I hope to be in the woods October 2 for my first experience squirrel hunting with a dog. I don't know what to expect in terms of how the hunt will go, but I probably won't be allowed back in the house if I don't return with the family dog/puppy. A GPS tracking unit is out of the budget at the moment, yet people used dogs for hunting for years without the technology. Can anyone suggest low budget/practical things to help me keep track of her? I'll have a collar with tag on it, a hunter orange vest, and perhaps a glow stick on her back if out during the evening. May also get her micro-chipped between now and then.

Ahh she should stay close. I have hunted a lot of dogs over the years. And the ones I did lose I think people shot. Just go out and enjoy yourself.

That's the difference in a feist and a hound. You drop the tailgate and a hound is going hunting with or without you but a fiest is going to hunt with you. She will go out make a circle and come back and check in. If you want to come go with me and see how one hunts or I'll come go with you. More than likely she will stay under your feet the whole time till she gets more comfortable.

Way to make him feel better lol

The best advice I have is to not screw up and put the dog in danger by dropping the tailgate to close to a road whether it be close to the truck or on the back side of a patch of woods you are not familiar with. The dog will not lose you but you can point him to a danger zone. Also think about railroads. They make a bright flashing light that attaches to a collar also. I use one at night just incase the dog gets on a road for drivers to see the dog.

Lol.

Be consistent in how you handle your dog. When mine starts to get out too far, I'll holler out woe, or if I want him to get out a little bit further I'll say "look for him". Handle squirrel dogs similar to the way that quail dogs are handled. Consistency leads to control ! First and foremost hunt in a safe area where you have enough acreage away from hazardous areas such as those previously mentioned. I can't tell you how many times I has about to call my dog back in when he made a large circle and then came back and slammed a squirrel to the tree closer to me. Sometimes a dog needs more room to work and drift a track based on the conditions. Remember that every time you go hunting that you are also going " dog handling" and that as your new dog learns to hunt that you are also learning how your dog hunts and what your dog responds to in terms of handling.

...guess I'll pick up some kevlar on the way home...

Thanks for the advice and encouragement guys. I appreciate it.

Well, it was a good day in the woods (Oakmulgee) in that I didn't lose my dog, nor did she get shot (by me or anyone else). She stayed with me and I was never worried. If anything, she needed to roam around more on her own, but that will come with time. Obviously too stinking hot to be out there and too many leaves on the trees. Saw a deer, 3 turkeys, and several quail. Not a single squirrel.

Quail where at??????

Oh and that's awesome told you that it would go smooth

I used to love squirrel with a dog - my uncle had one that was a vine shaker. I think I enjoyed watching that dog more than actually shooting.

Down 739, northwest corner. I was surprised too. Looking for the most common game around with no luck and find quail teasing me 20 yards way and can't shoot.

I haven't checked but why couldn't you shoot them?

Squirrels are hard to come by down there. They get the piss hunted out of them by the old men. One old guy kills 700-800 a year on a conservative estimate.

Quail open Nov. 17th.