Gundog Outdoors: Have it, When you Need it
Shawn Swearingen for SPLIT REED
I have communicated with Alex Langbell before over the course of a few years. I knew his experiences in his professional life as an EMT, his founding of Gundog Outdoors, and I have one of the field trauma kits. Of course, when I needed it this past month it was my own fault for not having it in my truck. It had the supplies I needed when my lab ended up having an oyster bed take a chunk of his paw pad out while we were doing simple training in the salt marshes. Now I know better.
This is a pitch for knowledge, a plea for being prepared. Chasing ducks and geese in extreme climates has its dangers. Not just for our four-legged friends, a kit can save a person’s life by giving you enough time to move the injured person to the hospital or the dog to a veterinarian. “We need to start training our young hunters and dog owners on what they need to do or be prepared for. Be prepared for anything. Don’t take stupid risks.” says Alex.
Other than the tools in the kit, I wanted to ask him what there is that a dog owner and hunter needs to know. “The biggest thing a person needs to know is proper wound treatment. Wounds can get infected if they are not cleaned. A wound is a wound either on a dog or a human. To keep that dog or human alive until you can get to a hospital is critical. We need to understand how to treat wounds to keep that dog or human alive until we can get to a hospital. Stopping the bleeding, applying pressure, and closing that wound. To elevate. All of this is buying them time.”
Having been a waterfowl guide, a producer, and a host in the hunting industry in addition to being a professional firefighter and EMT, Alex has seen a lot, unfortunately. What are some of the things that a dog owner and hunter should think of to try and avoid accidents in the first place? Alex says, “Be aware. You are dealing with firearms. You are out operating machines and in extreme temperatures. One of the biggest things is being aware of firearm safety.”
If you have hunted with a guide or outfitter, you are likely well aware of the safety briefings before you even go out to the field. It is good to have these reminders with your hunting partners as well. Even if you’ve hunted together for years, a reminder now and then along with a ‘best practices’ with each other is helpful. Free-lancing with a few close friends over the past decade it has become second nature to tell them any time you step away to adjust decoys for example: “The gun is in the corner/against that tree, safety is on, and nothing in the chamber.”
“Take a basic first aid class as well,” Alex states. “Look for certain signs and things with dogs or each other in extreme climates. Have water with you as well. Dogs get just as thirsty in 20 degrees chasing big geese as they do chasing doves in 80. It’s just a duck or goose. Is your dog or your life worth it? Be prepared.”
“We have a short window of when your dog is in its prime. To really enjoy it together in the field and make sure the dog is operating at its best. You want to make sure it is fueled right, trained well, and taken care of,” Alex stated. Watching for injuries and being prepared is part of it.
Naturally, the scrape with my own dog came when I least expected it. It wasn’t when we were out hunting in freezing temperatures or running through cornfields, but rather during training. “The company's focus is on the safety of hunting dogs. The education and awareness around it,” Alex told me. Thankfully I had the knowledge to take care of my dog when I needed to, and now I make sure the kit is with me for when we need it.
You can save a life with this.
For more Split Reed Original Content click here.
Click on Shawn to find him on Instagram