Gun Dog Magazine is the best magazine for hunting enthusiasts who are owners of retrieving breeds. Each issue is guaranteed to be filled with useful information devoted to you, your dog and the sport of upland bird and waterfowl hunters.
WEATHER PERMITTING, MATTIE and I usually begin our day with an early-morning run at a large public lake about 10 miles from our home—that is, she runs, and I amble. The lake is surrounded by several hundred acres of woods and fields laced with hiking trails, and over the years we’ve had quite a few interesting wildlife encounters out there. A couple weeks ago we were moving through a stand of winter-killed switch-grass at the edge of a field of corn stubble when a coyote popped up from the grass about a hundred yards ahead of us. It ran around the far end of a large brushpile and headed out across the stubble. I quickly crossed to the near end of the brushpile to watch it and as I did…
The Nose Knows How good is your dog’s nose? Several years ago we went to visit a daughter who lived in Florida. Before we left, I dug through our basement freezer for a pheasant or two to take to her. Several weeks later, I was in our basement sorting fishing tackle when my Airedale came down to visit me, or so I thought. Instead, she went over to the freezer, poked around a bit, and then started licking something on the floor. Strange behavior because she never went to the basement, especially on her own. Upon investigation, I discovered that she had found a double-wrapped package of pheasant breasts that I had missed putting back in the freezer before going to Florida. Carefully, VERY carefully, I held the package up…
We promptly labeled this photo “Tuckered Out,” after a hard, rewarding day of flushing pheasants amidst the farm grounds of Sullivan County, PA. My 2 1/2-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever could care less about my attempt for a photo op. — Darrin Schiele, Dutch Mountain, PA My German wirehair, JET, pictured after a good day on woodcock, is a versatile hunter. He’s as comfortable in the duck/goose blind as he is in the grouse/woodcock coverts and is a wonderful family dog! — Bev Engstrom, Rhinelander, WI This is a picture of our 10-month female setter, TIMBER , on her first hunt in western Oklahoma. She was pointing and backing right out of the box. Total she pointed 20-plus coveys and had several retrieves. — Darin Young, Newcastle, OK MICK is a…
PUMP IT UP Every kid should start a hunting career with a pump—after becoming proficient with the ol’ Red Ryder, of course. And the CZ 628 and 620 give you an excuse to spend a little cash on Junior, but also have a bit of fun on your own with these slick pumps offered in 28- and 20-gauge. We’ve hunted South Dakota a few times with sub-gauge guns and this Turkish beauty clocks in at under six pounds, so it’s an easy carry on those long walks for roosters. $429 | cz-usa.com TRAINING TOOL Whether you refer to it as “force-fetch” or “conditioned retrieve,” taking a bird dog through the process is no walk in the park. Deadfowl Trainers have a unique construction that helps teach proper hold.…
SHE WAS ALWAYS a difficult dog. Headstrong, infuriatingly blasé about obeying commands, unwilling to do anything the easy way. I had bought her from a reputable kennel when I was still infatuated with big-running dogs, or so-called all-age dogs. It was a decision I would have plenty of reasons to regret. No matter what some people think, there’s no inherent advantage in a dog that hunts 600 yards away, and Hanna could, on bad days, push that out to 1,000. When I tried to pull her back with furious whistle blasts, she’d become disoriented and run the wrong way. Some days my composure, my temper and my patience were frayed past the breaking point.Yes, she was trying. But by then it didn’t matter. But today she stays near, unsure of…
THE NOVA SCOTIA duck tolling retriever, or “toller” for short, has always been an intriguing breed to me. To be honest, I’ve never actually seen one in the flesh, but it’s hard not to be drawn to this breed on the basis of pictures. Perhaps like many others, I’ve often imagined this breed as having the spirit of a Lab in a fluffier, smaller, bouncier package. After all, the word “retriever” is in the name. So recently I decided to call an experienced toller breeder to discuss this fascinating breed. My intention was to write another in my series on Retriever People. But the breeder opened up with some very candid talk about the breed, and told me I could only publish the testimony on condition of anonymity. It’s a…
