Wingshooting

Tilley Hats

Tilley Hats I’ve owned just about every Tilley hat made over the past 30 years—from the original bucket and duck styles to today’s hemp and microfiber versions. Rim Chung’s longtime fishing favorite has always been the T3, in white with a green underbrim. I started with that model as well, but I never liked the white color—it stood out too much while fishing or shooting. Rim, however, says “it made him blend in with the clouds.” My personal favorite was the LT6 in khaki with a green underbrim. It was ideal for both fishing and shooting, but it’s no longer made, and even used ones are hard to find—like this one on eBay: Tilley Endurables LT6 Hat Khaki Tan w/ Green 7-3/8 Outback Straps Wide Brim. I’ve gone through phases with other hats too—fedoras, safari hats, cowboy hats for hunting—but I always come back to Tilley. They work year-round, except on the coldest winter days. The T4 duck hat, with its brass ventilation holes, was more attractive than the current LTM6 with its mesh crown. I’ve also tried both larger and smaller brim versions. In practice, they don’t change sun protection much—the longer brims tend to be floppier in the wind, while the shorter ones are more stable and easier to keep positioned for shade. Still, none of the newer models match the look of the original T4. If I had to choose from current models, the T5 or LTM6 is better than the long-brimmed LTM2, which is very floppy when you’re moving around. The original duck canvas also looked better than today’s microfiber versions, though it did show dirt more easily. I’ve owned them all—my daughters often “borrow” them—but they clean up well

By |October 7th, 2019|Categories: Fishing, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Tilley Hats

Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

In 20 plus years of having field trial bred Brittanys, I currently Had a number of dogs and bitches. I currently have a Brittany bitch which came to us to us as a little shy or as Gary Ruppel says, she is sensitive. She was the daughter of a famously hard charging field trial dog. Her brood mom, not so much hard charging, more a family hunting dog. So part of it may be genetic. She was kept as the pick of the litter. She liked to bounce up and down in the kennel and was very friendly, enthusiastic and gentle. She was 6 months old when we got her. She had lived in a small field trial kennel her whole life, but one where the dogs are well treated and get out daily for roading or work with birds. They just don't get a whole lot of other contact with people or other dogs until they get a little older and start going to field trials and the local is rural so when they get out, they go a country mile to find birds for 30 minutes and then the next dog goes out. Bounce loved this life, as do I at many times. But, at this point, she was a little timid around people, particularly strangers as she hadn’t been to field trials yet, where they get this socializing with members outside their own pack. She didn't bark and wasn’t neurotic, but she was just a little timid looking at Petsmart, the dog park, or with even the mailman, and you could tell new situations made her uncomfortable. She would frequently roll over on her back, showing submission. She also did this if

By |September 25th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Uncategorized, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Dealing with Sensitive Dogs and/or Gun Shyness

Grooming Your Brittany

http://www.brittanygrooming.com/ is a super link for dog grooming tips for your Brittany for show or field. Check it out!   New post on Project Upland   How to Properly Trim Hunting Dog Nails by Joe Spoo DVM, DACVSMR

By |September 17th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Grooming Your Brittany

Sniksoh Equipage Worthy Expense Jr. “Deuce”

Dam - AFC Sniksoh Evolution ( Eve) Sire NFC Sniksoh Worthy Expense (Spenser) Dawn Droel bought Spencer’s half brother Sniksoh Slippery Slope ( Slick) who is doing well as a show Brittany.Whelped 06/12/2019 I have to learn to spell Deuce all over again, as I continually type Duece. Sire: Sniksoh Worthy Expense ( Spencer ) - Spencer won the ABC Central All Age Futurity. Excellent hunting dog with lots of point, nose, style, and desire to please. Dam: AFC Sniksoh Evolution (Eve ) - Eve has been easy to train. Excellent nose with lots of point. View complete pedigree   FC AFC SNIKSOH LITTLE RASCAL   GFC FC AFC SNIKSOH SPANKS HANK     AFC DECANS BLAZIN BYE  Sniksoh Worthy Expense     FC AFC SNIKOSH FREE BOY   FC AFC MKS MY LIL AMMO     FC AFC CHIEFS NUBBINS MY LIL LADY   FC AFC SNIKSOH LITTLE RASCAL   GFC FC AFC SNIKSOH SPANKS HANK     AFC DECANS BLAZIN BYE  AFC Sniksoh Evolution     FC AFC SNIKSOH FREE BOY   FC SNIKSOH SUPER SNOOPER     FC AFC SNIKSOH SWEET HERSHEY Duece's Dad Spencer, (far left) A note about field trials and field trial type training of pups with Jeff This is a living memoir and journal of reminders largely for my daughter, who enjoys the bird dog training with me, and she especially the pups which I hope she will continue later in life. We have spent quite a few days afield with Jeff and we enjoy his methods which are very similar to our dog trainer's of 20 years, Gary Ruppel. But they are uniquely his own, which is not surprising as we all pick up things here and

By |August 12th, 2019|Categories: Dog Training, Wingshooting|Comments Off on Sniksoh Equipage Worthy Expense Jr. “Deuce”

Inexpensive Rubber Bird Dog Boots

I wanted to post these up here before I forgot to show our daughter how to make these rubber boots for bird dogs hunting in cactus country.  These come out like Lewis dog boots, which have gotten very expensive and are frequently lost afield.  However, these are more single use compared to the Lewis boots..  They are make from motorcycle inner tube tires and can be single use, but they work great.  From our Bird Dog Doc. Alternate method of improved stretchy Velcro attachment for 1000D nylon boots These are surprisingly decent for $3 each and I haven’t lost one yet with the improved closure system that they call Velstretch. Typical Velcro comes undone or slips off too easily in the field, but these work surprisingly well. https://dogbooties.com/shop/1000-denier-cordura-booties/ Lewis Dog Boots instructions for use

By |November 27th, 2018|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off on Inexpensive Rubber Bird Dog Boots

Instinctive Shooting – The Making of a Master Gunner by Buz Fawcett as Featured in the Double Gun Journal

Instinctive Shooting - The Making of a Master Gunner by Buz Fawcett as Featured in the Double Gun Journal.  Buz Fawcett has been an associate editor at Sports Afield, an editor at Guns & Ammo, and a writing instructor. He founded Buz Fawcett's Wingshooting Workshop, which is internationally recognized and nationally advertised.  If you enjoy the reprint of this article, which was with the author's permission, you'll love Buz's new book  Instinctive Shooting, available from Amazon.  

By |October 3rd, 2018|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off on Instinctive Shooting – The Making of a Master Gunner by Buz Fawcett as Featured in the Double Gun Journal

Proper Shooting Attire

I picked up a few things on proper shooting attire from Buz Fawcett, Jack O'Connor, Jane Hall, and others along the way during my travels.  I discovered that we, as American hunters, don't have to be dressed in  blaze orange and camo, or just turning up with whatever work-wear we have for the day, such as jeans or Carhart.  Sure maybe camo is great for sitting in a deer stand in Nebraska's freezing weather, or covering yourself in Sitka from head to toe for elk in December in the Montana mountains, but we can learn a lot from British sporting attire, using driving shoots and safaris, as good examples of both cold weather and warm weather wing-shooting attire options.   And, while American catalog companies such as Orvis and L.L. Bean used to provide quality options for hunters, now they are just largely marketing companies for goods made in China, so you have to dig deeper to find quality manufacturers, rather than just relying on mail order catalogs, if anyone still subscribes to those except me. Willis and Geiger was my long time favorite catalog outfitter, and they were simply the best for safari clothes.  A new company is trying to replicate the old Willis and Geiger lines and they have a great website at https://avedoncolby.com. On safari it is customary to wear olive, tan, brown, and khaki colors. One should avoid blues and blacks because they can attract tsetse flies, which can carry a sleeping sickness disease. Meanwhile, bold colors can scare off animals, same doctrine us Americans follow with the camo trends stateside.  But in some places it's still red plaid and all white for beaters in the tried and true hunts of

By |October 3rd, 2018|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off on Proper Shooting Attire

Notes from the Wingshooting Workshop

THESE ARE MY NOTES FROM BUZ FAWCETT'S WINGSHOOTING WORKSHOP.  THE SCHOOL WAS ADVERTISED AND ATTENDED INTERNATIONALLY FOR MANY DECADES AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1000 GRADUATES OF BUZ'S ONE ON ONE METHODS.  WHILE THE SCHOOL IS NOW CLOSED, THE LEGEND LIVES ON.  IF YOU ARE A GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT wingshootingworkshop@gmail.com. These are one student’s notes from the school.  While a few of the points may be as they be as they were interpreted, rather than as Buz exactly taught, it is mostly accurate.  The purpose in recounting the student’s notes here are that they may give a perspective on what was some of the more important points from the school.  It may have some useful tips and reminders for you.  From Buz's Wingshooting Workshop: Most shotgun shooters in this country are lousy shots. This is because most people who teach shotgun shooting are not qualified instructors.  They are excellent fathers or brothers or uncles or grandfathers. They may be well-meaning friends.  They may be club or even national champions. But they are not necessarily qualified shotgun instructors.  The skills necessary to become great champions are not the same as those needed to become great teachers. My profession is teaching people to shoot a shotgun—to become great shots.  Many of my students have previously attended other shooting schools.  I’d like to explain to you why, in my opinion, most shooters eventually fail, and why instinctive shooting is the best and easiest way to achieve the pinnacle of shotgun shooting—a pinnacle I call the Master Gunner. First, let’s take a look at the reasons why many shooters fail to achieve their desired shooting goals. Beginners in the art of shotgun shooting are

By |October 1st, 2018|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off on Notes from the Wingshooting Workshop

Best Dog Food for Sporting Dogs

We like Precise Naturals Endurance, which we used to buy locally from our Brittany breeder for $20 a bag.  It's now costly at $60 for a 40 pound bag.  Purina Pro Plan SPORT All Life Stages Performance 30/20 protein to fat Formula Dry Dog Food, which comes at $48 from Amazon and used to be $38 for a 37.5 pound bag.  Both are 30/20 ratios, which is great for active sporting dogs.  I have a friend who is a nutritionist and scientist for Purina and other dog food manufacturers and he suggests that any medium end dog food from a major manufacturer is going to be adequate, but he thought both of these mixes were very good. The hunt uses Diamond Hi Energy Sport Dog 50# at $26 a bag, which is a 24/20 ratio.

By |July 23rd, 2018|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off on Best Dog Food for Sporting Dogs