Whatever kind of dog you own, train, hunt over, or just plain love – we wish everyone the very best this hunting season. Here’s to muddy paws, tired legs, and full straps!
As the last few bumpers and training leads get put away for the year, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight all of the dogs we’ve had the pleasure and honor to photograph throughout the year so far!
Whatever kind of dog you own, train, hunt over, or just plain love – we wish everyone the very best this hunting season. Here’s to muddy paws, tired legs, and full straps!
Do you have a specific dog, kennel or trainer you think we should work with? Feel free to let us know!
Usually, when the average person thinks of dog training, two things pop up in their minds. Either a fast-charging German Shepherd Dog chomping down on a man in a pillow suit or a some sort of canine on a leash following a human around a classroom learning how to ‘sit’ and ‘roll over’. Now, tell that same person about training a dog to hunt any kind of animal and that’s sure to raise some curiosity – not to mention a few questions.
Bird dog training has always been (and probably will always be) a world of its own. Like any training, of any sort, the means and methods will differ from trainer to trainer. However, it all boils down to one thing, training a dog to do something it was naturally meant to do – hunt.
JC and Jaxon working on steadiness and marks.
Usually, when the average person thinks of dog training, two things pop up in their minds. Either, a fast-charging German Shepherd Dog chomping down on a man in a pillow suit or a some sort of canine on a leash following a human around a classroom learning how to ‘sit’ and ‘roll over’. Now, tell that same person about training a dog to hunt any kind of animal and that’s sure to raise some curiosity – not to mention a few questions.
Bird dog training has always been (and probably will always be) a world of its own. Like any training, of any sort, the means and methods will differ from trainer to trainer. However, it all boils down to one thing, training a dog to do something it was naturally meant to do – hunt.
Early morning training sessions help beat the heat and keep dogs sharp.
JC Bosch, a young and motivated individual, is one trainer that has done just that – training a dog to not only hunt, but hunt with a vigor, drive, and finesse in the field.
We had a chance to not only meet, but actually witness first-hand what JC can do with the dogs under his wing.
In this interview, we dive into what it takes to handle and train high-performing dogs, as well as guiding in the bird hot-spots in the state of Kansas.
Warning: Long interview!
We hope you enjoy!
Tell us a little about yourself, JC. Who are you and what do you do? Where are you based out of?
My name is J.C. Bosch. I own and operate No Limits Kennels, LLC; a full-time and full-service dog training and boarding kennel in the heart of central Kansas – just outside of Great Bend.
NLK specializes in the training and breeding of the versatile German Shorthaired Pointer. We train and develop the ultimate canine companions, from obedience to finished level hunting retrievers and pointing dogs.
What is it like to be a professional dog trainer and wingshooting guide?
Each hunting season, we have the opportunity to guide and hunt all things fowl with outfitters, friends, and clients. It is very rewarding to watch and hunt over my personal dogs and the dogs I have trained throughout the year. The real icing on the cake for me is meeting and hunting with all of the different people each season. We work very hard every off-season so that each November – January we can hunt and guide to the best of our abilities.
You have to love the social aspect of the wing-shooting sports and being a guide, the opportunity to meet so many great people from all different walks of life and different places is a real blessing.
The thing I like the most about being a professional dog trainer and wingshooting guide has to be the opportunities to work with amazing people and their dogs. I am sure that sounds pretty generic, but it really is that simple for me. We have some of the most amazing clients in the world with great dogs to match. Many people will never understand the bond between a hunter and a good gun dog. That relationship between a working dog and his owner is what it’s all about for me. I would love to help everyone I can, find a dog like that, and develop a relationship that runs deep with the highest level of trust and respect.
JC working his two German Shorthaired Pointers, Cash and Pennie in the field.
How did you get into hunting, training, and what was your first hunting dog?
I grew up hunting, and I grew up training dogs, but the two worlds never really collided until a few years ago. Growing up in Great Bend, Kansas there are only a few things to do outside of hunting and fishing.
We are located right next to the nations largest inland marsh, the Arkansas river, and Quivira National Wildlife refuge – so hunting and fishing is a way of life for most people around here. Growing up out her, even with all of the opportunities, there never were many bird hunts I went on with dogs. The few that I can remember going on – all I can remember is someone yelling at their dogs all day and the dogs running off. I bought my first GSP from Brad Weets of TKO Kennels and he opened my eyes to what I was missing.
I WAS HOOKED, up until this point I had just been helping friends and family do basic things with their dogs and helping people as I could with behavior modification with aggressive dogs. Ever since I brought home that first GSP (Cash) I haven’t looked back, slowed down, or even thought about doing anything other than training dogs, hunting, and helping others.
A quote that comes to mind here is “Every master was once a disaster.” I don’t consider myself a master, I have a ton that I am still learning every single day and I have made plenty of mistakes along the way.
I am glad to say that I learned a lot from those mistakes. I take a lot of pride in what I do with each dog and client I get to work with. I will continue to give each of you the very best service possible!
You have 7 German Shorthaired Pointers – tell us about them!
So we have 7 German Shorthaired Pointers now all of which are pretty young (under 4 years old). Each of our dogs I have very carefully selected for our gun dog squad and each have the potential to have a place in our breeding program.
They all go through a FULL hunting season of multiple species of upland and waterfowl birds. We do full health clearances and they are all family companions as well as working gun dogs and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our dogs are tested in titled in many different venues, some titles our dogs have earned are Champion x’s 2, National Champion, International Champion, Junior Hunter, Natural Ability prizes, and we will have a couple of new Master Hunters this fall and we will be going to our first NAVHDA Utility Test in October that we are very excited about as well.
Cash and Pennie, the dynamic duo that is a force to reckon with.The dogs of NLK ready to go in the morning.
When training dogs – how do you set yourself and the dogs up to succeed? How do you define your own success and that of your kennel?
I believe with an open mind and a closed mouth we can all learn a lot from each other and many different trainers. I could really delve into the training subject for hours and hours. Every dog is different, but with the proper timing of rewards or corrections, a good attitude, and plenty patience – I believe every dog and handler can achieve a level of greatness and reward!
What’s your training process like?
Our development and training philosophy is derived from many different mentors and trainers that I really respect or have studied. Robert Cabral is a world-renowned dog trainer from California that I really respect. His philosophy, methods of training, and especially his philosophy of dog psychology. For hunting dog training, I take inspiration from many different trainers and mentors – from George Hickox to the guys at the local NAVHDA chapters and everyone in between.
What do you think defines your approach compared to everyone else?
We live in a world that is drowning in information, but starving for wisdom.
You can google anything and find a million different answers or ways of doing any particular thing. The question we need to ask ourselves first is:
“Why is my dog doing this particular thing?” instead of jumping straight to the “how do I get my dog to quit doing this particular thing?”
Foundation is critical for development!
You can start casting, handling, and steadiness work with any dog at any time, but without the basics and the foundation – you may just confuse your dog. This will ultimately end up in more force and a lot more time in the long run than you would if you had a solid foundation to positively teach and build on.
I could really delve into this for hours and days on end with my opinions and philosophy, but what it boils down to is just keep it fun. Be patient and always strive for a relationship of trust and respect with your dog.
If you ever find yourself around Great Bend, KS and you see this sticker – be sure to wave!Jaxon with a hard-earned bumper retrieve.
During the hunting season – what is guiding like for you? How many hunts and trips do you guide a year?
Hunting season is what we live, breath, and train for all year-long! We guide or hunt with 100 or more hunters each year and love every second of it. It isn’t all glory and it is pretty embarrassing for me when my dogs make mistakes or don’t perform well on a given day, but at the end of the day it’s always worth it.
I’m always a little nervous having strangers shoot over my dogs and each other for that matter, but normally everyone is safe and respectful. We go out and have a great time!
Guiding wild game hunts of any kind gets frustrating at times when it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, but hey it’s called “hunting” for a reason.
I love sharing fields and getting to know other people. The chance to watch different breeds and types of dogs do what they were bred to do is always fun. The rush of flushing wild bobwhites and decoying mallards or specklebellies in the same day is just un-beatable!
JC showing his patience with a young pup, Bailey.Upland and Waterfowl, no matter what the job, JC trains the dogs for versatility and drive. Jaxon shows his ability to fetch it up.
What are some of the things you look forward to every year?
We are anxiously awaiting the season opener and teal season, which is my personal favorite hunting experience!
The dogs and I can feel the crisp air moving in. The sights and smells of fall will soon be upon us. I am really excited to meet all of the new people who are coming out this year, finish up some hunt tests, and get into the fields or the blind! With the quail numbers up over 250% from last year, the good rains, and food this season will be one for the record books here in central Kansas!
If you find yourself out this direction, give me a shout! I would love to talk and toast to the good days, bad days, and the love of good dogs and the great outdoors. Shoot straight and God bless! #thisisNLK
Thanks for taking the time for this interview, JC!
Be sure to follow him on Instagram and check out No Limits Kennels.
A look into the world of top-notch Kansas bird dogs,golden wheat fields, and wild birds. These hard charging four-legged creatures will put anyone in awe as they display their prowess in the field.
The air was dry and hot as I pulled off of onto a dirt road leading towards a cabin in the distance. I had stopped to survey a herd of cattle grazing alongside the doves roosting above the fence line. The sun was setting and had seemingly brought a magical stillness over everything out in front of me. I drew in a big deep breath and smiled – this was Kansas.
It had been over 30 hours of traveling before I reached where I was supposed to be the day prior. Long flight delays, two cancelled flights, and a missed connection (not to mention the lost luggage with my gimbal stabilizer in it) caused a big delay in my weekend plans of photographing the working dogs and owner, JC Bosch of No Limits Kennels out in Heizer, Kansas.
The original plan was to fly into Wichita, Kansas and then drive 1.5 hours to meet JC and the dogs at his cabin near the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Hudson. We were to get 2 full days of shooting before I had to leave Sunday afternoon. However, the world proved otherwise and only graced me with the morning of my departure to get into the field with the dogs. Despite the time constraint, JC and I were determined to make the best of the time I would have that morning.
With a variety of different dogs in different stages of their training, I was provided with multiple opportunities to see these high-performing dogs work. From started dogs all the way to highly polished and seasoned veterans – JC showed me that these dogs truly have no limit to their capabilities and potential in the field.
I’m quite sure that this will not be the last time I find myself in Kansas, as I am already planning my return for the fall for the hunting season. In the meantime, check out some of the photographs from the shoot below.
“I’m just going to quit my job, pack my truck, and get the heck out of here!”
Well , if you ever needed a resource or inspiration, meet Seth Morris and Rick Hutton! These two gentlemen did just that!
Okay…Have you ever thought to yourself –
“I’m just going to quit my job, pack my truck, and get the heck out of here!”
Well , if you ever needed a resource or inspiration, meet Seth Morris and Rick Hutton!
These two gentlemen did just that!
Seth and Rick are simply laid back guys that really wanted to pursue the dream of open country and freedom to live off the land. I first spoke to Seth and Rick after we drummed up plans on collaborating on an elk hunt later on this fall. I really had no idea what to expect when I dialed Seth’s cell phone number. It was on Superbowl Sunday and I was more excited to talk about elk hunting than football. I might get shot for saying that in America, but hey – to each his own! Seth and Rick picked up and it turns out they too didn’t even have cable, but were instead drinking beer and tying flies in hopes of warmer weather. Something inside me told me we’d get along just fine this fall.
There’s definitely an unspoken camaraderie and brother/sisterhood amongst the outdoorsy folk. Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, skiing, or whatever got someone outside – we’re all the same. We love the fresh air, the way the wind howls at the top of the mountain, and the way the sun hits the land when we’re up at sunrise. When you speak to a fellow outdoorsman/woman – it’s like talking to a long-lost friend and it definitely felt that way with these guys!
So, with that being said, check out their interview and work below!
*For you impatient folk…photographs and works from Seth and Rick are at the bottom*
How did you find yourselves in Montana?
Seth & Rick: “Both of us grew up hunting and exploring Pennsylvania, with dreams of the west and bigger adventures. However, it wasn’t until our mid-twenties when PA just got too small for us and we wanted more. A series of events and signs drove us to formulate the plan of moving west. Once the decision was made we began planning and deciding where we wanted to move. We researched each western state heavily and decided on Montana for many reasons. Once it was decided that Montana was our ending goal we set off looking for jobs. It boiled down to Rick landing a job in Helena so that made our decision where exactly in Montana we would end up. Seth followed up with landing a job only weeks before we moved, and we were off.“
How’d you guys meet? And when did the idea happen to start filming and photographing your hunts?
Seth & Rick: “We met in the fall of 2009 at a branch campus of Pennsylvania State University (Mont Alto). It was Seth’s freshman year and Ricks Sophomore year. Both of us were enrolled in the forest technology program. The program attracts many like-minded men with a passion for hunting, fishing and the outdoors. We were no different, we immediately began hanging out and exchanging hunting and fishing stories. We shared many similar views on ethics and types of hunting so it was a natural fit for us to start hunting together in fall 2010 and have been hunting together ever since. Filming actually began on that first hunt together in 2010 and has turned into a more series hobby since then. It started out as a great way to share the hunts with family and friends and honestly just seemed fun at the time.”
You guys have forestry backgrounds and degrees in it, does it come in handy when you’re in the backcountry?
Seth & Rick: “Yes, in our honest opinion our forestry degrees and background makes us better outdoorsmen overall. Our forestry degrees gave us education in land ethics, the public land system (USFS, USWS, BLM,) environmental policy, land and forest management, soils, hydrology, as well as wildlife biology. Learning all this helps out in many ways.
Our knowledge of environmental policy and the public land system lets us better understand where we have come from as hunter conservationist and where we are heading at a national level. Our Knowledge in wildlife biology and forest ecosystems made us learn the importance of habitat. Habitat is key in any hunting scenario whether it’s tree stand hunting whitetails in the east or chasing elk in the western mountains. If you find the right habitat you will find the animals.
We also had extensive classes and experience working with aerial photography and computer mapping systems, which makes finding that habitat via online mapping even easier. We really cannot say enough with how much our forestry degrees have helped us become better hunters, fisherman, outdoorsman and most importantly conservationist! If you want to be a better hunter learn about the animal, its habitat and its history!“
What is your favorite thing about Montana?
Seth & Rick: “Mostly the millions of acres of federal public land that the state has to offer. It is free and open to every American to enjoy and its right outside our back door now. Also Montana’s long and generous hunting seasons as well as the amazing stream access laws.”
What’s your least favorite thing about Montana?
Seth & Rick: Our families are not here…so it’s hard being away from them.
Seth: “The amount of days in the winter that are below zero”
Rick: “The lack of job opportunities”
Seth & Rick: Other than that we absolutely love it here!
Be sure to check back for the second part of the interview! The fellas have even more beautiful photographs to share!
“The Upland Game Vest X is the newest addition and category extension for our very successful Extreme line of packs. The Upland Game Vest X is the perfect accessory for upland game hunting, and includes a bevy of innovative features. The shoulder straps are ultra thin for maximum shooting comfort, and two front shell pockets are large enough to accommodate an entire box of shells each. Two flip down gun rests are included, as well as a lightweight vented back and waist belt construction.”
Alps OutdoorZ Upland Game Vest X
“The Upland Game Vest X is the newest addition and category extension for our very successful Extreme line of packs. The Upland Game Vest X is the perfect accessory for upland game hunting, and includes a bevy of innovative features. The shoulder straps are ultra thin for maximum shooting comfort, and two front shell pockets are large enough to accommodate an entire box of shells each. Two flip down gun rests are included, as well as a lightweight vented back and waist belt construction.” – AlpsoutdoorZ.com
Company/Brand: ALPS OutdoorZ
Company/Brand Location: New Haven, MO
Manufactured/Made in: Vietnam
MSRP: $139.99
Product Number: 7730012
Colors Available: Blaze Orange / Brown
Sizes: One Size Fits All
Listed Features:
Ultra thin Shooter Friendly Shoulder Straps For Maximum Shooting Comfort
Two Flip Down Gun Rests
Two Front Shell Pocket – Fits A Full Box Of Shells
Lightweight Vented Back And Waist Belt
H₂O Compatible
One Large Rear Organizational Pocket
One Extra Gear Pockets
Two Water Bottle Pockets
One Large Wrap-around Game Pocket That Can Unzip For Easy Cleaning
Two Radio Pockets
Weight: 2 lbs. 9 oz.
Scoring criteria:
Craftsmanship & Design
Performance & Durability
Fit & Sizing
Pricing & Affordability
Scoring will be out of 5 for each section and then calculated as a percentage out of 100% for ease of comparison.
Craftsmanship & Design
The Upland Vest X’s design and execution is actually very well thought out. The proportions and clean lines make for a “thin” appearance and comfortable feeling out front while offering ample storage in the back of the vest. What I found to be quite successful is the multiple locations where you can store and clip on gear. This offers an opportunity for the vest to feel balanced and not bulky while you walk. With a pouch in the back, two pouches to hold your boxes of shells, an integrated H2O slot, and smaller radio pockets – one can carry exactly what they would need for a day out in the field. It seems that this vest can rise to the challenge of carrying as much or as little as you want and still fit comfortably.
Everything seems to be in the right location and to the right proportions of the vest, except for the shotgun flap. Although the design is a great idea, the execution on this one item of the vest is lacking. The magnetic flap seems to quickly close upon inspection, but in the field, I found that the weight of the shotgun pushes the flap down too far for the magnet to do what it was intended to do. The magnetic flap is also weak structurally, therefore negating it’s ability to comfortably hold the weight of a shotgun, which was tested with a 20g and a 12g.
Other than that one item, I believe the design of the pack is extremely comprehensive of what an upland or small game hunter has in mind. Comfort, accessibility, and minimalism is where this pack shines.
The craftsmanship on the other hand does not quite follow suit with the design. Upon closer inspection, I realized that multiple areas lacked sufficient stitching, reinforcement, or seemed like it might rip if I pulled on it. Now, I completely understand the need to value engineer a product to get it down to a price that is somewhat affordable, but when there is a single line of stitching in critical areas such as the shoulder straps or velcro patches – I start to wonder if it was value engineered a little too much.
With that being said, it does not take away too much shine from the great design of the pack nor does it alter the function for which the vest was intended.
Score: 4/5
Performance & Durability
Performance-wise, this vest is great. It carried everything I needed and had everything I wanted. The vest is light, proportioned well, and is very minimalist – which is an upland hunter’s dream! Durability, however, is a completely different ball game. After dragging myself and the vest along on a few small game hunts, the vest already showed signs of concern. Not sure if it will last as many seasons as I had hoped it to (two or more? Maybe?), but hey – I guess nothing is perfect right?
Score: 4/5
Fit & Sizing
Being a small guy, I was pretty thrilled to find a pack that fit me comfortably. The thin shoulder straps, paired with a flexible waist belt, truly helped this vest take it up a notch. During my hunts with this pack, I completely forgot I was wearing until I had to grab another shell or stuff quarry into the game pouch. This may sound like a cliché, but the vest truly can be a one size fits all. Not much else to say about that!
Score: 5/5
Pricing & Affordability
At $150 – the vest is floating right around many of its competitors. Badlands, LL Bean, Orvis, Browning, Tenzing and other such company offer a comparable pack at relatively the same price. I am inclined to say that this pack can be a bit less expensive for the quality and craftsmanship that it offers. When compared to its competitors, this pack does not really stand out as much as one would think – then again none of the other ones do either. With all of this being said…I truly believe that gear especially packs – are completely subjective and it completely depends on who you are and what you want out of a product.
Score: 3.5/5
Overall Score & Thoughts:
I like the vest – I really do. The vest fits well and stays out of the hunt until you need it. It’s a minimal design, yet carries everything that you would need on a day hunt. The price can be a bit steep, but everyone has to make a living right? The design is extremely well thought out, but the craftsmanship and quality of materials used can feel a bit neglected at times. It’s definitely an item that you have to try on and use for a bit to see if you truly like it. So far, it’s brought in game for me and has been an absolute joy to have in the field.
OVERALL SCORE: 16.5/20
82.5% / 100.0%
Detail Shots
Front end of vest.
Waist belt close up.
Slits for a water bladder hose are present on both sides.
Water bladder pouch zipper
Shoulder strap close up.
Stitching of the main carrying handle.
Shoulder strap close up.
Shell holder accommodates 20 gauge (shown) and 12 gauge.
Water bottle pouches are present on both sides. Ideal if you’re carrying water for your pup.
Muddy Shutter Media 