Novice

A Guide to Wild Pheasant Hunting in North America

Learn how to hunt pheasants by identifying their habitat, understanding their behavior, and understanding tried-and-true…

A novice bird hunter celebrates a successful upland hunt.
4 Tips for Improving as an Upland Hunter

Become a better upland hunter by improving how you find and recover birds, maneuver in…

A Bird hunter walks grasslands in Nebraska.
Upland Hunting in Nebraska: Wild Quail, Prairie Chickens, and More 

Experience Nebraska’s premiere upland bird hunting from grassland bobwhite quail to prairie grouse opportunities. “To…

A new hunter shoots his dogs first ruffed grouse
Setting Attainable Goals as a New Upland Hunter

Hunting upland game is full of a lifetime of variables and knowledge that we can…

Tyler Webster holds a dead Hungarian Partridge.
Top 5 Mistakes Upland Hunters Make

Regardless of hunting experience, mistakes will be made; read about some of the most common…

A young duck hunter set up in a swamp
Duck Hunting Advice to a Younger Me

With age and experience comes wisdom; for this duck hunter, the ability to travel back…

A bird hunter holds a woodcock and a shotgun
A Guide to American Woodcock Hunting

Woodcock may be one of the greatest game birds to pursue for those interested in…

A new hunter taking the hunters safety course exam.
How to Get a Hunting License

This is the year you become a hunter because getting a hunting license is easier…

a shotgun along with some basic cheap gear for a day bird hunting
Bird Hunting Does Not Have to Be Expensive

Want to take up bird hunting but are on a tight budget? This article will…

A hunter and his mentor in a field with a bird dog.
The Obstacles of New Hunters

A novice hunter explores overcoming the challenges and trials of becoming a bird hunter Being…

A ruffed grouse with one wing left on for game bird identification.
The Many Regulations and Laws of Transporting Game Birds

Understanding the laws and regulations of transporting upland game birds after hunting. The long-tailed birds…

Filmmaker A.J. DeRosa with his wirehaired pointing griffon during their first season together.
First Season – Journey of a First Bird Dog

A candid and honest look at a first season with a bird dog.  If there…

A hunter in the field with someone else's bird dogs on a hunt.
The Etiquette of Hunting Over Another Person’s Bird Dog

Think about these rules to get invited back to hunting over someone’s bird dog I…

A bird hunter with an upland shotgun and his bird dog.
Upland Shotguns – Which is right for bird hunting?

Picking your first upland shotgun? Here’s what you need to know So you want to…

A bird hunter and bird dog during it's first hunting season.
Setting Expectations for Your Dogs First Hunting Season

Taking the lessons from a first bird hunting season with a bird dog The young…

A bird dog trainer holding a training pigeon.
Things They Don’t Tell You About Bird Dog Training

Pigeons are disgusting and other surprises not disclosed when you get your first gun dog…

A bird dog on point in thick cover
Hard Lesson Learned on Wind Direction and Hunting Dogs

A hard lesson learned about wind direction for a first time hunting dog handler In…

A puppy looks to the owner for direction.
Things a Novice Should Know about Dog Training

First time advice on dog training from a struggling novice Beginning on the path of…

A pointing dog is told to "whoa" while on point
Thinking About Dog Commands to Avoid Confusion in Training

The commands we choose to train our dog are important in more ways than we…