"Unless it is unusually cold or raining, I personally prefer merely a shooting vest or a game bag; that is, a three-pocket affair, one on either side for shells, gloves, pipe, tobacco, etc; and one in the rear for game, with web straps across the shoulder. If the hunter must wear a heavy, full coat, he should avoid any and all with rubber-lined game pockets. Double-faced canvas pants will protect the legs sufficiently under all circumstances, and in warm weather wear merely a light pair of jeans. If it is wet going, it will be necessary to wear shoe pacs (rubber-footed boots). In spite of any and all claims, I have never seen a leather-footed boot that would turn water all day. As a final word, in thick cover it is an aid to your partner to wear color."

The Upland Game Hunter's Bible, by Dan Holland, published 1961About 50 years ago, Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, IBM sold the first "compiler" for the FORTRAN programming language, Purina Dog Chow went into national distribution and the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, with its canine cargo, Laika, the first animal in space.Yes, it's a cliché, but .... we've come a long way, baby. Yet can "dyed in the wool" grouse hunters hang on to tradition while embracing new technologies?Well, we'd be silly not to jump into the new century, with both (well-insulated and comfortably-dry, gel-insert cushioned) feet, and not just during our days in the field, hunting, but while preparing for those days. Most of us have happily embraced head-to-toe technological improvements in outdoor clothing that keep us warm and dry, while remaining light-weight."In the old days, out in the field, I often got cold and wet and I liked it," said Bob West, Breeder Enthusiast Marketing, Purina. "I don't have to do that any more."It may be in the computer technology field that many of us remain cautious about making what seems to be a leap of faith. Can we really learn to use one of those new-fangled things that lets us know where we are, and where our dogs are? What if we buy one, and can't figure out how to use it?West promises that you'll be pleasantly surprised with ease of use, and find such an addition to your gear invaluable."As a scouting tool, means of tracking exercise and as an aid to personal safety to us and our dogs, the biggest game changer in my mind is the portable tracking unit," West said. "You can be driving along, looking for a place to go, a place that might have good cover, but you can't see what's over a ridge - you can use the global positioning units to see what's over there, and if it's open to the public."But imagine stepping back in time, meeting a grouse hunting party during the 1960s as they emerge from, say, the dense forest of Maine, and showing them such a unit. Imagine gently taking the compasses from their necks, and replacing them with hand-held GPS units. Imagine removing the collars from their dogs and replacing them with antennae collars.Well, they might be resistant, skeptical, leery, possibly daunted by the seemingly-overwhelming new technology and unwilling to admit it. And you might get the same reaction when meeting a grouse hunting party this year.If there are youngsters in your group, now's the time to involve them. Yes, times have changed. Have you ever watched with something akin to awe as a teenager texts or tweets? (Do you know what texting and tweeting are, well, sort of?) The youngsters in your group will eagerly embrace the new gadget - they'll love it. And it'll help involve them in the days afield, whether training or hunting.Opening day is finally here. As generations of people and dogs have done before us, we'll take to the woods for the great tradition of grouse hunting. There's no better time than the present to embrace new technologies and science - in what we wear and in the gear we use in the field.