The Upland Social

In this episode, I sit down with Devin Rice after a ruffed grouse and woodcock hunt. Join us as we discuss the birds, habitat, and the dogs that take us there.

Today we’re joined by Jay Sjogren, a dyed in the wool hunter who grew up chasing everything from pheasants and grouse to ducks and deer in south-central Minnesota before moving to Alaska in 1998. After 25 years as a Kenai police officer, he’s preparing for retirement and a new hunting adventure. He’s pursued an incredible list of Alaska’s game, including Dall sheep, musk ox, Emperor geese, and all three species of ptarmigan. Now, he’s setting his sights on an upland slam in 2027—with his Pudelpointer Penny and a very unique Sjögren shotgun along for the ride.

Topics Covered:

• Jay's rich heritage, hunting with both parents
• Hunting grouse and woodcock in college
• The move from Minnesota to Alaska
• Ptarmigan hunting the Final Frontier
• A goal to complete the upland slam with a special shotgun

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

OnTract Fowl

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Today we’re joined by Justin Anderson, a native Floridian whose outdoor roots started with deer hunting, hog hunting, and freshwater fishing before he eventually found his way into saltwater sight fishing and fly fishing. In recent years, Justin has dove headfirst into the upland world, with bobwhite quail becoming a major passion. He hunts primarily behind English Pointers, Cockers and Boykins, along with a few Labs.

Justin is also the owner of Historic Coast Outfitters, a guide service specializing in saltwater fishing, upland hunting, and Osceola turkey hunts, while also hosting destination trips to places like Louisiana and Montana. When he’s not in the field or on the water, Justin is helping put on Marsh Fest, an annual celebration featuring dozens of vendors, skiff companies, live music, food, and everything centered around hunting and fishing.

Proud Sponsors:

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OnTract Fowl

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Today we're joined by Nathan Shaw, a lifelong bird hunter, fly fisherman, guide, and bird dog trainer whose love for the outdoors started at an early age. Growing up around his dad's Springer Spaniels, and the Neshannock Creek Fly Shop, dogs, birds, and fishing were simply part of his life.

As an adult, that passion grew into adventures across the country and Canada, from Alaska and Montana to Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and beyond. Today he runs a fly fishing guide company, trains bird dogs, and hunts behind three of his own, Charlie, Murphy, and Donnie. A lover of wild birds, places, and the dogs that take us there. He's also passionate about helping people, helping people and keeping dog trainings simple, practical, and fun.

Topics:

• The significance of reputable breeders and genetics
• Adapting training to each dog's personality
• Early influences of bird dogs and fishing
• The importance of natural ability in bird dogs

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

https://www.instagram.com/ontractfowl/?hl=en

Today we are joined by my friend across the border in Kentucky, Tyler Duvall. Tyler is an avid bird dog handler and bobwhite quail hunter. After losing a dog too soon in life several years ago, Tyler made the decision to do things differently with the following dog, doubling down on training and hunting with it. 

And although he loves hunting quail around home, he, like many of us, likes to explore outside the realms of what is familiar. In 2025, he found himself successfully hunting public land pheasants in South Dakota. He now has more trips and consequent species planned for this upcoming season.

Topics Covered:

• One covey of quail lighting the fire for upland hunting
• What Tyler learned from his first bird dog
• The fun and challenge of hunting quail in Kentucky
• Learning patience as a dog handler
• Getting humbled in South Dakota

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Today we’re joined by Pete Burnham, a lifelong bird hunter who grew up hunting birds as a kid before careers and other hobbies pulled him away from the sport for a couple of decades. Toward the end of COVID, a few dove hunts turned into quail hunts, and the bird-hunting bug came roaring back.

These days, Pete spends his weekends scouting, shooting clays, chasing quail, and training dogs. Based in the Bay Area, he hunts throughout California, from the Sacramento Valley to the Owens Valley and the Trinity Alps, and is passionate about showcasing the incredible diversity of California’s upland hunting opportunities.

Topics:

🌾 COVID reigniting bird hunting memories for Pete

🌾 Hunting with a Cocker Spaniel

🌾 Fly fishing the Bay Area in San Francisco

🌾 The ample amount of public land in California

🌾 The variety of upland game and landscape types in the state

Check out California Upland's Website

https://www.instagram.com/california_upland/

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

We are live from the Sandhills of Nebraska! I sit down in person with Matt Fruge, an accomplished upland hunter who lives in the heart of prairie grouse country.

Topics Covered:

• The challenges of hot weather in early prairie grouse season
• How hunting off horseback is efficient in big country
• The ancient feeling you get in the Sandhills
• Finding sharptails and bobwhites in the same walk
• The different behaviors in sharptails and prairie chickens as the season progresses

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Today’s guest is Matt Millbauer, an upland hunter, writer, artist, and podcaster based in the Columbia Basin of Washington. Host of the Go Flush Yourself Podcast and Co-Host of the Breaking Cover Podcast, Matt stays plenty busy discussing dogs, gear, birds, literary work and more behind a microphone. His article titled, “Bridge and The Basin Hun” just hit mailboxes in Pheasants Forever’s Super Bird Hunting Issue. 

On top of this, he’s the artist behind Bird Dog Portraits, custom digital dog portraits created by Matt’s own hands. He also launched his own local Pheasants Forever chapter and serves currently as its secretary. 

When he’s not podcasting, writing, or creating art, he’s chasing Springer Spaniels around in search of pheasants, quail, Hungarian partridge, and any upland bird the Northwest can offer up.

Topics Covered:

• ​Growing up an upland hunter
• ​Why pheasants are awesome
• ​Matt's podcasts he hosts
• ​Hunting with Springer Spaniels
• ​The joy of exploring new bird covers

Find Matt on Socials

https://www.instagram.com/go_flushyourself/

https://www.instagram.com/breakingcoverpodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/bird_dog_portraits/

Check out The Upland Literary Review

https://goflushyourself.org

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Today’s guest is James Godfrey, a dog trainer, kennel manager, and hunting guide from the piney woods of the Southeast. Graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Wildlife Enterprise Management, bird dogs, habitat, and the upland lifestyle are tightly woven into the fabric of James’ life. When he’s not managing the kennel and guiding at Auburn Oaks Farm, he’s hitting the uplands with his rescue Shorthair and up and coming Boykin/Lab mix in search of the elusive, wild covey of quail in the Southeast. 

Topics Covered:

• James' love for training dogs
• Guiding at Auburn Oaks Farm
• Habitat management on the farm
• The varying dog breeds of the kennel he runs
• Redeeming a near-death GSP into a hunter

Connect with Godfrey Gundogs on Instagram

Check out Auburn Oaks Farm

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central

Ryan Mott is a lifelong upland hunter whose roots trace back to the family farms of southeast Iowa and west-central Illinois, where he first followed American Brittanys through pheasant and quail country. A retired Master Sergeant with the Illinois State Police, Ryan has dedicated his life to service both on and off the field. Today he hunts with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Reece, and his young Weimaraner, Charlee, while volunteering as a wingshooting instructor and coaching championship-winning youth clay target teams. Whether it's bird dogs, conservation, or passing hunting traditions on to the next generation, Ryan is passionate about everything that makes the uplands special.

Topics Covered:

• ​Ryan's early days of hunting both Iowa and Illinois
• ​Quality Illinois pheasant hunting due to habitat
• ​Coaching youth clay target teams
• ​Memories in the field with his dogs
• ​Letting the birds win sometimes

Connect with Ryan on Instagram

Proud Sponsors:

Hunt Redi

Ballad of the Bird Dog

Gundog Central