Gun Dog It Yourself

After a few days of linking up and trying to show my buddies Jacob Little and Zach Grant around the WI grouse woods, we sat down to recap some of the weeks lowlights as well as highlights! Travel misfortunes Traveling for bird contacts.....and muskie... Finding spots at a brand new location with out any experience Issues when your recall is echoing What its like to hold your first Ruffed Grouse in...

The weather doesn't always cooperate with your hunting plans. Thats what happened this morning when we got forced indoors for a few hours but my buddy Gabe Stone helped pass the time by sitting down and recording some random thoughts and stories from our few hunts together. Hunting Ruffed Grouse in the rain Entering the "lifestyle" Making sense of getting the first bird dog Into the deep end! Get...

Brian Robinson of C Woodcock & Co. sat down with me after my previous conversation with Stephen Faust to provide his thoughts and perspective of what its like being a client on a true Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunt. A return client to Pineridge Grouse Camp. What makes this camp such a unique experience? Brians intro to Ruffed Grouse Vintage gear compared to modern needs Brians experience with win...

Experienced Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock guide for Pineridge Grouse Camp, Stephen Faust of Stoneybrook Gordon Setters, joins me for a tailgate lunch between hunts to talk about some of his takeaways after so many years in the woods guiding beginner and experienced hunters alike. Why Gordon Setters? Keeping genetics fresh with imported dogs How did Stephen fall into guiding? Old stands with the right...

Jim Burris joins me again to catch up on recent hunting trips and go over the upcoming events for the Bird Dog Society! Hunting season catch up Trip troubles and challenges Webinars 12/14 Intro to Upland Hunting (Jim Burris) 1/18 Intro to AKC Field Trials (Terry Ann) 2/8 Shed Hunting w/ Bird Dogs (Tom Dokken) Annual shed hunt will be on 3/9 Pheasant Fest in Sioux Falls, SD St. Huberts Trial moved...

Part 2 of my conversation with Kyle Warren discussing the common characteristics and process of building the most effective grouse dogs. Dependence on the handler is a good thing! Your hunting preference "Riding the dog" Ruffed Grouse daily behaviors throughout the season The importance of conifer trees Late season in snow Are woodcock good or bad for building a grouse dog? Kyles thoughts on how t...

I recently linked up with Kyle Warren on my trail through Michigan. After getting some hunts knocked out we sat down to a nice hard earned grouse dinner and hit the record button afterwards. This is Part 1 of a long conversation discussing the qualities of "the most effective grouse dogs." New York grouse hunting in comparison to Michigan Public vs Private land access Why the love and focus on Ruf...

NAME: Matt Millbauer | Bauermill.shop | Facebook BREED: Springer Spaniels (2) LOCATION: Kennewick, WA TARGETS: Pheasant, Valley Quail, Chukar FAVORITE EPISODES: The Jordan Horak episodes GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s st...

I sat down with Del Whitman of D.C. Whitman Custom Gunsmithing to discuss the basics of selecting the proper ammunition to effectively and ethically hunt your targeted game. Local grouse hunting update Pointer & flusher combo on grouse Getting into ballistics Appropriate ammo for vintage shotguns Low pressure loads Analyzing the ammo for the actual gun you're using The components of a shotgun shel...

As the Idaho Chukar trip comes to a close, I sit down with Spencer Daines and Doug Davis to recap the trip along with a bunch of other rabbit holes. Bittersweet last days at bird camp Are the bucket list trips worth it? Do they live up to expectations? Physical preparation for big trips Dog preparation in high heat and feet Finding spots Budget friendly trip tips Travel partners help split the cos...

On my way to Idaho I made a pitstop to link up with Ben Proctor of BPro Kennels and overhaul my travel setup for the dogs! Intro to Ben Proctor Breaking into the uplands in Utah Not just pheasant and bobwhites Big game vs small game Upland opportunities in Utah Picking the correct side of the mountain Journaling your hunt The first dog is your baby from the classifieds Sending to a pro trainer is...

NAME: Tyler Burton BREED: GSP LOCATION: Central NJ TARGETS: Grouse, Woodcock, Quail, Grouse FAVORITE EPISODES: Ep. 197 Mo Lindley Ep. 194 Rick Smith Ep. 168 A Start To Finish Program and E-collars GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous p...

After a week of chasing new birds in new country with buddies Jay Brekke and Jim Burris, we sat down to recap what it was like hunting White Tail Ptarmigan and Dusky Grouse at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains! Why Ptarmigan and Dusky in CO? Ptarmigan hunting basics The 1st Ptarmigan contact High altitude acclimation and preparation Supplemental oxygen The death march The Dusky grouse adventu...

My buddy Grayson Guyer of Lost Highway Kennels as well as host of the Companion Gundog Podcast joins me to catch me up on the new and exciting field trial opportunity via the St. Hubert's Trial being held on February 4th, 2024 in Cheraw, SC. What is the St. Huberts Trial? Relationship over competition A lower barrier for entry Championships only mean so much The makeup of the actual trial Partnere...

NAME: Jesse Harlan BREED: Springer Spaniel LOCATION: Woodstock, GA TARGETS: Ducks, Woodcock, Quail, Grouse FAVORITE EPISODES: Puppy Series and Force Fetch Series GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mi...

Ben Kerr just finished the Invitational test. As you heard on the last episode, he was pretty confident going into the test. Was the confidence warranted? A little anxiety going into the test Bringing the fun back into it Getting to the day of the test Field portion complete with wild flushes and stop to flush opportunities The double mark retrieve The blind retrieve and honor Anticipating your do...

Ben Kerr joins me for the Invitation Test edition of the Before/After. First thoughts after achieving the UT Prize 1 to qualify for the Invitational? Surprise backing challenges Heeling and obedience Maintaining everything going into the tests The field portion predictions (8/10) The double mark retrieve (7/10) The blind retrieve (9/10) Attend an invitational handlers clinic The handlers mindset -...

Terry Ann Fernando joins me to go over her recent NAVHDA Invitational experience and recap/forecast BDS news and updates! Zara the Versatile Champion?!? Testing vs Trialing mindset Going hunting BDS Hunting Workshop recap OCT Webinar is on Stickers, Seeds, and Thorns with Jay Brekke St Hubert's Trial beginning of Feb in Salisbury, NC 2nd Annual shed hunt on March 9th New board member: Alycia Baird...

We're back to compare the results of the Utility Test with Dale and Natalie Bolyard. The test didn't exactly go as smooth as Dale was predicting (more in line with Natalie's predictions though!) but what exactly happened? The weather conditions....NOT GOOD! The field recap Which is more anxiety inducing? Running the test or waiting on the sidelines? Regrouping after a poor field portion The duck s...

Anyone that has tested before can relate to the fact that you're usually going into the test thinking/predicting certain outcomes just to be thrown a curveball as the test actually takes place. Dale Bolyard joins me this week to discuss his thoughts going into his dog's NAVHDA Utility test and tells us what he's confident about as well as what is making him nervous. The next episode will be the te...

Travis Warren of Upchukar joins me to discuss a lot of different topics' Entry into chukar hunting Being useful and bringing something to the table Find the group with the same goals at the same level Getting the first hunting dog, Hazel Harper the Wirehair Working a younger dog in with your older dog Chukar Hunting 101 Water, elevation, rimrock, and a side of grass Ideal dog work for Chukar Dogs...

This episode we discuss everything dog nutrition! Dr. Jill Cline of Royal Canin and Eukanuba joins me to cover this topic in a very down to earth and relatable fashion! "Dogs with jobs" Adjust the quantity or adjust the formula based on exercise? (75%-125% of the recommended daily amount rule) The body condition score (working dogs should score 3.5 to 4 in season) Body weight is still the best gau...

NAME: Colin Smith BREED: German Wirehair Pointers (2) LOCATION: Tappahannock, VA TARGETS: Woodcock, Bobwhites, Grouse FAVORITE EPISODES: Force Fetch Series GDIY Profiles are bonus episodes that feature your average DIY dog trainer and hunter. All dog owners have a story of what got them involved and the main lessons learned along the way. Hearing numerous people’s stories along with their mistakes...

Jerry Havel, owner of Pineridge Grouse Camp and co-owner of Upland Gun Company, joins me to talk grouse dogs, mentorship, and places for upland fellowship! Fall is in the air! Simpler times vs the current technology and tools Trusting your dog in the woods Get out and walk with your pups! Expose them early! Still starts with genetics Learning on the first dog The value of group training such as a...

Jordan Wells and Sonny Piekarz join me to go deep into weeds with their new program "The Method". Foundations within the Smith Method Folks not understanding the dog training process Spend time with your dog The biggest disconnect in the Smith method? The home cycles into the chain gang and the chain gang cycles into the field Stack the wins to avoid frustration Getting the receptive mindset dog a...