Take the Photo

by Lynn Dee Galey

On the heels of my last blog post about social media saturation, at first glance the suggestion to take more photos may seem hypocritical. But I want you to take more photos for you. For your memories, for the years to come.

It saddens me that I have almost no hunting photos of the many dogs I ran before the digital photo era. I have been blessed to own some very special dogs and they shine in my memories. I would so love though to be able to look through photos of hunts with them or to share them with friends who never got to meet those dogs. 

Before digital, carrying a camera was not common and no one with whom I bird hunted ever did so. On rare occasion there might have been a tailgate shot with birds taken that day but even that would have been unusual. When I bought and started to carry my first digital camera – a 1.3 mp pocket camera – I remember mixed responses from others ranging from annoyance to intrigue.

I now encourage puppy buyers to use a camera as a training tool. When the dog goes on point, pausing to take a photo prevents the common training/handling error of rushing in to the point. It trains the gunner to not rush and reinforces that the dog must hold point until the gunner arrives and flushes.

Of course, when hunting many situations don’t allow for that pause, especially hunting ruffed grouse. But woodcock hold well. On prairie birds it is a must that the dog be staunch until the gunner walks the distance to reach them so the 30 seconds to take the phone/camera from a pocket, snap a pic from a distance, and put it back in is often very doable.

You do not have to take a photo of every point, but try for an action photo of every hunt. Don't worry if it isn't "magazine worthy", this is for you. Include the scenery and the habitat, as enjoying the wild is such an important part of why we hunt. Tailgate shots are ok but pics of your dog on point with the mountains or October’s foliage behind them bring the hunt back to life. The many times that you look back at those photos you will be glad that you did.