Indholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2022 i Gun Dog

I CRESTED a rise deep in the Idaho backcountry and saw a flash of white through the sage brush. Jones stood tall, his tail straight and unwavering. I walked forward and readied my gun before a covey of Huns burst from the sage just out of range, and glided to safety deep into the canyon below. I looked for my buddies drahthaar, thinking Jones was surely honoring his find. The draht was far off in the distance, hot on the scent of another covey. I then realized that my young setter had found and pointed that covey all by himself. This moment was over a year in the making. A lot of sweat and stress went into building this bird dog and prepping him for this point. I had waited…

IT’S NO SECRET that Franchi’s superbly reliable, Italian-made Affinity semi-auto shotgun is one of the best values in upland and waterfowl guns, but the Affinity’s aesthetics have remained largely unchanged throughout the gun’s ten-year lifespan. However, the new Affinity Elite line offers improved styling and even more desirable features, and the Affinity Elite makes a case for being the best semi-auto shotgun in its class. At the heart of the Elite guns is the same trusted Inertia Driven System that has made the workmanlike Affinity one of the most dependable semi-autos on the market today. Franchi is a sister company of Benelli, and Benelli is, after all, the brand that introduced American hunters to the benefits of Inertia-Driven shotguns. Like its Benelli cousins, the Affinity Elite utilizes a very simple…

PUPPY SHOPPING can be a daunting process. Even when you’ve narrowed down your chosen breed, you’re still likely to have dozens of choices to sift through. In the case of popular dogs like Labrador retrievers, you might have hundreds of breeders to consider. Or, you could just go with the breeder who produced your last dog. This is a common move, and oftentimes, a good one. If your life situation hasn’t changed much since your last pup, and your hunting situation is similar, then going with a familiar bloodline is probably a solid choice. Of course, this hinges on whether the breeder is producing the same kind of dogs, which isn’t always the case and does require some research. The reality for most of us is that in the span…

WHEN I TOOK over this magazine in the spring of 2019, I was fortunate enough to have a host of trainers/writers under the GUN DOG title that welcomed me with open arms. Dr. Ed Bailey was one of those and he was quick to e-mail and tell me he was happy to help in any way. That generosity from a stranger meant so much to me at the time as I navigated my new adventure. Ed and I would go on to form a friendship and mutual respect for one another. He was always willing to go the extra mile for both me and GUN DOG readers. On October 27, 2021, I received an email from Ed’s wife, Uta, with news that I dreaded. Ed had passed away unexpectedly the…

A400 UPLAND It’s tough to find a shotgun that fits the short length of pull of female hunters, but the A400 Upland semi-auto fit the bill for the new shooters. Weighing in at 6.7 pounds, the A400 Upland features an integral Kick Off Mega recoil dampener that helped keep the ladies from having sore shoulders. An adjustable shim system allows shooters to adjust the stock for the perfect fit. A nickel-plated receiver is engraved with flushing quail and roosters, while a blued barrel and w t stock round out the package. Available in 12-gauge with a 26- or 28-inch barrel. $1,800; beretta.com…

GUNNER G1 KENNEL The G1 Kennel from GUNNER is double wall rotomolded for twice the impact protection. It has been tested to withstand a 630-lbs. sled dropped from over eight feet, a 200-foot cliff drop, 4,000 lbs. of force, a 12-gauge shotgun, and much more. Yes, GUNNER’s G1 is a virtually bombproof kennel that is 5-star crash test rated and proudly made in the USA. What is the price of peace of mind? From $499; gunner.com LUCKY DUCK KENNEL This lightweight, ultra-safe kennel from Lucky Duck is 5-star crash test rated and comes with a patented one-piece rotomolded design. It has been tested to withstand 4,000 lbs. of force, is well ventilated and is very easy to clean with drain channels and holes strategically placed. The locking paddle latch will…

I WAS RAISED in Northern Wisconsin where they aren’t called ruffed grouse, they’re “partridge.” The first partridge I saw was behind my Grandpa Moore’s woodshed and I didn’t know what it was. I crawled behind it, Llewellin-like through the brush until it finally flushed, scaring the hell out of me. Since that day, I’ve been fascinated by the “King.” Fast forward to my high school years where you’d find buddies and I making a three hour trip to Northern Wisconsin timber company lands on half days of school. Driving backroads with golden retrievers and pump shotguns, hoping to be scared by more of those thundering flushes. For the last 20 plus years, flushers and retrievers have held my focus and I follow them year-round afield; shed hunting in the spring,…

IF YOU HANG around professional dog trainers long enough, you will find that they share a common sentiment: The greatest potential for failure in a gun dog’s training program lies in the training, or un-training, that the dog receives when it returns to the owner’s home. To put it in simpler terms, professional trainers tend to agree that an untrained owner can undo good work in short order. In my summer training alongside my friend, Dan Lussen, I find that most of my time in the field is focused on training the trainer, or more accurately, on training the owner/trainer. Dan and I agree that after a period working with a dog, the owner really must join us in the field for a handful of sessions so that we can…

Your search should start long before you’re ready to buy a pup. Attend training days and hunt tests. Subscribe to GUN DOG, watch videos. Get active in your local dog clubs. Ask current owners where they got their dog. Leave price out of your calculus—the cost of a dog is the least-expensive part of your new lifestyle. Follow the breed club’s testing program. Try the European breed clubs’ North American counterparts (Verein Deutsch Drahthaar—Group North America, for example) or the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (all versatile breeds). Broader-based groups such as the Hunting Retriever Club, American Kennel Club, and United Kennel Club welcome visitors to events. Explore the “alliances” of dedicated breeders going beyond the minimum to ensure better genetics are passed on. Ready to pull the trigger?…

SLG travels across the country with their mobile range to break barriers one show at a time for women interested in shooting. The SLG semi-trailer range is the perfect opportunity to help a woman you may know who wants to try shooting a handgun, rifle, or compound bow but doesn’t have the resources. Look for events in a town near you and get her there—it just may be the push she needs to start a lifelong hobby. January 6-9: Dallas Safari Club Expo, Dallas, TX February 5-6: Cabela’s, Fort Worth, TX February 17-20: National Wild Turkey Federation Convention, Nashville, TN March 5-6: Bass Pro Shops, Spanish Fort, AL March 19-20: Bass Pro Shops, Bossier City, LA April 2-3: Bass Pro Shops, Little Rock, AR April 23-24: Bass Pro Shops, Olathe,…

WHEN I TRY new wild game, I typically season it with only salt and pepper. This gives me a chance to taste its flavor and texture without too much seasoning and sauces to get in the way; it’s hard to tell how best to cook something new if you come in guns ablazing and blind. Just lightly season a small piece of meat, brown it in a pan and then try it. Is it strong tasting or mild? Is it tender or tough? I use this first impression as a jumping-off point to develop different recipes down the line. Furthermore, this practice also allows me to confirm or dispel what other hunters might’ve told me about the flavor of particular game in the past. Despite all the complaints I’ve heard…

BIRD DOGS are the ultimate adventure dogs. They live with us, travel with us, and play a dynamic role in the memories we make outdoors. A bird dog may perform at a southern quail plantation one weekend, working the pines ahead of multiple hunters on horseback, but the very next foray might be a pheasant hunt in the Dakota crop strips or a desert sojourn in pursuit of Gambel’s and blue quail. To bird dog and hunter alike, each of these environments is unique, and presents a particular set of stresses, challenges, and lessons. These myriad adventures and the lessons that they hold are a driver for us at Ronnie Smith Kennels. In travel and diversity of experience we see unparalleled benefit for our dogs, and profound fulfillment for us…

YOU JUST LOST a nice rooster—it was hit hard and downed in cover across a creek ditch. An untrained dog may or may not go over the water to retrieve it, or may even pick the bird up only to drop it to chase another bird, leaving you on the wrong side of four feet of cold water. We can avoid this scenario by taking time this spring and summer to teach our dog to retrieve as a learned command. This is recommended for hunting dogs—and, if you plan on getting involved in Hunt Tests or Field Trials, a dependable retrieve is a must. IS YOUR DOG READY? Before beginning, we must assume basics commands are in place. We cannot expect to teach or build new learning without a solid…