<![CDATA[Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors Forum - Blogs - gundogs]]> http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/ hunting, fishing, shooting and outdoor discussion forum en Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:20:19 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors Forum - Blogs - gundogs]]> http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/ 2010 SHOT show http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/17-2010-shot-show.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:31:28 GMT Media day at the Shooting Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show started off with a bang (Pun Intended) as Jesse, Doug, John and myself were guests of Browning/ Winchester. Giving us all a chance to try out the new offerings at the range. Browning bolts in safari calibers like the .458 Win Mag are always fun and peak my interest. Many new offerings in 22-250 drew lots attention.

I find it hard to leave the new light weight offerings of the famous Winchester 101 over and under shot guns alone. A couple of 12 gauges in field trim and a sporting clays model are outstanding. Fit and finish is very good and what you would expect to see from the FN plant. The sub -gauges are the same with dedicated frame sizes for each gauge and model. A joy to shoot no matter light target loads or heavy field loads.

Taurus was also debuting their new line of defensive semi autos in .380, 9mm and .45acp good shooting defensive pistols. Their product support at the firing line was very good and much appreciated.

Products from Coleman, Camp Chef, Browning outdoor gear and Lacross all had displays and lots of information on the new products.
Winchester ammo and the Clays for Kids program bears looking into at detail our after all our future depends on it.

After lunch our group split up with Jesse heading out to the Bass Pro Media day event. The rest of us were the guests of Smith & Wesson at the indoor range. Doug and I are members of the Hi Viz Pro Staff and wanted to see the new models with Hi Viz sight systems. Many of the new S&W pistols and revolvers are factory equipped with these great fiber optic sights front and rear. The combination of Crimson Trace laser grips and Hi Viz sights make target acquisition rapid in any lighting condition.

New compact S&W.380 and .38 special
guns for concealed carry were a big plus and a welcome addition to the S&W line up. Light weight frames, smooth triggers, and well thought out details for concealed carry such as low profile sights and smooth lines allow for comfortable carry and if need be easy draw. Very concealable with a satin black finish. A couple of fantastic deep cover guns which I am sure will find their way into use as M&P back-ups not to mention with the CCW public.

From the main floor of the SHOT show lots of goodies, ammo, guns, knives and gear.
A welcome addition or should I say return to the the shotgun world is the old name of Ithaca Shotguns. American made quality pump guns with a new version of the old single barrel high rib trap gun. This gun now returns as a quality built field over/under made in the USA. This O/U boasts a somewhat unique design in that it has no brazing or silver solder joints. This is accomplished through a completely machined fit which allows for heat expansion without distortion. More on this design to come in the near future.

Happy Tails to You.
Bryce Mann ]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/17-2010-shot-show.html 2010 SHOT Show warm up http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/16-2010-shot-show-warm-up.html Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:18:34 GMT Las Vegas Jan 17 is the start of the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show. This is a real big show where the manufactures and sales reps. debut the... Las Vegas Jan 17 is the start of the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show. This is a real big show where the manufactures and sales reps. debut the newest and latest guns, optics, ammo., game calls, scents, lights and other equipment for the new season. I will be attending as a writer for JHO along with our chief Jesse James.
Members of my tournament hunting team will also be presenting as exhibitors in the Tri Tronics and Hi Viz shooting systems booths.
Drop me a message if there is something in particular interest to you and I will check it out and report back. Look for some of my reports on whats new and exciting. I can't wait to see some of the new gadgets and equipment designed to make one's hunt more enjoyable. As a guide and outfitter I am always looking for new and innovative designs which improve the hunting experience. Now is your chance for questions and feedback.
Bryce Mann (gundogs) ]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/16-2010-shot-show-warm-up.html During the off season http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/15-during-off-season.html Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:12:24 GMT I get lots of questions about " What do you do in the off season?" My usual response is ... what off season. I train dogs all year long my time schedule just gets moved up a bit. Fortunately I am in the mountains and it is a bit cooler here than at lower elevations. This does not mean it is cool in the afternoons so my training begins very early in the mornings. I need to be done by noon. The afternoons and early evenings are used for hunting big game. The wild hog population has become such a problem here that many hours are spent on them. My Guide Service keeps me hunting all year. When upland bird season is over and the tournament hunting trail is at the seasons end then I can enjoy a short break, then archery season opens and its off to the high Sierras for big game.
This year we were welcomed aboard the Alpen Optics Pro Staff so now we can observe the gun dogs in the tournament field and hunt even more efficiently. During the NAGDA nationals in Colorado this years banquet all of the youth competitors were presented new Alpen binoculars. The Ladies division competitors all received Pink Alpen binoculars of which part of the purchased price (purchased by NAGDA) was donated to the Susan B. Komen For The Cure Foundation. This helps fund the research for a cure to breast cancer, a more than worthy cause.
I have been working with Alpen's model #735 spotting scope Kit. Packed in a aluminum case for travel and storage. Inside you will find the 15-45X60mm waterproof spotting scope which is nitrogen filled, dustproof and is equipped with mulit coated BaK4 lenses. This scope comes with standard features such as a zoom eyepiece and extendable sun shade. You can choose straight (inline) or 45 degree offset eyepiece models. Also in the kit is a 12 inch tripod (great for bench use) and a car window mount along with a zippered carry case. The top mounted focus is easily adjustable without upsetting the scope position. The rubber armor coating in deep green is easy on your hands during use in hot or cold weather. Alpen's lifetime warrenty makes this spotting scope a keeper. Winning the Great Buy Award for three years in a row this is a solid choice for equipment you should have on your next big game hunt or even your next trip to the range. Optional SLR camera adapter and a stay on padded nylon case even add to the value.
I have a late season Muley hunt on my schedule where the Alpen 735 spotter and the Alpen 4-12 X40mm with A.O. Kodiak rifle scope will both be put to the test. I will try to do a comparrison test with some of the industury standard brands. The Alpen 10X42mm Apex binoculars faired more than well a couple of years back and made testing interesting in just this sort of field test.
I can already say that while guiding a hog hunt recently. My clients rifle fitted with a top brand scope was loosing it's picture as the sun began to set and our light faded away. I said mine is still working and traded rifles with him. He looked through the scope on my Weatherby .338 fitted with the Alpen 4-12X40mm and said "I can see fine". He continued to hunt for an additional 45+ minutes before we had to call it quits and exit the field. More on that later.
I believe there is no real off season for the bird dogs. You have to use your head and keep them cool. Keep up the retreive drills and work your dogs on birds whenever possible. Find a gamebird breeder and purchase birds using DFG dog training stamps or leg bands. Just ask on the forum pages of JHO, try the hunting ,versitle dog / retriever section and I sure you can find a bird farm to keep you going in the summer months. Another tip is to attend seminars and special events such as the Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic during the month of August.
"Give the old dog a biscut for me." R.I.P. Icky

Bryce:patiotic-wavin-flagwww.gun-dogs.net
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]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/15-during-off-season.html sports and the economy http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/14-sports-economy.html Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:55:52 GMT Just about everybody has a chosen sport in which they participate. To name a few: baseball, football, auto racing and so on. Within each of these are... Just about everybody has a chosen sport in which they participate. To name a few: baseball, football, auto racing and so on. Within each of these are sub divisions like major league baseball, A league, college ....you get the picture. Well how about Shooting Sports?
Rifle, handgun, shotgun. Lets look at shotgun sports. Like trap, skeet, sporting clays and my favorite upland tournament hunting. The tournament hunting events combine several other sports like gun dog hunt tests and field trial events with shotgun shooting skills and hunting to form a real time shooting test of skills and training.
Many years ago I raced AMA dirt bike motorcycles moving on to race cars and then to the track safety crew as a fireman. What do these have to do with my tournament hunting events now?
I am sure it has to do with adrenalin, some people are called adrenalin junkies, this means they strive to be involved with activities which stimulate the body's production of adrenalin. In most shooting sports one strives to control the excitement, slow the breathing, calm the pulse and shoot straight. Maybe not so much here at least in my case. While trying control the dog, keep focused on the game plan, staying within boundaries, monitoring the time and of course shooting straight. I try and use the adrenalin to my advantage. Because of my love for the sport of competitive upland tournaments. I will continue to find a way to keep involved.
I spoke to a gentleman recently who has as much passion for the game of golf that I do for my sport. And he related this to me: Green fees are up and the economy is down in general. I said bird costs are up at the clubs. He said I just bought a new set of blades and then made this comment "I may not go as often as I did before to play but I will still go and play". I began to see that this would hold true for anyone with a true passion for their chosen sport no matter what that sport is.
I just trained up a new puppy, a considerable investment. Purchased new equipment such as boots, rain gear, ammo (there is another subject) training equipment, warm weather gear for me and the dogs....and I am going to use them in the pursuit of my chosen sport.
In the days in which times are too tight to go play then may I offer another suggestion to those who are involved with shooting sports. Spend some time teaching others about the sports and our hunting & shooting heritage. Offer to take a kid or one of our veterans out on a hunt. Attend seminars to brush up on your skills and improve your technique. See you at our next training event.

Bryce:patiotic-wavin-flag
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]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/14-sports-economy.html Ruff Wear Swamp Cooler Vest http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/13-ruff-wear-swamp-cooler-vest.html Tue, 26 May 2009 15:49:47 GMT I thought I should add a link to the manufacture of the cooling vest in case you may want to add this to your equipment list. www.ruffwear.com I thought I should add a link to the manufacture of the cooling vest in case you may want to add this to your equipment list.
www.ruffwear.com
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]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/13-ruff-wear-swamp-cooler-vest.html Ruff Seasons End http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/12-ruff-seasons-end.html Mon, 04 May 2009 00:26:13 GMT It has been a while since my last post but with good reason. As the upland tournament season nears its' end and summer weather begins, we are back in California just in time to make another competition. It has been busy to say the least this past month. Guided hunts and the tournament events have left little time to blog.

Competition at this years North American Gun Dog Association national finals in Rocky Ford,Co. began with absolutely perfect weather days before the event was to take place. Cold mornings with frozen ground and sunny but breezy days during our exercise days and practice sessions. This is a three day event where the total score of the first two days determines the top five of each division for the finals on day three.

My newest puppy Traveler (9 months old) two days before the event slipped in the mud and hyper extended his left knee. Off to the local veterinarian for and exam and medication to reduce swelling. One day later he was examined by the N.A.G.D.A. Vet. of record and again I heard "I don't think you should run him". This finding was quite a disappointment for me but he has an entire life ahead of him and many days to hunt so I had to scratch him from the competition. Travelers' long trip had just become two weeks of confined rest. Let the competition begin.Two more GSPs for me to compete with and two English Pointers for Doug Richesin and one BdB (Braque) for Claude Trincale.
Claude and Fletcher are part my doubles team with Bullet.

The first day was unusally warm with light or no wind making scenting conditions poor at best. The second day was cold in the early morning and by 10am the snow began to fall and all of the practice at higher elevations began to pay off and our scores bagan to rise. Unfortuneatly we did not make the final five but some of the dogs I have trained did. Nick Alexander with Abby and Ivan had some good luck and high scores.

When we returned back home it was time to get ready for the next event. The Western Chucker Classic a BDC sanctioned event in Lemore,Ca. hosted by the Guns & Roosters club and held at the Rio Vista Farms HC.
Natural cover was low in the area chosen for the field layouts and resulted in running birds.
Dry and Hot ! Lots of fun but hard on both the handlers and the dogs.

In an article last year I did a bit of review on a product which may have saved a dogs life at this BDC event. Dan Hanum and his setter Rocky had a great run but as they were leaving the field Rocky began to show signs of stress and the beginnings of heat prostration. Dave Hamilton (Birddog3) the event director asked if Rocky was ok? Dan is part of our tourney team and made a straight line to our camp with Rocky. Dan said "he is hot" Claude broke out the water sprayer and a cool bath for Rocky while I prepared the Ruff Wear - cool down vest, a simple wetting of the vest material and we strapped it on.

The cool vest works like an evaporative cooler and soon Rocky began to stop panting. At that point we started to offer water with electrolytes and his recovery was on the way. A day later and Dan thanked everyone for the help with the emergency and said that Rocky was just beginning to act like himself. I know this is a long story but if it serves as an example to help in a simular situation then it is worth while. Many thanks to the folks at Ruff Wear for outfitting us with some outstanding gear.

So now it is time to guide turkey hunts and hog hunts. Train more dogs and continue the training with work outs in preparation for the Wild West Shoot Out and Outdoor Show in Sept.

Bryce:patiotic-wavin-flag
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]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/12-ruff-seasons-end.html Whistle and Hand Signals http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/11-whistle-hand-signals.html Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:32:30 GMT Now that we have come up with a basis for command and control. Our student should come and whoa on command, lets expand a bit. During this phase of... Now that we have come up with a basis for command and control. Our student should come and whoa on command, lets expand a bit. During this phase of the training we will make the fetch game fun always sending the dog a bit further and into a bit tougher conditions each throw. While all of this fun is taking place the trainer should exaggerate his posture and arm movements and add in a short tweet on the whistle. It will not take long and your dog will begin to associate your movements as a directional command even when the throw does not take place. If you use the short tweet on the whistle as a look to me command followed by a simulated throw and a change of your direction your dog will adapt quickly and respond. Always make fetch fun and constantly encourage the retrieve to finish in the hand. If you continue with a progressive training format your command and control will stay sharp and your days in the field more enjoyable.

Bryce:patiotic-wavin-flag
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]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/11-whistle-hand-signals.html <![CDATA[come & whoa]]> http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/4-come-whoa.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:50:38 GMT New blog format , let's see if it works.

I know what does work and that is training your gun dog to follow some simple whistle and hand signals in the field. Not only will it make your day in the field more enjoyable but it will also make your gun dog a more efficient hunter. The two most important commands your dog will learn is come and whoa and are easiest taught when the subject is a puppy. However old dogs can learn the commands also, your hunting buddies will be surprised to learn that your dog's name is not "Dammit".
I like to keep my whistle commands short and simple ie: 2 short blasts for "Come Here" and 1 long for "Whoa" (stop). Teaching these with the combination of voice and whistle in a progression which allows for less voice and more whistle , reinforced by the employment of a check cord is easy. Again the progressive format is employed to slowly wean off the check cord. Give your student one chance to do it right then apply a gentle correction with the check cord if you are required to repeat the command. At this point the electronic training collar can now be introduced. More on that later........that is a whole subject in itself.
Check back often to see what the Gun Dogs are up to and pick up on a few how to's on dog training, shooting and the latest in hunting gear.
My Gun Dogs are off to compete in the North American Gun Dog Association events this weeked to be held (Feb. 21 & 22 )at the
4 Seasons Hunt Club in Techachappi, Ca.
These two events are qualifier events for the NAGDA Nationals which will be April 3,4 & 5 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Come out and see what tournament hunting is all about.
Visit www.gun-dogs.net
Bryce:patiotic-wavin-flag ]]> gundogs http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/blogs/gundogs/4-come-whoa.html