#355 | What 39 Years of Guiding Has Taught Jason Curtis About Bird Dogs

New Brunswick guide Jason Curtis shares what 39 years around grouse, woodcock, and wild birds have taught him about developing young bird dogs.

Nick welcomes Jason back to the podcast eight years after their first conversation. They start on the Miramichi River, where a fall trip can combine Atlantic salmon fishing with grouse and woodcock hunting, then move into the part of the conversation that hit closest to home: raising a puppy for her first season.

Jason explains why he begins exposure work early, how he introduces a wing, birds, a bell, and gunfire without turning puppyhood into a formal training program, and why short sessions woven into everyday life can build the foundation for later work. He and Nick also talk about what younger dogs pick up from older dogs, why solo hunting time still matters, and how real contacts with wild birds can change a dog quickly.

The conversation also covers New Brunswick's changing woodcock migration, the timing of a Miramichi cast-and-blast trip, and what visiting hunters need to know about guides, lodges, and the short October window.

Chapters

00:00 How wild birds change a young dog
01:52 Jason Curtis returns to the Birdshot Podcast
06:05 Miramichi River salmon outlook
12:27 Planning a grouse, woodcock, and salmon trip
17:09 October cover and the changing woodcock migration
22:52 Jason's path into 39 years of guiding
30:58 Bringing home a new bird dog puppy
35:01 Early puppy exposure and the first bird-dog lessons
41:03 Building steadiness through everyday routines
46:42 Introducing birds and gunfire
51:03 Wild woodcock close to home
52:54 What puppies learn from older dogs
59:27 Planning a New Brunswick upland trip
1:06:13 Bringing young hunters into the uplands
1:07:31 What a strong grouse and woodcock day looks like
1:09:14 Connect with Jason Curtis

Questions from the episode

When does Jason Curtis begin working with a bird dog puppy?

Jason starts as soon as the puppy comes home, but he keeps the work light and playful. He uses short sessions with a wing, a small check cord, and simple moments around food or doorways to introduce the idea of standing still and paying attention. At that age, the goal is exposure and foundation, not polished performance.

How does Jason introduce a young dog to birds and gunfire?

He begins with sound at a distance while the puppy is occupied and confident, then closes that distance gradually. Around 12 weeks, he may introduce planted birds at a preserve. By roughly 16 weeks, when the individual dog is handling each step well, he likes to begin finding wild birds in real cover.

Why are wild birds valuable for a young bird dog?

Wild birds teach lessons that planted birds cannot fully reproduce. Their scent, movement, escape behavior, and use of cover require the dog to adjust naturally. Jason has watched young dogs make visible progress after several consecutive days of good wild-bird contacts, especially in New Brunswick covers with strong grouse and woodcock numbers.

Do young bird dogs learn from older dogs?

They can learn a great deal about range, recall, routine, and backing by watching experienced dogs. Jason still believes the puppy needs solo time so it develops independence instead of simply following. The older dogs help establish the pattern, while individual contacts teach the puppy how to hunt for itself.

When is the best time for a New Brunswick cast-and-blast trip?

The overlap runs from the September 15 woodcock opener through the October 15 salmon close, but the full grouse, woodcock, and salmon window is October 1 through October 15. Hunters can float and combine both pursuits in one day, or hunt the cooler morning and fish the river later.

Does a nonresident need a guide to hunt in New Brunswick?

Yes. Jason explains that hunters coming from outside New Brunswick need a licensed guide. A lodge is the simplest all-inclusive route, while an Airbnb paired with the right independent guide can also work. Guide availability is limited during the prime October weeks, so the relationship and timing matter.

Connect with Jason Curtis

Email: uplandhunter3@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasoncurtismiramichi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.curtis.722439

Listen and follow

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17EVUDJPwR2iJggzhLYil7
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birdshot-podcast/id1288308609
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@birdshot.podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdshot.podcast/
Website: https://www.birdshotpodcast.com/

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Upland Gun Company and Final Rise.

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