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I also pick up empty hulls when I see them. I shoot a double, so no spent hulls litter from my hunts. I hike a refuge during the off-season and always carry a litter bag and keep that refuge clean. For some reason, about 90 percent of the litter last year was Twisted Tea cans.

I've had very good luck recovering cripples in cattails in my areas. I think the key is the dog needs to be on the cripple track quickly and then I stay quiet and trust the dog. Lots of other bird scent does not seem to be a problem because a good cripple tracker is following blood scent, not...

Huns are great covey birds. I love hunting them in big country hiking a big loop. I focus on them early before rooster season opens up, and late when south-facing slopes are snow-free and most of my pheasant areas are crunchy snow. Also fun bonus hiking into and from my rooster spots.

I solo hunt exclusively cattails for the last 45 days of the season. A biddable dog that will not go feral and flush roosters hundreds of yards deep is needed. I silently hunt the edge of cattails while my lab hunts in them. I try to position myself ahead of the crashing lab anticipating the...

I typically hunt only mornings. Often that first hour is best in my areas. By hunting most mornings, I can hunt 2 labs almost every day from Sept to the end of the year. Plus at age 68, an all day hunt would be a marathon for me and no fun! I also typically limit myself to one rooster, then...

I think the oily coat helps with labs. Hounds-tonge photos: Before swim: After swim:

In my area beggars-tick and hounds-tongue are the worst. With the lab, at the end of the hunt a quick swim and the towel off gets most of these.

I usually hunt the opposite direction of typical hunters. Yesterday morning, I hiked a fenceline a mile, then side-hilled a steep canyon for another mile, to get to a nice catttail draw where a typical hunter would hunt directly from the west and the roosters would run and flush across the steep...

I've been hunting pheasants for over 40 years. For me it is all about the dog work, not a pile of dead birds. My goal is to solo hunt each of 2 labs at least 30 times in the season (total of >60 hunts). I have about 2 dozen public area hunts, many not obvious that I cycle through. I hunt most...

So true! I still have some Cabelas items that I bought in the 1990s....a down jacket, a quiet camo rain parka, etc. Back in the day they had some quality stuff and would replace it if the customer was not satisfied.

It has been a good year for huns, typically I flush at least one covey hiking into my cattail rooster spots. Pretty bird. The wing and side feathers are popular for fly tying patterns. Bigger than quail, smaller than chuckars/grouse. Coveys can be as large as 20-30, but usually about 8-12...

First 2 of my youngest lab (2 years in December), last 2 of my oldest lab (9 in July)

Yes retired and living the dream!

From this morning's hunt, wet dog, wet rooster. Cell phone photo. When taking retriever photos with my cell phone, I aim for 3 easy objectives: Place the phone slightly below the dog Capture the landscape we are hunting in Capture the "catch light" in the dogs eyes

My first rooster was in 1982. Hunting solo without a dog in central Michigan. Move about 30 yards, stop, wait, repeat. I flushed a rooster and was able to retrieve it while it was doing a death flap in the brush. Never again would I hunt upland without a dog! Now at ag 67, I'd be out hiking...

I like Dogtra arc because the collar is so lightweight. I've used this collar for the past 8 years on a daily basis...hunting and retriever training. Also it is shaped so I can take photos of the dog and the collar does not show. The reostat settings go from 0-127, with my labs usually I have...

There are several upcoming December(link) workshops throughout the state on Canine first aid, CPR, trap release, etc.

I have not had a blister since the 1980s. Maybe because I hike everyday and my feet are calloused, but I do like the snug fit of my Darn Tough socks and they are my go-to socks when I am going to hunt steep slopes on a long all day loop.

I like Darn Tough socks. Made in USA and if you ever wear them out, they will replace them with a new pair.

Yes the phone app that came with the phone (original camera app)