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I have trained our pup myself. I do use an e-collar once the pup has the basics but truthfully responding to the "tone" function is what I quickly work toward. That keeps things as quiet as possible in the field. I can hunt for an entire day and not have to say (or whistle) a word. I do not...

I'm in NW SD and the same out here. The sharptail have so much feed and water they really aren't forming large flocks. Day length and instinct are about all that is bringing them together. I always have enjoyed the shortgrass of sharptail habitat. This year it is like hunting pheasants in...

That is a terrible way to lose a dog. Another "hanging" potential is dogs tied in the back of pickups on a short lead. The cowboys back home loved to be cute letting their stock dogs loose on their flatbed pickup, but in town, they often tied them. If someone wasn't checking, the results were...

Good choice. We purchased a female yellow from him two years ago. A true British hunting lab. On top of that, Blaine is a great trainer, has a triple AAA facility and knows what he is doing from start to finish. He's become a good friend. A story I like to tell about Blaine. Most of us have had...

The only time those "greaseable hubs" might do some good is on a boat trailer where some of the water might be pushed out. The grease only reaches the front of the bearing, if that. I believe even Dexter doesn't recommend greasing using the zerk fitting. One has to wonder why they put them on then?

That is Colorado for you. Unfortunately I have seen "sign pulling" in multiple states. In Kansas a guide was pulling signs on WIA's that were good hunting. Same with open/closed roads in Federal lands. That is why most Federal lands now open on the "closed unless posted open". Selfish...

My dogs that have been through snake avoidance recoil from a wiggling worm, much less a coiled, real snake. That doesn't mean they won't over-run a snake and get hit. My vet up here had one of his bird dogs do that last year.

I hunt New Mexico quail. My vet down there, that probably deals with more snake bites than any other vet I know, told me that even though the snake vaccine was developed from a specific venom (I believe diamond back?) he had found that a vaccinated dog takes far less antivenom to recover. He...

If you are hunting sharptail in SD you will encounter cactus, primarily prickly pear, but also that little obnoxious sucker that I call "mini-cholla". It has a hook on the spine so it is actually hard to remove. I'm seeing prickly pear growing everywhere on the grasslands. With all the moisture...

I'm in South Dakota. We've only had one day since the season opened that it hasn't gotten over 80F, pretty much by noon or earlier. Dog and I have an agreement: at 70F we start back for the pickup. Quit for the day. So far we haven't run into a snake, but it is possible, for sure. There has been...

Just loaded bismuth hunting rounds for my 28ga. Used RotoMetals bismuth. It may be made in the USA but it is certainly not very "round". I used their #5 and just looking at it you can see the imperfections. Should be good "spreader" loads.

On a warm day in October, the snakes will be out. Snake avoidance is the best. My dogs avoid anything that looks or moves like a snake, regardless of species. I also use the snake vaccine that is back on the market. Even though it was developed from one species, the vets I trust say it reduces...

It indicates a trend. Part of the total package of information you need to plan a hunt.

I used to teach/use them extensively for the same reason - avoiding noise in the field. Over the years though, I've found hand signals not very useful in real life field situations, where the cover may be over my head, the dog can't see me for that or other reasons, the wounded bird went a...

Just lost my 12 yr old lab to an abdominal tumor. I had been watching her decline slowly since June. First sign was reticence to jump. She had always been light on her feet, jumping into the truck, onto beds, whatever. Slowly she started refusing to jump. Not good. Then started showing...

She's trying to tell you something is not right. Get her checked out. We just lost our 12 year old lab to a abdominal tumor. Not that early detection was possible, but reluctance to jump was one of the signs she gave us.

Even though I have Several Silver Pigeons, all with 28in barrels, I would go with the 30in. Little heavier but I believe the longer barrel pulls your eye to the target. The best shooting year I ever had was with a Ruger Red Label 20ga sporting with 30in barrels. 24 birds with 25 shots over a season.

Same here. Two cups per day. It keeps the weight off but gives them plenty to run on. My oldest lab is 12. Starting to slow down but she is still hunting hard.

Every lab (I'm on my 6th generation) I've had would/will "chomp" a pheasant if they feel it move. They don't like getting pecked/spurred. I don't blame them. Unless you are an exceptional shooter you will wound birds and if you have a good dog, they will retrieve them. Goes with pheasant...

Snake avoidance training helps but it isn't a cure-all. There are situations where a dog "runs over" a snake before it can sense it. Our vet had that happen to one of his dogs last year. That said, the $75 or whatever the current rate is in your area is well worth the cost. At least your dog...