Both Barrels July 2020

Thinking about getting a dog? Now is good! A dog makes a huge difference to your hunting success and enjoyment.

Yes, they are a bind, but they make up for it in so many other ways. Great company too.

Everyone has heard the joke about if you locked your other half and the dog in the car boot for an hour which would still be happy to see you.

As they say they are the only relative you can choose.

I’ve always had labs until recently. I still have a lab, but he is on his last legs.

My lab has been great on the birds, probably the best duck dog I have had anything to do with, a great upland game dog and a so – so deer dog.

The so-so is my fault, he is convinced he can catch them himself and often sneaks away from my side just as things are getting exciting and gives chase.

If I had been more on to it in the early days, I am sure that would not occur.

Nevertheless, he and other labs I have owned have found many a deer I would never have recovered not to mention ducks and pheasants.

Dog breed preference tends to be a very personal thing, but here is the thing, most of the time they are a pet and labs make great pets.

I now have a springer x lab cross pup as well, an amazing bird dog, but not sure how she will do on the deer.

I have hunted with pointers too and they are really fun to hunt over but their full-on nature doesn’t really suit me.

Whatever your preference they really add to your hunting experience and can provide endless fun and company to other family members too.

If you get one now, they will be ready to go part way through the 2021 game bird season.

Above Right: A great day with one of my hunting mates, the old lab, and the new pup.

Yesterday my mate and I got a couple of pheasants, a hare, and a turkey.

A great day out, for those that haven’t had a go at pheasant hunting it really is an exciting sport.

Quite exhilarating when a pheasant flushes in front of you cackling away.

Even more so when you see it go down in a cloud of feathers.

This region supports huge tracts of land that grow pine trees, pheasant, and quail so give it a go.

Not sure what to do, or how to go about it? Give us a call, we might be able to give you some pointers.

But you will need a dog or at least a mate with a dog.

The last two times I have been out after pheasants I have taken the breasts and legs off them when I got home and soaked them in salt water for a couple of hours, rinsed them off, and then flour, egged, and bread crumbed them.

The breasts I have left whole and I have boned out the legs, but you can also cut the breast lengthways after rinsing them (bit easier to judge the cooking time).

I then cook them in a pan with olive oil and butter.

Delicious!!! Great for sandwiches the next day too.

Matthew McDougall, Eastern Fish & Game officer.