Few outdoor pursuits fuel the desire for a road trip more than bird hunting. With an incredible diversity of species and habitat, there’s hardly a better way to sample all the wingshooting options this country offers than loading up the dogs and hitting the open road.

Most porcupine encounters can be managed with a bit of common sense and some basic tools. However, there are times when it’s much safer, more effective, and less stressful to seek help from a veterinarian. Knowing when to channel your DIY tendencies and when to tap out and seek a professional can make a difference in the outcome of a porcupine encounter. 

For better or worse, burrowing grass awns are now forever part of the fabric of the rugged Western uplands. On the upside, their parent plants provide a green protein source for birds and wild ungulates, and they generate thick chick-rearing cover that sprouts faster than most native grasses. However, their seeds are notorious for burrowing under the skin and migrating incredible distances in the subcutaneous layer.

Maintaining peak physical condition in our hunting dogs is a year-round pursuit, not an activity confined to the week before opening day. Hunting dogs are similar to human athletes in that their bodies require training and conditioning to constantly perform at the highest level.

With so much discussion about dog food, it’s easy to forget just how important hydration is in the nutrition of canine athletes. Water performs myriad functions in the bodies of performance animals, from lubricating joints to enhancing nutrient uptake in muscles.