Article Database
These page is loaded with Featured Articles
Looking for a Pointer?
Few breeds have earned the reputation of the Pointer. Known for their speed, style, and natural bird-finding ability, Pointers have been a favorite among upland hunters for generations. Whether you are chasing quail across southern plantations, hunting prairie birds in the Midwest, or simply looking for an athletic companion with strong sporting instincts, the Pointer remains one of the most respected bird dogs in the field.
English Pointer or Pointer?
If you spend much time around bird dog folks, you'll eventually hear the breed referred to by two different names. Some people call them Pointers, while others insist on English Pointers. For newcomers to the sporting dog world, that can be confusing. Are they the same breed? Is one term more correct than the other?
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.
The Italian American Job
As a third-generation descendant of poor Italian immigrants, I have had firsthand experience with the famed culture of frugality for which they are known. This includes some unconventional culinary habits practiced as part of their peasantry traditions. These traditions were born out of necessity. Not only did they come here in the early 1900’s with nothing, but most left families in Italy who had also lived there for generations with nothing. An outflow of their need to subsist on so little was a well documented custom of poaching. This was also born out of what they saw as necessity, needing to find ways to feed their families by any available means.
How to Write Hunting Dog Ads That Actually Get Calls
A lot of folks think if they’ve got a good dog, it’ll sell no matter what.
How to Promote Your Hunting Dog Kennel
If you ask most kennel owners how they promote their dogs, you’ll hear the same answer: “I post them when they’re ready.” That approach might work once or twice, but it doesn’t build anything long-term. The kennels that consistently sell pups, build waiting lists, and stay relevant year after year take a different approach. They promote their kennel all the time, not just when they have something to sell.
How to Build a Kennel That Lasts
I’ve been running Gundog Central twenty years now, I’ve seen a lot of kennels come and go. I’ve seen new kennels shows up strong, produces a few litters, builds some buzz—and then quietly disappears. A few years later, nobody remembers the name.
Do you need a Gundog Central Kennel Account?
Most breeders only think about advertising when they have puppies on the ground. The most successful kennels think differently. They understand that reputation isn’t built in eight weeks — it’s built year-round. When someone begins searching for their next hunting companion, they rarely purchase from the first litter they see. They research. They compare bloodlines. They follow kennels for months, sometimes years, before making a decision. Maintaining a year-round kennel account on Gundog Central positions your program as established, professional, consistent, and invested. Instead of appearing only when there’s something to sell, you demonstrate that your kennel is committed to the long game.
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.
Continue Reading
Best hunting dog breeds for wetland hunting
Waterfowl hunting demands a special kind of dog — one that thrives in cold, muddy conditions, works calmly from a blind, and has the grit to plunge into icy water after a downed bird. Not every hunting breed is built for that challenge, but a select few have been bred for generations to master the wetlands. These dogs combine powerful swimming ability, a weatherproof coat, a soft mouth for careful retrieves, and an unshakable desire to work beside their handler through rain, sleet, and wind.
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.
A Broken Plate
After a long hiatus I have returned to a sport I loved for many years. As I turn my pups loose now and watch them sail across the south pasture, I reflect on the many turns in the road that placed me here.
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.
