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.
AS I’M WRITING this, my youngest setter, Trek, just celebrated one year around the sun. What a year it has been with my little unexpected setter. I say unexpected, because I wasn’t necessarily in the market for a new pup last spring, but I’m so thankful that he came into my world. Trek has brought a love and light that I needed so desperately after a tough year. Reminiscing on Trek’s first year, I was flipping through my photos and many of my snapshots of him are from the heart of last summer. I was lucky, and the first stage of Trek’s training was done during the off-season when warm weather made it pleasant and easy to pop outside for 15-minute training sessions. Images and videos of him flood my…
Hoping to find more birds this year for your gun dog, as well as your freezer? E-scouting is a tactic that you should consider before hitting the field. It will have your boots (and paws) tromping through the uplands in search of the next flush rather than behind the cab of your truck wasting precious time and gas. E-scouting from your computer, tablet, or phone helps aid a successful day afield and gets precious bird contacts under the nose of your bird dog. Utilize these tips and tools before heading to the uplands this fall. UTILIZE ACCESS LAYERS By toggling on layers such as Walk-In and Possible Access layers, you’ve just opened up thousands of acres of land to hunt. Many states offer walk-in programs—private land opened to the public…
LUCKY DUCK KENNEL UPLAND ORANGE Lucky Duck produces some of the safest and most durable kennels on the market. Their 5-Star Crash Rating ensures that your dog is safe while you travel. These kennels are feature rich, integrating tie down points for travel, a pitched floor to allow water to drain for quick drying, a reversible door so it can be opened from either direction you need—and many more thoughtful touches for usability. On top of all that, the new Upland Series features the “Upland Orange” color which is a great touch and pays homage to passionate upland hunters and their dogs. $600; luckyduck.com PARADIGM SPORTING DOG FIRST AID KITS Having a good field first aid kit can be crucial to saving your dog during field emergencies. Paradigm…
THE CONDITIONING method known as “roading” has long been used by trainers to exercise bird dogs during the off-season. Dogs are typically harnessed and strapped to an ATV using a roading bar, allowing them to run safely next to the machine. As the dogs run long distances attached to the ATV, they build both cardiovascular and physical strength. Keeping dogs in shape in the off-season is vital to their safety and well-being, and roading is an extremely effective form of exercise. However, some see the equipment needed to road dogs and immediately shy away. Don’t own an ATV? No problem. All you need is a bike and a Bike Tow Leash. BIKE TOW LEASH Bird dogs have high drive and high energy levels. Exercise is key to tiring not only…
BÁNH MÌ IS a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, a convenient meal that you can grab-and-go from the boulangerie on your way to work or any other time of day. I may be biased, but I truly believe that bánh mì is the best sandwich in the world—a perfectly balanced creation that combines both French and Vietnamese influences. Every element, from the grilled or cured meats and the full-fat mayo and rich pâtés, to the generous amounts of fresh vegetables and the pickles that offer brightness—all delivered by a short baguette that is delightfully crispy on the outside and cloud-like on the inside—work in harmony to provide contrast, none overpowering the other. I’ve eaten many styles of sandwiches, and none compare to that of my home country. THE VIETNAMESE BAGUETTE Taking…
FRANCHI released the Affinity shotgun in early 2012, and that fall I had an opportunity to shoot the new semiauto on a waterfowl hunt in Texas. I was impressed by the gun’s reliability and design details, and I suspected that the Affinity would be around for quite a while. It’s 2025, and the Affinity has been a huge seller for Franchi, solidifying the brand’s reputation for building some of the best autoloading shotguns in the world. But, faithfully as the Franchi has served hunters for the last decade, it was due for a refresh. Let’s take a closer look at what has changed—and what hasn’t—on the new Affinity 3 shotgun. BUILT FOR BIRD HUNTERS Five years prior to the release of the initial Affinity shotgun, Benelli purchased the rights to…
