Wingshooting – Sporting Road

No Do Overs

Photo by Stephen Collector of Jim Harrison and Russell Chatham in Florida Keys West Side Books & Curios Denver, CO Thursday, October 15 • 7 PM - 9 PM Stephen Collector in conversation with Brad Wetzler on Thursday, October 15th at 7:15pm. No Do-Overs in Paradise comes out 10/10/26 West Side Books & Curios presents our friend, Stephen Collector, and his new book No Do-Overs in Paradise: Journeys Through Wild Places and Inner Landscapes. Join us on Thursday, October 15th as we discuss his new book and his beautiful photography of the West. He will be in conversation with editor and memoir coach Brad Wetzler. Stephen Collector's No Do-Overs In Paradise is a collection of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that many of us could only dream of. His work as a professional photographer has taken him front and center to many of the most remarkable sporting locations the western hemisphere has to offer. He shared time with Legends of the Fall author Jim Harrison, dined and cooked at Jimmy Buffett's home in Key West, witnessed the indigenous wisdom of a Cheyenne medicine woman in Montana, fished countless famed Western trout waters, and so much more. These enchanting essays join many of his award-winning photographs, to cover all four seasons of the sporting year. Collector captures all the thrills, the disappointments, and the remarkable lessons this world has to pass on to each of us. Stephen Collector was born in Virginia in 1951. After attending George Washington University for two years, he transferred to the University of Colorado in 1971. A longtime freelance photographer, his book of Stock Detectives, Law of the Range: Portraits of Old-Time Brand Inspectors was published in 1991 by Clark City

By Sporting Road|October 6th, 2026|Categories: Colorado, Fishing, Photography, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Grouse Taxidermy

My buddy Andy recently had a blue grouse mounted by Rocky Mountain Bird Works (Formally Fin 'n' Feather Taxidermy), which is a full time bird taxidermy studio. It’s one of the best designs I have seen. Next time I have a bird mounted, I’ll be calling them. 3530 W 3800 S, Rexburg, ID, 83440 (208) 270-2990 I used to use Don Bowman, who did many of the taxidermy at the Denver Museum of Natural History and the like. He is widely regarded as one of the top taxidermists in North America, but has since retired. He was also a huge collector of insect mounts and had nearly everything imaginable in his collection.

By Sporting Road|September 25th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Sunglasses for the Field

Ihave I have some old Ray Bans, yellow, brown, black, you name it. They never go out of style. I break or scratch them up, long before they ever go out of style. This new collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana and Ray Ban shows the new cool version for 2026. But trust me, the vintage ones are just as great as the new ones, as Corky Robinson over at C. Woodcock & Co., can attest, he even goes so far as to collect vintage eyeglass and sunglass frames and have prescription lens dropped in them for as little as $60. I haven't gone to the point of buying vintage frames, but I have many I purchased new some 40 years ago which probably now almost fit in that category. They were made cool by military pilots, Tom Cruise in the 80's both on screen and off, and even back in the days of Hemingway and the likes. I wasn't going for fashion when I first bought them, I was going for their optical qualities afield. Introduced in 1937 for U.S. military aviators, Ray-Ban's legendary G-15 and B-15 lenses were engineered to provide exceptional optical performance in the brightest conditions. Rather than simply darkening the view, these precision-crafted mineral glass lenses were designed to reduce glare, improve visual comfort, and preserve natural color perception—essential qualities for pilots navigating long hours in the cockpit. The G-15 lens, with its distinctive green tint, transmits approximately 15 percent of visible light while maintaining true-to-life colors and excellent contrast. The amber-tinted B-15 lens also allows about 15 percent light transmission but enhances depth perception and contrast, making it particularly effective in hazy or low-contrast environments. Both became hallmarks

By Sporting Road|July 17th, 2026|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

Off Season Wingshooting Checklist

Offseason Checklist for Bird Hunters Prepare Now for a Better Fall Hunting Season. I’ve reached a point where I need to do less, do it smarter, and take recovery seriously. In other words, I need to be highly intentional. Preparing for the upcoming season is one important, and often overlooked step, for upland wing shooters. First, is getting fit and making sure my canine team members are also in tip top shape. My purpose for fitness is simple: to keep my body in the best shape possible so I can continue doing the things I love for as long as I can. What that looks like will be different for every person, and it will change at every stage of life. As one wise man said, “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” Watch a professional athlete and you’ll see how intentional they are about everything they do. That idea has stayed with me. Each morning, when I get up and brush my teeth, I look in the mirror and ask myself, “You are an athlete. What would an athlete do today?” Some days the answer is rest. Other days, it’s moving my body with purpose. When you start being intentional about prioritizing your pursuits in the outdoors, you have probably noticed the same quiet pattern underneath everything: deeper sleep, steadier moods, more energy in the afternoons, mornings that feel clearer, and days that begin to belong to you again. None of it arrives with a dramatic moment. Real change rarely does. It just happens. There is no single morning when you wake up as a completely different person. What happens instead is a shift in direction. A new baseline that slowly moves,

By Sporting Road|July 1st, 2026|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off

26 Constitutional Carry States

There are 20 million AR-style weapons in circulation in the US, according to the NSSF. They're part of a total 393 million guns owned by US civilians, more than the American population. And, interestingly enough, none have been used by anyone who is Hunter Safety Certified in a mass shooting. Around 19.8 million AR-15 style rifles are in circulation in the US, a nationwide tally that's surged from around 8.5 million since a federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004. About 30% of rifle owners, own an AR. The more recent estimate comes from a November 2020 statement by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In the statement, its President and CEO Joseph Bartozzi called the AR-15 the "most popular rifle sold in America" and a "commonly-owned firearm." A November 2020 Gallup poll found that 44% of Americans said they live in households with guns.

By Sporting Road|January 31st, 2023|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

Wild Game is Anti-Inflammatory

I just had a really interesting conversation with one of the most respected cardiologists in the nation. He was saying that recent studies have shown that feed-lot raised beef is inflammatory and high in fat. Whereas pasture beef is not high in fat and not inflammatory. And wild game meats have even more health benefits when compared to meats from domesticated or farm-raised animals. Examples of wild game include venison, bison, rabbit and elk. The fact that wild game animals eat their natural diet and are very active in the wild contributes to the lower fat content of the meat. Additionally, eating greens in the wild contributes to a lower content of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids and a higher content of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, wild game meat is a good source of protein and minerals such as iron and zinc. So, in fact, wild game has good fat and is anti-inflammatory. A recent article over at https://www.livestrong.com/article/349448-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-wild-game/ also echoed the same: Low Fat Content Wild game meats tend to have a lower fat content, as animals tend to be more active in the wild. Additionally, wild game eat a natural diet as opposed to grain or corn, which is often fed to domesticated animals, contributing to an increased fat content of non-game meat. Lower Omega-6 Fatty Acids The feeding of corn and grain to farm animals not only increases the total fat content but also the omega-6 fatty acid content. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, omega-6 fatty acids increase markers of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is associated with health conditions including obesity, diabetes, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Wild animals eat more grass, green leaves and plants than their domesticated counterparts, which

By Sporting Road|December 6th, 2022|Categories: Cuisine, Hunting, Wingshooting|Comments Off

The Elusive Snipe

snipe-the-best-kept-secret-in-the-uplandsDownload The Latin name for the snipe found in Colorado is Gallinago delicata, known as the Wilson's Snipe. There is no "greater" or "lesser" snipe species in Colorado, although the Wilson's Snipe was once considered a subspecies of the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).Here is a breakdown of the names and the differences between the species:Wilson's Snipe: This is the species found in North America and Colorado. Its Latin name is Gallinago delicata. It was formerly considered a subspecies (Gallinago gallinago delicata) of the Common Snipe.Common Snipe: This Old World species (Gallinago gallinago) is native to Europe and Asia.Greater Snipe: This species (Gallinago media) is not found in North America. It is a larger species of snipe native to the Old World, and is referred to as the Great Snipe. The Latin name for the snipe found in Colorado is Gallinago delicata, known as the Wilson's Snipe. There is no "greater" or "lesser" snipe species in Colorado, although the Wilson's Snipe was once considered a subspecies of the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). Here is a breakdown of the names and the differences between the species:Wilson's Snipe: This is the species found in North America and Colorado. Its Latin name is Gallinago delicata. It was formerly considered a subspecies (Gallinago gallinago delicata) of the Common Snipe.Common Snipe: This Old World species (Gallinago gallinago) is native to Europe and Asia.Greater Snipe: This species (Gallinago media) is not found in North America. It is a larger species of snipe native to the Old World, and is referred to as the Great Snipe. Once the punchline of a childhood campfire prank, Wilson’s snipe has emerged as one of the uplands' most overlooked yet rewarding game birds. Blending the wetland settings

By Sporting Road|August 18th, 2022|Categories: Hunting, Wingshooting|Comments Off

No Good News for Western Grouse

https://projectupland.com/grouse-species/types-of-grouse-you-can-hunt-in-north-america/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=Ox4n522nbJfbBh61V-oPKsLNb-YzlDwnmN14gLfM0u4.XSVPXG https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/2026-wyoming-game-and-fish-hunt-forecast To protect hens with chicks, Washington sets back forest grouse hunting by two weeks Sun., Aug. 22, 2021A hunter walks a high ridge in the Colville National Forest searching for dusky grouse. (PHOTO BY RICH LANDERS/FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW) By Rich Landers FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW In 2006, the American Ornithologists’ Union split the species known as the blue grouse into two species -- dusky and sooty grouse. Washington is the only state where the ranges of these two very similar forest grouse species meet. Generally, the sooty is found west of the Cascades and the dusky ranges to the east through Idaho and western Montana. Labor Day weekend this year will be time for scouting rather than hunting for grouse in Eastern Washington’s mountains. Breaking a schedule that goes back nearly five decades, Washington’s forest grouse hunting season will open Sept. 15 instead of Sept. 1. State Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists have tried to nudge wing shooters into a later start of the season for about 13 years, citing evidence that it would help stem declining numbers of dusky, spruce and ruffed grouse. But a significant portion of grouse hunters are locked into their traditions. They didn’t want to give up the chance to procure delicious grouse breasts for the camp skillet during the three-day Labor Day weekend. Their comments were heard and heeded by state wildlife managers and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, until this year when the case for protecting more mother hens and their chicks took priority. “Back East, they wouldn’t dream of opening grouse season on the first of September,” said Mike Schroeder, a wildlife researcher and WDFW’s grouse specialist. Forest grouse populations are difficult to survey,

By Sporting Road|August 24th, 2021|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

This Land is Your Land

Get outside and discover it. While the white man did a great injustice to the native peoples of North America, in changing the lay of the land, the one redeeming thing about the current status of land ownership in the US, is the amount of public lands, particularly in western states. Get outside and discover it. Beeches, boats and fancy dinners or what most people think about when they think about a date. In our family, it’s more about prairies, ponies, and sporting adventures down two track roads that lead us back to old friends and the chance to make even more memories. Life is not measured by the breathes we take, but the moments that take our breath away.

By Sporting Road|October 9th, 2020|Categories: Fishing, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off

OnX and Garmin Rung My Bell

Your experience afield is incomplete without a pointing dog. And that time afield sometimes turns down right scary when your beloved bird dog cannot be located. Life was easier many years ago, after law school, when I went afield upland hunting with a Swiss cowbell on the leather collar my big ranging Brittany. Until it got not so easy, with a big ranging 2 year old who was slightly out of control running more than a mile out at times in big country. But, even the biggest bell couldn't be heard at that range and if the dog was out sight and out of sound, what to do next other than holler, whistle and wait. Or maybe fire off a shot and see if he returned for the retrieved (which I did in a number of moments of desperation with seemingly great success). Looking back on it, I ordered some really great sounding bells, some of which were very pricey and difficult to find in catalogs. I lost or gave away many of them over the years, but the real challenge was getting the dog accustomed to it, and for that task I had to start with clip on fishing bells or cat bells, so that the dog wouldn't freeze up in my training sessions of leaving the bell on for hours around the house each day. Further, I became convinced that a bell was a hindrance to finding grouse, as the grouse surely heard the bell coming. Someone recently wrote a great article on this over at Project Upland. I've purchased and experimented with all of these over the years, but I pretty much narrowed my preference to these three below... The big

By Sporting Road|September 2nd, 2020|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off