Wade first experienced upland bird hunting over gun dogs in the mid nineteen sixties on his Granddad’s farm in Bates County Missouri. The farm located near Virginia, Missouri could be counted on to yield three to four coveys of quail. Hunting over Granddad’s pointer, Jack, early lessons included working dogs, gun safety and bird conservation. Opening day of quail season during that time was anxiously awaited all year long.

In 2008 Wade was given a special English setter gun dog named, Sweet Lou. In the early years of their bird hunting partnership, Wade and Sweet Lou spent countless days guiding clients at Highland Hunting in Riverside, Iowa, traveling to South Dakota guiding for clients and personal hunting and participating in AKC Hunt Testing. In 2013, Sweet Lou earned the AKC Master Hunt Title and led Wade to purchase a female English setter, Adeline, to use for client hunting and to carry on the future line of setters from Sweet Lou.