Some basic information to help you get ready for each training day.
BIRD ORDERS
Typically, for chapter-sponsored training days, you can pre-order birds through our Training Registration Form. However, at times you may be responsible for supplying your own birds. Please come prepared with exact payment.
TRAINING DAY REMINDERS
- Don’t wait till training day to think about training your dog. Do something every day.
- Orange is required by anyone in the field. No exceptions.
- Please try to team up and work together as efficiently as possible.
- Introduce yourself to the new guys, make them feel welcome, and always offer assistance.
- Don’t expect to run your dog and go home without helping out other chapter members in some way.
- Bring lots of water.
CHECKLIST FOR TRAINING DAYS
Please note: you MUST pre-register by the Tuesday PRIOR to the training day you wish to attend. Always check the weather before heading to the training location and be prepared for a potentially long day in the fields. Dogs MUST be leashed or crated at all times, unless working in the fields.
For You:
- PayPal for Bird orders
- Orange vest and hat
- Clothing appropriate for the season (jacket, rain gear, boots, gloves, chaps, …)
- Gun and shells (must be break action, you can only shoot live shells is you are a chapter approved gunner)
- Field blanks (can be purchased at training)
- Bird bag
- Whistle
- Chair
- Water (plenty for both you and your dog)
- Lunch or snack food items
- Cooler (you may take home your shot birds)
- Other considerations: First aid kit, Trash bags, Blanket, Sun tan lotion, Bug repellant, Tick spray
For Your Dog:
- Leashes (standard leash and check cord)
- Collars (flat collar with ID and prong or pinch collar)
- eCollar and controller (make sure both are charged)
- Water bottle (for watering the dog in the field)
- Bowl/s (especially for water)
- Other considerations: make sure you dog is UTD on standard vaccinations, properly licensed, and protected against fleas, ticks, heartworm, etc.
INSECT BITE PROTECTION
Whether at work, in your own yard, or while traveling, prevention of insect bites and stings is not only a good idea in terms of protecting against the discomfort resulting from the bites themselves but also for protection against a host of diseases that can be transmitted through insect bites.
General Protective Measures
- Avoid outbreaks: To the extent possible, travelers should avoid known foci of epidemic disease transmission. The CDC Travelers’ Health webpage provides alerts and information on regional disease transmission patterns and outbreak alerts (www.cdc.gov/travel).
- Be aware of peak exposure times and places: Exposure to arthropod bites may be reduced if you modify patterns of activity or behavior. Although mosquitoes may bite at any time of day, peak biting activity for vectors of some diseases (e.g., dengue, chikungunya) is during daylight hours. Vectors of other diseases (e.g., malaria) are most active in twilight periods (i.e., dawn and dusk) or in the evening after dark. Avoiding the outdoors or focusing preventive actions during peak hours may reduce risk. Place also matters; ticks are often found in grasses and other vegetated areas.
- Wear appropriate clothing: minimize areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots, and hats. Tucking in shirts and wearing socks and closed shoes instead of sandals may reduce risk. Repellents or insecticides such as permethrin can be applied to clothing and gear for added protection.
- Check for ticks: People are advised to inspect themselves and their clothing for ticks during outdoor activity and at the end of the day. Prompt removal of attached ticks can prevent some infections.
- Optimum protection can be provided by applying the repellents described in the following sections to clothing and to exposed skin.
Repellents for Use on Skin and Clothing
The CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients that have been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing (see below). EPA registration of active ingredients indicates the materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety when applied according to the instructions on the label.
- DEET (chemical name: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3-methyl-benzamide). Products containing DEET include but are not limited to Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon. DEET repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods when applied to skin or clothing. Formulations containing less than 35% DEET are recommended because the additional gain in repellent effect with higher concentrations is not significant when weighed against the potential for toxicity.
- Picaridin (KBR 3023, aka Bayrepel, and icaridin outside the United States; chemical name 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 1-methylpropyl ester). Products containing picaridin include but are not limited to Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus and Autan (outside the United States).
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus* or PMD (chemical name:para-menthane-3,8-diol) the synthesized version of oil of lemon eucalyptus. Products containing OLE and PMD include but are not limited to Repel. This recommendation refers to EPA-registered repellent products containing the active ingredient oil of lemon eucalyptus (or PMD). “Pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (e.g., essential oil) is not the same product and has not received similar, validated testing for safety and efficacy.
- IR3535 (chemical name: 3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester) Products containing IR3535 include but are not limited to Skin so Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition.
- Permethrin-containing repellents (Permanone) are recommended for use only on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide/acaricide (against ticks and mites) and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. Clothing treated with the other repellent products described above (e.g., DEET) provides protection from biting arthropods but will not last through washing and will require more frequent reapplications.
Repellent Efficacy
- Published data indicate that repellent efficacy and duration of protection vary considerably among products and among mosquito species.
- Product efficacy and duration of protection are also markedly affected by ambient temperature, amount of perspiration, exposure to water, abrasive removal, and other factors.
- In general, higher concentrations of active ingredient provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient. Products with ≤10% active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often from 1–2 hours.
- Products that offer sustained release or controlled release (i.e., micro-encapsulated) formulations, even with lower active ingredient concentrations, may provide longer protection times.
- Studies suggest that higher concentrations of DEET do not offer a marked increase in protection time against mosquitoes.
- Regardless of what product is used, if you continue to receive bites, reapply the repellent according to the label instructions or leave the area with biting insects if possible.
- Precautions – apply repellents only as directed and never use on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. Avoid accidental exposure to eyes, mouth and ears.
Source: Safety Smart Online and the CDC