When dog owners struggle, that’s when they call trainers for help. On this episode, we sit down with dog owners that share their struggles and the trainers that helped them overcome them. Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells & George Lyall explain how to understand the mindset of dogs and the power that comes with it.  @haycreekkennel @jwellskennels

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Financial (https://compeer.com/)

Bird hunters unite to get their hands dirty working on habitat.  John Wartman, president of the Carver County Pheasants Forever chapter explains why his chapter won the 2024 Forever award, why adding opportunities for chapter members to work together has given his chapter renewed life, the value and bond created by volunteering, Hands on Habitat day, stories introducing kids to hunting and wild places, plus a whole lot more…@pheasantsforever

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Financial (https://compeer.com/)

*LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED* Adam Thomas shares his horrifying story of a bird dog training drill that backfired and sent him on a helicopter to the closest ER. Adam relives the events leading up to the explosion, explains why it happened, how his body and mind reacted to it, his hope for a full recovery, lessons learned, and maintaining his goal of training his bird dog, Charlie, to compete in the NAVHDA Invitational this fall.  Adam’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers in the field and how quick life can change. @athomasone

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) & GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.com/)

Listeners share their real-life stories while at the 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City, MO. This is an open mic episode where Travis Frank & Scott Fransen hear from guests sharing their own experiences in the field, from epic success to unexpected heartbreaks, this episode takes us on a wild journey with bird dogs, habitat heroes, laughs, tears, inspiration, and a whole lot more.

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) & GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.com/)

Listeners share their real life stories while at the 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City, MO. This is an open mic episode where Travis Frank & Scott Fransen hear from guests sharing their own experiences in the field, from epic success to unexpected heartbreaks, this episode takes us on a wild journey with bird dogs, habitat heroes, laughs, tears, conservation, inspiration, and a whole lot more.

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Join us for our 3rd annual Upland Trivia game hosted LIVE at Border Brewing Co. in Kansas City at Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.  Will George Lyall continue his dominance?  Will Tyler Webster rebound from his disappointing finish last year?  Play along with a packed house of listeners that came to cheer on the crew, heckle the hosts, and take home prizes.  @western.wingshooter.podcast | @g.lyall66 | @fransenscott

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is finally here! We count down the final hours before the show opens to preview our schedule of events in Kansas City.  Plus, we share a listener story that won’t soon be forgotten.  We’ll see you at the largest upland gathering in the world!

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Ben Brettingen from OnX Hunt & Hannah Petersen from Mud Lake Kennels join the show for a spring dog training episode that dives into the mindsight of raising bird dogs and honing their natural skills.  The episode begins with a brief game of upland trivia, followed by a Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic preview, then dives into Hannah’s journey into dog training, canine obedience training, introducing a puppy to wild birds, gaining confidence through experience, trusting the process, reading your dog, flipping the light switch, Minnesota Grouse Dog Association trials, bird dog trials vs hunting, Ben joins the RGS & AWS Board, plus so much more …@mudlake_kennels | @benbrettingen

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Executive Director of Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation joins the show for an in-depth conversation on America’s wild quail. Ryan and Travis discuss the RPQRF mission, biology & behavior of quail, quail research projects, parasites in quail, eye worms & cecal worms, Quail Gaurd, quail mating and nesting, quail habitat and timely rains, grazing for quail, preserving quail hunting in America, predation, winter survival, and so much more …@rpqrf | www.quailresearch.org

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Marilyn Vetter, Bob St. Pierre, & Ron Leathers of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever join us for an in-depth “State of the Union” habitat conversation.  We discuss the health of the organization, conservation partnerships and what they mean for wildlife, internal strengths and opportunities, members are growing, Federal Farm Bill & DC happenings, habitat heroes & leaders, looking inward, celebrating 20 years of Quail Forever, Hands on Habitat, bird biology, Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic preview, listener questions, season highlights, and so much more…@pheasantsforever | @quailforever

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)