Jay of Red Clay Soul, appreciates good style, good food, good music, good places, and good people – with a Southern slant. He’s out in the field with one of his buddies learning the ways of the shotgun and scoping out a potential new purchase. For all you beginners, Jay has some great tips to keep you on track.

I’m in the market for a new shotgun, and have been for way too long.  One of my favorite pastimes is shooting, and I want a gun that meets my needs.  Now, I’m not a big hunter, but it is a large part of our culture here in the South.  I’m good with that, but even though I’ve lived below the line my entire life, I’ve never had the urge to be in a deer stand or duck blind.  Walking a field with dogs, though – I’m all in.  My problem is that I’m tired of borrowing my buddies’ guns.

There are two shotguns I’d like – a 12 gauge semi-automatic, and a 20 gauge over/under.  I’m going to start with a 12, and then get the 20 later on.  I wanted to shoot, so a couple buddies and I headed to a sporting clays club in North Georgia to hone our craft.  I hadn’t shot in nearly three years, but I’ve wanted to pull the trigger for quite some time.  I was really excited – and anxious – to shoot.

Photo Credit: Jay Sjoholm

After getting the supplies (shells, ear plugs, etc.), we prepped our gear and loaded up the cart.  The club has two 14-station courses, each with two clay throwers that simulate various bird flights.   We chose the South course and headed out.  We couldn’t have picked a better day – the weather was perfect, and there was low wind.

Photo credit: Jay Sjoholm

Most of the stations were 3- or 4-report pairs, but a few were ‘true pairs’ – which sends two clays at the same time; much more challenging – but also more fun.  We all took turns at each station – shooting, working the clays, and keeping score.

I became more comfortable with each gun as we got deeper into the course.  My two buddies are much more experienced than I am with a shotgun, which is fine, because I prefer going out with better shooters.  I learn a lot more from them than they learn from me.

Photo credit: Jay Sjoholm

5 Tips for Beginning Shooters:

1.       Focus on a 12 gauge.  A 12 gauge is like a car, and a 20 gauge is like a sunroof.  You need the car, not the sunroof.

2.       Remember that owning a shotgun is more than just the gun – you have to clean it, carry it, and store it.

3.       Keep both eyes open while shooting (even though most don’t do this…).

4.       Follow through with your swing – don’t jerk.

5.       Have a sense of authority when stepping up to the post.  It’s just you and gun – make sure the gun (and the clays) know that you mean business.

If there is anything you should know by now about Judith O’Keefe, it is that she is always up for a new experience, regardless of how foreign it may be to her. Now join her on the front lines of her visit to the Highland Hills Ranch in Condon, OR for a traditional driven shoot. What you have all been waiting for, Part Two!

There are many things about a well executed British Driven shoot that are impressive, the shooting skill required to participate in such an event, those magnificent shotguns, the well trained dogs, and those beautiful birds.  But there is one thing that shines above the rest and impresses me most, the bond between a human and dog.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the day at Highland Hills Ranch, just outside of Condon, Oregon, on the dry side of the state.  In a recent blog post I wrote about that day and the various components that make up a driven shoot.  Today I want to tell you a little about Michael Coleman and his dog, Charlie.  Charlie is a wonderful, little English Cocker, who clearly lives for days like the one we all shared last January.  The evening before the shoot I was introduced to Charlie.  He was the only dog on the ranch belonging to one of the clients.  While the rest of the dogs were tucked away at the kennels, Charlie was resting comfortably on a cozy pad in a room just off the main entrance to the lodge.  Michael had just checked on Charlie and given him his evening treat.  One of the staff suggested, in a whispered tone, that Charlie might even join Michael up in his room after the rest of the group had retired.

The next morning, shortly after finishing a hearty breakfast, I began to gather my camera equipment. The hunters began to ready themselves for the morning, lacing up boots, buttoning up jackets, and pulling together all that was necessary for a successful shoot.  Charlie was right at Michael’s feet.  It was obvious this was not his first rodeo.  He was rested and ready for a day of retrieving.

Throughout the day, the little eight-year-old cocker performed magnificently.  The only pause in the action took place to remove the occasional dried weed from his fur.  Poised at Michael’s side, big brown eyes to the sky, he watched and waited.  Charlie continued to retrieve one bird after another, until they were piled around Michael’s feet like so many leaves fallen from a tree.

That afternoon, as the sun began to slide behind the hills and the temperatures dipped, both man and beast walked off with such an obvious air of satisfaction about them.   A day well spent, a job well done, and so much more gratifying when spent with a friend.

If there is anything you should know by now about Judith O’Keefe, it is that she is always up for a new experience, regardless of how foreign it may be to her. Now join her on the front lines of her visit to the Highland Hills Ranch in Condon, OR for a traditional driven shoot.

Steeped in tradition and history, some claim that driven game shooting is an unrivalled sport. Originating in the United Kingdom, the driven shoot is a mecca for sportsman looking for the next great challenge.

In Scotland, you might find yourself standing on a gun peg where it is possible a king or his noblemen may have stood long ago, gamekeepers, dressed in fine estate tweeds, many the same pattern going back generations. It is not an uncommon sight to see the brave wearing kilts in the Scottish winter.

You don’t need to travel to Scotland to experience a traditional British driven shoot. On a bright and chilly January morning I set out, camera in hand, to photograph a shoot.  Highland Hills Ranch, located eight miles east Condon, Oregon is as close to Scotland as you’re going to get here in the continental US.

The proceedings were formal, as world-renowned and British born wingshooting instructor, Chris Batha, served as the gamekeeper. The job of the gamekeeper is to oversee proceedings with a good deal of emphasis on safety. Seven traditionally dressed guests stood behind their pegs, or shooting stations, and waited for the first flush to appear overhead. Customarily, “beaters” are employed to walk through woods and over moors or fields. At Highland Hills, “beaters” drove the birds off of over hanging cliffs.  The birds flew high and fast and it was immediately clear that this is not a sport for the faint of heart, or those with less than excellent shooting skills. The pheasants dropped by the dozens from a clear, blue sky and “pickers-up” with dogs were at hand to make sure all shot or wounded birds were collected.

The Highland traditions were found from the field to lodge, with a Scottish piper performing through the afternoon shoot. Guests enjoyed chef-prepared gourmet meals, but were also encouraged to sample a traditional meal of haggis, tatties and neeps. Highland Hills Ranch is, according to Mr. Batha, “the perfect place in North America to host these events.”

Stay tuned for Part 2: The Story Gets Personal. I will observe and record, as best I can, the story unfolding in front of my eyes.

As a child, Laura Schara loved to join her father on his pheasant hunts and the memories she made on these adventures still serve as a few of her fondest ones. That’s why when presented with the opportunity to join her dad and sister on a pheasant trip to South Dakota; she couldn’t have been more excited.

My sister and I have spent many years following my dadthrough pheasant fields in South Dakota. As children, holidays meant family road trips to pheasant country, where the birds seem to flush out of the brush similar to pigeons in a New York City park. So when I got the call to put a weekend on the calendar for some pheasant hunting with my dad and sister in Chamberlain, South Dakota, it immediately was jotted down in permanent marker. This year however, was extra special, as my 8-year-old nephew, Jake, was tagging along.

Photo Credit: Andy Lee

Photo Credit: Andy Lee

We’re excited to be featured in the men’s southern lifestyle guide Bearings.  In the article ”Filson in the Field,”  the gentlemen put our gear to work in the field.

There is so much new fangled hunting gear out there these days. High-tech gadgets and fancy apparel have flooded the market, and something has been lost in the shuffle. Hunting is a heritage sport, passed down from generation to generation; part of its appeal is the timeless and classic nature of it. This goes for the gear as well.

Making “tough, comfortable outdoor clothing for hunters and fishermen, engineers and explorers, mariners and miners,” the Filson company was originally formed in 1897 to serve the men of the Great Klondike Gold Rush. Because of this, founder C.C. Filson could only produce the very best – it was a matter of life and death for his customers.

Photo Credit:David McClelland

Photo credit: Kristen Monroe

For every hunter out there, nothing can relate to the excitement and the memories made during that first hunt. For Kristen Monroe, her first duck hunt was certainly no exception to this well known fact. Plus to make this hunt even more unforgettable, she got to share it with some of the guys from Ducks Unlimited.

As 2011 comes to an end, many of us give thanks and reflect on the past. For us hunters, every hunting experience is special for different reasons. There is one particular hunt that comes to mind that I am especially thankful for; my first duck hunt. Not just because of the beautiful pintail drake I took home, but for the new friends and knowledge that was gained. Mike Checkett and Chris Jennings of Ducks Unlimited hosted the 3^rd annual Women’s Media Camp at Bay Flats Lodge in Seadrift, Texas. Understanding the relationship between conservation and hunting has always been important to me. Checkett and Jennings were the perfect teachers. 12 women including myself, walked away from this camp with a better understanding of duck hunting, an appreciation for the value of wetlands, and how Ducks Unlimited works to preserve and restore them.

Diehard water fowlers live for the smell of marsh; the passion for ducks is in their eyes. I couldn’t wait to find out what made duck hunting so exceptional. My hunting group included Jennings, veteran outdoor communicator Laurie Lee Dovey, and Bay Flats lodge guide David McClelland. It was exciting to hear the ducks from afar, and the anticipation of my first shot. Dovey, Jennings, and McClelland educated me about duck identification and the significance of it. Don’t ever shoot the wrong kind of duck; you can get in a lot of trouble. Watching flock maneuvers can be helpful for identification; Pintails, mallards, and wigeon form loose groups while teals and shovelers usually fly in close bunches. Expert duck hunters are amazing; they also identify the duck by listening to their wing beat and call. Did you know not all ducks quack? Ducks also whistle, grunt, or squeal. Although Dovey has been in the outdoors industry for decades we shared the moment of shooting our first ducks together. All we had to do was combine shotgun skills, and a little tenacity. A lot of questions were answered that day sitting in the costal marsh blind.

Jennings explained the importance of the healthy wetlands, Ducks Unlimited works year round to protect. Wetlands are the key to keeping the wildlife abundant and crucial for a healthy living environment for people. They help purify the water by removing nitrogen and phosphorus along with any toxic chemicals that may exist. Marshlands are home to more than 900 wildlife species and they also help control soil erosion and subduing floods.

There is nothing comparable to hunting with likeminded individuals and swapping stories for a few days. Ducks Unlimited managed to evoke the love for waterfowl and wetlands in many women media members that didn’t already have it. In 1937, a small group of sportsman started a group with a single mission, habitat conservation. To this day 12 million acres of the most critical habitat for waterfowl has been conserved and restored. Congratulations for becoming one of the most effective conservation groups in the world Ducks Unlimited and Happy 75^th anniversary!

Always Bet on the Underdog

Ten lessons from the pheasant camp that is actually a dog camp

Photo Credit: Grayson Schaffer

Photo credit: Grayson Schaffer

Photo credit: Grayson Schaffer

Photo credit: Grayson Schaffer

Some people have Burning Man. For the last two years, I’ve cleared my schedule and made the 17-hour drive north to a certain repurposed mine-foreman’s house in North Dakota. On the agenda for the week: pheasants. My editor recently asked me if I was really taking a vacation and driving cross-country just to kill things—again. To be fair, chasing ditch parrots, as the Nodakkers call them, makes at least as much sense as driving to a place that’s good for riding bicycles, kayaking down a freezing rocky river where you could drown, or any of the other things we do for fun.

The simple explanation, for the uninitiated,  is that bird hunting is not about birds but dogs—British Labradors for most of us. Here’s an animal endowed by nature to run faster, jump higher, and smell more acutely than any human. And through years of selective breeding, patience, reinforcement, and, who are we kidding, the occasional profane outburst, a good Lab will put those inhuman abilities to work for the handler. Occasionally, when everything aligns perfectly—bird and gun and scent and dog—it can seem like the connection between retriever and handler is as plain as English.

It’s that connection that brings this same crew—most of them from Alaska—together ever year. We all have dogs out of Mike Stewart’s Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, Mississippi, and we all do our best to train using the low-force, positive-reinforcement ethic that Stewart promotes. Getting together means getting a lot of good dogs together. When you turn 15 dogs loose in the same pheasant field, there’s either chaos or there isn’t. Mostly, there isn’t.

Here, then, are the (unofficial) rules of dog etiquette for people who take their gun dogs seriously—but not too seriously.

1. You might have the best dog in the field back home, but that likelihood lessens with each mile driven.

2. Undersell your dog—always. He’s a better shower than you are a teller.

3. Everytime you’re about to brag about your dog, stop yourself and complement another dog’s fine retrieve from the day, instead. Don’t worry, this is not a selfless act because… (see number five)

4. Only the underdog can overachieve. The best the overdog can do is meet expectations.

5. If your dog breaks and steals a retrieve from another dog, you must berate your dog loudly. This is for the benefit of the other hunter and will have no effect on your dog’s behavior whatsoever.

6. OK, now put a leash on him.

7. Never give another guy a hard time about his dog. Believe me, he knows.

8. Instead, refer to number 3: Acceptable: “That dog sure has the eye of the tiger.”

9. When your dog honors, then makes a long retrieve through heavy cover, and returns with a lightly wounded bird, you’d better sound at least as happy as an eight-year-old girl who’s been given a pony for Christmas. (Not saying my dog has ever made a retrieve like this. But man, Jay, Duke sure makes those long falls look easy, don’t he?)

10. When your dog leans against you, it either means that he’s trying to dominate you or that he has an itch he’d like you to scratch. Your call.

Photo credit: Bill Buckley

For over 2 decades, George Hickox has shown all levels of dog owners how to train bird dogs. He believes that no dog is too old to become a good hunter and that no dog is too young to learn correct habits. George knows everything from A-Z when it comes to bird dogs and with a new season on the horizon, George’s guide to a bird dog’s safety is the latest addition to Filson Life.

Heat is a big deal when it comes to a dog’s safety.  When it comes to heat preventative medicine is the best approach.  Keep the dog’s body temperature low and do not let the dog over heat.  Do not feed the working dog in the morning.  Feeding in the morning raises the dog’s temperature.  Also it requires water to digest the food which increases the possibility of dehydration.  Dogs receive their nutritional benefits from a feeding sixteen to twenty hours after feeding so an am he man breakfast is only detrimental to the working dog.

Whenever I am traveling I put my dogs on FortiFlora from Purina three days before traveling and keep the dogs on FortiFlora throughout the trip.  FortiFlora is a probiotic and helps the dog’s intestinal tract aiding in preventing diarrhea.  Diarrhea causes dehydration.  Many hunts have been ruined because a dog has become dehydrated.  More information regarding FortiFlora can be found at www.fortiflora.com.

Keep the dog well hydrated, do not feed in the morning, use FortiFlora, feed a premium performance food in the 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat range (Fat cools and carbohydrates heat.), and give your dog frequent breaks.  The opening day of the bird season is not the time to start getting your dog in shape.  A top tier diet and early season conditioning will help put more birds in the bag.

George Hickox conducts dog training schools for owners and their dogs across North America.  For more information, training tips, and published articles visit www.georgehickox.com.

When you talk to Rudy you can’t help but see a man who is passionate about the heritage of hunting and the stories it creates. We are excited to highlight season 2 of “Huntography” on Filson Life, which follows hunters in deer camps, over 12 states, all who have connected through social media and their love for American hunting. Everything kicks off tomorrow, safe Travels Rudy!

Huntography is a grassroots hunting movement. I am on a journey to film and document the authentic stories and experiences of America’s hunters, one at a time. Through first person storytelling, I want to show what really happens in our deer camps. It’s a type of reality that has been missing from outdoor television and videos. One that everyday hunters want to see and can truly relate to.

To add another level of uniqueness, I wanted to use social media to find some folks to film for season 2 of Huntography. Actually, that turned out to be quite easy.

You see, when I started getting active on Twitter, Facebook and blogs within the deer hunting niche last October, I just followed, friended and talked to regular folks like you and me who were talking about deer hunting online. The conversations came naturally as we all had the same interest in common.

Over the course of a few months, I had found myself talking to these folks virtually everyday about deer hunting. Now think about that for a second. Although the deer hunting season had ended, our passion for deer hunting had kept us online and communicating with each other.

In the traditional offline world, most hunters typically go back to their daily routines and don’t have the burning passion for hunting on their minds 24-7.

So for season 2 of Huntography, I wanted to tell the story of some of these super passionate hunters who used online technology to share their whitetail deer hunting passions. Hence the title – Getting Social with America’s Whitetail Deer Hunters.

1 Huntographer. 12 States. 19 Deer Hunters. 5,000 Miles. Fall 2011

Starting October 15th, I will make the journey across America for the social media deertour. From deer camp to deer camp, I will capture what everyday hunters experience before, during and after the hunt.

To make it even more challenging, I will be using multiple Canon HDSLR cameras. These cameras are not the standard within the hunting industry. They are mostly used by indie documentary film makers to tell a story in a more cinematic fashion.

From my first hand experience using them in season 1 of Huntography, I can say that it is very challenging to get everything right. This includes lighting, audio, focus and more. But it’s this challenge that’s drives me to try harder. And when everything comes together, the reward is quite satisfying.

All the hunters that I’ll be filming, including myself, will be using social media to share what is happening in real time. This means you’ll see LIVE status updates, photos and videos right from the tree stand and deer camp on Twitter, Facebook and our blogs.

Since we announced the deer tour 3 months ago, we’ve had a good amount of grassroots interest not only from hunters but from outdoor hunting companies. Many of which have shown support for our cause by donating their products directly to the hunters on the social media deer tour. For this, we are all thankful.

Huntography is here to tell a story. It’s the unique stories that bring hunters together. And nothing tells a better, more vivid story than video. We’ll use social media and technology to help like-minded hunters better connect with each other across the country, from online to offline.

To get a glimpse of what to expect, please watch last years trailer. See you in the woods.

Dennis Lynch has been around the outdoors his entire life and understands what a “good time” entails. That’s why in this addition to Filson Life, Dennis explains Kentucky’s most anticipated event of the year. We’ll give you one hint; it’s probably something that Secretariat never won.

Seasons come and go in our lives and with these changes in seasons come different plans, events, parties and occasions.  Here in Kentucky, spring brings many things, including blooming Dogwood and Redbud trees as well as spring flowers.  As soon as these blooms start budding, so too are plans hatched for the “First Saturday in May.” It has been dubbed “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” and is one of the biggest outdoor cocktail parties in the country.

Preparations are in the works.  Among the considerations are what to wear, such as hats, footwear and gear.  Attention and care given to each item considering the changeable weather patterns that are present in Kentucky. The food and drink must also be planned, and most importantly, the guest list has to be generated with special consideration being given to talents, personalities and the spirit of high living.

You might think this is the planning for attending the Kentucky Derby or planning a Derby party.  Well it could be, but it AIN’T!

Each fall in Central Kentucky the dove season opens. Plans have been in the works since Derby Day itself, as the beginning of May is the best time to plant a field of sunflowers that will become a “dove field.”  Planting in May gives the sunflowers  the proper time, rainfall and sunshine to grow into a veritable “Golden Corral” for the millions of resident and migratory birds that dot the sky of central Kentucky each fall – particularly the elusive, fast flying dove.

Dove hunts are of two varieties.  The first type are those hosted by political and social power brokers, complete with snooty protocol, and sparkling water toting Sherpas that drive gators and deliver water to all the shooting stations surrounding the field. Dinner is served after the completion of these “pinky-raised” dove shoots, with the day’s hunt presented on linen covered tables serving the latest haute cuisine with chilled chardonnay or a full bodied red wine.  Boring conversation also abounds.

The second type of dove shoot (and my preferred style) is more typical of Central Kentucky hospitality.  It goes something like this: a group of friends (mostly guys) accompanied by high spirited, gun toting, camo wearing gals (more often than not the daughters of high spirited, gun toting camo wearing daddies;)  cold water within arm’s or tongue’s length for humans as well as Canines; and a sweltering Kentucky Fall sun.  The best shooting hours are usually 3pm to 5pm, as this is the time of day that the doves dive-bomb the sunflowers to feed before going to roost for the night.

After the Dove Shoot

Golf has the 19^th hole and dove shoots have their version. A group of friends with names like Bad Cat, Woody and Zack, faithfully accompanied by dogs named Lex, Clem and Ruffus, gather around a tobacco wagon. These friends clean their birds and enjoy cold beverages, which range from water, to beer, to a perfectly chilled “see through” – a.k.a. Gin Martini. Cleaned bird breasts are wrapped in bacon, stuffed with a jalapeño slice, and given a dollop of cream cheese for good measure, and then tossed on the grill. Stories are told and the hunt is recounted.

If you know of a more enjoyable occasion than afternoon bird shooting in autumn, let me know. I’ll be on my way.