Bird Dog Portraits is a conservation-focused art project created by Matt Millbauer that celebrates the dogs at the center of the upland hunting tradition. The project specializes in hand-drawn digital portraits of hunting dogs—particularly flushing breeds such as Springers, Cockers, and Labs, but potentially any dog with a story worth telling.
Rather than operating as a traditional commission-based art business, Bird Dog Portraits is built around the idea of giving back to the hunting and conservation community. Portraits are provided at no charge, with recipients encouraged to make donations directly to conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, or other wildlife habitat groups. The goal is to connect hunters’ love for their dogs with tangible support for the landscapes and wildlife those dogs depend on.
At its core, Bird Dog Portraits is about storytelling. Every bird dog represents years of hunts, early mornings, muddy truck rides, missed shots, spectacular retrieves, and time spent with family and friends in the field. The artwork serves as a way to preserve those memories and honor dogs that are often much more than hunting partners—they are family members, teammates, and companions.
The project’s mission is simple: honor the dogs, tell their stories, and help conserve the places where those stories are made.
Matt and Bird Dog Portraits has been featured in RGS's Covers Magazine and heard on the Gun Dog It Yourself podcast, Bird Camp Radio, and the Go Flush Yourself podcast.