Becoming a Better Hunter, April

Hello everyone, it's been a while since our last update, and for that I apologize. It's been a busy few months here at Golden Gun Birddogs. Between running dogs and training for a marathon, time has been scarce. But I’m back and excited to share our progress with you. In this installment of our "Becoming a Better Hunter" series, we'll be discussing our recent efforts in scouting, training, and equipment. We'll also touch on our ongoing journey to gain knowledge and improve our shooting skills. So without further ado, let's dive in.

Shooting: N/A

Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been conducive for shooting lately, so I haven't made any progress in this area. I'm hoping for better weather soon so I can get out there and improve my skills.

Conditioning: A-

I recently signed up for a marathon in June, so I've been running 35-40 miles per week to prepare. I'm feeling strong and confident about my physical abilities for the upcoming hunting season.

Reading and Gaining Knowledge: C

While I have reread "Training Bird Dogs with Ronnie Smith Kennels" and "Training with Mo" and taken notes, I haven't spent as much time on this as I would have liked. I have been combing through internet forums and Facebook groups for new information, but I need to make more time for reading and learning.

Training: B I've been out every day the weather has been cooperative to run the dogs on woodcock this spring. As summer approaches, we will be focusing on firming up our yard work until state land opens again on July 7th. With the addition of woodcock to our training regimen, it's been a learning experience for both me and my dogs, as we previously focused mainly on pheasants.

Equipment: C+ I recently purchased 2 remote launchers and am still getting used to them. Once I figure them out, I think they will be a great addition to my training program.

Scouting: A- Running many days on woodcock this spring, I added a ton of waypoints to my OnX that I plan to return to once the woodcock flights start in the fall. This is especially exciting for me as woodcock are all new to me and my dogs, and I'm looking forward to exploring this new area of hunting.

That's all for this installment of "Becoming a Better Hunter." While progress has been slower in some areas than I would have liked, I'm still committed to improving my skills and knowledge as a hunter. Until next time, happy hunting!