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.
WE ask more of our dogs than most, and they do it willingly and without question. A good bird dog has a drive that we can only ever wish to have. They will push themselves until they can’t go any deeper—and then keep pushing. It’s on us—as trainers, handlers, and most importantly, guardians—to recognize when our dogs need rest, and to protect them from needless injury. I was on a hunt last fall when I had to make the tough decision to hunt without my dog. We were coming off two excellent days of chasing wild birds in southern Idaho. Lincoln had been hunting as our sole dog on night one, finding us a covey of California quail, retrieving all three birds that were shot, and then rewarding us with…
CAN you please tell me what breed John Hafner photographed for the June/July 2020 cover? Steve DiVito | via e-mail Hi Steve, you weren’t the only one who asked us the breed that graced the cover of our summer issue. The dog captured by the talented John Hafner was a Wirehaired pointing griffon. Good-looking bird dog! —Kali Parmley, Editor-in-Chief WHERE WERE YOU? I have enjoyed your magazine, especially with your new Editor-in-Chief and design format. I went to Pheasant Fest in Minnesota in February and was disappointed not to see your magazine there. I was looking forward to complimenting you in person on the changes you have made. However, the convention was great—from all the dogs, food, training tips, dog supplies, and more. Scott Sherman | via e-mail Hi Scott,…
Ducks in the water? It doesn’t matter that it’s February in Massachusettts, Ruger is going in! He loves the water and loves hunting birds even more. —Brian and Dawn Barnes, Upton, MA Willow is a driven four-year-old Brittany spaniel. She loves to run the rolling hills in Sussex County, seeking out birds. —Mark Niemynski, Hackettstown, NJ English setters Pippa (left) and Frank (right) eagerly waiting for the release command to start the hunt. —Kelly Hays, Swanton, VT…
GUNDOG OUTDOORS FIELD TRAUMA KIT ➜ Designed by a firefighter/EMT who has a passion for bird dogs and waterfowl hunting, the Field Trauma Kit includes medical-grade equipment used by U.S. first responders. The trauma kit treats abrasions, puncture wounds, sprains, eye injuries, hypothermia, and more. A veterinarian-approved Emergency Field Trauma Guide is included and it’s perfect for referencing how to treat any injuries that may occur while hunting. The contents are packed in a waterproof, zippered shell that is made to attach to a belt or hunting vest. $54 | gundogoutdoors.com ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS ME & MY DOG MEDICAL KIT ➜ The Me & My Dog Medical Kit packs a lot of supplies to keep your dog—and you—safe on your hunting adventure. An SOL emergency blanket treats shock and hypothermia,…
LEAD has been king of the uplands since the dawn of black powder. There are some inherent disadvantages of lead, but for the vast majority of bird hunters, it still reigns over the rest. In the past few decades, there have been many pushes to move away from the hard-hitting element due to environmental concerns. Steel shot is another option, but due to the lack of density, it doesn’t pack nearly the punch of lead. As a waterfowler, I had always seen steel shot as a necessary evil, mostly because other nontoxic shot options were far too costly to shoot upwards of three cases of shells per year. However, when I went to the uplands, it was a treat to fill both barrels with lead-packed shells. I would spring for…
I’VE always liked the idea of using what dogs do naturally. It just makes sense. When they began naming different breeds of dogs, “retrievers” was not an accident. Instead, it was very much intentional and described their primary purpose well. When it comes to breeds today, what we ask of them has evolved, but the “retrieve” in the retriever typically remains strong. In our last column, I posed the question, “Is it really possible for a retriever to have too much retrieve?”The answer to that question is predicated on how we handle them. Some will become nightmares, others a dream come true—most are somewhere in between. All are a direct result of our influence, particularly early on. One of the most common struggles in retriever training for many is connected…
