Yep - I've used the e-collar since she was a pup, but I was always afraid to nail her while carrying a bird. I shouldn't have been.
I only had to pop her the first 2 times out, now she is being perfect. I'm leaving the collar on for now, will for several weeks.
Beep on the collar with her is a combination of recall and check in. One beep she comes back close enough to see what I want, then if I want her to work a piece of cover I think she missed or go another direction I can point her at it. Two beeps is "come". Works pretty well in the field, no whistling or yelling.
Out hunting she always wears the collar, especially for the GPS functionality. We hunt in really tall cover, usually the only way to see where she is is watching the grass move. When she stops and points, frequently I have no idea where she is or even what direction without the GPS.