See us tomorrow & Sunday at Orvis’s Game Fair in Millbrook, NY …
Category Archive for 'ENJOYING BOTH'
Dedicated to upland hunting for pheasants, grouse, quail, and other gamebirds, using bird dogs like pointers and spaniels and carrying fine shotguns like Parkers and Purdeys
Shoot like a King on this dream trip: Partridge and paella in Spain …
The Sierra de Norte Shoot – Fuentelfresno, Spain
Monday, October 21th – Friday, October 25th, 2019
Book now: Just 2 out of 8 pegs left
We are extremely excited to share with you the details for a new shoot at Finca Fuentelfresno, located along the Eastern edge of the Cordilla Central Mountain Range, approximately forty-five minutes northeast of Madrid. This will be a traditional partridge shoot, and all shooting will be conducted within the confines of the Estate, with different drives every day. This is truly a rare and unique opportunity. Let us know soon if you are interested in this elegant and all things Spanish driven shooting experience!
Best, Sean and Liz Delaney
The Shoot
Fuentelfresno consists of 35,000 acres of ground filled with olive groves, almond trees, vineyards, farmland, and rolling hills, all providing excellent habitat with perfect topography for a traditional shoot. Birds are driven by a team of up to forty beaters over narrow valleys for the guns waiting below. We will shoot three back-to-back 400 bird days. This is challenging shooting in a breathtaking setting!
The Lodge
We will spend the entire week at Finca Fuentelfresno as the guests of Carlos de Llanza Mala, its current custodian. The Lodge, which was built by Carlos’ father about sixty years ago, manages to be rustic and elegant at the same time, a perfect setting for a shooting party. All rooms are en suite and comfortable, with excellent views of the gardens and the landscape beyond. The Main Lounge has a pair of beautiful fireplaces, a perfect spot for a sundowner. Our team will have exclusive use of the premises, and all of our meals will be prepared in-house by our chef Anna. The food is beyond compare.
Shoot Price – $9,750
Includes: Transportation to and from Madrid airport and throughout the week, three days of driven shooting (with an anticipated bag of 400 birds per day), lodging at the elegant Fuentelfresno, guns (if needed) and ammunition, traditional tapas and shoot lunches on the estate, gourmet dinners each evening, alcohol, game licenses, liability insurance, and gun permits (for your guns or ours).
Excludes: Flights, gratuities to chargor (loader) and secretario (€80 each per day), and gratuities to hotel staff (€100 total).
Non-Shooting or Peg-Sharing Spouses: Non-shooting spouses are welcome to join us for an additional $1,750. This includes four nights’ lodging, all meals, alcohol, and ground transportation. Two days of sightseeing. Spouses are welcome to share pegs on some or all days for the same rate.
Book now: Just 2 out of 8 pegs left
According to GeorgeGoldsmith.com, the King of Spain & other aristos love Finca Fuentelfresno:
“This family shoot (Finca Fuentelfresno) is favoured by many of the royal houses of Europe and King Juan Carlos, although no longer young, still takes 6 days during the year when he comes, either with friends and family, or as a guest of friends. The photos displayed in the lodge go from Caroline of Monaco (who on a yearly basis takes a team of ladies to shoot with her), to Dutch Crown Prince William Alexander van Oranje, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg …”
Book now: Just 2 out of 8 pegs left
The Game Hog of Dallowgill, an article from Sports Illustrated, 5/22/1972…
Frederick Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon was one of the UK’s most famous game shots. In his lifetime, he bagged more than 500,000 birds, plus countless hares and other animals. and he shot Purdey hammerguns, including this one shown here: J Purdey & Sons, a RARE 12-BORE HAMMER EJECTOR GUN, NO. 14981, BUILT IN 1895 FOR LORD RIPON (AS EARL DE GREY).
Sports Illustrated published a piece about Lord Ripon way back 1972. An excerpt is below, along with links to the entire article. It’s an interesting read and worth checking out.
THE GAME HOG OF DALLOWGILL
IN A LIFETIME OF WARFARE AGAINST THE WINGED KINGDOM, LORD RIPON DOWNED MORE THAN 500,000 BIRDS
“At the top of the hill a pair of liveried Yorkshire gamekeepers whacked hard with their sticks at the tight thorn-bushes of the hedgerow. Fifty yards away, in a hollow, stood the owner of the land, with his shooting companion, the local vicar. As the keepers moved forward, there was a flap of bright wings, a shot, and the quarry spun to the ground. Then another type of prey emerged, flying low and fast toward the waiting guns. Again a clean kill. So, at the end of the drive, one butterfly and one bumblebee were solemnly added to the day’s bag …”
Read all of THE GAME HOG OF DALLOWGILL
Will climate change kill off sharp-tailed grouse?
The more I hear about temperatures rising across the globe, the more I worry about how these changes will impact the upland game birds we love to hunt. This piece from Project Upland touches on how on what’s might happen to one species to sharp-tailed grouse. It’s worth checking — and keeping in mind when it’s to vote for local, state, and national politicians.
The author writes: “I reviewed several studies from prominent sharp-tailed grouse researchers and agency reports to get a clearer picture of this very real issue. I encourage you to keep an open mind and read through the whole article below before making any preliminary judgments.”
Read the entire article now: HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING SHARP-TAILED GROUSE: A Look into the Factual Science of Sharp-tailed Grouse and their Future
Fighting Back – A Bobwhite Quail Film from Project Upland…
Fighting Back – A Bobwhite Quail Film by Project Upland
Bobwhite quail are not one of a America’s conservation success stories. Over the last 30-40 years, their populations have collapsed throughout the south and across the southwest. Fortunately, some people, and some state agencies and working hard to try and these birds back. I hope they’re successful.
“For many, the bobwhite quail is a symbol of their youth in the South. Small game is often where many cut their teeth in the hunting world. Adam Keith, wildlife consultant, ventures back into his past to take a journey into the public lands of Missouri with state biologist Frank L. Loncarich and Kyle Hedges.” WatchFighting Back – A Bobwhite Quail Film by Project Upland now.
Walked Up Shooting in the UK with Spaniels, by Nick Ridley
I’ve always wanted to shoot in the UK — but not for driven birds. Instead, I want to go rough shooting, which is what you see in this video.
Nick Ridley is the U.K.’s leading dog photographer. He’s also bird hunter, dog trainer, and a lover of cocker spaniels.
For years now, he and his Circle of Trust Rough Shooting Syndicate have been making videos of their shooting adventures throughout the UK. The one above shows them in Bedfordshire hunting pheasants and chukars in terrain that looks a lot like the northeastern US. As always, Nick shoots well and his cocker spaniel Ted does a great job.
Thanks for a great year. Now on to 2019!
Thank you to everyone who visited Dogs and Doubles in the past year. Lexi, Sky, & I appreciate it.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone!
Watch: Revel in the first, chukar hunting in Idaho’s Hell Canyon…
I’ve hunted upland birds from Maine to Montana, but I’ve been further west to go after chukars. After watching this great new film from Project Upland, I’m not sure I want to try. Here’s a bit about the film from the PU site:
“Hell’s Canyon has a reputation for being hard on its guests. Chukar have a more infamous track record as being the pursuit of the insane. It is said that “The first chukar you shoot is for fun; all others after that are for revenge.” The allure of both these difficult propositions brought Anthony Ferro on a bird hunting road trip to challenge himself and his German shorthaired pointers.
The title Revel in the First comes from Anthony’s passion for first-time experiences. Whether it’s a first bird species, a dog’s first point, a new challenge defeated (or not), the first has a passion like no other time after.”
BTW: Check out Project Upland’s new magazine, too. It’s coming out soon. For a LIMITED TIME subscribers receive Volume Zero/Issue Zero, (Ships November 1, 2018) and our regular delivery of our the quarterly publication for TWO years (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) with Volume One/Issue One shipping on March 1, 2019. Plus The Bird Hunting Anthology – Volume No. 1
The season begins! First up: Mourning doves…
Quick: What’s the #1 game bird in the US?
Quail? Nope. Pheasants? Nah.
It’s the mourning dove, and this year hunters across 42 states will bag more than 20 million of them.
If your state allows dove hunting (mine doesn’t), here’s a quick guide to how to find birds.
Maine Grouse Hunting – Those Moments: A Project Upland Film…
If you’re jonesing for grouse season like I am, you’ll enjoy this video. Just released by the guys at Project Upland it’s a great look into what makes upland hunting so special–and a great reminder of what’s just a few months away.
A video worth viewing: YETI Presents: SAM…
Hunting dogs can be frustrating, exhilarating, and, when they leave us, heartbreaking.
This video introduces you a lab named Sam and a duck hunter named Steve Koehly. I learned something from both of them. They may teach you something, too.
Warning: If you don’t want to be seen with wet eyes, don’t watch at work.
Seen at Safari Club 2018 in Las Vegas…
Safari Club International’s Annual Hunters’ Convention is an crazy event. Part travel show, gun show, and expensive-stuff bazaar, it puts hundreds of vendors and thousands of people under one roof for four days of planning, gawking, and big-money spending.
Want to book an African safari, order a new Boss OU shotgun, get fitted for a tweed shooting suit, and pick up a $25,000 fur coat all in one afternoon? Then it’s the place to be.
This year’s event was as at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I was there Friday & Saturday, and here’s a bit of what I saw. Scroll down to see all the pics
You’ve got to see these wild quail flush…
I’ve always wanted to hunt wild bobwhites. Watch this video to see on reason why.
Check out hard these birds bust cover and how high and fast they fly. Notice the handler doesn’t need a flushing whip or a Cocker spaniel to get them up and going.
That great-looking pointer is Hifive Kennels’ Champion Titanium’s Jacksin. Hifive is well-known kennel out of Beulah, MI. They’ve been breeding, training, and trialing dogs for 20+ years, and they’ve produced a long list of great dogs.
Leave the snow and cold behind…
I miss October and woodcock hunting, especially as I sit here and watch the snow fall.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays…
Kickstart Project Upland’s A Bird Hunting Anthology: Volume No. 1…
As a way to feed yourself, bird hunting makes little sense. Consider everything that goes into putting a grouse on the table: Buying a gun, buying ammo, buying gear, learning to shoot, finding a spot, getting to the spot, and on and on.
It’s far easier–and cheaper–to buy chicken and stay home.
But few of us hunt birds to put meat on the table. We don’t do this to live. We do it to survive.
If you’re a new-media type, you’ve probably seen Project Upland: The Bird Hunting Epic Series. With videos, a website and Instagram posts, Project Upland chronicles all the ways upland hunting nourishes us. It has combined personal points of view and a refreshing lack of commercialism to created a phenomenon which has reached huge numbers of people (their videos have been viewed 2 million+ times).
Even though Project Upland is very 21st century, they’re now ready to do something old school by publishing a book. Project Upland’s Creative Director A.J. DeRosa says “This book will be a compilation of short stories and visually-stunning photography, all celebrating what makes upland hunting so special”
They’re asking you to help them bring this book to life by contributing to their Kickstarter campaign for Project Upland – A Bird Hunting Anthology: Volume No. 1. Contributions of $25 or more will guarantee you a copy.
Watch it! Live pigeon shooting, San Remo, 1937…
Live pigeon shooting used to be a big-time sport. Back in the late 19th and early 20th century, shoots were held throughout the US and in Europe. In 1900, live pigeon shooting was even an event at the Paris Olympics.
Newspapers reported on these shoots and the top competitors attracted hundred of spectators, were sponsored by gunmakers and took home thousands of dollars if when they won an event.
San Remo, Italy, was one of the stops on the European live pigeon circuit. This video was shot there in 1937, and it’s a rare look at how popular and prestigious this sport used to be.
You’ve got to go to Maine’s Chandler Lake Camps…
Roughing it is for suckers. I know of that, now.
I’m not used to nice accommodations, and on past hunting trips I’ve curled up with my Pointers to stay warm, eaten Beefaroni out of the can, and gagged while using outhouses ranker than rest-area porta pottys.
This year I wanted something better. So I headed Chandler Lake Camps in the North Maine Woods.
The North Maine Woods are 4-6 hours from Boston, 3Xs the size of Rhode Island, and more populated with moose than people. Once you’re in them, a dirt-road empire rolls out before you in every which way.. It’s lorded over by logging trucks, crisscrossed with brook trout streams, and spotted everywhere with grouse and woodcock cover.
Chandler Lake Camps is an outpost of comfort and graciousness amongst all of this. Built in 1902, it was an abandoned family retreat when current owners Jason and Sherry Bouchard bought in the ’90s. With hard work and grit, they rescued it from decades of neglect and turned it into one of Maine’s finest sporting camps.
For uplanders, Chandlers is a place to get into lots of birds, whether you do it by hiring one of the camp’s Registered Maine Guides or by grabbing a Delorme map book and asking Jason to highlight some likely looking spots like I did.
Lexi, Sky and I averaged 2-3 birds an hour — solid numbers considering it was our first time in the area. We hunted overgrown logging roads and shot into the woods to explore deep pockets of birdy-looking cover and the furthest cover we hit was only 15 miles away from the camp.
On top of great bird hunting, Chandler Lake Camps also has great accommodations. Guests are treated to their own hand-peeled, spruce log cabins, each with a wood stove, electric lights, complete indoor facilities and charging outlets for things like remote collars and GPSs.
Meals are served in the main lodge, and everyone eats together around a large, wooden table. Breakfast is to order, lunches packed for you, and dinner family style. There’s a different menu each night, and everything is homemade in the lodge’s kitchen–even the bread and bagels.
And while Chandler Lake Camps is far away from civilization, it does have internet connection to the outside world. So anyone who needs to stay in touch with home or work can check in.
Get a great deal on driven shooting in the UK…
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Opportunity – specifically the opportunity to get $1000 off on a dream trip to shoot in the UK.
For several years now, Delaney and Sons has given American hunters the chance to experience some of the finest driven shooting in the UK at very reasonable prices. Due to client conflict, a spot just opened up on their famed Beacons Shoot, scheduled for the end of the November, this year. Here are the details from Delaney and Sons:
“Sometimes life interferes with the best laid plans. Our friend and past shooter, pictured above, unfortunately has been forced to cancel his trip with us next month due to an illness. He has asked us to try to sell his peg for $7,700, a discount of $1,000.
If you are adventurous and have been wanting to come with us, now is the time. The 2018 price is $9,200 (there are only 4 spots left by the way.)
Amazingly, flights are still a decent price depending on the airport. We will be picking up our team at London Heathrow on the morning of Sunday 26 November at 9:30am. Everyone will be taken back to Heathrow late in the morning on Saturday 2 December. So please keep that in mind when looking at flights. Some shooters stay at the Marriott Renaissance Heathrow the night before pick up. We will pick you up in the lobby at 10:00am.
Please let us know if you might have interest, and feel free to give us a call as soon as possible at 717-919-5317.
The price for friend or spouse traveling with you is $1,600.
Click here to link to the relevant page on our website (about 2018 though).”
Just released vid: Take a trip to Camp Thunderbird …
For the past few years now, Project Upland has been turning out videos about bird hunting, gundogs, and the sentiments behind loving both. Their latest effort — Camp Thunderbird — releases today.
Well shot, and with a good mix of hunting footage and why-we-hunt musings, it’s Project Upland’s best effort so far. If you have the time, it’s definitely worth watching.
We all know bird hunting’s about a lot more than killing stuff. I’m glad to see Project Upland is sharing this story with the rest of world.
The teaser for this film is below. Go here to see the entire film.
Camp Thunderbird // Official Teaser from Northwoods Collective on Vimeo.