Final Pre-Season Prep

For overanxious Wisconsin upland hunters, pheasant season will open on October 17. Time is of the essence. Final preparations for the season can not to be procrastinated any longer.

The spring and summer months have been for keeping my pointer, Dewey, in shape with consistent workouts and training. I have kept my own shooting eye tuned with clays pigeons. If you have left your faithful four legged hunting companion collecting dust over the past few months, do not expect your dog to work any miracles come opening day. As the saying goes...a marathon runner does not just show up on the day of the race ready to win! For Dewey and I, we are both chomping at the proverbial bit to get out on some wild action. In the meantime, we are laying the last pieces of groundwork before opening day.

For us this means training and workouts now take a back seat to the real deal. Starting in early October, we switch gears and begin earnestly scouting the public hunting grounds in southern Wisconsin, mostly around our home county of Jefferson. New patterns of growth have emerged and as we navigate amongst the fields, copious mental notes are made of potential bird holding cover. We focus our efforts, skirting field borders and cover breaks while keying on possible pheasant food sources(such as old sunflower plots as shown in this image) scattered throughout. Working wind direction to better help the dog key up his scent coning ability as we enter likely looking terrain will help us quickly adapt to future scenarios. Along the way if you find pheasants in concentrated areas make sure not to over work those patches the following days. It is best to keep as much pressure off those new found ring neck haunts until the opening bell tolls. No need to make those wily wild roosters anymore wily!

Along with field scouting, Dewey's diet and rations are switched in preparation of the longer days of work in increasingly colder conditions. During the warm off season months he is fed 2 meals a day(morning and night) 1 cup each of kibble moistened with warm water, a shot of vitamin gravy, and a teaspoon of a omega-3 & 6 fatty acid liquid supplement. Keeping at his ideal 65lbs, this warm weather ration coupled with his daily workouts have kept him lean and muscular. Come early October we switch to a performance 30/20 food, a higher protein and fat containing kibble. It is also loaded with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to help maintain healthy joints and mobility. In addition, it is loaded with heaps of other great nutrients he needs to recover from long hunts and make ready for the next. As the dog hunts more and the days get colder they need this boost in protein intake to maintain their own energy level. I increase his ration to 3 cups total divided by 2 meals. These daily rations of 30/20 performance food moistened with warm water, a shot of vitamin gravy, and a teaspoon of omega supplement will be fed to him until early spring then switch back to a normal 26/12 food. Treats should also be kept to those loaded with the nutrients your dog will need as he or she burns more quickly through calories. Find one that you and your dog believe in and stick to a consistent regiment.

Nothing can put you and your dog on the sidelines faster then damage to his pads. Training and scouting the same type cover you will eventually hunt will not only help to toughen up his pads but make is undercarriage ready for the punishment high grass, thorns, and corn stalks can deliver. Get him working through the thick and nasty stuff will only help his performance as well as his confidence and endurance.

I highly recommend taking your dog into the veterinarian for a complete physical this time of year. Just like any athlete, a check up before the season can make all the difference come game time. Remember to take in fecal samples to check for worms and/or bacteria. At this time also check your own field First-Aid kit. Make sure all the essentials are in stock to cover any type of mishap you and your dog may encounter while miles from professional help. Things to be never without in the field are tweezers/hemostats, alcohol swabs, nonstick gauze pads, and elastic bandages. It may also help to have a small bottle of dog eye wash to rinse out foreign debris from seeds plants and ragweed.

The tailgate check at the end of every hunt is something I highly recommend. Give your dog a good once over before heading him into the box. Rub your hand across his body checking for ticks, scraps, burs, cuts, or sore spots. Take a close look at his eyes, ears, and pads. He will thank you for it if you find a bothersome issue before it becomes a major problem for him!

I wish all of you the best of luck this pheasant season. Stay safe and have fun.