To address dogs getting lost. In my experience most dogs can find their way back to the truck. To help that out AWAYS leave a bowel of water next to the truck. Hunting in canyon country will test even the best. Lost a black lab one day in logging country, very steep and wooded. He took off chasing deer before I knew what happened. I mean he was gone into the bottomless pit. HOWEVER he lived for the gun. I walked back to the truck and got my 30-30 and fired several rounds. Waited a while and fired several more. Sure enough here he comes just as fast as he could. Gun fire will always bring in my dogs as fast as they can run. We hunt in rough terrain and with out a tracking collar I would have no idea if and when my dogs are on point or where on point they are.
