Monsoon rains, desert grasslands, and wild coveys collide in Arizona’s ambitious quail restoration effort.

Arizona’s quail country is bigger, rougher, and more alive than most hunters realize. In this conversation, the crew behind Quail Forever’s Arizona Quail Initiative breaks down how large-scale habitat restoration is shaping the future of Gambel’s quail, scaled quail, and Mearns’ quail.

From remote desert grasslands to oak-covered “sky islands,” this episode digs into the real work happening behind the scenes to improve upland bird habitat on both public lands and working ranches. The discussion covers woody encroachment and removal, water catchment projects, grazing management, and how conservation partnerships are putting millions of dollars directly onto the landscape for quail habitat restoration.

You’ll hear how Arizona’s monsoon cycles influence quail populations, why Mearns’ quail depend so heavily on summer rains, and how habitat projects can quickly improve bird numbers when conditions align. For hunters dreaming about desert quail hunting, big running bird dogs, and wild country few people ever experience, this conversation paints a vivid picture of why Arizona remains one of the most unique quail hunting landscapes in North America.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting, conservation, bird dog, and upland bird conversations.

Show notes

• Learn more about QF’s Arizona Quail Initiative and QF’s RCPP project with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arizona Association of Conservation Districts, Arizona Game & Fish Department, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
• Check out Bob St.Pierre and Wade Zarlingo’s hunt for quail in Arizona’s backcountry utilizing llamas to haul in camping gear at www.QuailForever.org/llama.

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Washington, D.C. can feel a long way from pheasant country, quail habitat, and working farms, but the decisions made there shape the future of upland hunting across America. In this conversation, the crew from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever breaks down what happened during a recent D.C. fly-in alongside members of The Habitat Organization’s new Upland Caucus.

Public relations specialist Mikayla Peper shares what it was like meeting with members and staffers from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to advocate for improved conservation measures in the next federal farm bill. The discussion dives into why CRP remains one of the most important conservation tools for wildlife habitat, water quality, soil health, and rural America.

The crew also explores how grassroots advocacy actually works, what happens behind closed doors in congressional offices, and why hunters, farmers, and ranchers need to stay engaged in the legislative process.

Show notes

• Help PF & QF advocate for CRP improvements in the U.S. Senate’s version of the farm bill at www.pheasantsforever.org/action.
• To learn more about PF & QF’s conservation advocacy efforts and Legislative Action Fund (LAF), please email our government affairs team at [email protected].

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Better habitat means better hunting. That’s not a surprising statement. What may surprise folks is how much sweat equity it takes to turn average habitat into elite upland habitat. In this episode, learn how an everyday landowner is building wildlife-rich ground with a little help from friends and family.

Private landowner Tim Kraskey breaks down the real-world habitat management strategies that directly impact upland bird numbers, deer hunting success, and waterfowl hunting opportunities. Kraskey is also a long-time Pheasants Forever chapter volunteer who extolls the virtues of being a volunteer committed to improving public land habitat for the greatest benefit to wildlife and all hunters.

From prescribed burns and tree removal to native grass restoration and food plot development, you’ll hear how intentional land stewardship creates better wildlife habitat—and ultimately, better hunts. The conversation goes beyond dirt work. You’ll learn how to approach access to private land hunting the right way, how to build meaningful relationships with private landowners, as well as how landowners can leverage conservation programs like CRP to maximize wildlife benefits. There’s also a strong emphasis on community: how volunteer habitat projects, local partnerships, and organizations like Pheasants Forever play a critical role in expanding hunting opportunities.

Whether you’re a new landowner, a bird hunter looking for access, or someone interested in conservation, this episode offers actionable strategies you can apply this season. It’s a grounded, experience-driven look at how habitat work, hunting success, and legacy all tie together in the modern outdoors.

Show notes

• Check out Outdoor News’ 2025 Outdoor Leaders Award recognizing Kraskey and the Brown County (MN) Chapter of Pheasants Forever.
• Thanks to John Deere, Irish Setter, and Orvis for sponsoring PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat efforts across the country this spring. Listeners can get involved with PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat efforts by identifying volunteer opportunities in the areas where you live and/or hunt by visiting https://pheasantsforever.org/handsonhabitat.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Balancing bird dog training with young kids, busy schedules, and everyday life is a challenge most upland hunters eventually face. The reality is your dog doesn’t stop needing structure just because your time gets tighter. The good news is you don’t need hours in the field to maintain a high-performing hunting dog.

Veteran bird dog owner and SportDOG Brand’s Clay Thompson breaks down how to keep an experienced bird dog sharp through short, consistent training sessions built into your daily routine. The focus stays where it matters most—obedience. Commands like place, heel, sit, and steadiness form the foundation that carries over into real-world hunting situations, from waterfowl hunting setups to upland bird hunts chasing pheasants and bobwhite quail.

You’ll hear practical strategies for reinforcing control inside the house, using quick drills that fit between work, family, and everything else competing for your time. There’s also a hard look at introducing dogs to young kids, managing behavior safely, and involving the whole family in training to build consistency.

The takeaway is simple. If you can’t control your dog at five feet, you won’t control it fifty yards in the field. Strong obedience builds better hunting dogs, safer homes, and more productive days outdoors when the season opens.

Thanks to SportDOG Brand for sponsoring this episode of On the Wing Podcast. Check out all of SportDOG’s products at www.SportDog.com.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Deep in the Texas High Plains, a committed group of conservationists is proving what’s possible when habitat work meets community grit. On a sprawling 9,000-acre property at Palo Duro, volunteers, biologists, and land managers are tackling real-world challenges like invasive species, wildfire mitigation, and declining upland bird habitat through hands-on conservation projects.

This conversation dives into the strategy behind a multi-day habitat event that blends prescribed fire, chainsaw work, native grass restoration, and one coordinated volunteer effort. The result is healthier grasslands, improved habitat for bobwhite quail, scaled quail, pheasants, and mule deer, and a blueprint for habitat restoration that can scale up or down anywhere in the country.

Beyond the land itself, the real impact shows up in the people. From college students launching wildlife careers to local volunteers rediscovering a passion for conservation, this effort highlights how hands-on habitat work fuels the future of upland hunting, bird dog culture, and outdoor stewardship.

Show notes

• Get involved with PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat efforts by identifying volunteer opportunities in the areas where you live and/or hunt by visiting https://pheasantsforever.org/handsonhabitat.
• Thanks to John Deere, Irish Setter, and Orvis for sponsoring PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat efforts across the country this spring.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Great hunting spots aren’t just found; they’re named through hard-earned moments in the field. This collection of listener-submitted stories dives into the heart of upland bird hunting culture, where bird dogs, wild flushes, and unforgettable days turn ordinary places into permanent fixtures on the map. This “snackable” episode also announces the winner of the Frost River Woodsman Pack from the contest announced during episode #358.

From a young dog’s fearless leap on a Kansas quail hunt to a Minnesota pheasant hunting hotspot that produced first birds for the next generation, these stories capture the emotion and unpredictability that keep hunters coming back each season. Listeners will hear how covey rises, missed expectations, and once-in-a-lifetime shooting sequences shape not just success in the field, but the love language hunters use to remember it.

If you’ve ever named a spot after a hunt gone right or wrong, you’ll recognize exactly how these places earn their titles and why they never leave you.

Show notes

• Thanks to our friends at Frost River for supplying the grand prize Woodsman Pack.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

This conversation breaks down Habitat University, a skills-based platform designed to close the gap between theory and real-world application. Whether you’re planting a pollinator plot, improving nesting cover, establishing a food plot, or managing CRP acres, the focus is on actionable knowledge that leads to better results on the landscape.

You’ll hear how modern conservation faces a growing challenge: fewer people entering the field with hands-on land management experience. That gap impacts everything from pheasant and quail habitat to hunting success and overall wildlife populations. Habitat University addresses that by delivering short, practical courses on topics like seed drill calibration, prescribed burning, invasive species control, and habitat planning. For aspiring wildlife professionals, it offers a clear path to understanding conservation programs, working with landowners, and building job-ready skills.

Better habitat leads to more birds, stronger hunting opportunities, and healthier ecosystems. This is about putting knowledge into action where it matters most, on the ground.

Show notes

• Check out the second installment of The Upland Newsroom.
• Learn more about Habitat University courses.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

What if higher quality quail habitat could unlock better turkey hunting on your land?

Spring turkey hunting gets the spotlight, but the real story starts long before opening day. It lives in the habitat. This conversation brings together two wildlife biologists to break down the relationship between wild turkeys and bobwhite quail, cutting through myths and getting to what actually drives bird numbers on the landscape.

The discussion dives into the overlap between wild turkey habitat and quail habitat management, especially during nesting and brood-rearing seasons. You’ll learn why both species depend on early successional habitat, how insect-rich brood cover fuels poult and chick survival, and what separates ideal nesting cover for each bird. There’s also a deep look at prescribed fire, native grasses, and the importance of bare ground for mobility and survival.

For landowners and habitat managers, the takeaway is practical. Managing for bobwhite quail often creates high-quality turkey habitat as a byproduct, but not without understanding key differences like winter food sources and roosting needs. The conversation also tackles common misconceptions, including whether turkeys compete with or even prey on bobwhites.

If you care about better turkey hunting, stronger quail numbers, and building a more productive property, this is a blueprint rooted in real field experience and research.

Show notes

• Want to talk with a biologist about improving your property for wildlife? Find your local PF & QF biologist by visiting our FIND A BIOLOGIST tool.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

What if better habitat decisions could directly translate into higher populations of pheasants and quail, as well as better hunting opportunities?

Behind every great day chasing upland birds is high quality habitat that actually produces birds. This conversation pulls back the curtain on how science is shaping the future of upland bird hunting across the country.

During this conversation, PF & QF leaders and university professors discuss the newly formed Science Advisory Committee and how they’re tackling one of the toughest questions in wildlife conservation: how habitat improvements translate into real bird numbers on the landscape. That means moving beyond broad assumptions and digging into what actually works at the farm, region, and landscape level. From improving bobwhite quail habitat in the Southeast to optimizing pheasant habitat in the Midwest, the focus is on putting the right acres in the right places for maximum impact.

There’s also a deeper look at how conservation ties into water quality, soil health, and long-term sustainability, showing how better habitat decisions benefit far more than our cherished upland gamebird numbers. For hunters, the takeaway is simple: smarter habitat leads to more opportunity, better dog work, and more consistent days in the field.

This is an inside look at how scientific research, boots-on-the-ground experience, and real-world hunting knowledge are coming together to shape the future of upland bird hunting.

Show notes

• Listeners with upland habitat and gamebird-focused suggestions for scientific research should email Dr. Jess Gonynor-McGuire at [email protected].

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Every hunter has a spot with a name that holds memories, birds, and meaning.

Spend enough seasons chasing upland birds and the map starts to change. What begins as public land or a patch of cover turns into something personal. A place earns a name through miles walked, bird dogs worked, and coveys flushed at just the right moment.

This conversation dives into the stories behind those names and the hunting memories that made them stick. From South Dakota pheasant hunting honey holes to ruffed grouse coverts hidden deep in the timber to secret quail spots that can never be located again, each story reveals how habitat, pressure, and experience shape the way hunters see the land. You’ll hear how small pieces of overlooked public land can consistently produce birds, why certain upland hunting spots reload with roosters, and how identifying the right mix of cover and food creates reliable success.

There’s also a deeper thread running through it all. Naming a place isn’t just about navigation. It’s about ownership in a different sense. Public land hunting becomes personal when a bird dog locks up for the first time, when a rooster flushes exactly where it should, or when a long walk turns into something unforgettable.

If you care about upland bird hunting, bird dog work, and building your own catalog of hunting spots, this one will hit close to home.

Show notes

1. Read Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks’ essay that served as the catalyst to this podcast at www.QuailForever.org/nams.
2. Become a member of Quail Forever to receive the Quail Forever Journal at www.QuailForever.org/join.
3. Become a member of Pheasants Forever to receive the Pheasants Forever Journal at www.PheasantsForever.org/join.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.