What to Bring the First Time You Go Duck-Hunting with Your Dog

Blog

If you're getting ready for duck-hunting season and are ready to bring your gun dog along for their first hunt, it's important that you plan ahead. Just because your dog has trained on decoys and is adept at running drills doesn't mean that they are a seasoned hunter. Because of this, you will need a few special items to bring along with you. These items are in addition to your own needs (hunting license, ammo, cameo, and so forth).

Whistle

Your dog is bound to be excited when they first hit the hunting ground. You want to be able to summon them and get their attention when they are out in the field. Rather than scream at the top of your lungs, you should have a whistle on hand. Ideally, it should be the same whistle that you use to train them.

First-Aid Kit

You should bring along a first-aid kit in case your dog becomes injured. Hopefully they won't, but should they slice open a paw while chasing after game, you want to be able to dress the wound on site and not have to deal with a bad cut that will bleed all over your truck, and more importantly, might continue to bleed and put the dog's health at risk. So you want antiseptic, gauze, wraps, and lots of tape.

Walkie-Talkies

This is important if you're planning on hunting with other people. You want to be able to communicate with them if your dog gets loose and heads out into the open terrain. This will enable you to avoid a potential shooting accident. Bring multiple walkie-talkies in case the other hunters don't bring their own. Always set the walkie talkies up ahead of time so that everyone is on the same channel.

Dog House or Dog Stand

If the weather is going to be very rough, then it's a good idea to bring some sort of shelter for your dog. During the down time when you're not shooting game, you want a space where the dog can hang out and keep warm. You most likely won't be close to your truck, so you can't rely on the truck for warmth. There are nice, portable dog houses (sometimes called dog caves) designed for hunting. They are weather proof and lightweight, but they provide the necessary shelter.

Alternatively, if the weather is warm, but you're going to be out in a marshy, swampy terrain, you might want to get a dog stand. These can be attached to trees, and the dog can sit up on them so they don't have to stand in mud all day. Humans can wear waders and warm clothing underneath, but dogs don't have this luxury. The folding dog stands are simple to attach to the tree (using straps), and they are really lightweight. You can set them a foot off the swampy ground, and the dog can relax until they are needed.

Talk to a professional such as Lion Country Supply for more ideas about what gear may be helpful to you. 

Share

19 September 2016