My dog got lost one time on a long retrieve on a crippled speck. Punched him out over 2 levees and was handling him to the AOF (Area of the Fall). Some more birds started coming so I whistle sat him and got down in the blind. Birds never finished so I stood back up to handle him again and he was still sitting and watching. Well more birds started to come so I got back down. Same thing, birds didn't finish. When I stood up he was gone. He was found about 5 miles away. Can't explain how it happened or how he got so turned around. But I still don't use a GPS collar. I figure it was a rarity and I'll pay extra attention next time. I really hope this guy finds his dog, I've been in his shoes, and it's anything but fun.
Almost the same exact thing that happened to me. The problem is that this evnt repeated itself a year later. I wasn't so lucky the second time. This was a 4yo that had an hr title at nine months, derby list, qaa with open and am points. Be careful SD.