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1 month ago | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
It is a warm day, and my dog has been running hard. Ahead, muddy road ruts are filled with rainwater. The scene is dotted with fresh cow pies, and the puddles are rimmed with green slime. This oasis hardly seems appealing to me, but before I can call her back, my dog has made a bee-line to the water. She greedily laps from the morass before reluctantly returning to slobber on my hunting pants. Wild water sources abound in the covers where we bird hunt.
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2 months ago | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Once upon a time, most gun dog puppies found their forever homes a few miles from their birthplace. Hunting breeds were rooted in communities that prized their skill sets. Old-time hunters in the Northwoods likely had a setter breeder nearby, while Midwesterners might have had a retriever kennel down the road. Only the most dedicated bird dog enthusiasts sought out kennels other than local, small-scale operations. Times have changed.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Gear can make or break a hunt. Having the right tools for the job is a critical component of every successful bird hunting mission, whether a backyard pheasant walk or an epic ptarmigan backpack trip. It's easy to get overwhelmed by gear management. Fretting about too much stuff takes focus away from what matters: enjoying the field with dogs and friends. Planning and gear organization can help us maximize the fun and minimize the stress.
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Sep 22, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases. Wingshooters are a romantic bunch. Rifle hunters might spend hours at the range penciling out the best loads for their next adventure, but shotgunners are apt to pick a box of ammo based on whim, hearsay, and habit. With six common gauges and many cartridge offerings per gauge, the options are nearly endless. When it comes to selecting a shotshell for upland hunting, not all options are equal.
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Aug 15, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
To many, it is flyover country. Between the mountain ranges of the West, vast basins are carpeted with sage. From the highway, this landscape looks like a whole lot of nothing. The intrepid few that venture out into it find a surprising variety of life, from desert-dwelling insects and amphibians, all the way up to pronghorn, mule deer, and elk. Sage grouse are the most iconic residents of this basin landscape. A sage grouse flush is downright shocking.
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Jul 11, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Big Sky Coutry: For upland hunters, these words conjure images of wingbeats rising from a sea of grass. With long hunting seasons, plentiful birds, and beautiful landscapes, eastern Montana is one of the top bird hunting destinations in North America. While the hunting is no secret, changes to Montana's socioeconomic fabric may be less obvious to visitors. As ranching becomes less profitable, land is plucked up by out-of-state money.
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May 19, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
It was the end of a long day in the field. Our morning started in rolling sharp-tailed grouse covers. In the afternoon, we transitioned to the partridge hills. After returning to our truck, we noticed a pair of pointers running the sage flats several hundred yards ahead. Driving out to the main road, we encountered a hunter. We exchanged pleasantries. “No, we are from out of state but heard the sage grouse numbers are good this year,” he stated. “Well, sage grouse closed a week ago,” I noted.
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Apr 14, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Every bird hunter dreams of owning a great bird dog. There are multiple mistakes that can spoil these hopes. Fortunately, they can be avoided with careful planning. If you learn about these common problems, you can avoid making mistakes with your own bird dog. Carefully select a good breeder, and you are well on your way to a great bird dog. Avoid ‘puppy mills’ that produce large numbers of your desired breed. Instead, look for breeders that are very selective about the litters they produce.
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Mar 14, 2024 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
Every hunter who wants a new gun dog is looking for a healthy, happy companion that dazzles in the field and is easy to keep. A quick survey of bird dog owners will swiftly reveal that not everyone gets what they want. Are puppy buyers at the whim of the Fates, compelled to roll the dice and see what they get? Is there a way to stack the deck in our favor? Five gun dog experts weigh in. Spoiler alert: we can't predict the future, but we can get close. Good dogs come from good dogs.
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Dec 19, 2023 | 
gundogmag.com | Josh Tatman
As the northern hemisphere slowly pulls away from the sun, the days shorten, bringing crisp mornings. Excited dogs pant plumes of steam into the brisk air as hunters stamp feet and rub cold fingers. A frosty morning in the field is arguably the quintessential American upland hunting experience, but cold weather brings unique challenges and hazards. These risks only increase as the first storms of autumn transition to all-out brutal winter conditions.
