Dog's neoprene vest.

Dog's neoprene vest is a must, especially during cold weather, when waiting for the birds in a duck blind or in a boat.
The main benefit is, that the dog stays warm and this is especially important when it is cold weather. Other benefits are protection against snags, sticks, sharp vegetation and so on.

Good fit is crucial

The vest doesn't hinder dog's movement in any significant way and the vest sits better after some use. I have cut the vest around the dog's genitals for more comfortable fit. I sew the seam to be sure, that the vest doesn't fall apart.

When you choose the right vest, pay attention, that it is enough tight. It is supposed to sit like wetsuits. Too loose vest looses some of it's efficiency.

Tips to skinning a bird.

It is good to skin fish eating divers and remove the fat to avoid fish taste. I usually skin only the fish eating divers not all divers.

It is best to start the skinning making a cut to bird's back, from top to bottom. When you make the opening cut to bird's back you avoid cutting the breast meat.

Begin skinning from top and working towards bottom (tail). Cut wings and legs at the joints (after meat part) with knife or scissors. When you have skinned the bird just cut the abdom cavity open and take the guts out as usually.

Tips to finding and shooting upland birds.

When you seek upland birds you have to pay attention to terrain. Most often you find upland birds near edges of forest or different forest types.
It is also good to pay attention to ground floor. Places where there is berries are good places to seek upland birds. Especially good places are hills and the edges of hills where grows berries.

Stop now and then to flush the birds

Upland birds have a tendency to flush when hunter stops and the nerves of a hiding bird fails. It is a good practise to stop now and then. You have to pay attention, that you stop in places from where you have a good shooting position to the birds presumed flush direction.

If you can't have a clear shot, don't shoot, because it leads just to wounded birds. It is better to watch the birds flight for clearer shot and/or to see where the bird is heading to get a new flush and a new shooting opportunity.

Tips how to accustom dog to game

I have accustomed dog to game with cut and dried bird wings. It is a good practise to collect wings from different bird species and it is better to have plenty of wings, because they don't last long in rough use.

It is good to give the dog a chance to sniff the bird wings occasionally, especially if there is some problems with the game. You can also tie the wings to a dummy to bring realism to retrieving.

Frozen birds

My dog have had some problems accepting crows, but I have found a way to come over this. I have frozen crows in a plastic bag. Occasionally I take the crow out of the freezer and I let thedog to sniff it.

I also might give the dog a couple retrieves with the crow. After use I just put the crow back to the plastic bag and back to freezer. I don't let it melt down, I just use it straight from the freezer. Using this practise the crow withstands numerous uses.

Field dressing birds

Field dress birds cleanly and fast:

Pluck feathers from belly right above the bird's anus. Pluck enough feathers so, that you can make about 2 inch cut sideways of the belly. Pinch bird's skin between you fingers, pinch enough skin so, that when you cut it, it makes about 2 inch. Cut the skin between your fingers with a knife and after cutting it, cut more with the knife if necessary.

If you have a special hook for dressing, use it to pull the guts out. Pull gently and only as far as they easily come, then assist with hand to finish gutting.If you don't have a hook, put two fingers inside the cut and pull the guts out assisting with your thumb.

If you are in the field take just the guts out and the gizzard if you are not going to use it. If you are going to use the gizzard leave it intact.When you are at home finish the gutting before or after hanging. I suggest, that you hang birds at least until the rigor mortis is gone (the muscles are relaxed) .

To field dress immediately or not?

Personally I don't usually dress birds at the field, I do it at the base camp or at home. Of course if it is very hot or long time to wait, then it is good to dress the birds at the field.

For the best meat quality it is best to dress birds immediately, although this is not as important with birds as it is with mammals, because of different body structure. It is also good to strain the blood out. This is best done by cutting the neck below the cervical spine (the bone stays intact).

Aiming at flying bird

When you shoot flying bird it is best to “aim” to head/ to head area (remember lead). The hit is then at the front part of the bird at the most vulnerable areas: head, neck and the front chest. Good hit to this area brings the bird down as stone dead.

Hunters often miss the birds behind the birds and aiming to head compensates this problem and results better shots.

“Aiming” to head also improves focusing to bird instead of gun barrel. Hunter can track the bird’s movements better and have better shots.

Field shooting tips.

I usually wait for the birds sitting in a blind or in a boat towards the expected direction of the approaching birds or towards my decoys.
Just jumping up from this position my body position is not ideal for birds that come from zero angle (I usually shoot at standing).

Align yourself properly

It helps a lot, that I “dance” to a proper position (I move my feet's to ideal position to shoot the bird).
I do just like in a shooting range. My body position is ideal at the moment when I pull the trigger. If necessary it is also a good practise to move feet's for the possible second shot.

It is important, that the hunter stays still until the moment to stand up and shoot.

Jump shooting

Moving feet's for ideal position works well also in jump shooting. It is totally unnecessary to shoot from a bad angle, you can just “dance” and have a good shot.

Wind direction.

Wind direction have to be considered when choosing hunting spot for waterfowl hunting.
Waterfowls land against wind and they often land to the calmer side of the water.

There is two key benefits with the calmer side of the water: birds land to where you are and they offer their bellies for easier and for more deadly shooting. It is also easier for you to wait for the birds at the calmer side.

Tips to setting decoys.

When you set the decoys you have to pay attention to pattern, wind direction and to distance between the decoys.
Decoys have to be set with enough space between them; too tight flock is a sign of danger, not a sign of safe feeding ground. Loose spacing also makes the flock to look bigger than it actually is.

Decoy patterns

One of the most used and most effective patterns are the V- shape and the U- shape. I usually use a modification of the V and U; the bottom (landing zone) is wide like in the U and pattern spreads like in the V.
If you hunt in heavily hunted waters you should modify the patterns even a little bit. The pattern should be big enough; tight landing zone isn’t as appealing as loose landing zone.

When you set the decoys pay attention to the length of the anchor cords: if they are long you should take it into account in spacing the decoys and that the drifting with the wind doesn’t spoil your decoy pattern.

Check wind direction

Waterfowls land against the wind so you have to set your decoys so, that the ducks can land against the wind. The most ideal situation is that the wind blows from your back.

It is a good practice to check the wind direction from the weather forecast. It might be calm at morning, but the wind can increase at day and the position of the decoys might become wrong in relation to the wind.

Tips to skinning a bird.

It is a good practice to skin fish eating divers and remove the fat to avoid fish taste.
I usually skin only the fish eating divers not all divers.

It is best to start the skinning making a cut to bird's back, from top to bottom. When you make the opening cut to bird's back you avoid cutting the breast meat. Begin skinning from top and working towards bottom (tail). Cut wings and legs at the joints (after meat part) with knife or scissors.

When you have skinned the bird just cut the abdom cavity open and take the guts out as usually.

Shooting practice at home.

Shooting practice at home helps you to perform better at the field. It is good to practice just the plain shouldering and the “swing”.

You can practice swing by following the edge of the roof or better you can put some tape on the wall to have a straight long line (be cautious not to damage the wall, use only proper type of tape, that takes of easily and cleanly).

Practice

The goal is that your gun is from the beginning of the shouldering at the line and stays glued to it to the moment you pull the trigger (use snap caps).It is good to practice different situations like bird straight ahead, a little bit left from you etc.

Make it real

I usually sit when waiting for the birds so it has helped me to practice getting up from the chair to shooting position and performing the swing.