Ruffed Grouse Hunting & Bells… Yea or Nay?

Ruffed Grouse Hunting & Bells… Yea or Nay?

Many of us are stuck in a life with digital this and that, technology changing by the second, and instant gratification with Amazon Prime. We, as ruffed grouse hunters, often seek out a more analog experience. There is a distinct romance that lives within the pursuit of ruffed grouse and woodcock in the Northeast. Frankly, the bird is a such a small piece of the puzzle. The “pursuit” is an honest hunt for a time gone by – for a slower pace, for a special relationship between bird and dog, and dog and man… For the smell of freshly fallen leaves and overripe apples… For the sudden silence that falls amongst the covert when a dog stops on point. The hunt for these birds is a rather personal endeavor; from the gun one totes, to their choice of dog, and then, of course, the accessories on that dog’s collar. If you ask me, a fine dog bell is one of the ruffed grouse hunters prized possessions.

For the “traditionalist”, a bell is a must have. The cadence of a dog navigating the alders, narrated by the tone of a bell sets the stage. A seasoned grouse hunter reads their bell like a book. The gait of the dog, their casting range, and their level of caution (or lack thereof). Did the dog stop to listen for you or did they stop hard to pin a bird? Once you’re in sync with your dog and bell, the narrative is something well worth reading. A cool autumn day with your choice of gunning partner and the sound of a bell ringing as your dog passes to the front is an experience in itself. The bell is there to tell a story, good or bad. Did the dog break on the flush? Did the dog take chase on a wild flush? The bell doesn’t lie, cheat, or steal.

Now, I know you’re already thinking, “that bell must spook birds!” Hell, maybe you’re right. Does it spook some birds? I’m sure it does. On the flip side, a friend of ours once said “I’m 6 foot 4 inches and 300 pounds… So I spook more birds than a little bell ever will…” Cover Dog handlers have ran bells since they began, Burton Spiller and Tap Tapply ran bells in their day, my grandfather happily ran a bell on all of our Saturday morning outings. The feedback given by a bell is more valuable to me, as a dog handler, than the lack of feedback from a beeper or running silent. Sure, running silent is going to be stealthiest. I would bet you a few dollars that you end up focused on your GPS more than you’d like to, though. We all know that the thunder of wings in flight happens when your eyes go to your handeld or when you step over the stonewall…

I certainly opt for the bell, but I also run GPS – as do our guides. I like to think of GPS as a nice insurance policy. Once the bell stops, you need something to give positive direction when you’re in the thick of it. Running a beeper can solve this issue and I can get behind running one on point mode. For myself, there is something about a constant “beep… beep… beep” that doesn’t sit well. The electronic “beep” just doesn’t share the narrative as a bell.

Maybe this is just me rambling about “the good old days”… Maybe I just want to have my own “good old days”…
At it’s core, the pursuit of ruffed grouse should be enjoyed. For myself and the team at Covert Creek Outfitting, the sound of a dog bell adds something to the hunt. Our Sports appreciate the tradition, the added nuance, and the story behind what we do and how we do it. I’ll continue to slide a bell onto each dog’s collar for every hunt; and each dog’s bell will live on that very collar long past their final hunt.

What do you prefer in the grouse woods? Bell? Beeper? Silent?
Be sure to leave a comment below – We’d love to hear what you like and why!

More to come soon…
Until then,

-Joe Heusinger, Covert Creek Outfitting