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.
I STILL HAVE vivid memories of my first experience in a duck blind. Jeremy, a coworker and friend, had invited me on a hunt for Canada geese that were making their way south through our home state of Ohio. I remember the 3 a.m. alarm clock, and launching the weathered boat into the darkness. I remember the bags and bags of gear and Jeremy setting the decoys as the sun began to rise, his figure silhouetted against the brightening sky. It was my third hunt—of any species—ever. My hunting attire consisted of cheap, camo rain gear worn over my regular winter coat and snow pants. That’s all I could afford. But that was unimportant. I was there—and that was all that mattered. It was cold, but the geese weren’t flying.…
Situated on nearly 5,000 acres, White Oak Creek Ranch, located just 90 minutes east of Dallas in the wildlife-rich hardwood bottoms of Franklin County, is redefining ranching. “Our goal is to deliver a first-rate, best-of-class destination ranch where the owner- members can enjoy the outdoors and their families without any of the responsibilities of running, managing and maintaining a ranch,” said Ty Looney, who with his business partner, Garry Kyle, purchased the ranch in 2016. The ranch, which had been managed solely for wildlife for the past 30 years, offered the duo an unmatched opportunity to create an exclusive hunting club and ranch community. “We set out to create something we—and other outdoor enthusiasts—would want to be part of for a life-time,” Looney said. Currently, only 12 owner-memberships remain out…
IT IS WITH a heavy heart that we say goodbye to long-time GUN DOG contributor and photographer, Chip Laughton. Chip’s exceptional images have graced the pages of this magazine for many years, because of the gift he had for capturing the actions and emotions of hunters, bird dogs, and the connection between the two. Chip’s eye and talent for photography were rare—his images came to life off the pages of GUN DOG and captured the details we long to remember: The steady point of a setter locked on a covey, the warm and dedicated eyes of a Labrador watching the skies, or the sun setting over rolling prairie hills, marking an end to a long day afield. With every photo, Chip gave readers the illusion that they were standing in…
1 FILSON TIN CLOTH EXCURSION BAG Before you hit the blind, stuff your gear into Filson’s water-repellent and abrasion-resistant travel bag that’s made to withstand abuse. A rustproof, brass U-zipper gives you access to the 44-liter main compartment—plenty of room for shells, calls, camera, extra layers, and more. A water-repellent side pocket with ventilating grommets collapses when not in use, and sits on the side of the bag for stowing wet and muddy gear. $425; filson.com 2 ALPS OUTDOORZ TIMBER DOG STAND The Timber Dog Stand is made of lightweight aluminum and a Tech Mesh platform to shed water. An included ratchet strap allows you to easily attach the stand to a tree, and angled teeth dig in to bark to stabilize the platform. The lower bar adjusts to accommodate…
THERE’S AN OLD saying among dog trainers: You need birds to train bird dogs. It’s true. But most of you probably don’t have a flock of homing pigeons or penned quail at your disposal. I get that. So, what follows are tips on training with birds—and, when you don’t have them, training without. INTRODUCING BIRDS First, let’s talk about introducing puppies to what they’ve been bred for: pointing birds. Typically, I introduce them to a planted pigeon at three or four months of age, although I’ve introduced them as young as seven weeks. Here’s how I do it. First, constrain the bird so it won’t flap or run away. I wrap masking tape around the bird’s wings and legs so it can’t move. Truss him up good. You don’t want…
CRATE-TRAINING IS important for obvious reasons with a puppy. You want him to understand whether he’s at home, or in the truck heading down the road, that he has his place to be. Not only is this convenient for you as the pup’s owner, but it’s also a great way to keep him safe. Teaching the kennel command to a youngster is easy enough, and at first should happen at home. But before you start, remember that the idea is to not only get the dog to understand what you’re telling him, but also to create a positive association with his crate. I do this by placing some kibble inside the crate and then giving the kennel command and gesturing toward the crate. Any pup with an ounce of food…
