Waterfowl | NSSF Let's Go Hunting

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Waterfowl

Four flyways, colorful species small and large, the art of the decoy and the thrill of a Labrador retriever leaping over the boat’s bow to make an enthusiastic retrieve of goose or duck make waterfowling one of the most thrilling hunting sports around. It’s also one of the oldest—drawings of waterfowl have been found in Ice Age caves, Egyptian tombs and even the artwork of B.C.-era Peru. America’s earliest settlers from “across the pond” found their new home in the East boasted a nearly unlimited supply of ducks, geese and swans—good eating for starving Colonials.

This is one of the more gear-intensive hunting activities. You’re going to need lots of waterproof gear—shell bags, waders, parkas, gloves—a boat if you’re hunting anything larger than a pond, shotguns that can take wet, muddy and often frigid conditions, and calls that say to the birds above, “It’s safe and there’s plenty of food down here, come join me!” You’ll want some friends, especially ones who own boats and garages full of decoys, plus the ones who never forget to bring sandwiches and jerky. And you’ll also want a dog—not because you always need one, but because it’s just so much better with one.

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H U N T I N G

Hunting With Dogs: Etiquette and Safety

Hunting dogs make hunting better. They find more game, they get you better shots, and they recover downed birds that would otherwise be lost. And, it’s just fun to watch dogs work. You may own a dog of your own someday, but you’ll probably hunt over other people’s dogs first. If you’re invited on a hunt with dogs, there are adjustments you’ll have to make. The dog’s safety is everyone’s concern. A dog isn’t of any use if it stays behind the firing line, so you’ll have to learn some new gun handling habits. There’s etiquette to learn, too, and expectations to adjust. Not every hunt with dogs is a joy. Some are terribly frustrating. Learn to take it in stride. It may be your dog running wild someday. Basically there are four types of hunting dogs you may encounter.

Pointing dogs (English setters, German shorthaired pointers, Brittanys and may others) freeze when they get close to upland birds. Commercial lodges like pointing dogs because they create a controlled situation, allowing hunters to get into position before the bird flushes. Most pointing dogs retrieve, too.

Retrievers (Labs, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, etc) are used primarily for waterfowl hunting. They wait in the blind with the hunters until birds fall, then fetch them.

Flushers (spaniels, mostly, as well as retriever breeds like Labs and golden retrievers) roust upland birds out of cover instead of stopping to point them.

Hounds (beagles are the most popular) chase four-footed game big and small, usually baying as they go. You may hunt deer, hogs, mountain lions or raccoons with hounds, although it's most likely you'll hunt rabbits with beagles.

Here’s what you need to know to have a safe, successful, enjoyable hunt with dogs.

See safety and etiquette rules at Range365.com.

https://youtu.be/jcZOO5Zqrjc?t=10

In this video, Professional dog trainer Bev Millheim offers some sage advice for dog owners that are getting their young dog ready for its first hunting season. Tough the tips are focused on retrievers the substance can be applied to any breed. If Fido will see it on opening day he should see it first in training. Good luck on your first hunt!

See more videos from NSSF

You may also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/articles/5-things-to-look-for-in-a-hunting-dog/

How to Mount Shotgun Optics

There are a few ways to get red dots, reflex sights, and scopes on a shotgun. Here’s how to choose based on application. You don’t often find optics on shotguns. Because they fire multiple projectiles at once, pinpoint accuracy isn’t usually required. If you’re doing any sort of wing shooting or busting clays, they probably would do more harm than good, forcing you to aim when you should be concentrating on following through. But when the target is relatively stationary, an optic of some sort can really be a benefit. The magnification a scope provides is welcome in the deer woods, especially on a slug gun, helping you make distant shots with greater ease. Turkey hunters employ ultra-tight chokes that keep patterns narrow out to 40 yards and beyond, so knowing your exact point of aim is essential for them. And with the growth in 3-gun contests, more and more competitors are looking to reflex sights to help them get on target faster in competitions where seconds count.

Types of Shotgun Optics

There are a few different types of optics that can be used on shotguns. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, so I’ll go over each and you can decide which best suits your usage. Like most types of equipment, there isn’t one that will be ideal in every situation. You’ll need to decide what the shotgun will be used for most of the time and make your choice based on that. Read about the different types of shotgun optics at Range365.com You may also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/articles/five-must-haves-for-turkey-season/

Mexican Style Cornbread and Dove Breast Casserole Recipe

By Michael Pendley Poll a group of dove hunters about their favorite recipe for this small game bird and chances are good that some variation of the classic bacon-wrapped grilled or baked dove popper will come out the winner. Good answer, as dove poppers with a bit of cream cheese and a slice of jalapeno are delicious. But dove breasts are good for other recipes as well. Their rich flavor profile stands up well to a little spice and heat, making them perfect for this Mexican Cornbread Casserole. Baking the breast inside the casserole prevents the delicate breast meat from overcooking and drying out.

Ingredients

12-16 dove breast halves, skinned 2 cups coarse-ground yellow or white self-rising cornmeal 1 pound chorizo sausage, browned and crumbled 1 14-ounce can whole-kernel corn 1 14-ounce can cream-style corn 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 4 ounces diced green chile peppers 4 ounces diced jarred jalapeno peppers (or more if you like a bit more heat) 2 tablespoons lard, melted 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 eggs, beaten 1½ cups milk or buttermilk

Directions

1. Brown the chorizo in a skillet over medium heat. Once browned, remove the pan from the heat and allow the sausage to cool. Dove Casserole - Mixing Ingredients

2. In a large bowl, blend the cornmeal, milk, beaten eggs, salt, melted lard, ½-can of creamed style corn, ½-can of whole kernel corn, and diced jalapeno peppers to form a batter. 3. Pour half of the cornbread batter into a greased 2-quart baking dish. 4. Sprinkle over the browned chorizo, half the shredded cheese, the diced green chile peppers, and the remaining corn of both types. Layer Dove Breast

5. Layer the dove breast halves evenly over the dish. Dove Breast Casserole - Cheese

6. Top the dish with the remaining cornbread batter, then sprinkle over the remaining shredded cheese. Dove Breast Cassserole

7. Transfer the dish to a pre-heated, 350-degree oven and bake for 50-55 minutes until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out cleanly. Dove Breast Casserole

8. Cut into large squares to serve as a main course or smaller squares as an appetizer. Serve with sour cream and salsa, if desired.

Try Out More Recipes with NSSF’s Game Meat Cooking Series

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF4EE32869227CCE5

Where hunter and classically trained chef Georgia Pellegrini shares recipes from her book, "Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time."