Need a little help on deciding which one of these I should buy. My primary training will be done with bumpers and primarily alone or with my young son and daughter. I am either going to buy 2 wingers or get the double launcher. Just curious on your thoughts and opinions and what you might use in training. Thanks.
Versa Launcher or Winger?
bertharrington45
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Need a little help on deciding which one of these I should buy. My primary training will be done with bumpers and primarily alone or with my young son and daughter. I am either going to buy 2 wingers or get the double launcher. Just curious on your thoughts and opinions and what you might use in training. Thanks.
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I prefer wingers over launchers but having your son and daughter throw marks would be the best.
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I agree. Other than that, I prefer wingers because I normally train with ducks. A suggestion (and I get nothing out of this) - Have 7 wingers, 6 of which are made by the big 2. A few months ago, I bought a SlingerWinger, Realistic model, from https://www.cedarspringsretrievers.com/ . It's by far the best winger I have -- and it's over $100 less than the others. I'm actually considering replacing all my other wingers.
I train a lot alone. I've worked my way up to two wingers(Gunners Up) and one 4 dummy launcher (Versa). A retired gun might be next.
This stuff allows me a lot of versatility. I do use my wingers a lot more than the launcher.
Mention is made of Slinger Winger being the best. Just curious, why ?
This stuff allows me a lot of versatility. I do use my wingers a lot more than the launcher.
Mention is made of Slinger Winger being the best. Just curious, why ?
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I would look at the Zinger Winger Mini Z. With a winger, you have the flexibility to throw bumpers, fake birds, or real birds. The Mini Z has two power settings, which is great when you throw bumpers (low power) or birds (high power)- you get the same arc with two different objects. I generally train alone, or in small groups, and the wingers really add to your ability to create realistic set ups with no help.
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I train a lot alone so I’m constantly trying to balance the time it takes to set up against making my set ups as close to field trial scenarios as I can. I do agree that wingers throwing birds would be the best scenario if you have the time. However wingers are big and bulky and really hard to move around. For me personally I have found it to be more time efficient to utilize the DT Systems Super Pro Series Remote Dummy Launcher systems using only the green bullets the yellow and red throw the dummies too far. They’re relatively affordable and small so you can carry four or five on ur ATV when setting up. To make my setups more realistic I will place dead birds in the fall area of each station and I’ll shackle a live duck to simulate the flier station. I also set up holding blinds etc. To give u an example I set up a big quad this morning start to finish took under 15 minutes. It’s really efficient
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I’ve owned the versa and sold it to buy the thunder 500. The thunder is a far superior product if you’re just looking to throw bumpers. The versa was finicky if the bumpers got wet at all and would distance launches would be inconsistent. If you’re strictly doing dry land the versa is fine, but the thunder is better overall and takes up way less space.
If your training mostly with bumpers, then get a bumper launcher. A winger is way too much work to set up just to throw bumpers. I have both, prefer winger with ducks as Don said, but sometimes there is just not enough time. Especially when training on water and going back and forth around the pond to reset wingers can be very time consuming. Plus I know my "farm raised" ducks do not float well in water especially after 2-3 usages. I dry them completely between uses and refreeze. But it is very frustrating when you have a nice memory water bird set up, dog does a great job getting to the area but cannot find the duck because it sunk.
When training with bumpers on land I do use a ziptie and attach duck wings, having a bit of scent makes a big difference. The rub on scents available do not seem to work as well. The weight and wind resistance of the wing, slows the throw of the bumper making it easier for the dog to track.
When training with bumpers on land I do use a ziptie and attach duck wings, having a bit of scent makes a big difference. The rub on scents available do not seem to work as well. The weight and wind resistance of the wing, slows the throw of the bumper making it easier for the dog to track.
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Check out my post on the classified section. I have a set of 3 bumper launchers at a real good value.
MP
MP
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Both are great training products. Each has their place in training. The hand held RRT is excellent but I don't launch with dog sitting next to me I place the dog. Walk 75-100' diangle away, launch then call the dog to heal and send. Better yet is the RRT remote quad launcher which I use at great distance, for doubles triples and quad retrieves. If you train frequently by yourself the RTT remote launcher is in dispensable. The winger types are excellent for using live, dead, or Doken Birds, but you have to reload every launch, a lot of walking if you don't have a bird boy.
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Why do you call the dog to heel before sending?
Just to add to the thought process of setting up training. If your dog is steady so you can do stand alone marks, then this scenario can work well. Can get multiple marks in with one duck or bumper. Have multiple gunners(white flag on a stick) in the field, sit the dog on the mat or line area. Walk out to one of the guns, throw a mark, verbally release the dog for the mark, dog picks up the bird, deliverers to you, then line the dog up to the mat and send it back. Teaching send back routine is very easy, Hillmann has some Youtube videos on it. When the dog is going back to the mat, you move to another gun. I do this with two dogs just alternate who goes first. Can do all sorts of training with minimal equipment. ABCD drills is great this way, you can also start moving immediately after the dog is sent, acts as a distraction, and hopefully the dog learns to focus on the mark not the thrower. Throw all 3 marks, one at a time, then run as a memory set up. That will really test memory. None of these are not my ideas but learned from others. Even hunt test dogs can use this technique, visible guns helps them identify certain scenarios, is hip pockets, converging marks, etc.
So don't get caught up and the need to always set up a ton of equipment.
So don't get caught up and the need to always set up a ton of equipment.
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I could not agree more. When training alone, the less crap I have to set up the better. I am fortunate to have people to train with pretty often. Always watching for things to work on when training alone, never seem to run out of stuff to do.
Thanks for these suggestions, Nate. I have copied them to my computer and am going to try them out after Christmas.
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Just don’t like the idea of the dog thinking I can break from a distance away from me it’s part of a control and Handley
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Dogs generally mark better if they are released from the point at which they saw the mark. If you are moving the dog 10-15 yd from that point, you are making the retrieve more challenging and potentially unfair. I suppose if you have a hunting dog, this doesn't really matter.... I wouldn't recommend it for competition though. You could just walk back over to your dog and release. Or you could remote release (say the dog's name/release command from where you are standing). I use the tone on my dog's training collar for release on 'remote/stand alone' marks.
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training alone, versa all day. sold my wingers, pain in the arse dragging them around solo. i actually went with 2 of DT remote launchers. had versa and they were so unreliable.
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At heel or from a long distance, it isn't breaking unless the dog goes before you release him. No different than being stopped on a blind and waiting to be cast.
I do remote sends often with a young dog. With older dogs, most of the time, I walk or drive back to the line and send.
I would not go out and throw a mark then call the dog to heel before sending.
Other than with an 7-10 week old puppy, I almost never throw a mark from the line.
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