So how is the best way to go about trying to cut down on how far Rowdy (6 months old) ranges out.  At times he'll range out 200+ yards (he comes from strong field trial lines, so I know range was going to be a potential issue).  Is 6 months (and only 3 hunts under his belt) too soon to try to curb his range?  Should I just let him do his thing and bust birds far out of range for now?  I've shot 7 birds over him so far this year and he has pointed all of them except the dove, obviously.  Should I use a check cord?  I think a check cord is easier said than done, since it will constantly be hanging up on bushes, rocks, trees, etc. when in the field.  He stays close when he's tired, but otherwise it's off to the races as far as he wants to range.  He shows very good recall to the whistle for his age, but I don't want to blow the whistle too often in the field, nor do I want to create a handler-dependent dog.  He ranged far out of range (and often out of sight) on my sage grouse hunt yesterday and today, but stayed close at one point for a solid point on a grouse.  Mostly, he was far away and busting birds and hunting on his own.  I wasn't too concerned or frustrated though, since I know he's a pup and it's his first year.  In any case, any help on the range issue would be appreciated.