ROAD HUNTER

ONE OF THE biggest payoffs for me when hunting preserves is that I often get to meet guides who hunt their dogs seven days a week. Tyler Biggs, a guide I hunted with at Highland Hills Ranch, has 14 upland dogs – a mix of English pointers, Brittanies and cocker spaniels – that he hunts from September through March. Biggs rotates out the pointers on each hunt, but his cockers, three of them, hunt with efficiency and precision, wasting little energy. This means the shortlegged cockers get to hunt a lot, often twice a day, and what a joy they are to watch work.

I was very impressed with Biggs’ calm demeanor when working his dogs. No matter the situation or the terrain – or my sometimes poor shooting, which is no way to reward a hard-working dog – Biggs kept a smile on his face and stayed even-keeled in all communication with his dogs. This is the perfect demeanor for a guide, and full-time dog trainer, which the young Biggs aspires to be, and it was evident his dogs respected him.

Last, but far from least, hunting ranch venues for upland birds allow a lot of great-eating meat to be taken home. Having a mix of pheasant, quail, chukar and Huns to feast on throughout the spring and summer makes for a healthy, tasty change of pace from the big game and waterfowl in our freezers. And I come away with lots of bird wings and skins for dog training, too.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Maybe it’s because there are no more wild pheasants where I grew up hunting. Or maybe I just want a longer hunting season and a chance to spend more time with dogs. Whatever the reasons, March is the time to experience fun hunts in good weather and take in the beautiful scenery with canine companions, and that’s all I really want. 

Editor’s note: To order Scott and Tiffany Haugen’s bestselling cookbook, Cooking Game Birds, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

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