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A Lost Dog
It was July 15, 2003 and Billy Culp was fixin’ to turn loose for a workout his first green derby of the season. He was training this year on a new place just east of Lignite and south of Route 5. There were twenty pointing dog trainers working within a forty-mile radius of Billy , two hundred or more in the state, some serious pros, some serious amateurs, some just guys with a dog or two and a pickup truck.
Hunting Those Cold, Wet Winter Days in the Fields and Woods for Pheasants
We had parked a half-of-mile down the road. A couple of dozen roosters stood idle in the field. They resembled tiny black checkmarks from a distance against the white backdrop. Every once-in-a-while some would scoot in and out of brush piles and thickets. The snow had covered the land. Tufts of yellow grass were scattered across the field. Most of the grass had been covered by the snow. With no where to hide, the birds found refuge in what little cover they could find. This meant flocks of pheasants sheltering up together out of the elements. A small woodlot seemed to be providing roosters a place to get out of the wind and cold. According to the map the public parcel included an adjacent field of sorghum.
First Season Expectations
You’ve built up to your pup’s first hunting season—but what should you expect from your young dog? The experts weigh in.
Quail…Are They Still Around?
You betcha! Well, at least in Kansas. Talk of the good ol’ days are annoying, because they’re here!
10 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Upland Hunter
Do you have an Upland Hunter that's difficult to buy for? Below you'll find a list of items that would make any Upland Hunter happy.
Sweet Revenge
Ben and Sam were savoring Friday afternoon drams of The Macallan in Ben's library-conference room when the subject of back-hunters came up, and they recalled an incident. The curmudgeons agreed that the most dastardly of outdoorsmen were back-hunters, those unprincipled souls who, having hunted as a guest a host's favorite covert, would alone or with others (but not the host) sneak back to hunt the honey hole.
Is Anybody Home?
As a little kid visiting my grandparents in Tennessee it wasn't uncommon to jump up several covey of quail while walking around on their hundred acre farm. Today, not so much. While I still hear a few birds whistle from time to time, it's rare that I ever see a wild bird, much less scatter a whole covey. I'd love to be able to find wild birds in Tennessee again, so Quail restoration and conservation is something I'm pretty passionate about. I've tried releasing birds, planting native grasses and sowing food plots, but I lack the knowledge to make any real difference. In an effort to educate myself, I decided to reach out to an expert, Dr. Dale Rollins, to see if I could share something from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation. He was gracious enough to allow me to share this article about counting the quail population on your land. It's an activity meant for spring and I probably could have waited to share, but I'm hoping to find and share similar articles in the future. I believe the first step to any good habitat management is to first figure out what you're working with.
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.
Causes, Symptoms and Treatment - Parvo
Parvo in dogs refers to the Canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease found among dogs that causes gastrointestinal illnesses in puppies and older animals. It is a febrile disease of the canines which is highly contagious, especially through contact with infected feces. The virus spreads to the dogs' gastrointestinal tracts and affects their health by deteriorating their intestines, stopping them from absorbing vital nutrients. As a result, dogs and puppies become extremely weak and dehydrated. Hunting breeds are especially affected due to their exposure to infected animals or other factors such as contaminated soil and water. Thus, they are more prone to be infected with the parvovirus. The illness, if not well looked after or controlled, can lead to the death of the dogs.
THE WHISTLE
While running a dog at the NBHA National Derby recently, I lost a whistle that I had used in South Dakota back in 1979. It was a special whistle to me. I clearly remember sitting crossed legged on a horse while waiting on a lost dog and looking out across those open prairies. I thought of home for just a moment, and because it was my mother's birthday, I scratched the date on the whistle's side, August 27, 1979. I should not have been using such a keepsake, but it was my favorite. Even good things come and go, I guess. Losing it, and looking for it, and remembering it, reminded me of the following; one of many memories I have of that summer. It's not meant to be a striking work of prose although it may become one sometime in the future. I'm just recounting as it comes to me. However, every word and how it transpired is true, exactly true. (I'll change the names only to save any embarrassment, though no one should be embarrassed by the truth).
Three Shots to Master Ahead of Hunting Season
We slogged through an hour-long alder hell and didn't move a bird. The boys and I were shocked, for we called the covert Old Reliable. We were at the end, and I broke open my side-by-side and leashed Cider for the walk back to the truck. Wouldn't you know it, there was a brood of grouse feeding on insects at the edge of the field? Cider pointed, and the grouse flushed like a covey of quail. Two went to the left, two went straight away, and two went to the right. Bob missed one of the crossing shots, and Tim missed the straight-aways. Me? I gave 'em grief, 'cause that's what friends are for.
Train for your game
Some sports, like shooting and dog training, are best played with a training foundation. Every progression builds on the mastery of the previous level, and repetitions make the master. When it comes to shooting, spring is the best time to review your shooting and to identify what needs work. Proper mechanics build a strong shooting foundation, so here's how to turn those weaknesses into strengths.
Last Hunt
John Cole had been hunt master on Old Pine Plantation thirty years. Before that he had worked on other plantations in the quail belt, that land between Albany and Tallahassee where quail still thrived, thanks to Yankee old money, fire, and God's providence. He'd been born on one where his father before him had trained bird dogs and managed hunts for the owner and his guests, "folks with more money than good sense," his father used to say.
This Summer, Beat the Heat: How to Keep your Canine Athlete Cool
Blistering summer heat and high humidity accompanies a hazy, hot and humid weather report. That intense weather drives people to the beach, the lakes and the shade. If you think it's hard for people to cool off, it's even harder for dogs. Hyperthermia, the raising of a dog's core body temperature above normal, can put animals at risk. Fortunately, there are ways to recognize the symptoms so as to keep dogs safe.
SportDOG® Brand UplandHunter® 1875
Technology has taken over the world these past few decades. It's impact on dog training has caused many handlers and trainers to gravitate towards GPS tracking collars. But for anyone running dogs inside of bell range, the SportDOG® 1875 fills an important gap. 'Complexity is the enemy of execution,' goes the saying, and that defines the SportDOG 1875.
