For those of us who bird hunt, awaiting opening day of the hunting season is not unlike the anticipation of a kid waiting for Christmas morning, except it’s visions of covey rises dancing in our heads. Even with this being my eleventh season of bird hunting, this year was no different. I seriously had a…
Preparations
Hopefully all of us have been preparing for the season by keeping our dogs (and ourselves) in shape. We’ve done this a few different ways. I mountain bike and run during the summer. To get and keep the dogs in shape, we include some free running, running from horseback, roading from an atv, and in…
>Gone Grousing!!!!
>There will be tales of tails to tell in the near future…stay tunned!
>What’s New in Blogger Land
>There are a lot of great posts out there in Blogger Land I’d like to share with you. The first is Dale’s from LoBank (CLICK HERE). Dale is writing a series on Great Dogs and Good Men…I’m really enjoying his stories! His latest post is of interest for any Elhew Pointer Fan! Andy and Walter…
Upland Rooster
Rooty, part of my family When I think of my first bird dog, a long-legged German Shorthair named, Upland Rooster, or “Rooty” for short, I can’t help but think of that famous Jerry Lee Lewis song, Great Balls of Fire, except the words are: “Goodness, Gracious, Great Jowls of Slobber.” The reason being is all…
>Canine Reproduction
>One aspect of veterinary medicine that I enjoy and find very fascinating is reproduction…specifically canine reproduction. Our bird dogs have become very important family members and not just hunting partners 3 or 4 months out of the year. Peoples’ lives are also very busy these days, and the price of gas makes travelling or flying…
>A Gracious Gift
> I have been enamored with sage grouse since I was a young teenager…I’ve poured through every piece of literature on these majestic birds that I could possibly find (although there is not very much)! I know I’ve said this before, but they define the American West and everything that is wild to me…I love…
>Dog Training with Walter’s new Pride (A Southern Californian in Eastern Colorado)
> Walter ventured out from Southern California to see (and get to know) his new Pride and joy! We headed out east to Jim Masolotte’s ranch to work her on some pigeons and what a great day we had! Pride’s a wonderful dog, and I’m very excited for Joanne and Walter to take her back…
Quit Grousing Around
For me, grouse are the quintessential wild upland bird of the west. Idaho hosts five different subspecies: blue, ruffed, spruce, sage, and sharptail. I have dubbed the taking of all these birds in one season as the “Idaho Grouse Grandslam.” Admittedly, I have not yet accomplished this feat. In 2002, I came close by harvesting…
CRUMBS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to fish Rock Creek near Rockland, Idaho. When I first started fly-fishing in the 90’s, you could expect to catch 20 to 30 fish in an afternoon from this special stream. Upon arrival, however, I could instantly tell that things had changed. My stream had become severely degraded and the…
Paradise Found
As an avid upland hunter, lover of bird dogs and active horseback field trialer, I jumped at the chance to spend a few days in Payette, Idaho training and running dogs with one of the nation’s best American Field trial handlers, Rich Robertson. Robertsons’ ranch is spread across more than 5,000 acres (with access to…
Upland Ways 