

Without a dog to assist, hunters lose an estimated 40% to 55% or more of the pheasants they shoot. These unrecovered birds (crippling loss) are usually winged but alive, quickly running and hiding in thick cover where they are virtually impossible to find without a scent-tracking dog.

RM
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I can believe that. Crippling loss on quail has been estimated as high as 25% even with dogs. Makes me wonder if we should be only chasing singles instead of shooting into the covey flush.

On several occasions my dogs have found birds that I was certain I didn’t connect on.
 
RM Anderson said:
Not trying to guilt shame anyone, just my own comfort level on retrieving game. By my own estimation I guessed dogless pheasant hunters would lose a third of the birds they shot. AI has it pegged higher:

Without a dog to assist, hunters lose an estimated 40% to 55% or more of the pheasants they shoot. These unrecovered birds (crippling loss) are usually winged but alive, quickly running and hiding in thick cover where they are virtually impossible to find without a scent-tracking dog.

RM
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No doubt a good dog is a gift. I dont doubt that many cripples are lost, same as ducks. The sad truth is that if fewer cripples is the goal, people need to learn how to shoot. I know you've been hard at work. Most guys pick up the gun the night before the first day and toss it in the rack the evening of the last. They need to learn to lead birds more. Shooting birds in the butt makes lots of feathers, but cripples many. One pellet in the head does the job of four or more in the body. A dead bird is usually pretty easy to find without a dog. But I will always bring my buddy when I can!
 
I used to hunt some public lakes in WI. Every year there would be people sitting on shore with no boat or anyway to retrieve a bird on the water. Maybe this is marketed to that crowd.
 
noweil Mike said:
I used to hunt some public lakes in WI. Every year there would be people sitting on shore with no boat or anyway to retrieve a bird on the water. Maybe this is marketed to that crowd.
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My wife Heather, a rabid Vikings fan, believes it is a genetic defect common to all Sconnies.
RM
 
I still duck hunt a bit but dogless. My 14 year old Lab has never gotten over cold or limp tail. It pains her so much she won't get into the water. Now of course she's past wanting to do much of anything but lay by my chair. 2 dogs was never in the game plan so I either hunt where the boat is the retriever or where I have come up with alternative means.
 
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