Knocking on Doors: Best Practices for Gaining Private Land Access for Upland Bird Hunting

In this article, Project Upland's Director of Development Will Newell discusses the best practices for dove hunting solo. Dove hunting alone allows you to avoid the nonsense of September and hunt mourning doves on your own terms.Check out Duck Camp's comfortable and practical dove hunting gear at duckcamp.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

This article was originally published in the summer 2026 issue of Project Upland Magazine. In this article, historian R.K. Sawyer explains how, in the 1910s and 1920s, Frederic C. Walcott envisioned federally funded public hunting grounds. What followed was a six-year battle over hunting access, states’ rights, and who should control America’s wildlife.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, biologist Kyle Hedges discusses how you can successfully hunt mourning doves during the early, mid-, and late season.Check out Duck Camp's fall gear at duckcamp.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, James Davis compares and contrasts the Big Three retrieving breeds: Labs, Goldens, and Chesapeakes. Use code PU20 for 20% off onX Hunt.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, Kirk Miller, a Pheasants Forever chapter president with over 35 years of bird hunting experience, discusses how, with the right preparation, approach, and etiquette, asking for permission to hunt private lands can lead to years of exceptional upland bird hunting and lasting relationships.Protect your hearing at alclair.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, Erik Jordahl writes about the art of escutcheon, or the engraving of shotgun stock ovals. He also explores whether engraved stock ovals diminish value or complete a story half-told.This article was originally published in the spring 2026 issue of Project Upland Magazine.Check out Duck Camp's hunting and lifestyle gear at duckcamp.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, wildlife technician Kendall Schenck writes about the New England cottontail, a rare, native northeastern species that is vulnerable to habitat loss, competition with eastern cottontails, and increasingly variable weather patterns.Use code PU20 to get 20% off onX Hunt at onxhunt.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, Mike Fitzgerald reflects on how learning patience, woodsmanship, awareness, and other skills while small game hunting has built him into a better big game hunter.Check out Migra's upland loads at migraammunitions.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, Mike Fitzgerald breaks down his offseason checklist for bird hunters and reminds us that we should be replacing broken gear, breaking in new hunting boots, shooting our shotguns regularly, and more.Check out Duck Camp's awesome gear duckcamp.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.

In this article, Jennifer Wapenski describes her experiences traveling to Germany to attend an annual hunting dog event: the Schorlemer test. There, she got to witness Deutsch Langhaars in their homeland exhibiting the versatile hunting abilities they're known for around the world.This article was originally published in the spring 2025 issue of Project Upland Magazine.Use code PU20 to get 20% off onX Hunt at onxhunt.com.Now is the time to break in your boots for the season ahead. Learn more at IrishSetter.com, or try on a pair of Irish Setter's Wingshooters at your favorite retailer today.Read more at projectupland.com.