GoWild officially released SquatchBot, a mad scientist creation that combines the folklore legend Sasquatch with the power of artificial intelligence. The furry chatbot is live on the <a href="https://downloadgowild.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild social media app</a> and is actively helping thousands of outdoor enthusiasts.
GoWild, a social gear shop for anglers and hunters, has a feature that allows members to ask questions of the community. This feature uses the platform&rsquo;s algorithm to find other members who are knowledgeable with the question topic. With the addition of AI chatbot, members get an immediate answer to their question from SquatchBot. Members can also ask SquatchBot questions via direct message.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVWgR6LIfeU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
GoWild quietly launched a beta version of SquatchBot in early December 2022. The company monitored and refined the bot for several months, fine tuning his responses to be more accurate. The product is now live for everyone in the app, and is actively being trained on content he creates, as well as historical content.
SquatchBot&rsquo;s creator and GoWild Cofounder, Chief Development Officer, Chris Gleim, predicts that SquatchBot will make hunting forums and Facebook Groups obsolete when it comes to Q&amp;A.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;When you ask redundant questions in forums or Facebook groups, generally one of two things happen: you&rsquo;re either scolded for asking something that has already been asked, or you are ignored because people grow tired of answering the same questions. SquatchBot never tires of helping, and is constantly digesting historical content to make him smarter.&rdquo; - Chris Gleim
</blockquote>
Gleim and a small team within GoWild built proprietary tools to automate the training of SquatchBot, which consists of both human reviews of content, and building automated feedback loops.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;As the community interacts with his content, such as upvoting his comments, we learn what answers were helpful, and what weren&rsquo;t. This is helping us build an AI mentor who has digested years of outdoor content online and is now learning from our community&rsquo;s experts.&rdquo; - Chris Gleim
</blockquote>
Over the last few weeks, SquatchBot has yielded great advice across hundreds of posts:
<ul>
<li>SquatchBot recommended 5 books on training bird dogs to a member who had a 6 month old puppy.</li>
<li>He broke down the primary differences between fixed broadheads vs. mechanicals for a new archer.</li>
<li>When someone said they had a mink eating their chickens, SquatchBot gave a list of tips for live trapping minks.</li>
<li>He recommended a Jetboil Flash Cooking System for backcountry hunts due to its light weight and efficiency.</li>
<li>SquatchBot helped a member who was tanning a hide and trying to decide if he should pickle his fur or not. The bot provided specific examples of when to pickle.&nbsp;</li>
<li>He gave a list of tips on training a member&rsquo;s dog for shed antlers.</li>
<li>SquatchBot helped someone traveling through Lexington, Ky. find half a dozen lakes for fishing within driving distance.</li>
</ul>
To try out SquatchBot, <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/gowild/id1237419907" target="_blank" rel="noopener">download GoWild for iPhone</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gowild.gowildandroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Android,</a> and create an account. Tap + in the bottom menu, then toggle &ldquo;Mark my post as a question&rdquo; or you can message him directly by searching for his account.&nbsp;

GoWild officially released SquatchBot, a mad scientist creation that combines the folklore legend Sasquatch with the power of artificial intelligence. The furry chatbot is live on the GoWild social media app and is actively helping thousands of outdoor enthusiasts.

GoWild officially released SquatchBot, a mad scientist creation that combines the folklore legend Sasquatch with the power of artificial intelligence. The furry chatbot is live on the GoWild social media app and is actively helping thousands of outdoor enthusiasts.

GoWild, a social gear shop for 

GoWild introduces Sasquatch-inspired AI chatbot to defeat forum trolls for good

Turkey Hunting

Bass Fishing

Hike, Camp, Cook

Whitetail Deer Hunting

Houndsmen

By <a href="https://woodsandwatersproject.com/">Steph Lane</a>
Alright, so you have made your decision. You are going to run with the raccoon hunters. You got your gear and your walking legs ready. Now, you need yourself a coonhound! But where to begin?
Of course, there are many ways to go about this; tons of research can be done, finding a reputable breeder, understanding what to look for in breeding hounds, coonhunting forums to follow (like <a href="https://timetogowild.com/download">the Houndsman Trail on GoWild</a>), and so much information is just at your fingertips! It can be overwhelming, and for some, it can keep you so busy you never actually get started. All these things are a must, but nothing is more effective than hitting the woods!&nbsp;
Here is what I would do.&nbsp;
<a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/so-you-think-you-want-to-be-a-raccoon-hunter">For a Beginners Guide To Raccoon Hunting With Hounds Read This Article</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">3 Steps To Take To Find Your First Coonhound:</h2>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ask Yourself What You Want From Your Coonhound&nbsp;</h3>
</li>
</ol>
And by that, do you want a hound for pleasure Hunting? Competitions? Trials? You may not even know what you want yet, and that's okay!&nbsp;
<ol start="2">
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Get Firsthand Experience Around Coonhounds</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Go with as many people as possible to coon hunts, competitions, trials, etc. Many times you can tag along and walk with the handler and observe. Take it all in. What the handler is doing, but most importantly, what the dog is doing. They have so much to teach us; we just need to stand back, watch, and listen. What didn't you like? What did you like? What got you the most pumped up?
<ol start="3">
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Decide How Experienced You Want Your Coonhound To Be Initially</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Now, the research and picking your dog come into play. Take what you've learned and experienced, and evaluate your options. Everyone's situation and the opportunities available to them are going to be different. Are you going to get a puppy? Started hound? An ole' veteran? If and when I do this all over again, I would get a coonhound that has already proved they can do what I would like them to do (i.e. tree raccoons). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE puppies. But as a new coonhunter with much to learn, a coonhound that's at least been started, will teach you at a faster rate. You can hit the ground running so to speak.
On the other hand, I fully understand the gratification that comes with raising up a pup from the beginning, and the cuteness. But whether you're doing trials, competitions, or pleasure hunting, it's a lot of work and a big commitment.
<h2 dir="ltr">Which Coonhound Breed is Right For You?</h2>
But what breed of hound should you get? The seven coonhound breeds recognized by the United Kennel Club have specific traits to do well in Hunting Competitions, Bench Shows, Water Races and Field Trials. All of these events are ways to test a coonhound's natural ability.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">7 Recognized Breeds of Coonhounds:</h3>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Black and Tan coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Red-bone coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Treeing Walker coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
English coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Bluetick coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Plott coonhound
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
American Leopard hound
</li>
</ol>
Now with all that said, you do not necessarily need a "recognized coonhound" to have a successful coon hunting companion. <a href="https://www.ukcdogs.com/">The United Kennel Club</a> has over 50 breeds grouped under "scenthounds," and scenthounds are then divided into two groups, "trailing hounds" and "tree hounds." The seven recognized coonhounds all fall under the "tree hound" group.
In just my few short years racoon hunting, I have seen many more breeds than the seven listed above be successful and kick the competition's tail! You just need to get out there yourself and ask questions.
<h2 dir="ltr">Get Out There with Coonhounds</h2>
Go coon hunting or to competitions as much as possible before committing to chasing raccoons or entering competitions with your future hound! If you can hunt with different breeds, take advantage! Do your research. Observe, listen, and pay attention to the dog and its communication with different bawls, barks, and howls. And be open-minded. This is not a perfect science. Dogs, like people, have unique quirks and strengths. You can do all the research and all the planning, and none of it goes according to plan! But that's part of the fun!&nbsp;
Find out more coonhound breed information, events, and more at <a href="https://www.ukcdogs.com/coonhounds">https://www.ukcdogs.com/coonhounds</a>

Alright, so you have made your decision. You are going to run with the raccoon hunters. You got your gear and your walking legs ready. Now, you need yourself a coonhound! But where to begin?

3 Tips For Picking Your First Coonhound | Racoon Hunting Dog Advice

By: Taylor Young, DVM for<a href="https://www.ontrackmediagroup.net/"> On Track Media Group</a>
Photo By:<a href="https://www.ontrackmediagroup.net/"> On Track Media Group</a>
&ldquo;The coon&rsquo;s right there!&rdquo; I thought to myself as Belle ran right under the tree I&rsquo;d seen eyes in; she was oblivious to its presence. &ldquo;How can she not smell that?!&rdquo; This was the final round of a full elimination competition coon hunt, and with the failure to tree that coon, my Blackmouth cur came in second for a<a href="https://nationalkennelclub.com/"> National Kennel Club (NKC)</a> Reserve World Champion title (yes, there were only nine dogs in the hunt, but it still counted to my 17-year-old self). Even if you know some of the science behind scenting like I do, it can still be baffling. Scenting is a complex activity with many variables and a basic understanding of how it works can make you a better hound hunter.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Nose Knows</h2>
The canine olfactory system begins with the hound&rsquo;s nose. The nose is specially formed to increase the turbulence of the air entering the airways, making it swirl around and contact the inside lining of the muzzle. The elongated muzzle of a hunting dog is filled with a curled system of cartilage covered by mucous membranes, allowing for much more surface area under the skin than is first apparent. These mucous membranes have somewhere around 200 million scent receptors (compared to a human&rsquo;s 5 million), and are innervated by the olfactory nerve. The olfactory nerve connects to the olfactory lobe of the brain where scent is recognized and processed. Additionally, a dog has a vomeronasal organ situated just above their front teeth that allows additional scent differentiation. This organ has openings inside the mouth as well as the nasal cavity. The specialized anatomy of a dog&rsquo;s nose allows scent to build up over time inside the nasal passages and is not immediately blown out while breathing through the nose.
<h2 dir="ltr">How Hounds Use Scent to Hunt</h2>
What exactly is a dog smelling when they&rsquo;re putting that nose to work? It&rsquo;s theorized that it is pieces of the game animal left behind that are being detected. Skin cells that naturally fall off, hair, feces and urine, pheromones, and sweat may all play into the smell being recognized by the hound. On the ground, scent directly from glands in the feet, or cells that have settled on the ground can be captured in the dirt and debris where they are then stirred up as the dog sniffs them into his nostrils. A dog running with his head up is smelling these pieces caught up in moisture in the air or where the animal has brushed up against a tree or brush.
If you&rsquo;ve ever watched a hound put his nose into the air for scent, you&rsquo;ve seen the short, sharp intakes of air through his nose. As opposed to simply breathing through the nose, sniffing is an intentional activity that accumulates scent-rich molecules of air into the nasal passages. As the air passes through the nasal cavity, scent molecules attach to the moist surface of the mucous membranes, which bind to the scent receptors. This creates a signal in the nerve that travels to the brain, where the scent is then discerned. All of this happens within a split second! The strength of a smell is dependent upon many factors, but a hound is able to discern the direction of a track by the presence of more scent molecules (and therefore a &ldquo;stronger&rdquo; scent) in one direction versus the other.
Not only is there an anatomical and physiological component to scent, but also a behavioral one. Scent hounds like a beagle or coonhound are hardwired to put their nose into the dirt and follow it. A cur or feist, though, will usually rely more on scent drifting in the air, running with their nose up off the ground. Some dogs will even smell a scent drifting down from an animal who&rsquo;s been sitting in a tree for a while (known as a &ldquo;layup&rdquo;).&nbsp;
Why is it, for example, that the average cur won&rsquo;t follow that 12-hour-old bear track, even though the hound will; is it because he can&rsquo;t smell it, or because he doesn&rsquo;t have the desire to chase that scent? More likely the latter, as the breeding programs and what they have been selected for has been so different over time.
<h2 dir="ltr">What Conditions Affect Scent?</h2>
Though the dog&rsquo;s ability is very important, the environment plays a large role in scenting. Moisture is thought to be the most important factor influencing scenting conditions while hunting. Rain, snow, humidity, or the lack of these can all play into scenting. Moisture helps scent to stay around longer, preventing it from drying out and fading away. This is why a <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/The-Hound-Hunters-Glossary">dry-ground lion dog</a> is such an impressive dog to watch and why those hound hunters in colder regions wait for snow. Other factors such as temperature and wind also influence scenting conditions on a daily basis.
There&rsquo;s still much we don&rsquo;t know about scenting, but the things we know through experience and observation are enough to leave me in awe of how it all comes together. It seems like magic when that dog follows a trail to a tree with game sitting in it. I know it still gets me excited, and I hope it does for you, too!
To learn more about the health and wellness of your hound, cur, or feist dog, be sure to follow Dr. Taylor Young<a href="https://www.instagram.com/treedogdoc/"> (@treedogdoc)</a> on social media.
References
<a href="https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0066/UNP-0066-archive.pdf">https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0066/UNP-0066-archive.pdf</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388720/pdf/animals-11-02463.pdf">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8388720/pdf/animals-11-02463.pdf</a>

What exactly is a dog smelling when they’re putting that nose to work? It’s theorized that it is pieces of the game animal left behind that are being detected. Skin cells that naturally fall off, hair, feces and urine, pheromones, and sweat may all play into the smell being recognized by the hound.

The Science of Scent: How Hounds Smell | Understanding how hunting dogs use scent to track wild game

By: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t.mieden/">Tyler Mieden</a> |<a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/"> Okayest Hunter</a> |<a href="https://www.wskennels.com/"> Waterdog Specialties Kennels</a>
The day you&rsquo;ve waited for is here. You&rsquo;ve spent months planning this trip. Now it&rsquo;s time to put the final preparations on packing before loading up the truck. At this point, your gun dog is following you around the house. They&rsquo;ve become your shadow. They can sense your excitement and anticipation.&nbsp; Your dog is panting heavily and anxiously whining. They saw you grab the gun case and that is enough to send them into a frenzy. They know the time is near, and are ready to run through the door because there&rsquo;s no way you are leaving without them.&nbsp;
While we spend a lot of time planning every detail of our hunting trip, it's just as important to spend adequate time ensuring you have everything you need and have a plan in place to ensure your dog&rsquo;s safety and comfort. Being ill prepared on either of these can ruin your entire trip.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What should I pack?</h2>
There are the essentials including food, water, bowls, collar, and the hunting essentials - vest, goggles (if your dog wears them), <a href="https://timetogowild.com/categories/dog-gear/gps-collars-and-handhelds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-collar</a>, dog stand, and anything else you use in the field. Additionally, a first aid kit, towel, and a kennel should also be added. Your dog can be injured at any time in the field so having a first aid kit should be mandatory. The towel will dry your dog off before going back into the kennel, which will help reduce stress on your dog regardless of temperature. If your dog will be sleeping inside with you, I'd recommend packing their bed. Providing a little comfort and a familiar place for them inside of unfamiliar surroundings will help with anxiety as well as around other dogs.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What should I be paying attention to?</h2>
First and foremost, when you hit the road, plan for adequate breaks along the way. Allowing your dog enough potty breaks and to burn off a little energy will help reduce their anxiety. I get anxious when I have to use the bathroom and have been sitting in a car for a few hours.&nbsp;
Long trips in a vehicle without as much access to water, and anxiety from the trip can cause your dog to not drink enough water. When traveling, it is easy for your dog to become dehydrated. Paying close attention to how much they are drinking is important for your dogs health and safety.&nbsp;
While it is tempting to crack open a cold one and put your feet up after a successful hunt, the first step is taking care of your dog. Plan to spend time before and after each hunt checking your dog for injuries, particularly to the ears, eyes, and paws. If they are wet, dry them off. If you are hunting in warm weather, ensure they are cooled down properly. Conversely, if you are hunting in cold weather, bring them inside to warm them up.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">How do I reduce my dog&rsquo;s anxiety while traveling?</h2>
The best way to reduce your dog&rsquo;s anxiety is proper socialization and exposure at a young age. Spending time in new places, around new people, proper socialization around other dogs, and traveling regularly in vehicles when your dog is young will make all your future hunting trips easier on your and your dog. If properly exposed at a young age, your dog is less likely to show signs of overstimulation, they will take less time to settle in once you arrive, and they will be more resilient overall.
While on your trip, having a <a href="https://timetogowild.com/categories/dog-gear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kennel</a> while traveling is a must. Confining your dog to a small space doesn&rsquo;t allow them to pace, and provides a familiar, safe spot for them to be calm. Bringing their bed will provide familiarity and a place for them to be while inside of your lodging. As mentioned before, proper hydration, ensuring they are dry, comfortable, and well taken care of is going to reduce the stress on their systems, which in turn will reduce your dog&rsquo;s anxiety.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Going the extra mile</h3>
My dogs go the extra mile for me everytime we hit the field. Why would I not do the same for them? That requires proper planning and thinking through every scenario you could encounter. It also requires effort. Is it always easy? No. After spending all day chasing pheasants in Iowa this past fall, I was exhausted, hungry, and my entire body hurt. Yet, the first thing I did when we got back to our AirBnb was feed, water, and get down on the ground to look him over.&nbsp;
I spend countless hours training my dogs to have the skills necessary in the field, and I spend hours planning to ensure they are properly cared for before, during, and after every hunt. They are members of my family, and my job is to make sure every member of my family is taken care of.

While we spend a lot of time planning every detail of our hunting trip, it's just as important to spend adequate time ensuring you have everything you need and have a plan in place to ensure your dog’s safety and comfort. Being ill prepared on either of these can ruin your entire trip. 

Traveling With Your Gun Dog

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://woodsandwatersproject.com/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1676411341370008%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1pEgyu0-zOUXOv5xUE_zMf&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1676411341381051&amp;usg=AOvVaw31cJ50jiYwZSzeKP0gRdyK">Steph Lane</a>
&nbsp;
So you think you want to be a raccoon hunter? Or maybe you're a skeptic like I was just a few years ago. Over the next few months, I will take you through a series of stories, how-to's, and good-to-know that I experienced firsthand while learning the ways of a raccoon hunter. I hope to support, educate, and encourage some of you on your journey with this often misunderstood pastime!
&nbsp;
I have been trekking around in the woods most of my life. Chasing after anything with fur or feathers, raccoons, however, were not on my list. My thoughts at the time were, "well, I am not interested in eating them," "walking around in the dark sounds sketchy," and "how fun can looking for a raccoon be?" It took one hunt for me to see how wrong I was and fall in love with the chase and the hounds.
&nbsp;
Why do people raccoon hunt anyhow? The tradition of raccoon hunting has been around and in practice for centuries. Historically hunters were after their pelts for warmth, money, or trade. Today, much like the tradition of hunting as a whole, the amount of hunters participating grows smaller. And from my experience, for those who raccoon hunt with hounds, it is sacred.
&nbsp;
<h2 id="h.2nkb44qcd7w6">A Little Advice For Geting Started Raccoon Hunting</h2>
&nbsp;
My first piece of advice would be to find someone who does it already and tag along. Ask questions, observe, and listen. Let the hunter, and the dog, teach you! You don't know what you don't know. You will be surprised by what you learn if you let yourself.
&nbsp;
With access to a heavily wooded area and with a dash of time, patience, and practice, whether you wish to trap, use electronic calls, or get yourself a coonhound, you my friend, can find success in raccoon hunting!
&nbsp;
<h2 id="h.8nuwo6vsf5n2">The Basic Gear Setup For Raccoon Hunting with a Coonhound:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>A good hound or a friend with a good hound (<a href="https://timetogowild.com/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find a hunting buddy on GoWild</a>)</li>
<li>Spotlight/<a href="https://timetogowild.com/products/cajun-bayou-ii-hunting-headlight---camo-soft-ball-cap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">headlamp</a></li>
<li>.22 caliber rifle</li>
<li>Hip waders are preferred but <a href="https://timetogowild.com/categories/footwear/shoes-and-boots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a pair of comfortable boots</a> are ideal for a long up or downhill stroll in the woods</li>
<li>A can-do attitude will help!</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3>Additional Gear Suggestion:</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://timetogowild.com/categories/dog-gear/gps-collars-and-handhelds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GPS Tracking System</a> makes getting lost a lot less likely and gives you eyes on your dog even from a long distance</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>Coonhound Breeds To Choose From</h2>
&nbsp;
I was first introduced to raccoon hunting with a couple of treeing walker coonhounds, "Snitches" Get Stitches, and "Monster" Bawls. It was my first introduction to the breed, and I don't know if I could ever have another coonhound breed. But there are multiple breeds to choose from, and all of them have a place in the woods chasing and treeing raccoons!
&nbsp;
There are <a href="https://www.ukcdogs.com/coonhounds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven breeds of coonhounds recognized by the United Kennel Club</a>. The first recognized breed was the black and tan coonhound, registered in 1900. Other breeds include the red-bone coonhound, Treeing Walker coonhound, English coonhound, American Leopard hound, Bluetick coonhound, and Plott coonhound.
&nbsp;
Fun fact, the Plott hound is the only one of the seven whose ancestry doesn't trace back to the Foxhound! We will discuss more on what makes all of these hounds special later in this series.
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/Raccoon+Hunter+2.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="667" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Why Should You Raccoon Hunt?</h2>
I can't say for sure what you may love about raccoon hunting would be the same reasoning as mine. Let me tell you what I love and why I think it's vital raccoon hunting stays alive, and then you can hit the woods and decide for yourself!
&nbsp;
<h3>1. Raccoons are a major source of crop and egg layer nest destruction.</h3>
While raccoon populations are hardy, they are a big part of the declining numbers of pheasants and turkeys in some areas due to the accessibility of their nests and eating their eggs. An overpopulation of raccoons spreads diseases such as rabies, and their growing populations push them out to urban areas, sometimes causing a mess of issues.
&nbsp;
<h3>2. Harvesting Raccoon Pelts &amp; Eating Raccoon Meat</h3>
Although the price of fur has significantly declined over the years, there are still ways to utilize their pelts and sell them if that is of interest. And yes, you can eat them! There is an array of raccoon recipes online to give a try: tacos, barbecued raccoon, burgers, casserole and more!
&nbsp;
<h3>3. Experiencing The Raccoon Woods at Night with Your Hound</h3>
There is something magical about the woods at night. You will hear things you have never heard and see things from a new perspective. The relationship between a handler and their hound, listening to the sounds they call out as they find a track or tree up a raccoon, communicating with us about their progress the whole hunt through. When everything falls into place, your hound barking every breath, and you shine that tree to see you have successfully found yourself a raccoon.
&nbsp;
I have learned so much from becoming a raccoon hunter and met some incredible people and some amazing hounds. It has opened my eyes, changed my world, and it's made me a better woodsman.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Steph Lane
&nbsp;
@wildenroute
<a href="http://www.woodsandwatersproject.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.woodsandwatersproject.com</a>

A beginner’s guide to hunting raccoons with hounds and 3 reasons to raccoon hunt written by Steph Lane.

3 Reasons To Raccoon Hunt | A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting Raccoons with Hounds | GoWild Houndsmen

3 Reasons To Raccoon Hunt | A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting Raccoons with Hounds

By: Brad Luttrell,&nbsp;Co-Founder &amp; CEO of GoWild
GoWild has given me so much more than I could have ever dreamed. I&rsquo;ve been all over the country hunting and fishing. I&rsquo;ve been to events that people would give their first child&rsquo;s naming rights to just for a few hours to attend. I&rsquo;ve met the industry&rsquo;s highest profile individuals. I don&rsquo;t toss around the word &ldquo;blessed&rdquo; much, but if anyone is blessed, it&rsquo;s me.&nbsp;
One of the recurring and surprising things that&rsquo;s happened with this journey has been the number of people who have invited me to come hunting and fishing with them. This community we&rsquo;ve all built means so much to individuals, it&rsquo;s not uncommon to wake up to a fresh invite on some new adventure. Unfortunately, I&rsquo;ve had to turn most of these offers down simply because priority number one is always running and growing the company.&nbsp;
I recently got an offer that I couldn&rsquo;t turn down, though. Through the community, I&rsquo;ve become very curious about houndsmen. When Chris and Heath from the <a href="https://houndsmanxp.com/">Houndsman XP podcast</a> invited a few GoWild folks to join them for a black bear hunt, I jumped at the chance. Getting to a chance at my first bear while seeing some of the best houndsmen in the country work was too good to pass up.&nbsp;
Derek and I set off to Virginia to see what these houndsmen were all about. What I came back with was much more than a bear&mdash;although I did get to take a trophy bear, which <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5syrOA4fovUlRbYyNEKl7V?si=a3c830192f2447b2">listeners of the [UNCENSORED] by GoWild podcast know</a>.&nbsp;
I came back with a fresh perspective on hunting with dogs.&nbsp;&nbsp;
First, let&rsquo;s define it
&ldquo;Houndsman&rdquo; is a common term within hunting, but let&rsquo;s just clarify it for anyone wondering. A houndsman is someone who trains hounds specifically for hunting. How most people think of training is getting a dog to do what you want&mdash;sit, heel, fetch, or maybe just stop chewing up your shoes. Comparing that to what these guys do is like comparing a high school quarterback to Tom Brady.&nbsp;
These dogs are in a league of their own&mdash;they&rsquo;re pro athletes.&nbsp;
Houndsmen &ldquo;run&rdquo; their dogs multiple times per week for training. They&rsquo;re calculating their caloric burn and intake down to the calorie. And the body fat on one of these dogs is similar to a professional marathoner. With no exaggeration, they dogs are Olympic-level athletes.&nbsp;
Houndsmen work with dogs for all kinds of hunts. They run hogs, bears, deer, racoons, mountain lions, bobcats, and so on. It amazes me that a dog can have such depth in its training because every single hunt is so different. To add to that, these dogs can fairly easily run 30 miles in a day.&nbsp;
Hunting with hounds is a controversial topic outside of hunting, and it&rsquo;s disappointing to see hunters even tearing into these guys. Having now been around both bird dogs and hunted with houndsmen for bear, I have to say, most of the critics have no grounds for an argument.&nbsp;
My experience with hounds
Derek had a successful bear hunt back in September, which made for one of our most <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/58KUux7kduelF5vPIA1ep1?si=3ae2b00eba2d414c">popular podcasts of the year</a>. That hunt was considerably different, though, as it was Colorado spot and stalk. We were both coming in without any experience with this kind of hunt. We knew it would be different, we just didn&rsquo;t know exactly how it would be different.&nbsp;
We dealt with some weather coming in. It rained us out the day before, then the temps dropped considerably. We were hunting the Appalachian mountains and with the elevation, all of this moisture froze over, creating some pretty gnarly conditions. Thick ice clung to the trees, laurel and rhododendron. That may seem like a nonfactor if you&rsquo;re not familiar with our nation&rsquo;s oldest mountains, but the laurel clings to trails and covers much of the hillside. This comes back around in this story.
On day one, we set off hiking along a trail that was often partially covered by the laurel. The leaves were heavy with the ice blankets as we pushed through. Heath led, breaking through the icy fingers of the trees. Our pace was brisk and much more intense than I anticipated. We were four miles deep when we treed our first bear.&nbsp;
We were 750 yards from the treed bear, and Heath said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry, guys.&rdquo; Little did Derek and I know why Heath was sorry, but we soon found out. We plowed into the thickest brush I have ever been in, and I grew up in Appalachia. 20 minutes later, I was looking up at a 200 pound black bear. After another 10 minutes of what felt like chaos to me, but was actually a perfectly executed plan for the team, I had a dead bear on the ground.&nbsp;
Those in opposition of hound hunting would say the dogs did all of the work. But really, in order to get dogs to execute on this game plan, Heath and the entire team (we had what I think was about six teams running dogs) train and run their dogs all year long to be able to perform this effectively. Heath would be quick to add that my hunt was especially fortunate, given we had a bear down in two hours.&nbsp;
Whitetail hunting takes planning for success, but truthfully, anyone could sit in the family&rsquo;s buddy stand during the rut and get a great passerby buck. It&rsquo;s just the truth&mdash;and I love whitetail hunting. You can&rsquo;t do that with dogs. These guys prep all year for this moment.&nbsp;
Heath coordinated our plan the night before, and the teams came into this valley from four or five different trail heads. We started maybe six miles from one group, which was nearly an hour&rsquo;s drive away. To me and Derek, this performance was anything but easy. In fact, I watched all of this happen and I still don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s something I would ever even aspire to do, simply because it&rsquo;s too much work. These guys and gals are a rare breed of hunters who are the furthest thing from the stereotype of hunters who make hunting too easy.&nbsp;
Day two was quite a bit different and more of what many traditionally think of with hounds. The teams met up at one trail head and &ldquo;rigged&rdquo; their dogs, which means driving with a dog standing on the dogbox, sniffing for a bear scent. Derek and I rode with Chris Powell from Houndsman XP, and were once again in awe of the knowledge. Every now and then the dog would let out a howl, and Chris would grumble something about how she wasn&rsquo;t doing what she needed to do. Then, a few minutes later, the dog would start to yodel out another howl, and Chris would say &ldquo;that&rsquo;s a good one.&rdquo;
It sounded the exact same to me and Derek.
Our dog picked up a scent and the race was on. Chris let her loose to investigate, then another, and another. Trucks were flying by, getting ahead of the race, letting dogs go, monitoring progress on the screens and we were once again in orchestrated chaos.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;ve seen the movie &ldquo;Twister,&rdquo; you know what this looked like. Hound hunting is effectively storm chasing.&nbsp;
More to gain together&nbsp;
I shared a version of this tale on LinkedIn, and someone called me blood thirsty. This is a typical response when talking about bear hunting with anti hunters. We hunters know that&rsquo;s so far from the truth, but when it comes to hunting with dogs, we&rsquo;re too often tearing each other down.&nbsp;
I ask anyone who hasn&rsquo;t hunted with dogs to spare the judgment and especially the constant digs at houndsmen. Our community of hunters is too small and fragile to let it rot with internal toxicity. We need to bond together, and to accept that not everyone hunts like we do. There are levels to all hunting. I grew up squirrel hunting (without dogs), and I have never seen anyone tear into your average squirrel hunting because it&rsquo;s easy&mdash;with or without dogs.&nbsp;
For some reason, many hunters do the exact thing we criticize nonhunters for doing by anthropomorphizing animals. It seems that within hunting, hunters are guilty of thinking killing big game with dogs is different than small. It&rsquo;s demoralizing to our cause of building a conservation-minded and ethical brand of hunting.&nbsp;
I take the time to share these thoughts and my experience because I know there are more people who haven&rsquo;t hunted with dogs than those who have. If you&rsquo;ve never done it, stop criticizing it and go try it. It&rsquo;s far more challenging than it seems and you just can&rsquo;t understand the work that goes into it until you&rsquo;ve seen it in action. Go listen to Chris and Heath&rsquo;s podcast and hear how much work actually goes into it. And most of all, focus your energy on something that&rsquo;s going to help us all&mdash;that is, all hunters&mdash;in our pursuit to share the joy that is being a part of nature.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re stronger together.
About the Author Brad Luttrell is the Cofounder, CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://timetogowild.com/download?utm_source=Story&amp;utm_medium=RinellaRebuttal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoWild,</a> a social commerce platform for hunting, shooting and fishing enthusiasts. The award-winning writer, photographer and creative director quit his advertising career to become an entrepreneur after being disenchanted with Silicon Valley&rsquo;s treatment of hunters. Since 2016, he and three cofounders have built and scaled GoWild, a platform GearJunkie called the best social media app for hunters of 2021. Luttrell has made his fight against Silicon Valley public, having boycotted and deleted his personal social profiles and pulled his company&rsquo;s budget from Facebook and Instagram. Despite all of this, Luttrell&rsquo;s friends mostly just know him for his Double Smoked Venison Chili.

Hunting with hounds is a controversial topic outside of hunting, and it’s disappointing to see hunters even tearing into these guys. Having now been around both bird dogs and hunted with houndsmen for bear, I have to say, most of the critics have no grounds for an argument. 

Hunters: It’s time to stop dogging the houndsmen

Hunters: It’s Time to Stop Dogging the Houndsmen

By: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t.mieden/">Tyler Mieden</a> |<a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/"> Okayest Hunter</a> |<a href="https://www.wskennels.com/"> Waterdog Specialties Kennels</a>
It's finally hunting season and you're excited to get out in the field for your gun dog&rsquo;s first season. All gun dog owners, myself included, hope their pup will be a hunting machine from the moment they first step foot into the field for a hunt. This is rarely the case. That reality is, your gun dog's first hunt and first hunting season is a learning experience for both of you. To be fair to both of you, it's important to set realistic expectations around the first season and first few hunts. As you take your dog out into the field, here are a few key points to keep in mind.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">There's no substitute for an actual hunt.&nbsp;</h3>
Perhaps you went out on an early season dove or waterfowl hunt. Did it seem like you had a different dog out hunting than what you've trained all summer? No matter how much we try to simulate a hunt in training, there's nothing quite like an actual hunt. The level of excitement, the sights, smells, etc. can take your dog to another level. That's okay. It's your job as a handler to keep them under control and safe in these new settings.
<h3 dir="ltr">Your dog is still learning.&nbsp;</h3>
Every hunt is a learning experience for your dog, but the learning curve is steepest during the first few hunts and the first season. There's a lot to see and experience for them including your own excitement they have to process and regulate. If you've hunted with a seasoned and well trained gun dog, they will seem to anticipate whats about to happen, have a great cadence with their handler, and be under control. If you are duck hunting, they&rsquo;ll watch the sky for birds. Your dog may look to the horizon instead of up into the sky. That&rsquo;s okay too. It takes time for dogs to learn those skills and hunt effectively. Seasoned dogs are seasoned for a reason. They've been through multiple hunting seasons and have learned through various scenarios they've encountered in the field.
<h3 dir="ltr">Be patient and be consistent.&nbsp;</h3>
Have realistic expectations for what your gun dog can do based on what you've trained. For example, don't expect your dog to trail a running rooster for a 1/2 mile right out of the gates if they've never done it before. The likelihood that your dog will be outsmarted by a cunning rooster is high and that's okay. Be patient with your dog as they learn the ropes and go through these learning experiences. However, being patient doesn't mean compromising your training standards in the field. For example, if you are duck hunting and haven't let your dog break in training, why allow it when you are hunting? Hold your training standards in the field and avoid your dog developing bad habits.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Your training will break down during the season.&nbsp;</h3>
This may seem like the opposite of the prior point, but there are certain aspects that will break down. An example will help illustrate this point. My dog picks up hundreds of birds every year guiding. At the start of the year, he has great mouth habits with birds. By the end of the season, he gets a "happy mouth" as I call it, and will roll birds or regrip them more than is needed. This is okay. I keep notes on what I want to revisit, and do just that once hunting season is over and we start training again.
As dog owners, the most important thing we can be is fair. Realistic expectations help us to be fair on our journey with our gun dogs. There is no destination with your gun dog - only a continuous learning cycle filled with memories. Enjoy this journey and every hunt with them this hunting season.
Happy hunting!

All gun dog owners, myself included, hope their pup will be a hunting machine from the moment they first step foot into the field for a hunt. This is rarely the case. That reality is, your gun dog's first hunt and first hunting season is a learning experience for both of you.

Setting Realistic Expectations For Your Gun Dog - GoWild Hunting Dog Article

Setting Realistic Expectations For Your Gun Dog

By: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/t.mieden/">Tyler Mieden</a> |<a href="https://www.okayesthunter.com/"> Okayest Hunter</a> |<a href="https://www.wskennels.com/"> Waterdog Specialties Kennels</a>
If you're like most hunters, you've been eagerly awaiting the start of early season hunting opportunities. This is an especially exciting time of year for those of us who hunt with our gun dogs, as we get to put to use the skills we've trained into them during the off season. <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/3-Things-To-Focus-On-To-Get-Your-Hunting-Dog-Ready-Gun-Dog-Preseason-Tuneup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early season hunting conditions can be tough on dogs</a> though, especially when temperatures&nbsp; still feel summer like with temps above 80 degrees or warmer if you are in southern states.&nbsp;
When the birds are flying, you are going through shells, your dog is flying around, and you are having a great time with your buddies, our mind can wander from the care of our dogs. Despite our excitement to chase birds and watch our dogs work, their safety needs to be top of mind at all times. Here are a few tips for taking care of your gun dog during early season hunts in the heat:
Make sure your dog has plenty of water available at all times, both during and after hunts.
Dogs get dehydrated too. Providing an ample supply of water and paying attention to their physical cues is important to keep them safe.
Avoid hunting during the hottest part of the day. If possible, hunt in the morning or evening when it's cooler.
The hotter the temperatures, the quicker your dog will overheat. This one step, if your schedule allows, can pay dividends as a 10 degree difference in temperature makes a huge difference.
Take breaks often and provide a shady spot for your dog to rest in.
If your dog is putting in a lot of work picking up doves or putting on miles chasing upland birds, plan to give them "smoke breaks" before they become overheated or dehydrated. Taking a short break to provide water and let them cool down will pay dividends over the course of your hunt. If there's shade available, use it.
Keep an eye on your dog for signs of heat exhaustion, such as excessive panting or drooling, lethargy, or vomiting. If you notice any of these signs, get your dog out of the heat immediately. Your dog is worth more than an extra bird or two.
Your gun dog will continue to work past a point of physical exertion that can cause serious harm if you allow it. There's a difference between heavy panting and labored panting. You may see other physical changes as well including a change in the gum or tongue color. As your dog works pay attention to these and any other physical cues your dog provides to help keep them safe. Read <a href="https://timetogowild.com/stories/The-Hound-Hunters-Glossary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hound Hunter's Glossary - Terms You Hear From Dog Hunters Defined</a> If you dog is not in optimal shape, consider shortening your hunt as out of shape dogs tend to overheat quicker than dogs that have been conditioning in the off season. Dog breed and coat type are also factors to consider as you head to the field. Dogs with heavier coats,&nbsp; such as Golden Retrievers, can overheat faster than dogs with lighter coats.
If you've ever seen a dog become overheated, you'll know what to look for. I've seen my own dog tip over and unable to move due to overheating. It was an incredibly scary situation, and one I wasn't paying enough attention to as a few kids were throwing bumpers for him in 85 degree heat in my front yard.
We owe it to our dogs to have their best interests in mind at all times. Plan ahead and follow these simple tips to help ensure that your gun dog stays safe and healthy during those warm early season hunts. With a little preparation, you and your gun dog can enjoy a successful and enjoyable hunting season together.

When the birds are flying, you are going through shells, your dog is flying around, and you are having a great time with your buddies, our mind can wander from the care of our dogs. Despite our excitement to chase birds and watch our dogs work, their safety needs to be top of mind at all times.

Early Season Gun Dog Care: Keeping Your Hunting Partner Safe While Hunting In The Heat - GoWild Hunting Dog Article

Early Season Gun Dog Care: Keeping Your Hunting Partner Safe While Hunting In The Heat

Decoding the most common vocabulary used by hound hunters.

By: Josh Hayes of <a href="https://www.ontrackmediagroup.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On Track Media Group</a>
Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ontrackmediagroup.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On Track Media Group</a>
Let&rsquo;s face it, being new to the outdoors can at times be a bit overwhelming, and if you&rsquo;re interested in becoming a hound hunter, the intimidation factor and barrier to entry are probably set even higher. But don&rsquo;t let anything you&rsquo;ve seen or any of your own worries stop you from your new pursuit, I think you&rsquo;ll come to find that hound hunters are often more than willing to guide a newcomer that has a genuine interest in taking up this cherished pastime.&nbsp;
Maybe by now you&rsquo;ve been following along on some of the social media forums, listened to a few podcasts, and started hanging out in the &ldquo;Houndsman&rdquo; trail on the <a href="https://timetogowild.com/download">GoWild app</a>, but your mind is still flooded with questions and you&rsquo;re trying to decode all the new terms you&rsquo;ve been hearing. In case you&rsquo;ve been a little hesitant to ask, we thought we&rsquo;d lay it all out for you in a simple and digestible way to help you get started in your journey as a new hound hunter, or if nothing else, allow anyone with a curious mind to better understand what the heck the hound hunters are talking about!
<h2 dir="ltr">The Hound Hunter&rsquo;s Glossary</h2>
AKC: American Kennel Club
Back Track: When a dog is running a track in the wrong direction from where the animal travelled.
Bawl: A low-pitched, long, drawn-out bark, almost a howl.
Bay/Bay Up: When several dogs corner or encircle an animal on the ground and keep it from moving away, often a bear or a hog.
Bloodline: A dog&rsquo;s pedigree or genetic lineage.
Box/Dog Box: Enclosed structure where dogs ride in the back of a truck, often secured for safety. Many big game hunting dog boxes have openings for dogs to stick out their heads to air scent and strike a track while the hunter drives around.
Broke Dog: A dog that is well-trained, compliant to commands, and can be trusted to avoid chasing trash.
Cast: 1) The action of sending a dog away in the woods to locate a track, or 2) when used as a competition hunting term, an individual round where multiple hunters send their dogs out against each other to earn points for locating tracks and treeing game.
Chain Gang: a.k.a stakeout chain, a long chain staked into the ground on both ends used for tying out multiple dogs. Each dog has its own drop chain that connects them to the main chain. Often used for managing multiple dogs during training and while travelling.&nbsp;
Cold Nose: A dog with a strong nose for picking up old scent when limited ground scent is available.&nbsp;
Cold Track: An old track from an animal left behind by at least several hours or more, with very minimal scent available.
Competition Hunt/Comp Hunt: A registered event in which hunters run their dogs against each other in a competition-style &ldquo;hunt&rdquo; (no animals are killed) to earn points, often for coonhounds and squirrel dogs. Depending on the competition, dogs earn points for striking, tracking, and treeing.
Crossbred/Crossbreeding: Breeding of different breeds to combine the desirable traits of each into the pups.
Drag: A scent drag, where artificial scent or an artificial track is laid on the ground either for training or competition purposes.
Dry Ground: The conditions often seen in dusty, arid, western environments by big game hound hunters that provide very difficult scenting conditions.
E-Collar: An electric/electronic collar that provides static stimulation, tone, and vibrate sensations and used for the training and tracking of a dog off-leash.
Finished Dog: Similar to a broke dog, one that is fully trained and has experience hunting. Typically available for purchase, with the advantage being they&rsquo;ve already been trained and are ready to hit the ground running with their new owner.&nbsp;
Handheld: The receiver unit of a GPS tracking collar system carried by the hunter, often with a visual display that shows a map and movements details (direction, distance, and speed) of the dog(s) while they are tracking or treeing game.
Hot Nose: A dog that only picks up on recent, fresh scent.
Line Bred/Line Breeding: Breeding dogs from the same bloodline, to continue to pass on the desirable traits of that lineup of dogs.
Loose Mouth: Barking not associated with tracking or treeing (a.k.a. babbler).
NKC: National Kennel Club
Opens Up/Opening Up: Just after the initial strike, a dog will begin repeatedly barking as it starts following the track.
Out-Cross/Out-Crossing: Breeding dogs of different bloodlines within the same breed, to combine the desirable traits of each parent into the pups.
PKC: Professional Kennel Club
Pleasure Hunting: Hunting for the fun of it!
Registered Dog: A dog that has been bred into or displays physical breed standards according to any one of the common dog registries (AKC, NKC, PKC, UKC, etc.)&mdash;think, &ldquo;a dog with papers.&rdquo;
Slick Treeing: When a dog is barking treed, but no animal is found by the hunter; a false tree; an empty tree.&nbsp;
Split Tree: When two or more dogs are each treeing game in different trees at the same time.
Started Dog: A dog that has some training and generally has some experience hunting but is not yet finished. Often available for purchase, this option cuts the training time down for the new owner.
Stim: Short for stimulation, the sensation or static shock administered to the e-collar on the dog by the hunter from his handheld. Often used for correcting an unwanted behavior or enforcing a known command.
Strike: When a dog first smells a new track, he often lets out a loud, powerful announcement bark or bawl.
Strike Dog/Striker/Box Dog/Rig Dog: A strong-nosed dog that will ride rigged up on top of the dog box as the hunter drives around to strike a track (most often when looking for bear or lions).
Stud Dog: A male dog used for breeding.
Tie Out/Stake Out: A long metal stake that is used to tether dog(s) and keep them in place. Many tie outs allow for multiple dogs to be connected on a line (chain gang).
Tight Mouth: A dog that does very little barking while tracking.
Tone: An audible sound on the dog&rsquo;s collar made by a hunter who presses a button on his handheld. Often used to recall a dog from a tree or to break them away from chasing trash.
Track: The trail of ground scent left behind by an animal as it moves.
Tracking: When a dog is nose-to-the-ground and moving forward following an animal&rsquo;s track.
Tracking Collar: A collar with a built-in GPS unit that follows a dogs&rsquo; movement (direction, distance, and speed). Can be used to indicate when a dog is treed and out of earshot.
Trash: Any non-targeted game animal or other wildlife.
Trash Breaking: The conditioning of a dog to stop chasing trash.
Tree Dog: Any hunting dog that was bred to chase a game animal up into a tree or locate the end of a track and find the animal in a tree and then bark at the tree to indicate to the hunter they have found the animal.
Treeing/Treed: Once the dogs have located the end of a track and/or visually found the animal in a tree, they will bark excitedly and often place their forearms on the truck of the tree to indicate to the hunter to come in.&nbsp;
Tree Bark: The excited, short, choppy barks and bawls by the dog(s) once they&rsquo;ve chased up or located the animal in the tree and indicate to the hunter to come in.
Treed &amp; Freed: Describing when an animal like a bear, cat, or coon is treed but the hunters and dogs walk away leaving the animal to be. Often practiced during comp hunts, during the training season, and anytime a hunter selectively chooses not to take an animal for any reason.
UKC: United Kennel Club

Decoding the most common vocabulary used by hound hunters.

The Hound Hunter's Glossary | Terms You Hear From Dog Hunters Defined - GoWild Hound Hunting Article

The Hound Hunter's Glossary | Terms You Hear From Dog Hunters Defined

The mornings are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. That means the season, and time afield with your dog, is right around the corner. It also means that the time is running out to prepare your dog for the rigors of hunting. Here are 3 key areas to focus on as you get ready for Fall hunting. Before we get to those key areas, it&rsquo;s important to note that because we are so close to hunting season for most,&nbsp; we aren&rsquo;t looking to introduce anything new, but to refine the skills your gun dog already has developed based on their training level and experience.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Dog's Conditioning</h2>
The most important thing you can do is to start conditioning your dog. This is one aspect of training that many forget about whether your dog is chasing pheasants in the upland field or picking up ducks in a marsh. Fatigue causes trained behaviors to break down and shortens your hunt. A well conditioned dog allows you as the handler to continue the quality habits you&rsquo;ve trained into your dog and keep your expectations high.&nbsp;
The last benefit, and maybe the most important, to conditioning is preventing injury. I view gun dogs much like athletes. When athletes show up for the season out of shape, their likelihood of injury increases dramatically. The same is true for dogs. Get your dog out running and swimming as much as you can before the opener. They&rsquo;ll love it and you won&rsquo;t regret this time either.&nbsp;
<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/com.gowild.pages/hunting-dog-retreiving.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="499" />
<h2 dir="ltr">The Dog's Obedience</h2>
The foundation of any gun dog is obedience. From steadiness in the dog blind to recall in the switchgrass, having control of your dog while hunting is key to an enjoyable and safe hunt. A summer spent lounging on the couch without training will cause even the most well trained dog&rsquo;s obedience level to atrophy.&nbsp;
The great part about obedience training is that it's easily done anywhere. Start in the yard, keep your sessions short (5 minutes) and up beat, and start building connection and expectations with your dog again. Better yet, do your obedience sessions at the same location you are conditioning your dog, and then start to add more elements and distractions to your training sessions.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Put Your Dog In Hunting Situations</h2>
The last piece of the puzzle as you get your gun dog ready for the upcoming season is putting them in hunting situations. This is the most fun piece of preparation and the one that gets folks excited about. Before diving in, there are many questions to think through as you plan this piece.
<h3 dir="ltr">Planning To Train Your Dog In Hunting Situations</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Where will you be hunting? - fields, marsh, farm ponds, big water, etc
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
What will your dog be hunting from? boat, dog blind, etc?
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Will you be hunting with a group?
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Will you be hunting with other dogs?
</li>
</ul>
As you start to answer these questions, they&rsquo;ll guide you to simulating a hunt. For example, if you&rsquo;ll be duck hunting with a group, get together a few buddies, set up a blind, call, shoot blanks, and work on your dog's steadiness and marking. If you&rsquo;ll have multiple dogs hunting, add that element. If you will be solo upland hunting, get your hands on training birds - pigeons, training birds from a local game farm, etc. - and handle your dog like you would during a hunt.&nbsp;
When you start simulating the hunt, the work you&rsquo;ve put in conditioning your dog and shoring up obedience levels will pay off. Continue to demand and expect the same standards you&rsquo;ve been training to in this simulated hunt. There will be more excitement, more distractions, and more stimulation than you can replicate any other time outside of an actual hunt, which makes it an amazing training opportunity. While it might not be perfect, this exposure is going to benefit your dog.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Always Be Training Your Hunting Dog</h2>
I view every situation as a training situation with my dog. He&rsquo;s always being conditioned based on the taught behaviors I expect and what I allow. If you haven&rsquo;t set aside the training time with your dog in the off season, that&rsquo;s okay. You have time to put together an off season training plan for 2023. Right now, focus on what&rsquo;s most important, and accomplish what you can before the season is here and you are out making memories afield with your 4 legged hunting partner. Like any type of hunting, preparation is key. Take the time you have now to prepare your gun dog, and enjoy the season ahead.&nbsp;

The mornings are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. That means the season, and time afield with your dog, is right around the corner. It also means that the time is running out to prepare your dog for the rigors of hunting.

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