Spaniel Bird Dogs

When most hunters think of bird dogs, their minds jump straight to pointers, setters, or retrievers. Yet for generations, spaniels have quietly earned a reputation as some of the most versatile and enjoyable hunting companions in the field. Compact, energetic, and eager to please, spaniels bring a unique style of hunting that combines close-working efficiency with an enthusiasm that's hard to match.

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.

BIRD HUNTING IN THE FORLOH HOODED “PUFFY” JACKET

The first modern down jacket was invented and patented in the 1930s. It was born out of necessity after a near-fatal outdoor experience with hypothermia. Commonly referred to as a puffy jacket, or simply puffy, is a quilted jacket, typically insulated with either duck or goose down feathers. Soon after its inception it became a popular garment worn during winter sport activities but slowly began to move away from its original utilitarian purpose. For years, outdoorsmen and those involved in the shooting sports seemed to have moved to using soft-shell jackets while hunting.

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.

Best hunting dog breeds for upland hunting

There are several dog breeds that excel in upland hunting, and the best breed for you depends on your specific preferences and hunting style. Whether you’re flushing bobwhite quail in the piney woods of the Southeast, chasing sharp-tailed grouse across the grasslands of the Northern Great Plains, stalking ring-necked pheasants in the grain fields of the Midwest, pursuing chukar in the rocky terrain out West, or hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock in the dense young forests of the Great Lakes region, each breed is tailored to a different type of hunt. Finding the right one for your hunting situation can be key to success in the field.

KUIU Precision Gloves Gear Review

I was way ahead of the game when KUIU debuted their new Precision Gloves in the early part of May 2025. Eight months earlier in August of 2024, KUIU had overnighted me a prototype pair along with their new Upland Field Vest. My job – to evaluate both pieces of gear exhaustively as I hunted spruce grouse and ptarmigan in the Alaskan backcountry.

The Smith Setter Celebration

It’s tough to beat the warm days and cool nights of Georgia in the Spring. The high heat and humidity, the kind that drives field trailers in droves to the Dakotas, the Rockies, or Canada, hasn’t yet hit. The sounds of songbirds float on the light-variable winds, while the thundering gobbles of Eastern wild turkeys echo through the fields and draws. Bird doggers hear them, but they’re really listening for the ‘poor Bob White’ whistle. Gentleman Bob has been an important part of life on the land off of Ben Hatcher Road for a long time.

Leggings for Wingshooters

“We’ll have to cross here!” yelled Jay as he pointed to the mountain stream. Rushing water blared over our gaiter-wrapped boots as we maneuvered across. My feet stayed dried as I waded through the foot deep waterway. Gaiters had served us well in the Alaskan backcountry throughout the trip. They were worn constantly. From hunting the boggy muskegs for spruce grouse, to chasing ptarmigan in the subalpine willow patches, waterproof gaiters were a real necessity in such an extreme environment. They had been probably one of the most important pieces of articles suggested by my host to bring and wear. Gaiters should definitely be in every wingshooter’s gear cache no matter the type of gamebird being hunted.

See You At The Dance

Arguably, the most coveted days on a bird hunter’s calendar are the ones where he or she is actually hunting. Those days are the summit of a year-long hike through the day-to-day of dog training, vet bills, hard earned paychecks, and sheer anticipation of what is to come. There are few things we would trade them for. But when seasons have come to a close and winter has laid the earth to a silent, seemingly lifeless rest, where does a bird-afflicted hunter turn to? What can be done to satiate the need for adventure that doesn’t end with the close of upland seasons?

Don’t Chicken Out Of Hunting Chickens

“Flump! Flump! Flump!” sent soundwaves tingling through my ears, followed by the crack

Filson’s Ridgeway Fleece Pullover

Filson has a knack for integrating history into everything they stitch together. They seem to be able to bring back to life or reinvent pieces of history in the form of garments to handle the tough struggles of outdoorsmen. Filson is synonymous with high quality and durable materials. Their clothing and gear are made to withstand the rigors of the wild outdoors and built to last a lifetime. Some Filson pieces almost possess an heirloom quality and status. Clothing is constructed for long-term use and the company relies on using materials that offers protection from the elements and environment for a wide range of activities. Putting on almost anything Filson, is like transforming oneself into a rugged folkloric Paul Bunyan type figure.

A New Grouse Hunter

Sam Scales had just sold his AI Startup to a consortium of Private Equity firms for $1 Billion (his share) and embraced a new-to-him sport: Ruffed Grouse Hunting. He brought to it the same intensity he had to the Startup. He was a math genius with a photographic memory and a control freak, traits that did not equip him for easy companionship. But one trip into Maine abandoned-farm country, where he saw one grouse rise and fall to the shot of his host, hooked him.

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.

Read Your Dog

Just because a gun dog can’t speak doesn’t mean he’s not saying anything. Reading the dogs’ body language is key for elevating performance levels, so here are some things pro trainers look for when they cut loose their string.