His name is Cooper, Coop for short. A house is really a home when you have a dog, and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of rearing a hunting dog knows this best. With a hunting dog there is a more of a partnership between owner and dog, unlike with non-sporting breeds. When the talk in my house turned to dogs it took some persuading that a hunting dog would be a good idea. I have experience with gun dogs and in particular German Shorthair Pointers or GSPs. I knew their personalities and abilities. When you are at the stage of making a decision on what breed to choose it makes a pile of sense to do some research. The AKC categories Coop, and GSPs, in the sporting group. They are versatile hunting dogs meaning they are happy either in the field or water. So ask yourself what type of hunting you will most do and start to narrow you selection of breed from their. Another question you need to ask yourself is whether the dog will live in your house or outside in a kennel. The GSP breed is very much a social dog and Coop is no exception. Indoors he is calm as calm can be and wants to be in the same room as people. He sits in your lap or lies with his back against you to have that people contact. He is as affectionate as you could ever want a dog without the frenetic licking off some breeds. Since must of my hunting is in the field and the dog would live in the house the GSP was a natural choice. And I equate GSPs with GPSs when it comes to finding birds. Another requisite with any gun dog is space. Coop is a fierce runner and loves to play catch, he needs to be exercised or else he will become something a whirling devil if left indoors too long. He needs to be walked and walked a lot. Just think of what will become of your waistline after the miles you’ll put in. Typically we walk Coop at least two miles per day and our yard is large enough for him to get his wiggles out. In posting to come, you can follow Coop through his home training as well as his bird dog training.

Posted by robert at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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This is the third year of the Annual Winter Eagle Survey at Pipestem Resort State Park and they are asking for volunteers to help count eagles. The event is slated for January 5. Hand raisers will be placed along the New, Bluestone and Greenbrier rivers in Virginia and West Virginia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The goal of the effort is have a better understanding of the number of eagles wintering in southwest VA and southern WV. Last year some seven bald eagles and three golden eagles where spotted in the area. If you’d like to participate contact the Pipestem State Park in Pipestem, WV, by emailing pipestemnaturalist@wvdnr.gov.

Posted by robert at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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What is Unboxing?: Unboxing originated with Unboxing.com, a site dedicated to helping people show off their new techie toys, favorite gadgets, consumer electronics, and more. As their tag line states "Vicarious thrills from opening new gear."

Now that grouse season is winding down and the snow is deeper, I thought I’d bring you all up to speed on how Big Green’s workhorse pump, the Model 870 Wingmaster shouldered this season. If the 870 didn’t perform as expect there was something wrong with the world. My experience with 870’s in 12 and 20 gauge goes back a few decades from well-worn 12’s that doubled as slug guns during deer season to light 20’s that were just the ticket for all-day bird hunts. The 870 in 16 gauge performed flawlessly as I expected it would. It loaded and unloaded easily and came to the shoulder like an 870 12 gauge with the recoil of an 870 20 gauge. This 16 gauge, as mentioned in the Unboxing post, is retrofitted to a 12-gauge receiver. Back in the day, guns were scaled to the caliber and it was quite obvious the size differences between a 12, 16, and 20 when compared side by side. The added weight of the larger 12-gauge receiver made this 16 gauge carry like a 12 gauge but on the other side of the coin the added weight absorbed recoil and felt like a 20. The glossy stock and gold plated trigger is about as American as you can get for a sporting firearm finish. I’ll bet I could shave using my reflection in the stock. Gunwriters predict the demise of the 16 gauge on a regular basis to sell magazines as well as remind manufacturers to build a few more 16s. Of course it does takes a smidge more effort to find shells. I typically can find 16-gauge shells at big box retailers and recently purchased a case at Dick’s Sporting Goods, a big box chain here in the northeast. Many times you have to settle for #6’s or #7’s but isn’t that what you were going to buy in the first place? As I alluded to with the Robert Frost quote in the original posting—the 16 makes good hunting partners. With a 16 you won’t have to worry about your buddies asking to borrow shells. I suggest you also refrain from allowing them to shoot your 16. Once they get a feel for it, they’ll be lining up to purchase one. It’s best to be polite and perpetuate the mystery around 16 gauges. Tell them the shells are hard to come by and you barely have enough for the season. Or tell them you don’t know what they’ll think about the recoil. So why go with a 16 gauge? Again another Robert Frost poem comes to mind:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Posted by SwampYankee at 07:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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If Sam Colt were alive today he would probably be the Pierre Cardin of the firearms industry. Pierre was one of the first to really understand licensing his brand—think of all the sunglasses, watches, colognes, socks, underwear, ties, belts, that wore the Pierre Cardin name. All other clothing brands followed in Pierre’s foot steps and it seems at least one gun brand. Have you heard that Smith and Wesson’s has a new product, S&W cologne? I’m not sure of the scent but aren’t real shooters supposed to smell like Hoppe’s No. 9. One hitch in licensing is that over licensing can dilute the brand from its original base product. The company is seeing more penetration in the law enforcement market but the civilian sales? Maybe S&W can spray some of the cologne on their stock to entice The Street. I also heard Old Spice has partnered with Hornady on a new line of ammunition. After the shot the gun smoke has a musky, manly smell instead of the usual cordite stench. And if you believe that one, I have bridge in Brooklyn you might want to buy.

Posted by robert at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The other day I was perusing the Desert Rat's posting of moose from near Presque Isle in Maine and I was reminded of my first encounter with the beasts in Maine’s Western Mountian Region or as some know it Region D. Three moose rose from their beds and shook off a dusting of snow. The two young ones tussled their antlers like two fighting puppies. The older moose grunted and the youngsters stopped wrestling and then they all silently disappeared into the woods. That was many years ago. We had permits for deer but not for moose. And that is the other memory my Arizona hunting blogger friend jogged, my yearly donation to the state of ME. Some call it a moose permit lottery but I am beyond that denial stage. For over 20 years I entered this so-called lottery. My time started well before the state offered extra points and other such schemes that put the odds in an entrant’s favor. I figure over all the years and all the fees I could have purchased a very nice rifle. In the 1980s, when I was deep in denial a trip to my local gun store followed every lottery submission. No tags, no new rifle, year after year after year. With all the time and energy spent on the application process, I think I could have had more luck winning a mega-millions drawing, probably a few mega-million drawings. What’s a non-resident to do? Chuck Hulsey, Regional Wildlife Biologist, in Region D recently reported that he has encountered people who have applied year after year with no success. I have never met Mr. Hulsey, but Hulsey wrote that determining success is a little complicated because of many variables.

"The number of permits, applicants, and chances purchased per applicant weigh heavily in one’s odds. Residents can purchase one, three, or six chances each year. Plus applicants earn one chance for each consecutive year they apply and are unsuccessful. Non-residents have that opportunity as well however there isn’t a limit on the number of chances they can purchase. While that sounds like a big advantage, a non-resident’s chance is limited by the fact that only 10% of the permits go to non-residents."

I can follow the state’s logic only after a few glasses of hard cider. So what are my chances of drawing a permit say next year? Last year there were a little over 65,000 applications for just under 3,000 permits. The odds of getting a non-resident permit is 1 in 700 for every chance. Perhaps they should institute a sympathy submission on the application. Check this box if you have applied for the permit for over 20 and have not won. And if you are wondering if I applied this year, yes I did. And I visited my local gun dealer, who sighed, shook his head and asked what rifle I want to see.

Posted by SwampYankee at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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We all have fond memories of an early fall morning following behind grandpa through a cut corn field to the sound of dog’s collar bell. At some point in our lives we were smitten with the outdoors. Many area rod and clubs here in the northeast offer youth hunts, which are great ways to introduce the next generation as well as pass along your hunting knowledge and woods lore. Many clubs and friends and acquaintances that have passed along events happening at their clubs and I have been remiss in getting the word out. These events not only include youth specific activities, but include field trials and shoots. There is still time to get involved before the year closes. The Pomfret Rod and Gun Club in Pomfret, CT, regularly holds fun trials. For a fee you get breakfast and a bird plus the opportunity to see dogs and their owners in action. The Concord Rod & Gun Club and the Harvard Sportsmen's Club, both of which are in MA held junior pheasant hunts this year, some in conjunction with state wildlife agencies. I heard a German Shorthair Pointer by the name of Dakota put on quite a show at the clubs. The Fin Fur and Feather Club in Chaplin, CT, also holds youth events. Boys, girls, dogs and pheasants—what a great combination. These are just a few of the many events that friends emailed me with, let us know what activities are happening at your club and we’ll make sure the word gets out. Get ‘em involved and get ‘em excited. And if you are in Saint Paul, MN, this January 18 through 20, check out the National Pheasant Fest. This is PF’s big event early next year with activities especially for kids.

Posted by robert at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Kristine is the momentum behind Hunt Smart, which has some very smart posts about hunting and safety. I still shake my head with disbelief that not more treestand hunters get hurt. I pays to be safe. Kristine also just ran a contest for her new product and the winning name is: GunTriever. And if that isn't enough, she also has a hand in the Outdoor Blogger's Summit. As nepotistical as ever, give Kristine a click and tell her Upland Feathers sent you.

Posted by robert at 01:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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