Edgar Castillo
Edgar Castillo is a recently retired law enforcement officer for a large Kansas City metropolitan agency. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for twelve years. Edgar’s passion lies in the uplands as he self-documents his travels across public lands throughout Kansas hunting open fields, walking treelines, & bustin’ through plum thickets in search of wild birds. He’s a contributing writer for several publications and e-magazines/websites. Follow the author’s adventures on Instagram @hunt_birdz
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Grouse Creek
Because early people depended on bodies of water for survival and travel, they were among the first geographical features to receive names. They served as key points and markers. Their names were given by the Indigenous people, plainsmen, voyaging pioneers, settlers, explorers, and hunters.
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Robert Ruark, “Bwana Ndege!” the Bird Master
Make no mistake, writer Robert Ruark was a bird hunter long before he even pulled the trigger of a rifle. The shotgun was the instrument that emotionally connected Ruark when he was a young boy hunting quail, ducks, and training dogs, with his grandfather. Though he is more well known for his wild exotic hunting exploits, much…
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Hemingway’s Secret African Passion..Wingshooting
“Bwana! Bwana! Ganga Namaqua!” The swift flying birds were dive bombing the small watering hole. Ernest, who was lazily sitting against a large boulder, was busy watching giraffes slowly move through acacia trees, along with a herd of nearby grazing zebras. He had been waiting for the…
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Five Quotes About Upland Hunting
It’s never been a better time to be an upland hunter. Whether you are a beginner, novice, or a salty and well-seasoned bird hunter, upland hunting offers many rewards. Both internally and externally. We all have become afflicted and drawn to the variety of what the uplands offer throughout various regions of this country. Whether we are chasing bobs in Georgia or roosters in Kansas, to chukars and Huns in “the West”, or traipsing through an October scene in the great Northwoods of yellow aspens that conjures up visions of flushing ruffs and doodles…upland hunting is an emotion cleansing activity with dogs, friends, and the birds we love to chase.
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The “Euro” Pointer
By Edgar Castillo History reveals that this bird dog should be renamed to show its true countries of origin. Let us start with the origin of the Pointer. Just because “English” is in the description, it does not mean the dog originated in England. The English will probably tell you, yes, citing the old British policy to “Make the world England.” Think more along the lines such as the canine was “created” or refined on the British Isle. If an English Pointer could speak, it would tell you the same thing in a profound British accent. To their owners, we can refer to them as English Sympathizers, the Pointer is…
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A Carolina Christmas…in the Southern uplands
Winter is here, and leather boots are on the go Wingshooters in orange walking through evergreen groves Red Partridgeberries danglin' everywhere Timberdoodles flushin' in pairs It must be that time of year that brings warm cheer
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The Wild Fowl Tastes of Twain
When speaking about Mark Twain (1835-1910), we usually think of him putting pen to paper and not holding a fork. Twain loved to eat. Most people traveling throughout Europe would say the food is exquisite. Whether one is in Spain, France, or Italy, the cuisine is supposed to be the pinnacle of culinary refinement. However, for Twain it was far from it. Twain made it clear while traveling in the 1870s that he preferred and longed for good, ol’ American food.
