Tabla de contenidos para November 2021 en Gun Dog

“DO YOU EVER look at the mountains and just have this feeling of being home?” My friend, Laden, asked me as we stared into the vast wilds of the Bighorn Mountains while on a trip in Cody, Wyoming. Laden’s words struck me in that moment because I knew the feeling he spoke of—but “home” wasn’t the West for me in my youth. Growing up in rural Ohio, I didn’t have mountain ranges towering above me as I made my way through school. Instead, we had woods and farmlands and they each sparked a love of the outdoors and fueled my passion for the expansive West. The woods around my house ignited my imagination. I embarked on epic adventures with my Lab, Abby, and built “forts” along streambanks with my twin…

THERE’S SOMETHING to say about a company that listens to customer feedback and takes the time—nine years in the case of Garmin—to produce the next generation of a popular product. When the Alpha 100 hit the market in 2011, it took the hunting dog world by storm. Handlers now had a device that served not only as a GPS unit with preloaded topo maps, but it also allowed you to track multiple dogs, and operated as an e-collar so it could serve double duty as both a training and hunting tool. The Alpha 100 instantly became a ubiquitous tool in the gun dog world. But as with all products, there is always opportunity for improvement, and Garmin took almost a decade before releasing the next version of the Alpha, the…

OVER THE YEARS I’ve earned a reputation for not being hard on dogs. For that, I am proud. Those who know me will agree the same cannot be said when it comes to equipment or machinery. Something I’m not so proud of: I’ve had to become efficient in reverse engineering broken things. My options are throwing it away or trying to fix it and I’ve been accused of being frugal (some might call it cheap). If I can fix it rather than throw it away, I will. When dogs are broken, “throwing it away” isn’t an option and reverse engineering the fix can be just what we need there, too. I want to fill some holes that were left open in last month’s article explaining how and why back chaining…

IF YOU HUNT or run dogs long enough, you are certain to have a similar story: A hunter kicks up a bird and takes a bad shot, resulting in wing-tipping or pulling feathers from a bird that sets its wings and glides nearly to the horizon. The dog, inconsiderate of whistle blasts, shouted commands, and the increasing frustration of the handler, takes off to chase. After a long enough period that the hunter/handler has grown convinced that both bird and dog are long gone and lost causes, the dog comes back, tired and battered, with a dead bird in its mouth. Had the dog obeyed a bit better, or had the demands of the handler held him off, there would be a bird out there still, possibly suffering, certainly resigning…

STI LL GOING STRONG Hello Kali! I was pleased to find my latest copy of GUN DOG magazine to have George Bird Evans and his setter, Briar, included in the article entitled "The Big 4-0" (September 2021). I still have the first issue of GUN DOG all wrapped up nice and safe. It just goes to show how much I think of your magazine, and editors and those who wrote such great articles. I remember every one of the names…they are all in my own writers “Hall of Fame.” I’m 95 years old and still hunt some and shoot sporting clays at the local gun club. I hope to be here to read the 50th anniversary issue. But if not, I’m sure my sons, grandsons, granddaughters, and great grandchildren will…

YOUR CLASSIC Indian dishes like curry, are great for two things: a long slow simmer to tenderize wild birds, and a sauce that will take your tastebuds on a rapid transit of flavor. To get there and make this dish, time is required, along with the initial spice investment. Yes, there are several spices, some pricier than others, but they’ll last for many meals and after you try this recipe, you’ll be thankful you made the investment. While other Indian dishes may call for a yogurt marinade, I opted for a fairly simple brine here. A good brine works in two ways: it will imbue the meat with flavor, similar to a marinade, but, most importantly, the salt in the brine will bind to muscle fibers and help retain moisture…

BIRD HUNTING without a bird dog is, pardon the pun, pointless. A great dog is the yarn that weaves land, birds, and hunters into a tapestry of memorable experiences. That said, most bird hunters don’t live where they hunt, and the integration of dogs, birds, land, and people often requires ample planning and some travel. This travel can be taxing, so as you set out to plan a trip, it is important to consider tactics that will ensure a successful, safe, and enjoyable hunting expedition both for you and for your bird dog. PHYSICAL & MENTAL PREP Begin your preparations well in advance of your anticipated hunting trip to make sure that your dog is in suitable physical and mental condition. The most obvious piece of this equation requires that…

AS MUCH AS we dread it, we can’t stop it. Our gun dogs get old on us. The good news is that just because our dogs are getting up there in age doesn’t mean they can’t be hunted. With special attention, you can get a few more productive seasons with your beloved bird dog. The old saying “you’re as old as you feel,” pretty well holds true with our dogs as well. Actually, a dog may be termed “geriatric” at five years while a litter mate may not meet the criteria until eight or nine years old. It all just depends on the dog. Years alone don’t decide—genetics, along with past health care, work, stress, injuries, and many other factors contribute to one being classified as geriatric. When your dog…

We citizens own much of the best upland hunting country in the West. Keep that in mind as you negotiate the vast, faceless bureaucracies that control information. One agency expert tried to convince me there were no valley quail in that state, even though I’d shot dozens in the past three years. Be polite, but persistent. You’re often better checking with on-the-ground sources — from gas station attendants to grocery clerks, UPS drivers to sheriff’s deputies. Be humble, sincere, and honest with residents, spend some money in the area, hang out in the local café, and you may be blessed with more reliable intelligence.…

GARMIN ALPHA 10 Small but mighty, the new GPS and training device from Garmin packs a punch with multiple features built into a less than 3-inch tall unit. The Alpha 10 provides a directional arrow and distance to easily track your dog and can control up to 20 dogs as far as 9 miles away with customizable training functions including tone, vibrate, and 18 levels of stimulation. The unit can be paired with the Garmin Explore app on mobile phones for enhanced mapping solutions while afield. Hunting with a buddy and their dog? The Alpha 10 can be paired with compatible Garmin dog tracking devices, such as the Alpha 200i, to show your buddies location, as well as their dog. No more yelling across fields when a dog is on…

THE 18i is the first Weatherby shotgun released since the company’s move to Sheridan, Wyoming—but these semiauto shotguns actually originate in Brescia, Italy where they are built by respected Italian firearms manufacturer, Marocchi. The 18i is available in three different versions including the line-topping Deluxe model with electroless nickel finish, laser engraving, chrome plating and a magnificent walnut stock. For those who prefer the practicality of a polymer stock there’s the all-black 18i Synthetic and the 18i Waterfowler model which is clad in Mossy Oak or Realtree camo. Regardless of which of these guns you select, you’re getting a solid, reliable semiauto that doesn’t cost as much as competing guns in this class. INERTIA-DRIVEN All 18i models utilize the inertia-driven system that was introduced by Benelli in 1986. To refresh,…

THE ABILITY to rotate in fresh dogs throughout the duration of a hunt is a luxury most hunters don’t have. The majority of upland hunters are running a single dog, which means to avoid retriever burnout, they’ve got to think things through on a daily, or weekly basis. This goes for the hunters who might only hunt a few weekends each season, or the folks who devote weeks to traveling hunts while targeting multiple species of birds. No matter how full your hunting calendar is, this all starts with your dog’s physical fitness at the onset of the season. We all know that our dogs should be in really good shape before that opening bell, but a lot of dogs aren’t. This is reality, and it’s crucial that you’re aware…

WHAT CAN HAPPEN when the resident dog perceives competition for space, resources, general security? Most often, this involves a new pup brought into the mix. It could also be a new child that demands the attention the dog used to get. Or it might be a new partner enters the scene when your always-there hunting buddy has to share a spot on the sofa, or even lost his place there as well. It need not be just a change involving a new dog or person who is competing for your time and attention. Changing locations—resulting in a change in your dog’s accommodations, a change in his schedule, or even a change as small as a home renovation can be a disruption to his wellbeing. What you need to remember is…

California’s arcane firearms and ammunition laws are under constant litigation and appeal, so get current before you go. Key areas include: How to legally transport guns and ammo (usually separated, each in a “locked container,” trigger or cable locks don’t suffice); buying ammo (virtually impossible for nonresidents); use of non-toxic ammo required for all hunting, everywhere; and possible requirements for a firearms safety course, even for adults. There is (as of this writing) one tidbit of good news: If you come from another state, you can bring as much ammo as you want and share with fellow hunters in the field.…