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.
TALMAGE was quiet and methodical in his move-e ments as he watched my setter, Jones. It was as if he was staring into his soul, trying to understand what was running through the young dog’s mind. Jones was intently pointing a pigeon trapped in a launcher a few feet in front of him. His paw inched off the wood board he stood on, and Talmage quickly reacted, launching the pigeon. “This trap is the problem,” Talmage said quietly. “He seems to really get excited over the launcher.” It was a hot summer morning in Utah, and Talmage was walking me through training reps I could do to help steady Jones up on the flush. I have spent many a summer day over the past two years watching and learning from…
NOTHING SAYS October like the flush of ruffed grouse from golden aspen. Finding the king of game birds is no easy task, though, as they are well-known for their complex food and shelter preferences. The solution? E-scouting is the most effective way to find these wild birds’ favorite covers. Here is how to find more ruffs for you and your gun dog this October. UTILIZE ACCESS LAYERS By toggling on layers such as Walk-In and Possible Access layers, you’ve just opened up thousands of acres of possible land to hunt. Many states offer walk-in programs—private land opened to the public for hunting—and these can be recognized on the map as plots of land marked with red dots. Additionally, the Possible Access layer is great for grouse hunters who hunt the…
GUNNER BUMPERS The folks at GUNNER know a thing or two about building strong products. Their brand-new bumper is no exception. It is constructed with DuraTrieve material—a proprietary rubber compound created by GUNNER. But beyond its durability, this bumper offers complete functionality. The tapered shape encourages a proper grip and hold for your gun dog, while side vents allow for breathability in water work. An interior cavity with a removable cap is extremely unique and allows for scent training. Starting at $30; gunner.com ALPS UPLAND GAME VEST X 2.0 The Upland Game Vest X 2.0 provides a ton of functionality and high-end features at a great price point. The expandable and removable waist belt expands from 26" to 62" for a custom fit no matter your size. It also features…
II TRAVELED to Britain recently and noticed chicken and mushroom pie on many pub menus. The dish is exactly as it sounds: chicken and mushrooms in a thick, aromatic white sauce, all encased in a buttery crust. It’s a fitting foil to Britain’s pitchy steak pies, and The Horse and Groom in Windsor makes a good one. After a full morning of navigating London public transportation and sightseeing one spring day in May, my husband and I looked into the old pub and were astonished that it has been around since at least 1719 under King George I. The small, timber-framed building itself has been standing since the 16th century. Along with our ale, Rick had bangers and mash while I ventured the chicken and wild mushroom pie. Enveloped in…
THE SUN is shining over northern Italy, but it’s early in the morning and the air is still cold. I’m hunting that day as a guest of the Fausti sisters, Barbara and Giovanna, the second generation of the Fausti family shotgun manufacturer. We are in a beautiful hunting place, the Giorgio Paraporti’s G&G Hunting Service. On three sides of the stubble field I’m hunting, the hills are draped with bright green grapevines planted in neat rows, and directly behind me is a 16th century villa that looks much today as it did in the years when Europeans colonized North America. A pair of ponderous orange and white Bracco Italiano bird dogs move up and down the stubble rows with a slow-footed, purposeful trot. They stray too far ahead and their…
THE CALENDAR says October has 31 days. Why then does it always feel like it begins and ends the same week? It was early November and I’d missed my window of opportunity, so this began as a call to a stranger named Jerry Havel that I’d heard on a podcast about shotguns, grouse camps, and Elhew pointers. I’d read Bob Wehle’s Snakefoot, The Making of a Champion, a must read on a dog man and his Elhew line of pointers. My copy was filled with scribbled on post-it notes, underlined sentences, highlighted paragraphs, and a list of unanswered questions. I first introduced myself to Jerry, explained what I was trying to accomplish with this column and invited him to bring dogs and join me at my camp. Not long into…
