Upland Inspiration

Over the years I have been inspired by a few periodicals. Magazines such as Gun Dog and its short-lived sister magazine Wing & Shot, were the greatest resources for gun dog training and upland inspiration of their time, (early 1980’s).

There are destination hunts of the rich and famous – lodges for people that like to “dabble” in hunting. Magazines such as Sporting Classics or Covey Rise are rife with these hunts. Oh, they’re nice to thumb through for a glimpse at beautiful guns and dogs in breath-taking venues. The participants don’t own - let alone train - the dogs they’re strolling behind across these manicured grounds resembling an arboretum. Folks that treat hunting more as a stylized activity where the main focus seems to be being “seen” in its participation. The photography is stunning, indeed, but after drooling over all of the eye-candy, for those with a modest income, there is not much to be gained.

In case you were thinking that all magazines are the same in that respect, let me assure you that that isn’t true.

Still a Classic:

Gun Dog magazine has been around since the early 1980’s and still provides good entertainment and instruction. Wing & Shot published a few years later, wasn’t around long but was good while it lasted!

I still subscribe to Gun Dog magazine, though their subject-matter sometimes leans toward specialty venues for those that are often late-life onset hunters. Many of Gun Dog’s staff fall in that category; having only been actually hunting for a decade or so, (its editor-in-chief included). The one true bright spot remains the training of dogs. There is good information offered from experienced contributors, trainers, and veterinarians.

Most of you have heard me mention hard-copy periodicals such as Pointing Dog Journal (PDJ) and, more recently, the Upland Almanac (UA) or online versions of these as well as the Pheasant Forever (PF) website. These are currently the resources I turn to due to their articles written by long-time trainers and uplanders in hunting destinations that won’t empty the life-savings.

PDJ covers the gambit of upland experience with sections on training, guns and shooting, gun dog health, and public hunting venues both east and west. What began as an eastern-based periodical UA is now new and improved. The latest version includes more articles on western venues - even fly-fishing! It will be interesting to see what transpires.

Along with affiliated Quail Forever, the PF website remains the best place to follow trending information on habitat and public lands. Due to its online presence, brief articles and podcasts can be offered in a timely fashion.

Pointing Dog Journal and Upland Almanac -

Periodicals with time-tested training methods and public accessable hunting venues with articles written by venerable uplanders.

And, No!! That dog’s not dead! She’s practicing for her next career as a Mattress Firm model!

Have you ever wondered, "What good are magazines?" I mean, you can find much of this information online and, after you go through magazines, they’re not even good for fire starters. Right?!

Well, besides using them as a rolled-up fly (or dog) swatter, my magazines return to hand multiple times through the years. Say, there was an article about hunting a place that was interesting but, at the time, out of your price range. Later, you get your chance and the article is there to help get you started. Dog training is the same way. I have returned to articles on training issues that I come across and would like to re-educate myself or, maybe, find a back-up technique.

Believe it or not, I like to return for a look at the photos. Yup, not going to lie, I get a kick out of seeing dogs working in fields and forests. Next, you guessed it, I’ll return to the sections on dog training. Many times, my eye catches a venue that sounds interesting, such as, a hunt in areas (or for birds) that I am familiar with or places that I have always wanted to go. The periodicals I have chosen are filled with hunting dog enthusiasts in public accessible regions across the country.

Most of all, they inspire. They, along with dog training, carry me through the dull days of summer. The articles and photographs take me to those places – with dogs and friends. Places that I have seen before or can easily image. They inspire those that are new to the sport as well. Answering questions and filling people with the confidence they need to “get out there”!

Sure, there are amateur videos online that can do some of that; if you don’t mind the motion sickness from all the bobbing and spinning around. Another “free” observation; many of those folks have terrible dog training and hunting habits that, thankfully, you won’t find in any of these magazines.

So, if you’re just starting or, like me, enjoy re-living good dogs, places, and people, I encourage you to pick one, get a year’s subscription, and get some inspiration! And then,

- Enjoy Your Dog!