Few hunts in North America can match the fast-paced action of wingshooting mourning doves. As one of the most popular game birds in the country (sorry, Michigan), there aren’t many secrets to a successful hunt, but that’s the beauty of targeting doves. You don’t need much gear and you don’t need an elaborate game plan to score a limit. However, if you want to put more dove jalapeño poppers on the table, here are a few tips to increase your...

Like bad company or political speeches, nothing lingers quite like the unmistakable scent of dog fur doused in skunk spray.
If you own bird dogs long enough, you’ll likely have to deal with a skunk encounter. While the striking white-on-black markings and raised tail evolved as an aposematic warning sign for predators, high-drive dogs are notorious for learning the hard way.
When that day comes, you’ll find yourself bombarded with home remedies...

Training and fieldwork creates a special kind of bond between a dog and its owner. But our four-legged friends often find themselves in situations where they need your help. Our new Ask A Vet series delivers advice directly from a professional, working veterinarian. Have a question about your dog? Shoot an email to themeateater@themeateater.com and we’ll dig into the concern. 
When making decisions regarding the care of a bird dog, veterinarians...

Bird dog bias is a real thing, and we all suffer from it. That’s why when we reminisce on last season, we tend to remember the things that went right. It’s human nature to fondly recall the near-flawless dog work on late-season roosters or the rare day when you exited the Northwoods early after limiting out on ruffs.
It’s not so easy to remember the coveys of quail your pointer bumped 75 yards away or the time he charged through an entire...

Ferg is working the field when—as if a string was attached to his nose—he whips around and locks on point. I creep past him awaiting the flush, and a rooster erupts at my feet. The report sounds from the right barrel of my 20-gauge side-by-side and the rooster falls. A quick retrieve to hand from the pup and we’re off to the next. Another rooster and a sharptail grouse fall by the end of the day.
I bought a German Wirehair puppy near the end of...

Training and fieldwork create a special bond between dog and owner. But our four-legged friends often find themselves in situations where they need our help. Our new Ask a Vet series delivers advice directly from a professional, working veterinarian. Have a question about your dog? Shoot an email to themeateater@themeateater.com and we’ll dig into the concern. 
If there’s any fault in our love of bird dogs and the strong bond we build with them...