Author: Scott Haugen

It was my first hunt in eastern Oregon with my dog, Echo. She was eight months old. By now she had two months of hunting in western Oregon, behind her, but the terrain and habitat we hunted in the Umatilla Valley of eastern Oregon was different than anything she’d experienced. Here, it was dry and rocky with lots of different grasses. The valley was laden with pheasant and valley quail, and we found chukars higher in the hills. There were plenty of ducks on the river, which we jump shot and Echo retrieved. We had a good hunt and I…

We were sitting on an old skid road with a mature stand of Douglas fir trees towering from the ridge behind us, waiting for daylight. No matter how hard we tried, cutting through thick fog with binoculars was impossible in the low light. We knew that in front of us was a big meadow, and we could hear cows and calves calling out there. The elk were there; we just couldn’t see them. That’s when longtime hunting partner and guide Jody Smith whispered to me, “Let’s move up a couple hundred yards and see if we can find something in…

It’s August, and now is a good time to finalize road trips you’ll soon be taking with your gun dog. Just like you, your hunting dog needs to have all the gear, food and first aid supplies ready for travel. If you are traveling to other states or Canada, make sure your dog is up to date on rabies and any other vaccinations that may be required or recommended. If you’re hunting in Canada, you’ll need a current health certificate that is issued by your vet. You’ll also want to be sure to get a first aid kit ready for…

Photos by Scott Haugen I dropped anchor, patiently waiting in my drift boat while two bank anglers below, casted spinners. I ate a sandwich, drank water and watched them for nearly an hour. Finally, they quit fishing and started hiking upstream. I drifted down to where they’d been fishing and let out a plug. No sooner had the Mag Lip hit the target water and a bright, hard-fighting summer steelhead went spinning through the air, my plug dangling from the side of its mouth. In short order the fish was in the boat. It was my third and final summer…

Summer vacation is finally here, and with it comes warm weather and a burning desire to get outside. Wherever you go this summer, take your dog with you when possible. Just like you, dogs enjoy being out and experiencing new things. The more settings and situations you can get them in, the more well-rounded, happy and disciplined your gun dog will be. And the sooner in their life you can do this, the better it is for both of you. Socializing your gun dog pup is one of the most important things you can offer it. Remember, hunting dogs are…

One of the most important teaching tools a gun-dog owner has is his or her awareness. Being aware of your pup, what it is doing, what its eyes and body language are saying and being able to respond immediately to the situation in a positive or constructive fashion is important. It’s called recognizing a teachable moment, and it goes a long way in not only training your pup but in also making you a better trainer. A pup’s brain is like a sponge, so the optimal learning window is relatively brief at this time. Behavioral habits and socialization skills are…

First Step in Teaching Discipline Crate training a puppy is one of the first steps—and one of the most important ones—in teaching a pup about discipline. Teaching discipline starts as soon as you bring the pup home at seven or eight weeks of age. The key to successfully crate training a puppy is consistency, patience, and a positive attitude. Since the pup is away from its littler mates for the first time, that situation will require some adjustment. Crates are a new environment for your pup, and you will want to make the crate a place of comfort for them,…

DO YOUR HOMEWORK No matter where you choose to embark upon a do- it-yourself upland bird hunt, do the research before leaving home. As I write these words, we’re entering wildfire season, and over the past two summers, much of the western Cascade Range and even the Coast Range have succumbed to massive burns. After a year or two, these burns become prime quail habitat. If looking to drive out, check to see that no wildfires are burning in the places you want to hunt. Oregon’s Southwest Coast, from Coos Bay to the California border, has been solid for years,…

Teaching a puppy restraint is considered by many dog owners and trainers to be the most important element of raising a gun dog. But when should you start? I like bringing a puppy home at seven weeks of age (Things to consider for your first pup). For the first week, the focus is on getting the pup used to its new home. Let it explore inside and out, using its nose and eyes to take it all in. Potty and crate training (read our article on potty training here) begin immediately, and playtime is very important in order to develop…

In the last issue, the first installment of Gun Dog Training, we looked at several points to consider before getting a pup. Once you do that, and the pup is home, the training starts. While we’ll take a more extensive look at training in another issue, let’s first break down the very important task of potty training your pup. Potty training begins the day you bring your pup home. Actually, it starts before you bring the pup home. Being prepared to successfully potty train a pup begins with having strategically placed kennels and pens near to doors to provide for…