Upland Birds

We’ve all seen the magazine covers: A thin creek trickling beneath a grove of aspen, the grouse flushing toward their crowns, a tweeded hunter with a double gun, and the setter pointing the ground where the bird just burst from. Like most magazine covers, that’s not how it usually happens. It’s a...

Ruffed grouse are widely considered one of the more delectable upland game birds. But did you know they might also be poisonous? Odd as it seems, there is a fairly extensive—and largely forgotten—body of medical literature detailing unfortunate souls who have been poisoned by eating ruffed grouse...

If you’ve hunted pheasants long enough, you’ve probably been in a group that uses blockers to seal off the edges and ends of a field. Chances are you’ve seen a rooster or two drop in the distance after a blocker made a good shot. Chances are higher that you’ve seen more escape unscathed, whether it...

Every day, our fellow meateaters send us more than 100 emails regarding hunting, fishing, cooking, conservation, and more. So, we decided to publish a series dedicated to our favorite FAQs. Ask MeatEater is powered by onX, creators of the best digital mapping tool for hunters and anglers. A lot of...

For many hunters, the Sept. 1 dove opener signals the official beginning of fall. A vision of a wide field ringed with orange caps flashes across the mind’s eye. Retrievers rush for downed doves, and shots echo off the leaves of trees just starting to turn color. For those of us not fortunate enough...

This audio is an excerpt from one of 16 harrowing tales featured in "MeatEater's Campfire Stories: Close Calls." In the audio book, you'll hear from seasoned hunters, anglers, and outdoor professionals who share their tales of perilous adventures in the natural world, from run-ins with black bears...

There’s no better window into a dog’s soul than its tail. Wagging, rigid, quivering, or tucked, each manifestation of this expressive appendage conveys the extensive vocabulary of canine nonverbal communication. Like a hand of cards tipped towards the poker table, there’s no mistaking a dog’s intent...

A well-fitted, reliable shooting iron can greatly enhance your enjoyment in the field. But with the mountain of manufacturers, gauges, and finishes available, how does one go about selecting the ultimate upland shotgun? I’ve met two kinds of bird hunters: those who can’t possibly own enough shotguns...

While I love chasing pheasants in October, I secretly long for the shorter, colder days after Thanksgiving when birds are bunched up. There’s just something about flushing groups of roosters from thick cover while fewer hunters are afield. The reality is that most folks just don’t know how good...

When the gun smoke settles and the bird is in hand, I often find myself staring at the intricate patterns and surreal colors that enrobe our avian prey. It pains me to sit on the bank of the river plucking beauty from skin only to watch the plumage float away into the void. Bringing those feathers...

Bird dog optimism always runs high leading up to the waterfowl or pheasant opener. But, by this time of the year, reality has likely poured water on that fire and hope given way to frustration about your dog’s performance. This is often the case with young and middle-aged dogs, with the seasoned...

Pheasant hunting requires less gear than other outdoor pursuits, and as a result, many hunters make the mistake of believing it doesn’t require as much strategy either. In fact, most hunters think there are only a few rules to pheasant hunting—walk into the wind, follow the dog, don’t shoot hens...