What are kick cages?
Kick cages allow you to place birds in your training field prior to bringing the pup out. You can take advantage of the wind and mark their place with a flourescent ribbon. The cage itself is made of wire. Open the door side, place the bird in and then place bird and cage in it's desired location being sure to put the door side down. This way the bird cannot push its way out. When pup comes up on the area and gets into scent, and then points. You staunch him up, and if possible slowly and deliberately make your way into the cage, kicking around like you would if a grouse was holding fast. With a young pup you don't want to take too much time cause he'll want to come see why your kicking about. Then you just kick over the cage and the bird should flush, when you want it too. This way if he does break, the bird wont flush, because you wont kick the cage. You'll catch pup and gently but firmly carry him back to where he was on point, staunch him up and begin again. He stays on point, you get to kick the cage and he gets to see the flush.
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I also have one manual spring loaded launcher. Send me an email address and I'll post you some pictures on saturday.