Mite

I think range has alot to do with how comfortable the dog is staying out of site from you or howfamiliar the dog is in a particular field. I never hadmy dog out of site more than a couple minutes as she always checks in when hunting an area that's she isn't familiar with. As long as she can see me or knows exactly where I'm at, that's how far she'll range, i.e. she won't wander off. But in an area where she knows well, she'll run out but only in open cover. In heavy cover, she'll run out then wait till I catch up or most likely make sure that's the direction I'm actually going.

Just my observation.