From the wide-open country of North Dakota to the pheasant fields of South Dakota, Joe Lesmeister’s story is one of rediscovery, hard-earned passion, and a life built around the hunt.

Joe grew up on a small cattle farm where hunting started simple: BB guns, gophers, and a single-shot 20 gauge. Like a lot of hunters, life pulled him away for a time, and it wasn’t until his early 30s that everything came back into focus. One dog, one hunt, and one trip back to pheasant country was all it took to light the fire again. And this time, it stuck.

What followed was a full commitment to upland hunting and the lifestyle that comes with it. Today, Joe runs multiple dogs, spends the majority of his fall chasing birds across state lines, and has built a place where others can experience the same thing through his South Dakota property, now known as Pair-A-Dice Lodge.

In this episode, we get into Joe’s journey from farm kid to dedicated upland hunter, what it looks like to truly dive into the lifestyle later in life, and how dogs changed everything along the way. We talk about the importance of hunting partners, building traditions, and creating opportunities not just for yourself, but for others to be part of it too.

Joe also shares his vision for the future as retirement gets closer: a life split between North Dakota and South Dakota, running a campground, chasing birds deep into the season, and staying rooted in the lifestyle that brought him back.

This one is about second chances, doing things right the second time around, and building a life centered on dogs, birds, and the people you share it with.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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From the swamps of Louisiana to the wide-open fields of Kansas, Alec Hummel’s story is one built on grit, dogs, and an all-in passion for the hunt.

In this episode, Alec shares how chasing deer and ducks as a kid eventually led him down a completely different path, the moment a Deutsch Drahthaar entered his life and opened the door to true versatile hunting. That turning point didn’t just change how he hunted, it reshaped everything.

Now a Midwest-based hunter, Alec lives for the unpredictability of the field. A self-described rough shooter, he’s not chasing perfection: he’s chasing opportunity. Whether it’s pheasants, woodcock, rabbits, raccoons, or even coyotes, if his dogs are working, he’s in the game.

We talk through his transition from southern hunting roots into the world of versatile upland hunting and what makes a Deutsch Drahthaar such a game-changing dog. Alec breaks down the mindset behind being a “rough shooter” and why embracing imperfect hunts is part of what keeps things real. At its core, this episode is about the connection between hunter, dog, and land. And why, even now, nothing compares to swinging on a woodcock back in the Louisiana swamps where it all started.

This one isn’t about limits or numbers. It’s about the lifestyle, the dogs that drive it, and the moments that stick with you long after the hunt is over.

If your dogs dictate your season, this one’s for you.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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Matt Millbauer spends his fall chasing upland birds across Washington’s Columbia Basin behind his springer spaniels, Bridge and Sophie. A Kennewick native and board member of his local Pheasants Forever chapter, Matt has built his life around bird dogs, conservation, and the upland community. He’s also the host of the Go Flush Yourself podcast, where he highlights flushing dog breeds and the culture that surrounds them.

In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, Matt shares his journey into upland hunting, what makes springer spaniels such special dogs in the field, and how conservation work at the local level makes a real difference for bird hunters. We also talk about balancing a busy professional career in occupational safety with family life, bird dogs, and podcasting, along with his unique conservation art projects that turn bird dog portraits into funding for wildlife nonprofits.

This conversation is all about passion for flushing dogs, giving back to conservation, and building a life around the uplands: whether that’s behind a dog in the Columbia Basin, teaching the next generation, or telling stories through a microphone.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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In Episode 24 of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Colton Cook to talk about how a simple deal with his mom turned into a full-blown career in the bird dog world. At just 11 years old, Colton worked to buy his first Brittany, Missy, along with the e-collars he needed to train her: kicking off a passion that started in northeastern Utah and never slowed down.

What began as hunting whenever he could quickly grew into something much bigger. Colton shares how he dove headfirst into training, breeding, guiding, and building his skills with upland bird dogs at a young age, eventually realizing this wasn’t just a hobby, it was what he wanted to do for a living.

That drive led him to Oregon, where he guided hunts and trained dogs for multiple operations, including an Orvis-endorsed hunting ranch. As his reputation grew and more clients trusted him with their dogs, Colton took the next step: purchasing a boarding and grooming kennel in Prineville to create a space that matched the level of care and professionalism he wanted to provide.

This episode is all about taking a passion and running with it. Figuring things out as you go, putting in the work early, and building something real in the bird dog world.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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In this episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with outdoor writer, photographer, and lifelong hunter Dave Zumbaugh. With both a B.S. and M.S. in Biology, Dave has spent decades immersed in the outdoors and has authored more than 2,000 articles covering hunting, fishing, conservation, and the outdoor lifestyle.

Dave has hunted and fished across 32 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, and seven countries, bringing a lifetime of stories and hard-earned perspective to the conversation. We talk about upland birds, the traditions of hunting, conservation, and what he’s learned through a career spent chasing wild places and sharing those experiences through writing.

A competitive clay shooter and passionate advocate for ethical hunting, Dave’s work regularly appears in American Waterfowler and Covey Rise, where he continues to share insights from decades in the field. Above all, Dave is a devoted father and grandfather who still lives the lifestyle he writes about: traveling, exploring, and passing down the traditions of hunting and fishing.

If you enjoy conversations about upland birds, conservation, and the stories behind a lifetime in the outdoors, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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In Episode 22 of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with longtime upland hunter Mike Sheffer, a 66-year-old retired bird hunter who has fully committed his life to wild birds, good dogs, and the freedom of the open road. For the past six years, Mike has lived and traveled full-time in a small trailer with his four Epagneul Bretons, chasing seasons and following wild bobwhite quail across the country.

With over 40 years of upland hunting experience, primarily focused on wild bobwhite quail in Missouri and Kansas, Mike has taken wild birds in seven different states and witnessed firsthand the changes in habitat, bird numbers, and hunting culture over the decades. He started his journey with American Brittanys before transitioning 16 years ago to Epagneul Bretons, beginning with his first Breton, Jack. Today, his pack ranges from six months to eight years old, and each dog plays a role in his nomadic hunting lifestyle.

From Meade County, Kansas to Beaver County, Oklahoma, and summers spent in Daniels County, Montana, Mike shares what it’s like to build a life around wild places and bird dogs. We talk about lessons learned over 55 years of hunting, how the landscape has changed, what keeps him motivated at 66, and why the simple pursuit of wild quail still means everything.

If you love bird dogs, wild birds, and stories from someone who has truly lived it, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Traveling with bird dogs? Check out PetCommute, a platform that connects dog owners with trusted pet transporters! Use our referral link below to support Bird Camp Radio, and make sure to mention "Bird Camp" for 10% off your free quote!

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In Episode 21 of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Dean Linne, a lifelong upland hunter whose passion for bird hunting began at just seven years old.

Now 55, Dean reflects on nearly five decades in the field: covering everything from his early days chasing upland birds to discovering a deep appreciation for duck hunting with a dog after serving in the military. His journey with working dogs has shaped not only the way he hunts, but the way he views the tradition and responsibility that come with it.

We also talk about the years when hunting took a back seat as Dean focused on raising his family and coaching his kids: proof that while seasons of life may change, the fire for bird hunting never truly fades.

For the past eight years, Dean has been back at it full stride, chasing upland birds across the western United States with his own dogs and embracing the grind, discipline, and joy that only bird camp can bring.

This episode is about legacy, dogs, grit, and the kind of passion that doesn’t fade with time, it just deepens.

If you love upland hunting and the stories that shape who we are in the field, this one’s for you.

In this milestone 20th episode of Bird Camp Radio, we sit down with Jackson Facer from Preston, Idaho: a young handler who has fully immersed his life in bird dogs and upland hunting.

What started as a high school hobby has grown into a full-blown lifestyle. Over the past four years, Jackson has dedicated himself to personally training and handling bird dogs, competing in hunt tests and field trials, and helping friends develop their own dogs along the way. He also guides professionally at a hunt club, passing on his knowledge to others who share the same passion for chasing birds behind good dogs.

From September through February, Jackson is rarely out of the field. Whether he’s training, competing, guiding, or simply enjoying long days afield with his dogs, his commitment to the tradition, discipline, and community of bird hunting is clear.

This episode dives into what it takes to truly live the bird dog life: balancing seasons, dogs, competition, and the relentless drive to get better every day. If you love upland hunting and the people who keep it alive, Episode 20 is one you won’t want to miss.

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In Episode 19 of Bird Camp Radio, I sit down with Matt Middlebrooks: host of The Check-In Station Podcast and a hunter who represents what most of us really are: everyday guys who just love being outside.

Matt grew up chasing deer and turkey in Tennessee, with a few duck hunts mixed in along the way. Life moved him around before he eventually settled in Illinois, where he continued pursuing the game he grew up with. But just two years ago, everything changed.

A late-season pheasant hunt in brutal conditions, wind chill sitting around -4 degrees, lit the fire. By noon, they had limited out. More importantly, a new passion was born. Since then, Matt has dove headfirst into upland hunting, building friendships, making annual trips to South Dakota, and collecting the kind of stories that only bird camp can produce… including the now-legendary tale of “Lieutenant Hen.”

Matt is a strong advocate for ethical and legal hunting, and he believes the value of a hunt isn’t measured in inches of antler or what ends up on the wall. As he puts it, next year’s trophy will taste just as good this year. That mindset carries through both his own hunting journey and his podcast, where he gives everyday hunters and anglers a place to tell their stories: the good shots, the missed shots, and everything in between.

This episode is about tradition, camaraderie, new beginnings in the uplands, and why the memories made in the field matter more than any mount ever could.

Pull up a chair. Bird camp’s in session.

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This special episode of Bird Camp Radio is a little different than our usual campfire talk. I’m joined by my dad to break down a Texas hog hunt that didn’t go according to plan - not even close.

What was advertised as a three-day, semi-guided hog hunt quickly unraveled into a roughly ten-hour ordeal marked by an unresponsive and unreliable guide, poor communication, and conditions that pushed us far past “just a bad hunt.” My brother, my dad, and I traveled to Texas expecting an adventure. What we got instead was a hard lesson in preparation, expectations, and knowing when things don’t feel right.

During the hunt, weather, lack of guidance, and exhaustion compounded into a situation that nearly turned dangerous, including a serious brush with hypothermia. In this episode, my dad and I walk through exactly what happened: from the first red flags to the moment we realized we were in trouble, and what we took away from the experience.

This isn’t about trashing anyone. It’s about honesty, accountability, and sharing a story that other hunters can learn from. Not every hunt ends with a grip-and-grin, and not every outfitter delivers what’s promised. Sometimes the best lessons come from the hunts that go sideways.

If you’ve ever booked a guided hunt, trusted someone else with your safety, or just want a reminder that the outdoors demands respect, this episode is for you.