Upland bird hunting refers to birds that live only on land, unlike waterfowl such as geese and duck that live on the water. The upland bird hunter targets birds such as the pheasant, quail, grouse, and partridge. Many hunters prefer upland hunting because they are able to stay dry while practicing their favorite sport. The hunter after waterfowl must not only have waders, but a boat to have great success. Upland bird hunting is done in locations such as prairies or forests and the upland bird dog is often a hunter's best asset to the hunt.

A well-trained upland bird dog will use his great eyesight and sense of smell to track a bird. Once he finds where it is hiding he will alert the hunter, and after the hunter is in position, he'll give a signal and the dog will flush the bird from it's hiding spot, giving the hunter a chance to aim as it's flying away. It's imperative that a hunter invest in quality training for his dog; while much of what these dogs do is based on their instinctive traits, they are not born with an instinct for obedience; it must be taught. Using a bird dog becomes invaluable not only because the dog will be able to locate birds much better than a hunter, but he also allows the hunter to take aim while the dog flushes the bird; if the hunter were trying to do both things by himself it would be near impossible to achieve success.

It's important that a hunter get his bird dog from a breeder. If buying from a private citizen, a hunter just can't be sure of what he's getting. The best resource for finding breeders is by searching online. Be sure to get all of the information you can about your dog and its lineage, and be sure that you see records that the dog has had all of the required shots and immunizations. Also, it's important to make sure that your breeder is accredited by the state they practice in. With these few things in mind a hunter can be well on his way to enjoying upland bird hunting next season!