Many years ago, a lone upland bird hunter’s chance of successfully finding and bringing down a quail, pheasant, grouse or woodcock was pretty good. However, over time, things have changed drastically - population decreases, loss of habitats, numbers of stocked birds being more limited than in years past, etc. In today’s world, a lone hunter is hard pressed to find action. He or she is better off hunting together with one or more friends to increase the chance of success. But, the really best success comes to those who hunt with a very well trained dog.

On Wednesday, September 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters at 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, bird hunters can discover the rewards of upland bird hunting at the free talk program, "Bird Dog Basics". David Trahan, of the On Point Kennel, will share his insights on bird dog training and hunting fundamentals, from puppy basics to "finished" hunting dogs. There is no pre-registration required for this program. Just show up. Be there early to obtain a good seat.

Dave Trahan will cover the finer points of the "whoa" command, "steady to flush" and retrieval, demonstrating with his newest canine companion, along with his seasoned hunting partner. The topics of Dave’s Bird Dog Basics program include flushing and pointing dogs. Dave Trahan, runs a business selling versatile premium-quality dog training equipment. He works dogs every day, using the equipment he sells. He also offers training services.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Small Game Project Leader, Julie Robinson, will also be on hand to talk about ongoing surveys for grouse and woodcock, as well as the insights on where to find these challenging birds. The Bird Dog Basics talk is part of a series of free Wednesday evening hunting talks being offered by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department this fall, featuring hunting experts and Fish and Game biologists. Mark Beauchesne, who is coordinating the hunting talks for Fish and Game, says, "I’m in the market for a bird dog puppy, so I am definitely going to be there to find out what I am getting into."

Although I don’t personally own a bird dog, I can attest to the big difference made by using a well trained bird dog. I have hunted with friends who have such dogs and it sure beats hunting without one today. Why? For one thing, that well trained dog can get into areas where birds hide and when you can’t get in to flush them out. This will be an interesting talk. If you are a bird hunter or interested in bird hunting, be sure to attend. Upland bird season opens on October 1st.