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Overcoming In-Season Obstacles with Your Bird Dog
Between dangers in the field and training-related issues while hunting, how do you handle and prepare for obstacles that may arise this season?
The Versatile Beagle
There is a lot of emphasis on versatile hunting dogs in recent years, and guys like me have been running them for decades. What am I talking about? Why, the ever-popular beagle is what I am thinking has been the versatile hunting dog par excellence for centuries. Growing up in the Northern Appalachian Mountains, specifically in the Alleghenies, there were lots of hunters who kept a beagle or two for rabbit hunting. Beagles are hounds, with a powerful nose, and a strong urge to pursue game. Typically, the biggest problem faced by owners of beagles is ensuring that they do not chase off game—deer being the most tempting and problematic off game species. A cottontail rabbit might run in a circle a few hundred yards in diameter. A deer chase might take a pack of beagles so far away that you no longer hear them baying, and it ruins a day afield. Experienced houndsmen do not venture afield for a hunt with a beagle that will run off game.
HUNT DOVES ALL DAY
There had been no birds for at least an hour. The last dove that flew by was met with a string of pellets. The dove lay next to five others on an old heavy, weathered canvas bag that saw double-duty in the duck blind. I looked up at my father, and he was gazing into the blue sky. He must’ve sensed me staring at him, because he turned to me with a smile and said in Spanish, “Let’s stay the whole day out here.” I nodded in agreement and gathered up two frijoles negros sandwiches for us to eat. We sat and talked and continued watching for doves that never came. I was happy to spend all day with my father and not see a thing.
Opening Day of Dove Season – Are Our Dogs Ready to Go???
It’s that time of year, the excitement has been building and dove season is just around the corner! We have worked our dove fields, gotten our camo out, and polished up our guns. We can hardly wait for opening morning, to feel the rush of birds coming in and the blasts of our shotguns going off!
Upland Glossary
Upland hunting is a great way to enjoy the outdoors; for people new to hunting and especially upland hunting, learning some standard terms and slang words can be helpful when talking with other hunters. This list is not a definitive list of upland bird hunting terms. This list is intended to get the novice hunter quickly up to speed so you can spend more time hunting and less time wondering what your fellow hunters are discussing.
A Guide to Exploring Shotguns, Chokes and Shot Size for Hunting the Brown Rockets of the Marsh...
As I reloaded my 12 gauge over-and-under, yet again for the fourth, fifth, and even sixth time after I had whiffed on the acrobatic brown rockets of the marsh…the snipe, I had about given up on connecting on the fragile little fliers. The Ruger Red Label’s barrels were hot to the touch due to the number of shells being shot out of them. Trouncing through the wetlands, the occasional backsplash would create a “tsss” sound on the hot metal tubes. The break-open action on the double-barreled shotgun was surely seeing plenty of opening and closing.
Waterfowlers Glossary
Each subgroup of the hunting culture has their own language. Within that, every group of hunting friends have their own terms and points of reference in the blind. One of the many things we can agree on as we talk to non-hunters is that it is “Canada geese”, not “Canadian geese”. Here is a sampling of more general terms wingshooters becoming familiar with waterfowling can use.
One too many ( Fiction )
Billy Eanes was desperate for money. To pay gambling debts. Without the money he would be dead—and soon.
Canine Language and Understanding Your Dogs Communication
Much like their human counterparts dogs just want to be heard, of course. Dogs bark to communicate with other dogs and with humans. There is the woof, woof-woof, the triple woof with many different ranges and pitches that can make canine speech difficult to decipher. We will start out with the single or double barks that are usually mid-level as you are walking in the door from work to say “hello”. Barking in sequences of three or more and doing this repeatedly often means they sense danger or think someone is near that they do not know or that should not be there. When a canine persistently continues to bark at a low or medium level they are saying please come get me, I am lonely. A short bark that is loud often shows fear or surprise with the dog conveying come check this out.
Bird Hunting Partners
Few living today knew the days of wild bird (quail) hunting on foot on ordinary farms across much of America. I did, and it kept me sane and gave me much joy.
What Billy Morton Taught me
By the early 70's wild birds were getting harder and harder to come by. Subdivisions and trailer parks grew up right where our old covey haunts were. Ever the optimists, we started a little walking shooting dog club. 'Shoot to kill', it was called back then. We knocked along for a few years, and our dogs were getting better, or worse, according to who you asked, different for sure. We subscribed to the American Field and read, religiously, accounts from all over the states and Canada. A whole new world opened to us. We read about Miller's White Cloud, Red Water Rex, The setter, Johnny Crocket, all the old legends, and their handlers.
Finding a reputable hunting dog breeder
Start by researching a breeder specializing in the hunting dog breed you're interested in, such as the English Pointer, Labrador Retriever, or Cocker Spaniel. Seek recommendations from experienced hunters, trainers, or local hunting clubs who might have firsthand knowledge about the breeder.
The Importance of Mental Stimulation for Sporting Breed Puppies
Training your puppy starts the moment he comes home, and it begins with mental stimulation. Keeping him on task from the beginning will build a better adult sporting dog—but how do you do it? Read on for advice on how to hold a puppy’s attention.
