Throwing the Shotgun
The problem with having a primary gun you carry to the field is over time other shotguns just don’t feel quite right. But I…
Open Letter to Governor John Kasich
Governor Kasich: Ohio’s wildlife and wild spaces are no place for power-brokering or politics. Despite over 30 conservation and sporting organizations and five retired…
Meet Ida
I’ve always found the haphazard naming of dogs intriguing. I’ve wondered if a puppy grows into the name, filling the shape of some predetermined…
Picking THE Puppy, or are we just kidding ourselves
Last time I chose a puppy I was fresh out of school, only a dim view of the years ahead and a bank account…
End of Season Omens
Rio the setter suddenly hits the brakes, sliding to a stop on a steep grade beside an old logging road being reclaimed by the…
Shooting Holes in Land Transfer
At the core of the raging public lands debate are two opposing views of federal lands. Transfer advocates believe the federal government owns the…
Depths of Cold
There seems no bottom to the depths of cold. It’s one of the few solace for hunting in frigid condition: could be colder, windier,…
The Difference Between Shooting and Hunting
Around the age of 12 I went on my first bird shoot in the state of Ohio. One snowy, winter morning my dad…
Carhartt Upland Field Shirt, Pant and Jacket
A reputation for rugged no-frills performance in the roughest work environments had many hunters wearing Carhartt clothing in upland brush for years. This season…
Skinning a Game Bird
There’s more than one way to skin a bird. But here’s a video showing step-by-step how we go about skinning a pheasant in order…