Man's Best Friend (And Hunting Sidekick): A Photo Story
Photo via Ali Wilt
TRIGGER WARNING: This photo story depicts images of pheasant hunting and hunting rifles
Chris Wilt, my dad, was given his first hunting dog from an uncle when he was just a teenager. Many years later, working and hunting with dogs remains one of his primary interests and hobbies. I followed him along as he worked with our new German Shorthaired Pointer, 8-month-old Kaiser, usually called Kai, on a pheasant hunt.
With Wilt working from home since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dog has grown an incredibly strong attachment to his owner through spending nearly every minute of every day around him. Though I witness their loving relationship daily at home, I wanted to get a glimpse at how their bond translated into a hunting environment, where the team is “all-business” in accomplishing its task.
Photo by Ali Wilt
As the sun rises, the pair set out for Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area in Edinburgh, Ind. Wilt has paid a fee to do a reserved pheasant hunt here, his second this season, in order to give Kai practice finding, pointing, and retrieving birds. For these reserved hunts, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees release farm-raised pheasant throughout the area in order to provide hunting experiences for locals.
Every once in a while, Kai sweetly rests his head on Wilt's shoulder in the car.
Photo by Ali Wilt
As Kai excitedly takes in his surroundings, Wilt prepares himself and his dog for the hunt. They both wear orange for safety, and Kai wears a GPS collar, which allows Wilt to track the dog from his watch.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Growing up in Muncie, Ind., where a rural, Midwestern hunting culture runs deep, Wilt began learning to hunt birds at the age of 12. Many years and several dogs later, he still finds great joy in the sport and the opportunities it provides for immersing in nature. Wilt is a member of the Ruffed Grouse Society, a prominent North American conservation organization committed to improving wildlife habitat and forest health.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Photo by Ali Wilt
After Kai has pointed a pheasant in the brush, Wilt waits to fire a shot in anticipation of the bird about to take flight. To his left, a father and son from Indianapolis, Ind., who are also on a reserved pheasant hunt, wait for a shot at the same bird. Moments later, Wilt successfully hits the target.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Emerging from the brush, Kai retrieves the hen shot by Wilt. As a puppy still learning discipline, he is initially possessive of the bird, hesitant to give up the prize to his owner. "Drop it!" Wilt commands.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Though Kai came from a strong bloodline of impressive hunting dogs, he had some trouble when he returned to his breeder for eight weeks of training over the summer. “I was obviously really disappointed...he wasn’t making the kind of progress he should’ve been at that point,” Wilt said. The breeder offered to trade Kai for a different dog, but Wilt vowed to keep him and work with him on his own. Now, a few months later, he is thrilled with the dog’s instincts and progress as he matures.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Photo by Ali Wilt
Wilt lovingly praises Kai for retrieving their second and final pheasant of the day. Though he is a disciplined, hardworking dog while hunting, Kai is a beloved, pampered pet at home, sharing an incredibly strong bond with his owner.
Photo by Ali Wilt
On his way out of the Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area, Wilt stops to turn in his required hunt card, which is used by the DNR to track numbers of birds left in the area. For reserved hunts, each individual is allowed to kill no more than two pheasants.
Photo by Ali Wilt
Later in the day, after returning home, Wilt removes the breast from a pheasant for cooking. Kai watches with intent focus, instinctually drawn to the smell of the bird.