10/31/2025
Your Friday Tidbit: That Special Feeling
Before there was Wingmasters there was a “special feeling” that was hard to explain when hunting with a bird dog. I started bottling up all the concepts on a hunt, the training of the dog, the training of yourself and everything coming together to be successful. When it does there is no better feeling. Hunting with a bird dog is the gift that keeps on giving. That gift I call Wingmasters. I’m not talking about just going hunting with a bird dog. I’m talking about honing your craft of being a high level Wingmaster.
The way you look at the landscape to determine how to hunt a new spot.
The gear you use to be comfortable on your adventure.
How you treat your body. A workout routine paired with what you eat to fuel yourself as an upland athlete.
The study of your quarry. Always trying to learn and journal what makes you successful different times a year on the birds you pursue.
Your Shotgunmanship.. Learning the ways birds fly and the proper positioning to make the shot with ease.
This is all your part of being a Wingmaster plus much more.
Now the best part…..
The way the dog stays in range.
The way the dog checks different objectives of terrain.
The way the dog uses air scent or foot scent to find the birds.
The heart of the dog on how long he hunts
The dog learning how control his adrenaline and kick in second gear
The way the dog pursues to get a flush or slams a magnificent point
The dog making a retrieve in the most thickest cover that you thought was impossible.
This, plus much more is the dog’s part of being a Wingmaster.
But as Wingmaster team is where the true beauty comes together.
Just you and your dog enjoying what you both love to do.
You leading the dog to the birds, the dog producing the birds and you harvesting the birds so the dog gets the reward of “feathers in their mouth.”
Taking a moment to enjoy the harvest of the pursuit you and the dog just had together.
This is what creates the pictures you can’t wait to show people. The pictures prompt the story of how it all went down.
The pride you have for your dog fills your
heart full of gratification. The love your dog has for you taking him on these adventures.
Tears of joy slip down your cheek that you quickly wipe away so no one sees it.
A sense of purpose, a sense pride, a sense of self love, a sense of gratitude and above all a sense of spirituality. A feeling that only you get to feel with your maker.
Bottle everything up and that’s what makes a true Wingmaster. Because once you become a Wingmaster. Life without a bird dog, just wouldn’t make sense.
As Always; We Be Rockin at Godspeed!
Michael D Vaughn Wingmasters
