Scouts know the following words well: Be prepared. And as the upland seasons approach, it would be wise for hunters to adopt this motto, as well, to ensure that they and their canine companions are safe and successful in the field. The following checklist is a good place to start getting ready. Your Shotgun  The first and most critical piece of equipment is your shotgun. Is it in good condition? Have you been cleaning it regularly? Do you have the proper cleaning equipment, and is it in good shape? When was the last time you had your gun professionally serviced?Shotgun maintenance is esse ..read more

A welcome breeze cooled me as I sat on the long-deceased carcass of an evergreen high in the mountains of Nevada. Tucker playfully rolled in a patch of melting snow while I contemplated his role in my routine. Tucker is my new pup. I hunt with Border collies. Why? Intelligence, ease of training and the breed’s personality are a few reasons. Do my dogs point or flush? I suppose I could have gone the pointing route, since these dogs learn fast. I did train my older dog, Rusty, to “point on command.” More on that later. So why do I choose a flushing dog for upland birds? I’ve had fun hunting over ..read more

Oregon’s Highland Hills Ranch is by all measures a legendary wingshooting lodge. When you book a hunt at this 3,000-acre sporting estate, you are practically assured of having a hunt you will never forget. An interview with HHR co-owner Mindi MacNab illustrates what goes into making a visit to the ranch such an amazing experience. Where is your lodge located? The ranch is located on 3,000 acres of remote, scenic high prairie in northeast Oregon about 50 miles south of the Columbia River Gorge. It’s about a 2½-hour drive from Portland to our lodge. Our area is the perfect place for escaping the ..read more

How much would you pay to hunt in Wisconsin? How about $5? If you’re a resident of the Badger State and haven’t purchased, say, a small-game license for upland hunting ever or in the past 10 years, that’s all you’d pay. One year after the state raised some of its licensing fees for the first time in 20 years, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is creating opportunities for new or lapsed hunters to head to the field and forest.  Available through the DNR’s designated website (gowild.wi.gov), the discounted licenses are available to both residents and nonresidents. While no ..read more

Ugartechea is back! Aficionados of fine Spanish firearms may recall that in the September/October 2015 issue we announced that “Armas Ugartechea, founded in Eibar, Spain, in 1922, has ceased production.”  Now comes the good news that Ugartechea has been acquired by a venture capitalist named Rafael A. Pinedo. The buzz is that he is investing huge sums to rebuild the company’s credibility. According to Pinedo: “Since our acquisition and reorganization . . . Ugartechea has undergone a process of evolution while steadfastly maintaining its commitment to upholding cherished traditions.” In th ..read more

Prairie Wildlife owner Jimmy Bryan firmly believes that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly.  It’s a principle that served him well in his business career and it’s one that he currently applies to his famous Mississippi wingshooting lodge.  It’s no accident, then, that a full scan of all the various aspects of Prairie Wildlife (hunting, clays facilities, accommodations, dining, staffing and amenities) will reveal nothing that isn’t of top-notch quality.  One of the first things guests notice is how impeccably the Prairie Wildlife ..read more

Two of the nation’s most influential upland bird conservation organizations have entered into an agreement to improve wild-bird habitat from Minnesota to Florida. At the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, held in Charleston, South Carolina, this past February, Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) and the American Woodcock Society (AWS). “We’ve been successfully working alongside RGS & AWS for many years,” said Marilyn Vetter, PF and QF’s president and CEO. “This agreement bolsters our commitment to restoring ..read more

The quarter-million acres that make up South Dakota’s Firesteel Creek Lodge property are home to a seemingly infinite number of pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge. Needless to say, the hunts on this spread are nothing short of epic. But the extent to which one can enjoy his or her visit extends well beyond the bagging of birds in this vast, wild country. Here’s a rundown of just a few of the things “Firesteelers” can look forward to. Learn About Big-League Ranching Firesteel Creek is undoubtedly one of the largest and best-run bird hunting lodges in the US. As big and suc ..read more

James Purdey & Sons will toast its 210th anniversary this year by unveiling a bevy of 10 celebratory 28-bores. The limited-edition set will be built on Purdey’s triggerplate over/under action and feature large foliate scroll engraving. Exhibition-grade stocks with full pistol grips will be crafted to each client’s specifications, with the grip caps reading “1814” and “2024.” “Details are understated and subtle, which is as it should be,” said Purdey’s Director of Gun Sales, Andrew Ambrose, who anticipates that the 28-bore will be well suited for hunting quail in the US. The concept emerged ..read more

Perhaps overlooked in the sensory-rich stimulation of wingshooting is the power of smell. From the smoky bouquet of spent gunpowder to the earthy scents of the late-season grouse woods, we can be transported miles or years in an instant. For me, the aroma of fine leather has an equally powerful hold. And Els & Co., in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is not only a fit-to-purpose purveyor of luxurious leather products, but also an inadvertent perfumer in the field of wingshooting. The small company, approximately 30 miles east of Cape Town, has created fine leatherwork with a hunter’s heart. Now ..read more