ARTICLES
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.
Resources:
H
U
N
T
I
N
G
RELATED ARTICLES
Wild Goose and Pineapple Stir Fry
By Michael PendleyWild goose meat sometimes gets a bad rap when it comes to table fare, and it’s not always undeserved. Depending on the bird’s diet and cooking methods, goose can have a bit of a liver flavor. Snow geese in particular have a reputation for being tough to master in the kitchen, but with snow goose seasons in full swing this time of year, you’ll want to do something useful with that bounty of fresh fowl.So, what’s the secret to making them taste great? For starters, don’t overcook. Medium-rare to medium is done enough. Second, a nice marinade can go a long way when it comes to taming some of the more undesirable flavors.This recipe combines a sweet and salty pineapple juice and soy-based marinade that will both improve the flavor of the meat and tenderize it at the same time with the fast cooking times of a screaming hot wok. We’ve used it successfully for Canadas, snows, blues and specs.My favorite place to stir fry is over a camp stove outdoors in order to prevent the hot wok from smoking up the kitchen, but indoors will work if you open a nearby window or turn on a fan or oven exhaust.
Canada, snow or spec goose, doesn’t matter which. Start by slicing the goose breasts into thin strips for marinating.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2576" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Slice and prep the pineapple, mushrooms and vegetables (if not using pre-sliced frozen) so they are ready to add to the hot wok.[/caption]
Place the sliced goose breast into a zip-style plastic bag and pour over ¾ of the marinade. Refrigerate for one hour.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2572" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Brown the meat in batches in peanut oil in a hot wok for three to four minutes, being careful not to overcook.[/caption]
Once all the goose breast is cooked and moved to a warm platter, stir-fry the pineapple, mushrooms and vegetables until just cooked through.[/caption]
Add the goose breast back to the wok and pour in the reserved marinade mixed with the cornstarch. Add the 5-spice powder, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Stir well and cook just until the sauce thickens.[/caption]
Serve the stir-fry over white rice or noodles for a complete meal.[/caption]
READ MOREIngredients
4 Canada goose breast halves or 6 snow goose breast halves, cut into strips4 tablespoons peanut oil1 20-ounce can of pineapple chunks, juice reserved16 ounces frozen stir-fry vegetable blend8 ounces mushrooms, sliced8 ounces water chestnuts, sliced2 tablespoons hoisin sauce2 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons cornstarch1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powderMarinade
1 cup pineapple juice (reserved from chunks)¼-cup rice wine vinegar2 tablespoons brown sugar2 tablespoons soy sauceExtras
Cooked white rice for servingDirections
- Start by mixing the marinade ingredients. Reserve a quarter of the marinade and set aside.
Canada, snow or spec goose, doesn’t matter which. Start by slicing the goose breasts into thin strips for marinating.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2576" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Slice and prep the pineapple, mushrooms and vegetables (if not using pre-sliced frozen) so they are ready to add to the hot wok.[/caption]- Slice the goose breast into thin strips, placing the meat into a zip-style plastic bag, then pour in ¾ of the marinade. (This is a good opportunity to check for any random shot pellets lodged in the meat and remove them before cooking.) Refrigerate for one hour. Don’t over marinate. The citric acid of the pineapple juice can start to “cook” the meat if it’s left in too long.
Place the sliced goose breast into a zip-style plastic bag and pour over ¾ of the marinade. Refrigerate for one hour.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2572" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Brown the meat in batches in peanut oil in a hot wok for three to four minutes, being careful not to overcook.[/caption]- Heat the peanut oil in a wok over high heat. Drain the marinade from the goose breast. Stir fry the goose breast in small batches, for three to five minutes, until the surface of the meat is well browned. Move each batch of cooked breast to a covered bowl while you cook remaining meat.
Once all the goose breast is cooked and moved to a warm platter, stir-fry the pineapple, mushrooms and vegetables until just cooked through.[/caption]- Stir-fry the vegetables, mushrooms and pineapple until cooked through, but still remain crisp. Return the goose meat to the wok and stir to blend.
Add the goose breast back to the wok and pour in the reserved marinade mixed with the cornstarch. Add the 5-spice powder, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Stir well and cook just until the sauce thickens.[/caption]- Blend the cornstarch into the reserved marinade until smooth.
- Pour over the reserved marinade, the soy sauce, 5-spice powder and the hoisin. Stir to coat the meat and vegetables. Continue cooking for another three to five minutes until everything is heated through. Serve the stir fry at once over white rice.
Serve the stir-fry over white rice or noodles for a complete meal.[/caption] 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."5 Awesome DIY Hunts You Can Take This Year
These five classic Western hunts are all on public land, so you can go on your own for elk, mule deer, upland birds and waterfowl.
Is there a greater gift — or a more appealing challenge — for an American hunter than chasing game across public land, using only your instincts, gear and grit to fill your tag?For many Western hunters, this challenge is literally part of the landscape. West of Nebraska, public land is abundant and accessible. Hunting opportunities are varied and plentiful. And while outfitters do good business, most hunts are open to anyone with a tag and a willingness to learn the country and the animals, and who can take care of themselves in landscapes with few signs of human development.But a Western hunting trip is seldom as easy as loading up the Suburban and pointing it toward the sunset. Many big-game tags require years of going through the application process before you draw. Season dates, bag limits, and hunting unit boundaries often change from year to year. And then there’s the scale of the country. It’s big and wild, and often requires specialized gear. Sound intimidating? It is, but don’t let that scare you away from an awesome adventure. Here’s a way to get started.These five hunts represent classic Western public-land adventures, but they don’t require years of planning and license preference-point accumulation. And all are easily accomplished with basic gear. Best of all, you can do them right now!Wyoming Sage Grouse
The clock is ticking on the largest native upland bird of the West. Sage grouse are a perennial candidate for listing as an endangered species, mainly because of habitat loss. Hunting opportunities for “bombers,” as sage grouse are often called for their ponderous flight, have been restricted over the years. Currently, only a couple of states offer sage grouse hunting.[caption id="attachment_2548" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
A Wyoming sage grouse hunter admires the wingspan of a mature grouse. Much of the best hunting takes place on public land in Wyoming.[/caption]Wyoming has the most abundant sage grouse population in the West, but the season runs for only a fortnight in the best area, called Hunt Area 1, which basically covers the western half of the state. The season runs Sept. 16-30 this year, and hunters can bag two sage grouse a day and keep four in possession. Nonresident hunting licenses cost $74 for the season (allowing you to also hunt sharptail grouse, partridge, and pheasants), or $22 per day. There’s also a nonresident youth license, which costs $40 per season and is a good incentive to bring young hunters on this classic Western bird hunt.GO HERE: The Cowboy State’s best sage grouse area is the expansive sagebrush sea along the historic Mormon and Oregon trails, from Casper west to South Pass. Almost all this land is public (managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and you can camp and fish on much of these federal properties. During late September, hike riparian washes and areas with tall, shady sagebrush, where the birds will seek shade and bugs on hot autumn afternoons.Great Salt Lake Ducks
Sky-darkening flocks of waterfowl, abundant public access and one of the most varied bags in the West are all within sight of metropolitan Salt Lake City. Waterfowling Utah’s Great Salt Lake is one of the most accessible and productive hunts in the West.[caption id="attachment_2549" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Late-season Great Salt Lake ducks don’t require many decoys, but weather can bring snow and freezing fog.[/caption]Even better, it doesn’t take a lot of planning or gear to bag ducks here in this sprawling inland sea, surrounded with abundant public marshland. For good pass-shooting and decoying with small spreads, head to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge on the northeast shore of Great Salt Lake.GO HERE: Set up on dikes on Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, where a small boat will get you away from the crowds and allow you to decoy diving species like redheads, buffleheads, ringnecks, and even the mighty canvasback, the trophy bird of American waterfowlers.For season rules, license fees, and open (and closed) hunting areas, check out the annual Utah Waterfowl Guidebook.Montana Black Bear
Drawing a Montana nonresident deer or elk tag can take years of preference-point accumulation or you can buy a bear tag over the counter and hunt the same public areas as you would for antlered game.[caption id="attachment_2550" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
A Montana black bear works down a side-slope in the Helena National Forest.[/caption]There is a catch; you have to take a simple bear-ID test to prove that you can tell the difference between black and grizzly bears, which often share the same habitats in western Montana. The other thing you should know is that bear hunting in Montana is entirely spot-and-stalk. Neither baiting nor hound hunting is legal in Montana. Those restrictions actually improve the hunt; black bear hunting is so similar in locale and style to deer and elk hunting that a bear hunt is a great primer for hunting antlered game.GO HERE: National forests and wilderness areas from Bozeman to Kalispell offer the best bear hunting. Specific forests include the Lewis & Clark, Flathead, and Lolo. For a directory of each forest, as well as maps showing public-land boundaries, contact the Region 1 office in Missoula, Montana.Arizona Mule Deer
A trophy mule deer buck tag for Arizona is one of the most coveted permits in America. But the Grand Canyon state offers abundant hunting opportunities for both mule and Coues deer for hunters who use archery gear.[caption id="attachment_2551" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Late-season Arizona mule deer are widespread on public land.[/caption]Many units are open for late-season bowhunting on over-the-counter tags (OTC). And there are few better ways to escape the winter blues in the rest of the nation than spending late December and January in Arizona’s deer country. Both mule deer and Coues deer are huntable on these OTC tags, and because the season corresponds with the Coues deer rut, this is one of the best times to see a number of the gray ghosts in the desert mountains.Tags are reasonably priced — $160 for the nonresident hunting license plus the $300 deer tag (resident prices are $45 and $57, respectively) — and units are as varied as Arizona’s terrain. Arizona’s online hunt planner is a great way to identify open units and plan for the mix of terrain and season types that each offer for deer hunters.GO HERE: For Coues deer, hunt the southern mountains, especially units east of Tucson and near the New Mexico border. Mule deer and Coues deer roam the units along the Mexican border east of Nogales.Colorado Elk
With the largest elk herd in the nation, over-the-counter tags and abundant public land, Colorado is an elk-hunters’ destination. Problem is, all that opportunity can lead to frustration unless you do some solid homework and plan to hoof it to get away from access roads and the crowds they attract.[caption id="attachment_2552" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Colorado has the most elk of any Western state with over 300,000 animals; many on public land.[/caption]Plan on either the 2nd or 3rd rifle seasons, which run Oct. 20-28 and Nov. 3-11 this year. During these periods, snowfall isn’t too extensive, and elk are still fairly well distributed on public lands. The tough thing is that a big high-country snowfall could certainly change your plans overnight.GO HERE: For planning, a great starting point is the state’s digital hunting atlas, which shows unit boundaries and game-management unit designations. Cross-reference that information with harvest statistics from Colorado’s Craig region, available from the Division of Parks & Wildlife’s excellent hunting guides, and you should have a good idea of where to find both public land and huntable elk.The rest is up to you, and your gear. People assume that with over 300,000 head of elk, there’s a wapiti behind every tree. The reality is that to have consistent success in Colorado, you need the ability to hike hard, spend long days in the field, and have the flexibility to move up or down in elevation, or deeper in the backcountry, as conditions dictate.About the Author
Andrew McKean is a longtime outdoor writer and the former editor-in-chief of Outdoor Life. He lives in northeast Montana with his family and yellow Lab. You can follow his adventures on Instagram @aemckean or on Facebook @andrew.mckean.Special thanks to StepOutside.org for providing this insightful content.https://youtu.be/tMrOId2RQEE?t=10
In this video, Connecticut Hunter Education Instructor Dieter Bromkamp explains the importance of having and maintaining a solid scent control regimen and offers many tips that you can implement before your next hunt.5 Things to Look For in a Hunting Dog
When it comes to choosing a perfect pup for hunting that can also be a great family pet, pedigree is everything.
People have a lot of methods for picking a puppy, but most of them involve trying to evaluate a litter of six-week olds to find the right temperament. This, essentially, is impossible. You can’t look at the behavior of a newborn puppy and accurately predict how it will be as an adult any more than you can with a newborn baby.No matter how timid a puppy seems, or how overtly aggressive a puppy is when compared to its littermates, you won’t be able to make a great call one way or another. By that point in the process, the only decision you’ll really be making is on looks.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sVCB508XdY&autoplay=1
The true method for picking a perfect puppy is to start long before it’s born by studying its pedigree.One of the most common bird dog legends involves the shelter dog, or the accidental farmhouse Lab, that grew into a bird-hunting machine. We love those stories because they give us hope that any old dog can be amazing in the field. The truth is, those dogs are outliers and their field prowess likely benefits from a bit of storytelling license.To get an amazing hunting dog, or at least hedge your bets, you need to dig into bloodlines. Whether you’re looking for an English setter to hunt quail with, or maybe a golden retriever with a nose for roosters, you need to research not only the parents but the grandparents of the litter. This serves a couple of purposes, the first being health.
Bloodline Realities
Dog breeding in America is an unchecked, unregulated business. That’s why so many breeds have reputations for coming down with cancer or developing debilitating joint issues. A well-bred dog will have all of its health checks in place, and that is a major reason for going this route.The same kind of dog, with pure lines and, hopefully, a history of hunt tests, will not only be healthy but will also be smarter than average. Any dog that comes from generations of hunt-test or field-trial winners has problem-solving skills built in, mostly because dimwits don’t excel at tests. This is a great way to hedge your bets with an easy-to-train dog whether you’ll ever run a field trial yourself or not.[caption id="attachment_2519" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
And any dog that sports a solid pedigree will likely possess plenty of drive and athleticism. These two assets are extremely important to hunting ability. If you want a dog that can hunt the big woods of northern Wisconsin for ruffed grouse all day, you want a dog that has some athleticism in his background.
Quick tip: Unlike Europe, we really don't have any breed standards in the United States. This means there isn't any governing organization that polices breeds and ensures quality. The American Kennel Club is the closest organization we have.[/caption]
Reading a Pedigree
You can’t look at a puppy or play with it for a few minutes and determine anything about how it will turn out as a bird dog despite common belief to the contrary.This is the tricky part. The main focus of reading a pedigree will be to look at the parents and the grandparents of any prospective litter. Any generations beyond that are a bonus, but the biggest genetic contributors tend to be the latest two generations. Every reputable breeder will have a website, as well as the pedigrees of all sires and dams, so finding the base information should be easy.[caption id="attachment_2521" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
We often focus on aesthetics in puppies, but not on intelligence. The best bloodlines out there will promise athletic, healthy dogs that also possess plenty of mental bandwidth.[/caption]When reading it, look for designations like MH (Master Hunter) or FC (Field Champion) after a dog’s name. Both are good.You may also see NFC (National Field Champion, AFC (Amateur Field Champion) or SH (Senior Hunter), which are all indicative of dogs that have titled and are likely to be passing on the right genes.If you see CH anywhere, pass. That is a show dog designation, and not what you’re looking for in a hunting dog. Show breeding is all about looks and has been disastrous to many of our once-popular sporting breeds.Keep in mind that it will be easier to find a good pedigree in a popular breed than it will be for a more obscure breed. The same goes for color. A lot of people want a chocolate, a red, or a silver Lab these days. The problem with many of these dogs is that they have been bred for color and nothing else, which is very similar to show breeding.Dig into the pedigree and look for the right field trial or hunt test designations before worrying about color — you won’t regret it.Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask any prospective breeder about:
No matter what bird-dog breed you fancy, you should consider doing some pedigree research to find a litter that should contain the kind of puppy you really need.[/caption]The best dogs often come from small operations that are meticulous about their breeding, which means they might only produce a couple of litters per year. If there is a waiting list and an interview before you can put down a deposit, this usually means there has been some investment into the lineage. That matters.
- Health guarantees.
- What the parents or grandparents were used for if it’s not clear from the pedigree.
- How many litters did the parents produce a year?
No matter what bird-dog breed you fancy, you should consider doing some pedigree research to find a litter that should contain the kind of puppy you really need.[/caption]The best dogs often come from small operations that are meticulous about their breeding, which means they might only produce a couple of litters per year. If there is a waiting list and an interview before you can put down a deposit, this usually means there has been some investment into the lineage. That matters.Always Buy Up
Well-bred dogs are worth a lot but convincing the average sporting-dog owner of that is not so easy. This is because they are usually more difficult to find than any run-of-the-mill dog, and they are more expensive.[caption id="attachment_2523" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
A well-bred puppy is going to cost at least twice as much as an average dog, which is tough to swallow. The bright side is that it’s a one-time investment into many years of companionship at home and in the field.[/caption]These days, if you want a golden retriever that is field-bred (no show breeding) and boasts a pure pedigree and all of the health checks, you’ll spend at least $1000 and most likely, quite a bit more. You can find goldens all day long for half that price, but they’ll be a total gamble.Quick tip: If you’re unsure how to research quality bloodlines for your next bird dog, enlist the help of a professional trainer.Well-bred dogs are more expensive, and they are harder to find. However, look at it this way: you’re making a commitment that should hopefully last about a dozen years. Spending twice what you would for a questionable dog amortized over the lifespan of a dog you’re going to be very happy with is not much more of an additional investment. Factor in the likelihood that you’ll have a much better hunting dog and the idea of “buying up” is even easier to accept.A lot of people will still scoff at paying that much, and the typical justification is that they only hunt a couple of times each year, so who really needs an in-field rock star? The answer is, they do. And you do, too, probably; even if your days in the field are very limited.Family Matters
The thing about bird dogs these days is that even when a diehard upland hunter or waterfowler owns them, they only spend a small amount of time actually hunting. Most of their lives consist of being house pets. This means that while hunting skills, instinct and drive are all important, overall trainability and temperament are even more critical.A well-bred dog that comes from a line of thinkers will be much easier to train.
My current Lab, Luna, comes from a solid pedigree. She’s a machine in the field, but at home she is incredible as well. It took me two days to house train her, which was a relief because I’ve never had a dog take to that task so quickly. I also had her sitting the first day we got her as a puppy, which I wouldn’t have believed possible until I experienced it myself.None of this came from exceptional training ability on my part, but instead was the result of paying up for a dog that carried the right stuff in her genes.Conclusion
Well-bred puppies are expensive, but they’re worth it. If you’re paying for genetic potential you’re hedging your bets against a litany of issues that might crop up, not the least of which is health and overall abilities in the field and at home.Forget what you think you know about picking a puppy and start researching litters. If that task is too much, enlist the help of a professional trainer. If you do, you’ll most likely end up with a dog that exceeds your expectations at home, and in the field.And who can put a price on that?About the Author Tony J. Peterson has written hundreds of articles for over two dozen national and local publications. Although he covers topics related to all forms of hunting and fishing, his passion lies in do-it-yourself bowhunting for whitetail deer and western big game. Peterson is an accomplished outdoor photographer and currently serves as the Equipment Editor for Bowhunter magazine and Bowhunter TV.Special thanks to StepOutside.org for providing this insightful content.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!