Leather Gloves : A Tool for bird hunters

With a profound swoosh of wings, the covey flew down the tree line. Most veered off to the left, disappearing through the foliage. Others settled down, close to or just beyond a tangled mess of brush. The dogs quickly retrieved two quail that had been shot from the initial flush. We found where the birds had crossed over, even scaring up singles while pushing through a lattice framework from a bristly plum thicket. After emerging, we carefully climbed over a rusty barbwire fence, then carefully passed a briar patch of thorns before finding more bobwhite quail. If it were not for our leather hand coverings, navigating the things that tried to cut scratch, tear, and poke us, would’ve been painful and annoying.

BENCHMADE FLYAWAY KNIFE

Bird hunters need to carry a knife. A good knife. One that is tailored to execute tasks across a myriad of landscapes and environments where gamebirds will be encountered, shot, field dressed, and ultimately cooked and eaten. For wingshooters, knives that are purpose-built for cleaning, skinning, and breaking down wild fowl are crucial for efficient and safe game processing. The knife needs to be capable of handling basic camp and home cutting chores too – be it deboning a bomber sage grouse on a tailgate or slicing bite-sized chunks of a pheasant rooster around a campfire, and or making delicate work of carving up little quail hors d'oeuvres in the kitchen.

Upland Boot round-up

Back in 2022, I published an Upland Vest Round-Up on Gundog Central. Three years later, I’m following it up with a new piece: an Upland Boot Round-Up. Just like hunting vests, there are countless options on the market for upland boots. I’ve put together this list to highlight a wide range of choices across all price points, along with links to each manufacturer’s website for easy reference.

I am not affiliated with any of these companies, and I don’t earn anything from these links. The goal of this round-up isn’t to make specific recommendations, but to present clear, detailed specifications for each boot so you can make an informed decision. While this isn’t a fully comprehensive list, I’ve tried to include many popular models as well as a few budget-friendly alternatives.

Upland boots vary widely in size, weight, and purpose. Some hunters prefer lightweight designs, others need insulation, and those in snake country may opt for snake boots. I’ve tried to cover all of those considerations here.

You have a dove problems

As the dove season progresses, wingshooters should continue to scout, practice camouflage and concealment techniques, determining set-up in relation to the field and doves, and apply the use of decoys and their placement. These tactics will increase the chances of success significantly. Understanding dove behavior is critical for maximizing the hunting experience. Below are three additional suggestions for dove hunters to keep in mind that are often ignored or forgotten about.

You’ve got dove problems

September 1st signals the annual arrival of dove season and the start of the upland bird season for so many bird hunters. Shooting doves is for many wingshooters, the beginning of a glorious time in the outdoors. It readies the soul for days afield to chase other feathered game in the coming months. Days prior to the dove opener, shotguns are pulled out of their cases, camo attire is selected, and lots and lots of shells are purchased. With all these preparations, several blunders will befall many dove hunters.

Don’t Lose Your Birds

Almost every bird hunter has experienced the desperate disappointment of losing a downed bird. We all have had to walk away. It is not a good feeling when a bird is lost. Whether using dogs or not, knowing that a bird has been shot and the feeling of being unable to locate it is unnerving.

DOVES: From the Field, to Cleaning, to Eating

It’s that time of the year when we find ourselves gathered with family, friends, and strangers positioned around a cut grain or sunflower field waiting for those September gray birds to come screaming in. Dogs will sit idly by, panting as they await anxiously for doves to be interrupted in midflight with shot. As the first flight comes in, a barrage of gunfire will thunderously erupt, signaling that hunting season has arrived. Dove hunters will instantly feel the excitement by the heat of expended shotshells, yells from strangers saying “Comin’ at ya!”, and the sweat running down backs and necks as sun rays pour from the blue sky as summer still holds on tightly.

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!

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.

Old Friends

Your four legged friend is more than a hunting tool, but friend and family member. Even the hardest of souls crack when it is apparent that their hunting dog is slowing down and entering their final chapter. Growing up we had English Springer Spaniels and chocolate Labradors; chasing Valley Quail and waterfowl through the hunting seasons in the green Oregon valleys. During our Springer Jennifer’s final years, arthritis took hold but her drive to go hunting never diminished. She made sure she was always near the truck when it was time to go on any early morning, that short docked tail wagging furiously in her attempts to jump on to the tailgate, but ultimately not able to make it. The arthritis kept her short legs from making the jump despite repeated attempts that used to be effortless. Her eyesight was failing as well but her nose for flushing pheasants and tracking greenheads led the way.

Upland Hunting Vest Round-up

I was on Facebook the other night and saw a post asking about recommendations for an Upland Game Vest. There were so many different brands listed, that I thought it'd be a good idea to list some of them here on Gundog Central for everyone to see, with links to where you can purchase. While researching these Upland Game Vest, I was kind of surprised at how many different ones there were available. It would be impossible for me to list them all here, so I'll stick with the ones I know or might be interested in. I won't be offering any recommendations as to which one you should or shouldn't purchase, mainly because we all have different needs and hunt different types of birds. What's good for someone hunting Quail, might not work as well for someone hunting Pheasant. You might like to travel light, where someone else might want to carry more gear. An older person will have different preferences than a younger person and people in the south would have different needs than someone hunting up north. If you would like to leave any recommendations or feedback, maybe suggest some I missed, you may do some in the comments below.

Dog Names - Space

Space-themed dog names are unique. These names are usually adopted by people interested in the science of space. Don't think of yourself as a nerd or geek if you want to name your dog after space. While there are other categories of dog names by country and dog names by sex, the space category offers a unique and interesting element. The list below is compiled with the interest of people attracted to space-inspired names at heart.

Dog Names - Scottish

Dog names by country have become common across the world. Scottish dog names have a unique sense due to their association with Scottish Gaelic. The native language of Scotland is the primary source of the names. Choosing your dog's name from the Scottish Gaelic language does not preserve it, but it will give your pet a unique aspect that elicits interest from everyone around you. The various trends influence Scottish dog names in English-speaking countries. The traditional names show an association with the French and Irish historical proximity. Scottish names have beautiful sounds and meanings. The historical meanings make the names even more important and worth considering for your dog. Below is a list of Scottish dog names that you can choose from.