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mondomuttruner wrote:I run bells more for when a dog is coming for a road it is easier to cut them off. As for dogs getting away without bells, wolves were born to hunt, don't you think they would scent your dog instead of listening for it to run away. I guess to each his own.

I have to agree in theory wolves, are natural hunters, and will locate easily. Another view is this, look at when your on a bad bear especially in the summer, that is charging and scattering dogs, especially in ferns. The dogs will shut up, scatter,and start to locate the bear and regroup. As there doing this, usually the bear in crouched down, ready to charge again, at the first dog, in range. The dogs are silent until they locate, and can handle the bear, or a few work it to get it up for a fair chance to get it moving. I've watched dogs in ferns, jump up and down, trying to locate and see the bear, or other dogs, and whats going on. More then once, I didnt know if it was the bear around my feet or the dogs, as I couldnt see and Im 6'3. My point, if the bear or wolf, gets one dog, the rest have a chance to also use the surroundings to their advantage, as they spit or run, and if it gives them only a few seconds start, its something, to give them a chance.

And as I write this, it has also given food for thought of friends of mine which cant seem to tree bear like they use to, and have a solid pack to do it. And also they have dogs quitting a half rough bear. Stop to think about it, their pack started to fall apart, about 5 years ago, about the time they started using Bells. I go over there and its really no different then the bear here, and work and tree most of them, I dont run bells. I wonder if the bells isnt helping the bear locate them in the bad stuff, and their getting bear whipped easily?

Cat and Bear, you have a good point but I'm not totally convinced. I have watched many a bear chase dogs down with or without bells when half the pack had bells and half without. I guess there's always the remote chance of bells helping game to pinpoint the dog but I haven't seen it (doesn't mean it can't happen). My personal opinion is the good outweighs the bad. I think in the western states you guys don't worry about road crossings like we do, catching dogs that are behind on a highway. I started using gps last fall so I,m going away from bells myself.