Jeffery S. Fraser runs Tsaina Lodge near Valdez, Alaska. When not tending to his business and his guests, Jeffery Fraser makes time for hunting and fishing in the Alaskan wilderness, often with the company of a trained bird dog.
2. Introduction
• Jeffery S. Fraser runs Tsaina Lodge near Valdez, Alaska.
When not tending to his business and his guests, Jeffery
Fraser makes time for hunting and fishing in the Alaskan
wilderness, often with the company of a trained bird
dog.
Dogs have assisted humans in their hunting efforts for
many thousands of years. The tradition dates back at
least 20,000 years, though it did not begin to take its
modern form until the dawn of agriculture, when
humans began to selectively breed pointers, greyhounds,
shepherds, mastiffs, and wolves. Today, most hunting
dogs can trace their ancestry to these five breeds.
3. Hunting Dogs
• Modern dog hunting relies on pointing, tracking,
and retrieving. Many dogs can creep up to prey and
then indicate its location by pointing or setting.
Other dogs are talented at tracking game over long
distances by scent. In bird hunting, retrieving is
important as well. Dogs are expected to pick up
fallen game carefully with a “soft mouth” and return
it to their master without damage.
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