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.
THERE'S A CHILL in the air—a welcome reprieve from the past few months where daily temperatures hit the high 90s all summer long here in Utah. That meant many mornings of early wake up calls to be in the training field as the sun was peaking over the horizon and heading to higher elevations to hunt grouse to beat the heat in the foothills. September is the true season kick-off, but there is just something special about October. The air is crisp, leaves start to crunch under foot, and fires back at camp welcome you with a crackle and welcoming warmth. The change in weather puts not only a pep in my step, but also that of my dogs. They know hunting season is here, and for the next few…
“If you're quick enough to bag one, the plump, juicy meat of the Hungarian partridge, also called the grey partridge, is among the best table fare of any of our upland birds. But Hungarian partridge aren’t thriving in proportion to so many latter immigrants to the region. Across much of their range, bird populations are either depressed or coveys are gone altogether.” To read more on the Hungarian partridge decline, turn to the feature story “Gray Ghosts” pg. 94…
BENCHMADE 15700 FLYWAY As the name suggests, the new Flyway fixed blade is made specifically for bird hunters. A long handle and short, unique blade made of CPM-154 steel give this knife a scalpel-like feel for razor sharp cutting. The small blade is easier to maneuver and perfect for breasting out birds ranging from quail-sized fowl all the way up to Canada geese. An orange handle makes it easy to see if accidently dropped, and a Boltaron sheath keeps your blade protected while on your belt or in your bird vest. $200; benchmade.com YETI LOADOUT GOBOX As bird dog owners know, dogs require a lot of gear and keeping it all organized is tough. The YETI LoadOut GoBox is the perfect case for the traveling bird hunter. Waterproof, dustproof, and…
PYKE DAKOTA PANT Serious grouse hunters find themselves in the nastiest of covers through the course of a season, and that can wear on a pant. Enter Pyke’s Dakota Pant: Made for grouse hunters, by grouse hunters. It is built using a tough nylon base layer with an outer 3-layer stretch nylon that is incredibly waterproof, while still maintaining good breathability. At 20 ounces, the Dakota pant is relatively light given its ruggedness, and provides a good, comfortable fit with features such as articulated knees, a gusseted crotch, and an elastic stretch waist band. $270; pykegear.com ORVIS UPLAND HUNTING SOFTSHELL PANTS These ultra-technical upland pants from Orvis provide a ton of versatility for hunters who like to pursue a range of species in different climates. The tightly woven ripstop…
WHEN I THINK “smothered chicken,” my imagination immediately spins an unfortunate, yet comical, scene. Thankfully, this southern dish has nothing to do with goose-down pillows and unsuspecting poultry. It’s rather a cooking technique of Cajun and Creole origin. You might know the famous Louisiana dish called étouffée, which translates to “muffled” or “smothered.” Étouffée is essentially smothered seafood, except that chefs take the extra time to create a nutty brown roux. There’s no need for that in smothering chicken or pork chops—you’re looking for a lighter gravy. Smothering is simple: Meat and vegetables are browned, liquid is added to make a gravy, and the whole thing is covered and gently cooked until tender over the stovetop. It’s basically a stovetop braise, and the method works just as well with pheasant…
CCZ-USA HAS BEEN in the shotgun game for many years, and the company’s current list of shotguns includes a lengthy list of side-by-sides, over/unders, semiautos, and pumps. However, the most noteworthy addition to CZ’s shotgun line in the last couple years has been the introduction of their All-Terrain family of shotguns. When CZ launched the All-Terrain line it didn’t truly add new firearm models. Rather, the company gave existing product lines, including the Upland Ultralight, Redhead Premier, and Drake over/unders, the Bobwhite G2 side-by-side, and semiauto 1012 an upgrade—and made these firearms even more versatile and functional. GREEN AND RED My All-Terrain test gun was a Redhead Premier in 12-gauge with 28-inch barrels. The Redhead is the flagship of CZ’s over/under line, and as such it comes with a lengthy…
