We've cut them loose from probably 700 yards or so before. For us it all depends on the terrain, if we are hunting briars and thick stuff I like to be right there close. But open wheat field country, we can cut them loose from far away and be right behind them on the ranger just as quick. It also depends on the dogs, in our country we hunt, I like a leggier catchdog. More of a smart holder type like Silverton Boar Dogs uses.
Not downing your style, but curious as to why you don't wait till you are closer to drop the bulldog in an open field?
Why not save his energy and drop him closer, than have him run all that way when your on a ranger right behind him?? Or do you send him and wait for him to catch before driving in??
Wait till they catch most of the time or head that way when it shows he's almost there on the garmin. All of our dogs wear tracking collars. This isn't a common theme to do it like that. We've done it a bunch on a little honey hole place. It's less than 1,000 acres and most of it is wheat, and the brush it has, has good roads through it. 700 yards was maybe once or twice it's usually half that on a place I know it will be safe to do. And a 700 yard run isn't really burning off his energy IMO for a leggier conditioned dog. Not saying this way is for everybody but it works for us under the right conditions.