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Episodes
Edible Mushrooms You Can Find in the Pacific Northwestās Grouse Country
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fall is the time of year that gives the Pacific Northwest its moody, wet, and misty reputation. Itās also when some of the most coveted edible mushr...
Tips for Better Woodcock Shooting Skills
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āWoodcock are neither the hardest nor the easiest bird to shoot.ā I am not sure I can sum up woodcock shooting better than those words of George B...
Working with Pheasant Meat: Nutrition, Cooking Tips, and Handling
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The venerableĀ ring-necked pheasant,Ā the most-hunted upland bird in America. Most of us are likely aware the bird hails from East Asia and, despite i...
4 Tips for Improving as an Upland Hunter
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Iām an adult-onset, first-generation hunter. Over the last five years, Iāve learned everything I can about upland bird hunting. This learning expe...
French Spaniel: An Elegant, Intelligent French Pointing Breed
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To my delight, my time spent on Duolingo, a popular language-learning application, came in handy while reading Craig KoshykāsĀ Pointing Dogs Volume ...
Overview of the Browning BSS Side-by-Side Shotgun
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I worked part-time at a gun shop during my college years, which offered me the privilege of handling hundreds of used shotguns. As I stepped behind th...
Understanding the Threat Response of Ruffed Grouse in Hunting
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A decade ago I wrote a book,Ā The Urban Deer Complex. Growing up just outside of Boston, I was fascinated by the idea of whitetail deer being able to ...
How to Tenderize Upland Game Birds
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During my four-year stint at the Elk Public House in Spokane, Washington, I likely pounded out thousands of chicken breasts to prep for the grill. As ...
How Wind Affects Birds and Hunting Dogs
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Upland hunting, for me, is as much about enjoying the outdoors as it is about hunting. For this reason, I tend to hunt very quietly, speaking to my do...
History and Overview of the Ruger Red Label Shotgun
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was the same story each time we visited the Olathe Gun Shop inĀ Kansas. As soon as he entered through the front door, my father would walk towards ...
Guide to Hunting Greater Prairie Chickens
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After 35 years of bird hunting, I have been fortunate enough to harvest nearly 90 percent of the readily huntable gamebird species in the lower 48 (p...
A Complete Guide to Teal Hunting
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are three species of teal in North America: theĀ blue-winged teal, theĀ green-winged teal, and the cinnamon teal. Telling them apart is pretty e...
Top 5 Dove Recipes: Elevate Your Culinary Game This Season
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dove huntingĀ is a popular and fun way to celebrate the beginning of the hunting season. One of the earliest upland bird seasons to open across the Un...
Montanaās Bird Dog Training Regulations: Balancing Ethics and Impact on Wild Birds
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Iām finishing this story on the eve ofĀ Montanaās 2023 bird opener, and Iām feeling very strange about the birds Iām about to start chasing. O...
Types of Grasslands in North America
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us become familiar with North Americaās plains while reading accounts of Lewis and Clarkās voyage west or Laura Ingalls inĀ Little House o...
The Complete Guide to Upland Bird Tenderloins
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When I first started cooking, I had no idea what a bird tenderloin was, let alone where to find it. Then I thought it was along the backābut every b...
Rise of the Over-Under Shotgun: A History Lesson
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you think of yourself as fashionable? Probably not, and most of the bird hunters I know would agree with you. For us, fashion is a four-letter word...
Small Munsterlander: From Near Extinction to Hunting Prodigy
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Small Munsterlanders, fortunately for me, are one of theĀ pointing dog breedsĀ Iāve gotten to know in person. Feisty, handsome, and highly energetic...
3 Dove Hunting Hacks to Try This Season
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are a few things that serve as reminders that fall has officially arrived ā and dove season is one of them. Taking the time to plan a successf...
Protect Your Dog from Overheating and Heat-Related Illness
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It wasnāt quite noon on the prairie and the light northwest breeze made the early season hunt seem almost cool. Usually on these earlyĀ September pr...
How to Identify Mourning Dove Habitat
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While many people associate the mourning dove with quiet suburban neighborhoods, perhaps perched on a utility line or visiting a backyard birdbath, do...
Dog Willing ā Craig Koshyk the Dog Historian of a Generation
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āWe need a name for this place. Every special hunting spot is given a name, and this one is no exception.ā Leaning back on our elbows, the four of...
The Etiquette of Hunting Over Another Personās Bird Dog
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I will say it upfront: I am far from being an expert on bird dogs. But if there is one thing I have become certain of over the years, it is that there...
Standard Poodle ā Hunting Dog Breed
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As any owner of a rare hunting dog knows, the reputation of that breed often rides on your shoulders when you show up for a hunt test or a day afield ...
Choosing Shot Size and Chokes for Sharp-tailed Grouse Hunting
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a new hunting season approaches, we all begin the process of digging through our upland gear. We check over the vests and chaps for tears and holes...
Tips on Better Ruffed Grouse Shooting Skills
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the difference between a ruffed grouse and a partridge? The answer lies in physics; one is flying, and one is not.Ā Jokes aside, ruffed grous...
Above-Ground versus Ground Housing for Pen-Raised Quail
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I wasnāt exactly sure what to expect, but as best as I could tell, myĀ quailĀ seemed as happy as could be. Iād just moved the young quail that wer...
Dunker: The Norwegian National Harehound
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Norwegian Hound, also known as the Dunker, is one of the seven Norwegian native dog breed varietiesāaĀ scent houndĀ with outstanding hunting qua...
The Biden Administration Defunded Hunter Education, Archery, and Wilderness Survival Programs in Elementary and Secondary Schools
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āThe Congressional Sportsmanās Foundation is very concerned with how some of the BSCA language is being implemented by the Department of Education...
The Trained Waterfowling Steers of Texas
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most waterfowlers have a favorite image, one that captures the essence of the hunt along one of North Americaās migratory flyways. It might be scull...
Weatherby Orion SxS - Side-by-Side Shotgun
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Weatherbyās addition of aĀ new side-by-side shotgunĀ can be viewed as a welcome newcomer or a resurrection story. The original Weatherby Orion side-...
Hunting Mearnsā Quail in Arizona
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The upland scene has recently seen many first-time Mearnsā quail hunters. My hunting buddy,Ā Kyle Hedges, and I are no exception.Ā Mearnsā quailĀ ...
Becoming a Falconer
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My first bird dog, Cooper, and I had just begun our journey into the uplands when I learned aboutĀ falconry. Initially, I found falconry through socia...
A Guide to Upland Hunting
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
f you find yourself reading this, it is because you are interested in becoming a bird hunter. In the cultural sense, upland bird hunting is the pursui...
When To Neuter Or Spay Your Dog
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For mostĀ dog breeds, there is no black-and-white answer regarding the best time to neuter or spay your dog. Although several studies now support late...
16-Gauge Shotguns ā Selection, Ballistics, History, and More
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of historyās most famous 16-gauge shotguns was known as āThe Little Gun.ā It was built byĀ Parker BrosĀ in 1889 and āwas billed to Mr. D. ...
PachĆ³n Navarro ā The Spanish Double-Nosed Pointer
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A wonderful collection of charming stories about days spent afield withĀ gundogsĀ was published in 1938. The title wasĀ The Dog in Sport, and in it, a...
How Effective is Steel Shot?
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is steel a more than effective option for upland bird hunting? Before anyone spins this story into something it is not: lead is more effective than st...
Transitioning a Dog from Training and Testing to Hunting Wild Birds
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āTimeās up! Please turn in your exam,ā announced my Biology 101 professor. Are you kidding me?Ā There are time limits on tests? Did I even use t...
Hunting with Golden Eagles and Sighthounds
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
n Mongolia, among the Kazakh people of the Altai mountains, there is an ancient poem that lists the things every true nomad should have. Chief among t...
How to Hunt Snipe with Decoys
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Snipe shooting over decoys is a relatively obtuse technique and not widely practiced. Thereās probably wisdom in that! A good shooter can kill as ma...
Remington Model 10 ā Pump-Action Shotgun
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Remington Model 10 shotgun represents a time when shotgun advancement for repeating firearms was happening at lighting speed. First developed in 1...
The Long-Coated St. Johnās Water Dog
08 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The last of the St. Johnās Water Dogs were living in Newfoundland in the late 1970s. They were smooth-coated and mostly black, and it was easy to se...
A Beginnerās Guide to Approaching a Bird Dog on Point
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding yourĀ dogās body languageĀ is crucial. Appraising the direction and quality of the wind and assessing the moisture in the air and on t...
Environmental Factors that Drive Bobwhite Quail Chick Survival
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each September, bobwhite hunters across the country wait impatiently for state wildlife agencies to publish their outlooks for the upcomingĀ bobwhite ...
Keeping Your Dog Safe in Chukar Country
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āChukar dogā is a title held by many breeds whose owners love the thrill of chasing one of the hardiest upland game birds in the world. These dogs...
Serve Better Birds: A Field-to-Table Cooking Guide for Upland Bird Hunters
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you may have guessed, the steps to a better-tasting bird begin moments after you lace up your boots. As little shot as possible to get the job done...
How to Camp with a Dog
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie, my German Shepherd mix, loves any outdoor adventure I can throw at her. Although sheās not necessarily a hunting dog per se, I take her small...
Extinction: The History of Lost Dog Breeds
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Saying Iām into dogs is like saying Manitoba winters are āa tad chilly.ā I spend most of my waking hours hanging out with, thinking about, readi...
Vizsla: Dog Breed Information, Form, Function, History, and More
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The name of the breed in Hungarian is Magyar Vizsla. The official FCI translation is Hungarian Short-haired Pointing Dog, but in English the breed is ...
The Importance of Training Steadiness in Bird Dogs
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to selecting a bird dog breed, thereās a common piece of advice handed out: āChoose a dog that hunts the way you hunt.ā This is al...
H.W Cooey Machine & Arms Company: An Iconic Canadian Firearm Company
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many countries are home to iconic and world-renowned firearms manufacturers. Inventors and engineers like Bartolomeo Beretta of Italy, Samuel Colt of ...
Old Dogs, New Tricks: Smith-Inspired Innovations and the Wells Method of Fetch
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For those of us whose hearts have been enthralled by bird dogs and bird dog training, itās easy to imagine as beginners that everything we do is tie...
Utilizing Turkey Feathers for Fly Tying
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Once the spring turkey season ends, many of us pivot to our local rivers and lakes to cast flies at fish. However, the thrill of your hunt does not ha...
The Sandhill Crane: Habitat, Life History, and Hunting
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Raspy trumpets descending from the heavens broke the crisp silence and broke me out of my ice fishing trance. Itās easy to lose yourself while stari...
How to Remove a Dog From Foothold Traps, Snares, and Conibear Traps
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Frost fell from the prairie grass as it moved around our legs. The sun had come up halfway through our walk, and water droplets began crawling up the ...
A Tired Dog is a Good Dog: Managing the Seemingly Boundless Energy of a Bird Dog
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The question pops up on bird dog forums and breed-specific forums on social media platforms all the time, āCan we handle the energy of a bird dog?ā...
Aging and Sexing American Woodcock
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āA bird in the hand is worth two in the bushā is a common phrase most folks are familiar with. From a sustainability standpoint, itās easy to un...
How to Introduce a Dog to Water Work
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sweat beaded on the handlerās forehead as I gave my instructions on the water. A cloud of nervous energy consumed him in anticipation of the dayās...
The Science of Bobwhite Quail Nesting Dates
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As aĀ bobwhite quailĀ biologist, one of the first things I learned was that the peak of the bobwhite quail hatch occurs on June 15thĀ each year. This ...
The History of the John Dickson and Son Round Action Shotgun
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1910, a Scottish man named John Campbell Connell faced a similar dilemma. He was in the market for a pair of shotguns, and because he was from a fa...
How to Butcher a Wild Turkey
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When people most people think of turkey, domestic or wild, they envision a whole bird. The skin is crispy, caramelized from a long oven roast, and stu...
Addressing Ethics in Upland Hunting
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āThe coveys are small and the birds are flushing likeĀ pen-raised birds,ā the phone call said. āThey only flew about 30 yards and I didnāt hav...
How a Bird Dog Understands Scent Cones with Bill Allen
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Scent-Cone is the secret to understanding what dynamic makes hunting dogs classier and more accomplished in hunting and handling game.Ā Most of t...
Hunter Recruitment is Not the Problem People Think it Is
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No one has to dig into the depths of social media to find that the topic of hunter recruitment descends into the darkest corners of keyboard dissertat...
Women in American Field Trials: Paving the Way
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly fifty years after the birth of field trials, voting rights were granted to women in 1920. This milestone prompted a general shift in views arou...
The Jagdgebrauchshundverband ( JGHV) ā the German Versatile Hunting Dog Association
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Jagdgebrauchshundverband ( JGHV) is the German versatile hunting dog association that conducts performance hunt tests for the purpose of evaluatin...
Fungal Infections and Hunting Dogs: The Warning Signs and What to Do
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was Summer 2021 when our almost-13-month-oldĀ Springer Spaniel, Timber, started throwing up. She was a puppy and had a strong desire to see the wor...
Difference Between the Original Fox A Grade and the Savage Fox A Grade
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Grouse hunters are oddballs. I know, because I am one. While a lot of people think itās strange to spend your free time walking through the woods wi...
Common Mistakes and Solutions for Plucking Birds
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pluck your game birds whenever possible. Not only does flavor reside in their skin, but keeping the skin on your birds helps retain moisture when cook...
Using Bird Dogs for Kicksledding
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Living in the center of a continuous forest, my nomadic bird dogs donāt spend much time walking on a leash around our home. As a result, they have t...
Comparing NAVHDA, JGHV, and AKC Hunting Dog Tests
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The three largest organizations that administer hunt tests forĀ pointing and versatile hunting dogsĀ are theĀ American Kennel Club (AKC), theĀ North A...
RFM Shotguns: Shotguns with a Soul
25 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Americans, many of us have never heard of the name RFM (Rota Fausti Manufacturing), and with good reason. Despite manufacturing guns since 1957, th...
The Many Nicknames of the American Woodcock
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Some may be offended when they hear the various names for the unusual species that is the American Woodcock. Author George Bird Evans was quick to co...
Weatherby Orion 20 Gauge: Over/Under Shotgun Overview
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Introduced last year, the new Orion 20 gauge shares the proven features of the 12 gauge version that Weatherby has been producing since 2016. The 20 g...
Types of Bird Feathers
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Feathers tell us all sorts of things about birds. They are beautiful to look at, help us identify individual bird species, protect birds from the elem...
Failed Game Bird Introductions in North America
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hunters everywhere train and hunt over theirĀ gundogsĀ in a manner that suits the game they pursue and the terrain in which the game is found. In Nort...
Small-Town Hunting Economics
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
āWeāre just really grateful that youāre here. Truly, thanks for coming.ā The sincere words of appreciation caught me by surprise for two reaso...
Population Dynamics in Purebred Dogs
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone in the dog world has heard terminology thrown around about breeding, genetics, and the way breeding decisions affect breed populations as a who...
Setting Attainable Goals as a New Upland Hunter
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Upland bird hunting is anything but easy. Numerous moving parts and thin margins for error make returning home withĀ wild meatĀ a challenge every time...
Identifying Bobwhite Quail Habitat
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bobwhite quail can be found across nearly one-third of the United States. This area includes Florida up to Ohio, fromĀ TexasĀ to Nebraska, and everywh...
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Has Been Listed Endangered
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on November 17th, 2022. Alt...
28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Grassroots conversations regarding the 28-gauge feel more like the passing on of old fantasy stories rather than true, hard facts of ballistics. Peopl...
Changing The Conversation On Heartworm Disease in Dogs
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite calledĀ Dirofilaria immitis. Theyāre called heartworms because the worms are typically found in infected a...
Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus): A Critically Imperiled Species
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Gunnison sage-grouse (GUSG) is a critically imperiled sage grouse species most folks arenāt familiar with. Historically, it was lumped in with g...
Canine Parvovirus: Protecting Your Dog Against Parvo
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This summer, reports of aĀ strange virus sickening dogs in the upper peninsula of MichiganĀ made national news. Further testing at the Michigan State ...
Unusual Facts About American Woodcock
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natural selection has a funny way of influencing nature.Ā American Woodcocks (Scolopax minor)Ā are a fantastic example of this. OftenĀ referred to as ...
Is the New England Subspecies of Ruffed Grouse the King of Game Birds?
07 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are a few ways to fuel a fury-filled debate in any subculture. For uplanders, simply state that your favorite game bird is King of the Uplands a...
What to Do When your Hunting Spot Is Gone
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
That year was a particularly challenging one. A record-breaking wet spring during nesting season hit the pheasant hatch hard. The roads into a bunch o...
Understanding Bird Dog Field Terminology and Commands
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To walk the walk, bird hunters need to first learn to talk the talk. Deciphering the various terminology of the pointing dog world can be confusing.Ā ...
American Woodcock Accumulate Lead According to Study
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Non-lead hunting ammunition has been mainstream, especially forĀ waterfowl hunting, for over 20 years. Since the ban on lead ammunition for waterfowl ...
A Guide to Hunting Blue Grouse in North America
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
However, their reputation is only partially deserved. These birds become far more wary with dogs on the ground. Clearly, they evolved to avoid canids ...
What to Do When Your Dog Gets Sprayed by a Skunk
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While staring out my kitchen window one morning, I watched Rudy, my resident yardĀ rooster, come sailing through the sky to land in the orchard down b...
Tips for Out-of-State Bird Hunting
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every bird hunter reaches a point in their life when they desire to travel to aĀ different stateĀ and hunt a new species. There are too many intriguin...
How Research Informs Bobwhite Management and Hunting Recommendations
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Similar to many upland game species, theĀ northern bobwhiteĀ has experienced range-wide declines over the last century. These declines are primarily a...
A New Side-by-Side Shotgun Renaissance
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Something about side-by-sides speaks to the grouse hunter in me. My personal journey into side-by-sides is likely similar to othersā amongst the und...
Top 5 Mistakes Upland Hunters Make
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Learn to avoid these simple mistakes before you step foot in the uplands again.Ā Read more at projectupland.com.
Keeping Shooting Skills Honed in the Off-Season
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is a decent amount of talk about training once hunting seasons end. Oftentimes, that talk turns to dogsāhoning skills or learning new ones. Th...
Let it Snow: The Story of a Waterfowlerās First Snow Goose Hunt
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Firsts can come at any time. For long-time waterfowl hunter Steph Lane, her first snow goose hunts were that of disappointment and heart-beating, exci...
The Future of Conservation: Interagency Partners Work in Tandem to Protect Multiple Species
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A West Virginia University wildlife and fisheries student joins experts from the U.S. Forest Service, Ruffed Grouse Society, and West Virginia Divisio...