Upland Almanac

Upland Almanac is another 5-star rated publication.

The UA is a relatively brief (80 pages or so), glossy publication "for the bird hunting enthusiast."

The vet's column, "The Healthy Dog," by Dr. Walt Cottrell usually selects from some interesting cases, sometimes with a twist, and sometimes straight up. Either way, Dr. Cottrell's descriptions of the cures or next steps provide a look into the thinking of a gundog's vet.

The "For the Birds" column might provide a roundup of bird reports or initiatives of conservation clubs.

There are a number of articles on gear and gadgets ("The Tailgate Review"), addressing the neverending quest to keep all of the dog's junk in some sort of order. There's also a feature on someone, some spectacular lodge, or an impossibly tasteful classic upland gun of some sort.

The ads are part of the charm. Try flipping by the ads by Ceasar Guerini or Willoughby McCabe & Co. without pause. Mull on the invitation for a trip to Park Falls Wisconsin some October week. Glance through the book mart and maybe treat yourself to a copy of Ken Roebuck's "Gun-Dog Training Spaniels and Retrievers," if for some reason you do not have it yet.

There's also a recipe column for those quail, chukar, pheasant, grouse, or woodcock that you've managed to bag.

You've heard of slow cooking, right? Well this magazine invites slow reading.