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No matter how you slice it, the Labrador Retriever is British. Putting the word “English” or “British” in front of its name is like putting “American” in front of Chesapeake Bay Retriever or “Canadian” in front of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Somehow, the terms “English Lab” and “British Lab” have crept into our vocabulary, nevertheless. So, what exactly is a “British” or “English” Lab and how is it different from an “American” Lab?

Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.

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Its name may sound like a fun catch phrase or dance move, but the plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is actually a tree-dwelling desert game bird. It is the only member of its family to inhabit the United States and, in fact, it barely occurs in the U.S. at all. With a little research and some luck, it is possible to find this unique game bird in Texas. Learn about the bird itself, its preferred habitat, and potential hunting opportunities.

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Let’s start with the obvious question: is plucking worth the time?

The answer likely depends on what kind of hunter you are. So, let’s evaluate: do seek out and invest in the best gear? Do you believe a well-trained or “finished” hunting dog improves the experience afield? If you answered “yes” to either, then it’s clear to me: plucking is worth your time, because settling for less doesn’t suit you.

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It comes as no surprise that the popularity of American woodcock hunting has risen with the decline of other upland game species in its flyway. In many areas, the bobwhite quail has become a distant whistle and the ruffed grouse merely a ghost. Woodcock are a migratory bird with flyways that stretch from Canada to Louisiana, east Texas, and even Florida. As a result of their geographic diversity, they have earned a variety of nicknames and cultural nods such as “mud bat” and woodcock gumbo. The entire eastern half of the United States hosts woodcock seasons which are regulated by federal migratory game laws. With a crash course in habitat knowledge, the leap to becoming a woodcock hunter is often easier than with other upland game species. Before you know it, that distinct whistle of rising wings will be a calling card for one of your favorite game species.

Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.

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One thing hunters have in common is that we love our gear. And why not? It follows us into the field right along with our dogs and our passion for the outdoors. Maybe it’s a special knife handed down for generations that you use to process game the way your uncle taught you; perhaps it’s a simple lanyard and whistle that you have used to call every bird dog you have ever owned. For many of us, it is our bird vest to which we attach nostalgic value. A good vest carries everything we need to enjoy a day afield and, if successful, it holds our quarry close to our back so we can feel the warmth of a productive hunt and anticipate the meals to come. It is a piece of equipment that is with us through every moment in our upland shooting life.

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Let’s face it, the hunting season is too short to miss a day due to unfavorable weather. If you wait for the perfect day to come, you may shorten your season to just a handful of lucky days when the crisp autumn air rustles through the golden leaves which have been drained of chlorophyll and are ready to join their counterparts on the forest floor.

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Will the future of upland hunting look different? I always ponder that question and I know, no matter what, things will change. There is no doubt the decline of key species will play an unalterable role in this evolution of future generations' hunting habits. But what hints can we see right now of what's to come?

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As a new hunting season approaches, we all begin the process of digging through our upland gear. We check over the vests and chaps for tears and holes from last season’s briars, and if you’re like me, find shotgun shells in various pockets or crevices of my hunting gear containers laying wherever it was that they last fell at the end of the previous season.

Mountain Ash is a native deciduous tree that is found throughout the cold climates of the northern hemisphere and as far away as Tibet. It yields a rich bounty of small orange-red berries that ruffed grouse happen to love. Its berries tend to stay on the branch long into the winter, providing a food source for many birds, including grouse. The images in this article or a quick google of “Mountain Ash” can help with visual identification.

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Don’t be fooled by what you hear—getting a hunting license is actually a very easy thing to do. Amidst all the changes and difficulties that 2020 has brought, getting a hunting license is one of the few things that has become easier and more accessible. As someone who took my first hunter education class in 1993 by attending several evenings of classes, listening to old dudes teach safe firearm handling and tell their hunting stories (more the latter), I can attest to all of the positive advancements that hunter education and licensing procedures have gone through.  

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