|
August 29, 2010
Dear Readers,
As summer comes to an end, many of our readers are eagerly anticipating the start of autumn hunting seasons. Consider bringing along a camera and writing an essay conveying the value you may place on your participation in this great American tradition. Send it in, and I'll consider it for publication in a future issue of Spaniel Journal. Submit your Hunting Heritage Essay at: .
Chip Schleider has penned another in his new series, The Reluctant Gun Dog... enjoy!
Kind Regards,
Loretta Baughan
Editor and Publisher
Spaniel Journal
latest articles:
The Reluctant Gun Dog: Part III by Benjamin H. Schleider III
"The snow fell thick, heavy, and in earnest the day after Arwen arrived. I awoke early to the dampened sounds of a snowy silence and padded my way downstairs to make the morning coffee. I savored the first sip of the dark brew from richly roasted beans and had just nestled comfortably in the overstuffed sofa in our den, when I heard the first whimper -- a whimper that I knew could only have come from Arwen..."
more
What a Spaniel Should Be by Ben Martin
"I was asked recently what are the characteristics I desire in a springer spaniel? I think first of all, I look for temperament. If the dog doesn't possess this, I'll probably never get along with him and it makes the training job much more difficult.
That is to say, you must first like the dog you are training or, at least, you must be able to get along with him or her. Some dogs, like people I suppose, have personality and some just don't. You cannot train this into a dog. If hunting is to be pleasurable, your hunting companion (the dog) must not be a source of any amount of aggravation..."
more
Sewage Makes Cesspool of Our Waterways by Loretta Baughan
"In the three months since the BP oil rig explosion, government estimates place the amount of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico at between 94 and 184 million gallons. An enormous disaster, but even so, it doesn't begin to compare to the amount of waste spewing into Lake Michigan from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD).
It's been more than just a rainy July in Wisconsin this year, it's bordering on becoming a monsoon. Or at least it seems to be so. The most recent deluge dumped 8" of rain in some areas of Milwaukee, causing widespread flooding, widespread sewer back ups into residents' basements, sinkholes, foundation cave-ins - and a massive spill of 2.1 billion gallons of untreated sewage into Lake Michigan... yes, BILLIONS...."
more
PUPS: The Perfect Storm for an HSUS Sneak Attack by Frank Losey
"Is it the intent of Congress to mandate that if someone has as few as one intact female dog that is capable of being used for breeding, then that person may be subject to the expanded coverage of the PUPS Bill?
Is it appropriate for Congress to define a four-month-old puppy to be an adult dog?
Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that are specifically bred and trained for use by special needs organizations that support the handicapped and the blind?
Would the existing language in the PUPS Bill have the unintended consequence of dramatically reducing the number of available dogs that that are specifically bred and trained for use by law enforcement throughout the US, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense, such as bomb sniffing dogs?..."
more
The Last Hunt by William A Baltz
"From a Monet-like painting with blotches of color and only impressions of fields and trees blending together, the scene at the Willow Lake Sportsmen's Club changed dramatically. The frigid October morning and threat of thunderstorms gave way to the sun's radiant beams. Every leaf and branch now appeared in high definition. For the moment, the will of the gods seemed to favor my plans..."
more
Wing Tips - Propagation and Care of Pigeons & Game Birds for Dog Training: The Return Pen by Bill Fawcett
"In previous installments, we talked about the various types of pens or lofts for homing pigeons. For the dog trainer, the most significant is the flight return pen. This is a pen for your fliers that will allow the birds to fly freely outside the pen and then return. It is not unlike the pens used by those who race pigeons, but here the objective is different - you are not necessarily training the birds to return over long distances, but often from
a nearby field.
To many people, a "flight pen" denotes a pen big enough to fly within. These have their place, especially with captive ferals. And very important with pheasants and chuckars. Homers, however, can be flown outside the pen..."
more
Top O' the Mornin' to Ya', Sir by John Patrick Williams
"Well, it's done, Tom.
Your wife was waiting for me after church last summer and asked me to stop by the farm on the following Saturday. She was, as she has always been to me, cordial... but distant and cool. I always wondered if she resented me because of all the time you and I spent together. Or was she resentful because she felt I was trying to replace your son?
I stopped by on Saturday about mid-morning and, as always, went around back to the kitchen door. When no one answered my knock, I leaned in and called out, "Hello? Mrs. McGuire? Anybody home?" Then I saw the package on the table with the note propped up against it by the salt shaker that said only: Paddy, he said you would know what to do. MM. I took the package and left without another word.
October was a long time coming this year but I knew you wouldn't want it any other way. So I waited for the dwindling days of the woodcock season, keeping an eye on the weather up New Brunswick way so I'd know when the flights were coming down..."
more
Field Trialing Spaniels in New Zealand by David J Jones
"Upon arrival at the training grounds, which reminded me a little of the coast of Anglesey in Wales except for the herd of red deer in the distance, Peter handed me his gun. It fit like a glove. It was the exact stock measurement that I use, nice and well balanced - an old Belgium Browning I think. Not one single excuse for missing with this gun.ÊI promptly missed six rabbits in a row... and there was a mixed look of amusement and irritation on Peter's face.ÊPeter was also walking at break neck speed everywhere and I was thinking maybe I wouldn't be able to take six days of this. When we left the training grounds, Peter had a smirk on his face and I knew this afternoon was coming back to haunt me...."
more
|
Please support our Sponsors and Advertisers:
Pat Snyder AM-55 Radio Interview 10/29/09
Advertise on Spaniel Journal
and Submit Your Article to:
|
