If you spent much time with hunting dogs, you’ve probably wondered about their noses. A recent piece called BIRD DOGS, SCENT AND FINDING BIRDSfrom the Pheasants Forever blog gave some insights into scent and into how dogs process it. It’s short, but talks about:
“I spent a number of days this spring running my German shorthaired pointer, Trammell, through woods I know hold timberdoodle on their migration north. It was interesting to watch Trammell navigate the scent determining when to point and when to press. It got me thinking about the incredible ability of a dog’s nose, so I reached out to Bob West of Purina Dog Foods and a professional trainer with 50 years of experience to teach me more about bird dogs and scent…”
If you love pheasant hunting, please watch this video. Upland game habitat is being destroyed at accelerating rate across the midwest. Since 2006, 1.3 million+ acres of once conserved land have gone under the plow. The result is far fewer bird. Pheasant numbers in states like Iowa are already collapsing. If the trend continues, the Dakotas will be next. But you don’t have to sit by and let this happen. Watch this video to learn more.
Have a new retriever pup? Then check out this quick training video featuring Craig Klein of Fischer’s Kennels & Hunt Club in Albany, MN. Craig talks about how to start off your new puppy with some simple lessons both of you will enjoy.
Dogs and Doubles would like to join Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in urging hunters and sportsmen and women nationwide to support the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525).
Tell them to support the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525)
The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 represents 19 individual conservation titles, combined through bipartisan support, and is an incredibly important step for sportsmen and women throughout the United States as we fight for conservation on the American landscape. The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 is directly applicable to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever supporters through its conservation of upland habitat and increased access for recreational hunting.
Some benefits of the Sportmen’s Act of 2012 include:
1. The continuation of critical habitat investment programs due to expire, including North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
2. Reauthorizes Federal Lands Transaction Facilitation Act, which uses “land for land” approach to improve access
3. Creates a 1.5 percent set aside from Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to specifically address access issues by purchasing in holdings in existing public lands and securing easements to access-restricted acreage
4. This bill allows the Secretary of Interior to reevaluate the price of the critical Duck Stamp every three years and permanently offer an electronic duck stamp, assuring the stamp price can adjust accordingly to match inflation
5. This bill will have no cost to taxpayers
When you contact your Senator, let them know that the Sportsmen’s Conservation Act of 2012, the habitat it will protect, hunting heritage it will further, and the outdoor spaces it will create are important to you and your family. Ask your Senator to:
1. Support the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 (S. 3525)
2. Encourage other members of the Senate to follow suit and support America’s sportsmen and women
All Senate offices can be found here or directly through the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121. Thank you for standing up for America’s sportsmen and women!
The moment you’ve worked for all year finally arrives: it’s hunting season, your dog finds a bird, and you have a solid point. Now what do you do? Here’s a bit of advice from the folks over at Pheasant’s Forever:
“I’ve also been told by pointing dog purists to never walk up directly behind a pointer, but rather come in from the front or at an angle….With this subject in mind, I called Purina’s “top dog” and pro trainer Bob West for his guidance on how best to approach a dog on point. “There is no clear cut, best way to approach a dog on point. You have to factor in the dog’s level of ability, the scenting conditions that day and the species of bird you anticipate being pointed to properly make the best approach for the situation,” explained West. “When hunting pheasants, it’s not uncommon for me to make a big 20 yard circled approach in front of a dog on point in an attempt to prevent a rooster from running.”
