The field of canine nutrition has come a long way since this writer began owning bird dogs. When we had Irish setters during my younger days, dog food was dog food and there was little brand choice on the shelves.
After joining the Outdoor Writers Association of America in the late 80s, attending a national meeting gave me a chance to meet Bob West, Purina’s ‘dog food guy.’ He was considered the most knowledgeable person in the new and emerging field of specialized, high-energy dog foods. He was an outstanding dog trainer and recently retired from Purina after being a leader in the dog nutrition world, which grew as hunting dog owners looked to use diet to improve performance.
After that introduction, over the years it has been my habit to read everything that came along on the topic of hunting dog nutrition. After leaving that conference, I enrolled in a program which provided me with free dog food and a spiffy Purina jacket in return for monitoring my bird dog.
At the time, it was a Brittany named Jude my father had adopted and I trained. The program was intended for those of us enrolled to give feedback on the new Purina food, which would become Hi Pro. It worked well for Jude and Purina was my choice going forward.
The performance dog food market has many competing products geared to hunters with dogs that need stamina and energy. If you Google “performance dog foods,” over a dozen brands pop up, and TV, sporting magazines and social media also provide many options. My Purina bias has been stated and my experience with that line of products has been good.
My mentor Gig Darey was a proponent of hi-energy dog foods and introducing that diet a month before the hunting season. The thought was that during the season, bird dogs need as much energy as possible from food, but not so much the rest of the year, as they could gain weight. Today, there is a great deal of info out there, plus many different points of view. Of course, edited sources like magazines are better than internet sources. You will find dozens of opinions as to what brands are best and why.
My simple mind is stuck on some basics. Food that is high in protein and fat is what is called for to feed an active dog. The best high-performance foods are 30/20. That means they contain 30% crude protein and 20% crude fat. If those numbers sound familiar, the same formula is used in puppy food. As a matter of fact, there are dog people who use puppy food during hunting season because it has the same nutritional value. My dogs have done great with Purina Pro Plan Performance food, but yours truly is not an expert.
When I have questions, I go to Steve Drew at Mount Tully Kennels in Orange. He is constantly updated by industry experts, and has a broad range of products and brands for all types of dogs, as well as just about every other pet you can imagine. Their prices are competitive, and we all understand how important it is to support local businesses. He stocks a large variety of products and has sources to get whatever you need.
Speaking of my dogs, they have been easing into activity and running about 30 minutes most days to get into hunting season shape. It is still a bit warm, and the woods are incredibly dry, so our forays have been more running and less bird finding, which is fine. Both are experienced and should be fine next week when it gets real.
Changes to deer hunting regs
Please note that a number of regulatory changes for deer hunting in Massachusetts are taking effect this fall. They include the following:
- The Youth Deer Permit can be used during any open deer season.
- Deer decoys can be used for hunting during the archery-only season.
- The daily antlerless bag limit has been removed, but seasonal limits are still in effect.
- Planted food plots and standing crops are legal to use for hunting.
- De-boning requirements have been expanded to all states outside of New England.
- For license year 2026, there is a new winter primitive firearms deer season for the month of January on Martha’s Vineyard and Elizabeth Island (WMZ 13) and Nantucket (WMZ 14).
- Antler shed hunting is exempt from possession permit requirements. Under previous laws, a tag was required for possession of any deer parts, including antlers. The new regulation allows anyone to collect and possess naturally shed antlers without needing any permit, tag or license.
A reminder from MassWildlife: Because fall is the breeding season for both moose and white-tail deer, motorists should be mindful of increased deer and moose activity, especially during early morning and evening hours. Moose, found in central and western parts of Massachusetts, breed in September and October. White-tailed deer breed from late October to early December.
Moose on the road are especially hazardous. The dark color and height of moose make them difficult to see in low light. Moose eyes rarely shine like deer eyes because their eyes are above headlight level. In addition, long legs and heavy top bodies make moose very dangerous to motorists when struck.
Observe road signs for moose and deer crossings and slow down. Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer, because it may lead to more risk and damage. Moose are less likely to move from the road than deer, so stay alert and brake when you see a moose in or near the road.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.