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Discover the origin story of the rugged, versatile Spinone and how it has developed into the modern, versatile hunting dog growing in popularity with hunters around the world. Read more at projectupland.com .

Many things in Alaska have a uniqueness all their own, and ptarmigan hunting in the winter and spring is no exception. The ever-present challenge with hunting in Alaska is not only finding your quarry, but also getting to it. A ptarmigan hunt in the fall often presents the challenge of finding birds in a vast and endless landscape. When the mountains are covered in snow, however, the challenge is...

Your pursuit of ducks this season doesn’t have to break the bank. While duck hunting does require a few unique investments such as a good pair of waders, non-toxic shot, and migratory bird stamps, investing in an expensive, prefabricated duck blind isn’t required. With a little creativity, some sweat equity, and a few simple materials, concealing yourself from the wary eyes of working ducks is def...

Explore the West/Gibbons method of training pointing dogs through the eyes of a novice bird dog handler who attended a training seminar with Mo Lindley. Read more at projectupland.com .

For the uninitiated, a healthy dose of preparation—both mental and physical—will go a long way toward making the most of your efforts. Going to Hells Canyon once does not make anyone an expert. If anything, it just exposes how little you actually know about how to hunt this canyon. It is from that humble perspective that I offer a few tips to anyone considering a first-time hunt here. Read more at...

It's a shame, really. The future of hunting hangs in the balance, and some folks would cut off their nose to spite their face. It's as if they simply can't comprehend that the more people exposed to and actively engaged in hunting, the more conservation dollars flow, the more people who care about maintaining healthy ecosystems and the more clout the hunting community has when it co...

The purpose of imitating the quail assembly call is to make the birds think that you are just another quail strolling down the block looking for your covey. This call is intended to have quail reveal their location by responding with their own call, or even to make them come running in to you! Calling quail is extremely useful—plus it’s a pretty cool art to master. It is also a great skill to have...

There are many reasons why you may be looking to hunt upland birds without a dog. Maybe you can’t afford a hunting dog, let alone the time and training that is involved in a good and reliable bird dog. Maybe you live in a cramped, studio apartment in Los Angeles. Maybe your significant other is allergic to dogs. Maybe you just don’t like dogs and you’re some kind of weird cat-person. Maybe it just...

No matter how you slice it, the Labrador Retriever is British. Putting the word “English” or “British” in front of its name is like putting “American” in front of Chesapeake Bay Retriever or “Canadian” in front of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Somehow, the terms “English Lab” and “British Lab” have crept into our vocabulary, nevertheless. So, what exactly is a “British” or “English” Lab and...

Its name may sound like a fun catch phrase or dance move, but the plain chachalaca ( Ortalis vetula ) is actually a tree-dwelling desert game bird. It is the only member of its family to inhabit the United States and, in fact, it barely occurs in the U.S. at all. With a little research and some luck, it is possible to find this unique game bird in Texas. Learn about the bird itself, its preferred...

Let’s start with the obvious question: is plucking worth the time? The answer likely depends on what kind of hunter you are. So, let’s evaluate: do seek out and invest in the best gear? Do you believe a well-trained or “finished” hunting dog improves the experience afield? If you answered “yes” to either, then it’s clear to me: plucking is worth your time, because settling for less doesn’t suit yo...

It comes as no surprise that the popularity of American woodcock hunting has risen with the decline of other upland game species in its flyway. In many areas, the bobwhite quail has become a distant whistle and the ruffed grouse merely a ghost. Woodcock are a migratory bird with flyways that stretch from Canada to Louisiana, east Texas, and even Florida. As a result of their geographic diversity,...

One thing hunters have in common is that we love our gear. And why not? It follows us into the field right along with our dogs and our passion for the outdoors. Maybe it’s a special knife handed down for generations that you use to process game the way your uncle taught you; perhaps it’s a simple lanyard and whistle that you have used to call every bird dog you have ever owned. For many of us, it...

Let’s face it, the hunting season is too short to miss a day due to unfavorable weather. If you wait for the perfect day to come, you may shorten your season to just a handful of lucky days when the crisp autumn air rustles through the golden leaves which have been drained of chlorophyll and are ready to join their counterparts on the forest floor. Read more at projectupland.com .

Will the future of upland hunting look different? I always ponder that question and I know, no matter what, things will change. There is no doubt the decline of key species will play an unalterable role in this evolution of future generations' hunting habits. But what hints can we see right now of what's to come? Read more at projectupland.com .

Mountain Ash is a native deciduous tree that is found throughout the cold climates of the northern hemisphere and as far away as Tibet. It yields a rich bounty of small orange-red berries that ruffed grouse happen to love. Its berries tend to stay on the branch long into the winter, providing a food source for many birds, including grouse. The images in this article or a quick google of “Mountain...

Don’t be fooled by what you hear—getting a hunting license is actually a very easy thing to do. Amidst all the changes and difficulties that 2020 has brought, getting a hunting license is one of the few things that has become easier and more accessible. As someone who took my first hunter education class in 1993 by attending several evenings of classes, listening to old dudes teach safe firearm ha...

The sharp-tailed grouse is one seriously charismatic bird. If you’ve ever seen videos of sharp-tails doing their telltale dancing competitions, you were likely hooked immediately. They are fascinating birds to watch and to hunt. Furthermore, the open habitats they live in are equally beautiful and captivating in their own way. If you’ve never had the chance to explore these areas and hunt sharp-ta...

The young wirehaired dog lets out a happy yip as it wraps the jager lead around the handler’s legs who spins to unwind himself, tugs on the lead, and again commands “heel” exactly as the group leader demonstrated moments ago. Or so he thought. The dog, now seemingly irritated, dashes off and the handler nearly falls over as the dog reaches the end of the lead and flips to his back with a thud. A c...

Imagine the sappiest bleeding-heart animal lover you’ve ever met. Got her pictured? Now multiple that by ten and you’ve got  me . As a kid on a working Canadian farm, I begged my parents to let me keep the baby mice we found in the baled hay. They escaped their bucket overnight and probably spent the rest of their lives comfortably in the walls of our house, but that didn’t make their rescue any l...

I remember like it was yesterday when my grandfather took me to the local gun shop at the age of ten to look for a youth model 20-gauge shotgun. My godfather had given me a single shot .410 bore a few years prior with which I’d learned both safe firearm handling and the basics of wingshooting but it was time to take the next step. Read more at projectupland.com .

Most upland bird hunters know the Hungarian or Gray Partridge was successfully imported and thrived in several Western states, such as Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington, the Dakotas, and a few others. States such as Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa are lesser known locations where "Huns" were also introduced and still provide an opportunity to hunt. Read more at projectupland.com .

It seems the only thing we American sportsmen and sportswomen love more than a good starter kit is a vest. The ubiquitous fly-fishing vest, tactical vest, camera gear vest, turkey vest, shooting vest, falconry vest, technician’s vest, and of course the upland bird hunting vest. This last one clutch piece of gear is as much a statement piece as it is functional. Read more at projectupland.com .

On a fine spring day I tackled a task that had been nagging at me for months — treating my leather hunting boots. It never fails that I put away a pair of boots in February and they get neglected until September, when I pull them out and realize I've done wrong. Not a glamorous job, but it's necessary. Read more at projectupland.com .

Lazy days spent in the uplands inevitably bring a closer connection with nature. Especially when your sport is seeking that game little bird, the woodcock. For the woodcock reassures us that the brooks are still dancing merrily through the woods and are on their way to sweet-scented meadows. So it is, the woodcock brings joy to the lovers of forest, cover, and stream. Read more at projectupland.co...