On The Wing Podcast

Award-winning wild game cook and food author Hank Shaw returns to On the Wing for an insider’s look at making the most of every bird, mushroom, and wild ingredient the outdoors provides. From pheasant and quail to ruffed grouse, woodcock, and wild turkey, Shaw shares practical cooking techniques that help hunters bring more flavor to the table without wasting a thing.

Learn when to smoke upland birds, why sous vide can ruin tender cuts when used incorrectly, and how to keep lean pheasant and turkey breasts juicy. Shaw breaks down his favorite methods for grilling doves and quail, preparing pheasant thighs, making wild game sausage, and creating restaurant-worthy meals with simple ingredients. He also explains why shorter sous vide cooking times matter, when butter poaching makes sense, and how to turn a smoked pheasant carcass into an exceptional soup base.

The conversation goes beyond the kitchen, exploring wild mushroom foraging, the best pairings for different upland birds, and the edible plants hiding in native prairie habitat. Discover why porcini, chanterelles, morels, and other wild mushrooms deserve a place alongside your harvest, plus how ingredients like rose hips can bring unexpected flavor to sharp-tailed grouse.

Whether you're chasing roosters across the prairie, hunting ruffs in the grouse woods, or looking to become a better wild game cook, Shaw offers techniques and inspiration to make every harvest count.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Check out Hank Shaw’s full collection of books.

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

The right weather conditions, quality habitat and hunting tactics can turn tough pheasants into more shooting opportunities.

Pheasant hunting is never supposed to be easy. That challenge is what keeps hunters coming back. But the right tactics can tip the odds in your favor. Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter breaks down eight pheasant hunting equalizers that can help you find more birds and turn close calls into more roostery sags in your gamebag.

Wind and moisture can dramatically change how pheasants behave and how well your bird dog works scent. Learn why 15 to 20 mph winds can be ideal, how wet conditions affect scent, and why the second day after rain may offer some of the best hunting of the season.

The conversation also digs into habitat strategy, including standing corn, freshly harvested fields, diverse pollinator cover, cattails, and the overlooked pockets that can hold birds when traditional pheasant habitat comes up empty.

You'll also hear why the “forenoon,” as Carp fashions late morning, can be a prime time to hunt; how December snow and cold concentrate pheasants; and why stealth may be the most important pheasant hunting equalizer of all.

Finally, Carpenter makes the case for putting miles on your boots and your bird dog. Whether you're chasing roosters with a pointing dog or flushing dog, persistence, observation and adapting to the conditions can be the ultimate equalizers.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Read PFJ Editor Tom Carpenter’s full Pheasant Hunting Equalizers story.

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

Where should you chase quail in 2026? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks joins On the Wing to break down QF’s 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast species by species, revealing where habitat, rainfall, and bird numbers are lining up for a productive season.

The conversation starts with bobwhite quail, including standout opportunities in Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Sparks explains why hunters should look beyond state lines and focus on interconnected habitat, precipitation, winter survival, and the positive benefits of prescribed fire.

From there, the forecast moves to mountain quail in Washington, Oregon, and California, valley quail in California, Montezuma quail in Arizona and New Mexico, and Gambel's and scaled quail across the desert Southwest.

You'll also get practical quail hunting tips for finding birds when conditions are tough, from identifying water sources and recent burns to locating productive habitat and asking landowners for access. Sparks shares a simple scouting strategy that can turn one permission request into thousands of acres of hunting ground.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Read QF’s full 2026 state-by-state Quail Hunting Forecast presented by Duck Camp.

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

Colton Patterson built Broken Bow around the music, artwork, traditions, and values he inherited from his grandfather. At just 19, his work has grown into a social media following with more than one million people, along with collaborations with artists like the Turnpike Troubadours.

That same appreciation for Americana and the outdoors made Patterson a natural fit to illustrate Wendell Berry's Mike, a story about a bird dog, quail hunting, family, memory, and the connection between people and the land. Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks explains why Berry's writing has remained so influential to him, and how the story's deeper themes connect directly to conservation and the hunting tradition.

The conversation explores Patterson's creative process, his love of old country and bluegrass music, the influence of his grandparents, and why his deliberately timeless artwork resonates in a digital world. The discussion also digs into the idea of "membership," Berry's concept that we don't simply occupy a place but belong to a community of people, animals, land, traditions, and generations.

For anyone who loves bird dogs, quail hunting, conservation, or the culture surrounding the outdoors, this is a conversation about much more than pulling the trigger. It's about why we return to the field and what we carry home with us.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Read Wendell Berry’s story Mike as it appeared in Quail Forever Journal with Broken Bow’s illustrations.
• Check out Colton Patterson’s artwork at Broken Bow.
• Learn more about Wendell Berry and his writing in this terrific article from The New York Times following his passing in August.

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

Pheasants have a knack for surviving whatever the prairie throws at them, and this year's forecast offers plenty of reasons to lace up the boots. From Montana and the Dakotas to Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota, the outlook varies by region, but the bigger story is encouraging: quality upland habitat produces birds.

The crew breaks down the state-by-state pheasant hunting forecast, highlighting where hunters can expect the best opportunities and where conditions may require a little more work. Montana and North Dakota offer classic mixed-bag potential for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge, while South Dakota continues to stand out for both bird numbers and access. Nebraska and Kansas offer opportunities for hunters interested in adding bobwhite quail to their mixed bag, and Minnesota's strong hatch could make it an overlooked destination for public land pheasant hunting.

Beyond the forecast, the conversation digs into what actually matters once you hit the field. Expect practical pheasant hunting tips on finding birds in dry conditions, hunting cattails and other overlooked cover early in the season, using OnX to mark productive ground, and preparing bird dogs for changing temperatures.

Most importantly, the discussion puts the season in perspective: success isn't always measured by limits. It's about good dogs, wild places, friends, family, habitat, and making the most of the days you have.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Read the full 2026 state-by-state Pheasant Hunting Forecast presented by Garmin.

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

Public land doesn’t have to start with thousands of acres. Sometimes it starts with one property, one partnership, and one group of volunteers willing to keep building.

PF & QF’s Casey Sill joins On the Wing to talk about “Brick by Brick,” a new film documenting the impact Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area program has had on communities across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. The conversation explores how permanently protected habitat can create more than pheasant hunting opportunities. It can improve water quality, strengthen local communities, support rural economies, and connect fragmented parcels into larger, more useful public land complexes for a wide array of wildlife species.

Sill breaks down his first upland hunting experience in Iowa, the dramatic habitat transformation around the Spirit Lake area, and why Build a Wildlife properties demonstrate the value of building public access one parcel at a time.

For hunters who grew up without public access, Sill explains how discovering public land fundamentally changed the way he spends time outdoors and shaped where he ultimately chose to build a life.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• This year’s Build a Wildlife Area week is being sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund in partnership with our friends at The Flush. Learn more about PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area program.
• Check out PF & QF’s newest film, Brick by Brick presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Chief Upland, and SportDOG Brand.

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

Country music singer Drake White joins On the Wing for a candid conversation about music, hunting, bird dogs, and the long road back from a devastating stroke. White grew up hunting and fishing in Alabama, where quail, deer, rivers, dogs, and the outdoors shaped how he understood the world and eventually influenced his music.

At the height of his career, White suffered a hemorrhagic stroke onstage in Roanoke after doctors discovered an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. The aftermath left him paralyzed on his left side and facing a recovery that would fundamentally change his life. Then a trail camera captured a giant Tennessee whitetail buck behind his house.

That deer became a fixation, and hunting became a source of purpose during one of the darkest periods of his recovery. White shares how pursuing that deer helped reignite his competitive spirit, engage his brain, and reconnect him with the outdoors. He also discusses the making of a documentary detailing the role of hunting in his recovery, his relationship with fellow country music artist Riley Green, duck hunting, dove hunting, bird dogs, and why he believes the hunt can be about far more than what ends up in your vest.

The conversation is ultimately about resilience, purpose, faith, and finding a reason to keep moving when everything changes.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Watch “Ladder to the Sky: A Hunt’s the Healing Story” by Realtree and Drake White.
• Listen to Drake White and catch him on tour at www.DrakeWhite.com.

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

The word “gamey” gets thrown around whenever wild game tastes different from what we know. But what does the word “gamey” actually mean? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks takes a hard look at the word and makes the case that it does more harm than good.

Wild game carries the imprint of where and how an animal lived. Age, diet, physical activity, season, stress, habitat, and processing can all influence flavor, meaning a bobwhite quail from one landscape can taste remarkably different from a scaled quail, pheasant, duck, deer, or other wild animal harvested somewhere else. Calling all of it “gamey” flattens those differences into one vague label.

Sparks also explores why wild game cooking doesn't need to be complicated. From simply grilled quail to the broader tradition of eating animals harvested in the field, the goal isn't to disguise wild flavor. It's to understand and appreciate it.

For hunters, anglers, and anyone who puts wild food on the table, there's a bigger lesson here: the flavor of wild game is part of the hunting experience. Learning to cook it well, recognize its differences, and respect what the animal provides can make the connection between field and table even stronger.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• The winner of the Pheasants Forever + Irish Setter Wingshooters is announced.

A bird dog endures shipwrecks, captivity, starvation and war to become a legendary symbol of courage.

Judy of Sussex was no ordinary bird dog. Born in Shanghai in 1936, the liver-and-white pointer became the mascot of a British gunboat before serving alongside its crew through some of the darkest years of World War II.

After surviving the sinking of two ships, Judy endured years of captivity alongside British POWs in Japanese prison camps. She found fresh water for stranded sailors, hunted game, survived a crocodile attack, helped prisoners maintain morale and repeatedly escaped attempts to kill her.

Her story offers a remarkable look at the bond between working dogs and the people who depend on them, while showing just how much courage and instinct a bird dog can possess under unimaginable conditions. Judy eventually received the Dickin Medal, Britain's highest military honor for animals, and remains the only dog officially registered as a prisoner of war.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Sound effects and sound design for "Judy" provided by:

• Editing and sound design by Trout Stream Studios
• [BG] Combat.wav by Audionautics -- https://freesound.org/s/136260/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• Warzone by LogicMoon -- https://freesound.org/s/715831/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
• WAR_MACHINEGUN_SHOOTING_005.wav by deleted_user_3544904 -- https://freesound.org/s/234619/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
• War sounds by Dragout -- https://freesound.org/s/150305/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• LightMachineGun1.wav by SuperPhat -- https://freesound.org/s/417688/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• yucatan jungle.mp3 by folkart films -- https://freesound.org/s/122767/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
• R28-41-Hammer Metal Stakes or Nails.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/487086/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• G54-30-Waves Heard from Ship's Hold.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/438849/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• Hopeful Cinematic Emotional Orchestra Background Music by EvanBoyerman -- https://freesound.org/s/753968/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
• Emotional Uplifting Soundtrack - For Her by MusicByMisterbates -- https://freesound.org/s/596510/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

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

Wild quail, rugged country, and a six-species pursuit turned one couple’s hunts into lifelong adventures.

Jamie and Jesse Durham never set out to become dedicated quail hunters. Their journey started with a question on a first date and grew into a goal to hunt all six species of quail in the United States. Along the way, they discovered what makes chasing wild birds so addictive: learning habitat, following good dogs, exploring unfamiliar country, and earning every bird.

The Durhams share lessons from hunting bobwhite quail on Florida public land, including how prescribed fire, longleaf pine, palmetto cover, and timing can shape a successful hunt. They also recount trips across the West for Gambel’s, Mearns’, scaled, valley, and mountain quail, from the rugged terrain of New Mexico and Texas to Hells Canyon.

Their story offers plenty for upland hunters to take away, from choosing quail habitat and working young bird dogs to handling the unique challenges of Florida hunting, including heat, snakes, alligators, and post-hurricane conditions. Most importantly, their experience shows how hunting can become something shared, from discovering new landscapes together to preparing wild quail for the table and eventually introducing the next generation to the field.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

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