The Upland Social

Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich are lifelong upland hunters and professional wildlife biologists whose careers have focused on quail, grasslands, and habitat conservation across the Midwest. Kyle was raised in southeast Kansas hunting quail with his family and later attended Kansas State University. He began his career managing more than 60,000 acres of public land at Fort Riley, Kansas, before moving to Missouri in 2000 to continue his work with the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he is nearing retirement.

Frank was born and raised in southwest Missouri in a family of bird hunters. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, where he studied greater prairie chickens, and has spent more than 20 years working with bobwhite quail in Kansas and Missouri. He currently serves as MDC’s State Grassland Coordinator, helping guide grassland conservation efforts statewide.

From 2014 to 2018, Kyle and Frank co-led the largest quail research project ever conducted in Missouri, radio-collaring over 1,500 quail and monitoring more than 500 nests. In addition to their agency work, they consult nationally with Land & Legacy, developing wildlife management plans for deer, turkeys, and upland birds, while continuing to hunt together across the country.

Topics Covered:

• ​Kyle and Frank's upbringing in quail hunting
• ​How the two meet and became lifelong co-workers and friends
• ​A massive, 4 year quail research project they headed up
• ​The surprising behavior of studied quail in this period
• ​Kyle and Frank's North American Quail Slam

Connect with Kyle and Frank:

https://www.instagram.com/uplandflush/?__d=1

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Patrick Hunter was born and raised in the Carolinas, growing up between the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and his grandparents’ farm in the South Carolina Lowcountry. These two landscapes sparked his lifelong passion for hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. A fourth-generation hunter, Patrick carries a deep-rooted legacy in the traditions of quail and duck hunting, though his favorite pursuit is spring turkeys. Over the years, he has also hunted deer, woodcock, marsh hens, and the occasional wild hog—most often alongside his constant companion, Huck Finn, a 7-year-old black Labrador Retriever.

Outside of hunting, Patrick is an avid fly fisherman and fly tyer who enjoys both freshwater and saltwater angling. He is also a freelance writer and photographer, using storytelling and imagery to share his appreciation for wild places. By trade, Patrick is an environmental engineer, working to conserve the water resources, wildlife, and landscapes of the Carolinas. He lives in South Carolina with his wife, Katie, and their daughter, Jane.

Topics Covered:

• ​Different approaches to quail hunting the South
• ​Patrick's idea of a perfect cast and blast
• ​A unique upland opportunity in the Lowcountry
• ​Patrick's journey into outdoor writing
• ​The heart-warming story of his black lab

Connect with Patrick:

https://www.instagram.com/hwy22outdoors/?hl=en

Read some of Patrick's work:

https://projectupland.com/culture/southern-bird-hunting-etiquette/

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Seth Owens is a wildlife and conservation photographer based in central North Dakota, where the prairies and grasslands have shaped both his life and his work. His photography focuses on the wildlife and wide-open landscapes of the Northern Plains, with a particular passion for North American grouse. To date, Seth has photographed 9 of the 12 grouse species found in North America, with plans to complete the set in the near future.

At just 25 years old, Seth represents a younger voice in the photography and birding communities, bringing fresh perspective while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. Born and raised in North Dakota, he has hunted for as long as he can remember, developing an early connection to the land and the wildlife that inhabits it.

Seth holds degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and English from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, a combination that informs both his scientific understanding and his storytelling approach behind the camera. To him, photography is not a replacement for experience, but a tool to educate, inspire, and motivate others to get outside and explore the natural world for themselves.

On top of that, Seth is the education and outreach coordinator for Pheasants Forever for North Dakota.

He lives in Bismarck, North Dakota with his wife and their two dogs—Tanka, a red lab/golden retriever mix and his first bird dog, and Ellie, a golden retriever who prefers the comforts of the couch.

Topics Covered:

• ​Seth's upbringing in wildlife and love of birds
• ​How prairie grouse have hooked him
• ​The magic of a grouse lek in the spring
• ​What he's doing to bridge the gap between the prairie and people
• ​Seth's goal to capture all 12 North American grouse species on camera

Connect with Seth:

https://www.instagram.com/stuff.seth.sees/?hl=en

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Today’s guest is Devin Rice, a Michigan native whose love for the outdoors started early—baiting worm hooks and catching bluegills off his grandpa’s dock at just four years old. Like a lot of folks, the pandemic flipped a switch for Devin, and once he got his first German Shorthaired Pointer, Walker, everything changed. He did the unthinkable—hung up the bow—and became fully obsessed with chasing the king of the woods: ruffed grouse.

Now running two high-octane GSPs through the uplands, Devin is a full-blown grouse and woodcock addict, even if he’ll be the first to admit he might be one of the worst wing shots you’ll ever meet—so bad it’s almost impressive he says. When he’s not in the woods, Devin is a full-time husband, father, and firefighter/paramedic, somehow squeezing in bird hunting whenever he can. He’s also a self-proclaimed cigar connoisseur and mustache maestro.

Topics Covered:

• ​How the pandemic shifted him into bird hunting
• ​Deer hunting taking a back seat to the uplands
• ​Being a student of habitat
• ​Shooting slumps, and how to crawl out of them
• ​How the uplands clear Devin's head as a firefighter

Connect with Devin:

https://www.instagram.com/ruffed_rice_upland/

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Today’s guest is West Newby. West is an avid upland hunter and bird dog enthusiast who’s been chasing birds since he was 17 years old. He got his start walking the woods for ruffed grouse with friends—no dogs, just miles and grit—which eventually sparked a deep passion for bird dogs and training. Before ever owning his own dog, West immersed himself in the training world, helping others work their bird dogs and learning a wide range of techniques while shaping his own approach. That journey ultimately led him to a Small Munsterlander, and from there it was full steam ahead into upland hunting and bird dog training. Since then, West has traveled across much of the United States chasing birds alongside his dog, Captain Edward Teague. We’re excited to dig into his experiences, training philosophy, and what he’s learned from a lifetime in the uplands.

Topics Covered:

• ​Hunting dogless to getting a first bird dog
• ​Discovering his dominant shooting eye
• ​West's reason for choosing a Small Munsterlander
• ​How West chose his dog's unique name
• ​Advice for new dog handlers

Connect with West:

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

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Keng Yang is a passionate public-land hunter dedicated to chasing pheasants and waterfowl across the prairie with his trusted nine-year-old German Wirehaired Pointer, Kaiya. Starting his hunting journey later in life, Keng quickly found himself fully immersed in the pursuit — driven by a love for wild places, strong bird dogs, and the camaraderie found in the field. Today, he’s constantly exploring new open spaces and connecting with the growing community of hunters who share his values.

Equally committed to giving back, Keng has led multiple hunter-education and mentorship programs in recent years, helping newcomers gain skills, confidence, and a deep appreciation for conservation. Whether he’s introducing first-time hunters to the tradition or following Kaiya into the next birdy field, Keng embodies the passion and purpose that define modern public-lands hunting.

Topics Covered:

• ​Keng's first bird dog leading the way into the uplands
• ​Why public lands are so near and dear to him
• ​Hmong culture and Keng's hunting heritage
• ​Keng's hunting mentorship program
• ​What Keng loves about rooster pheasants

Connect with Keng:

https://www.instagram.com/kengyang1/?hl=en

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Justin Madron grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, where the outdoors were part of everyday life. He started hunting deer and bear at a young age, and his earliest introduction to hunting dogs came through hounds. Though grouse were around, they were more of an incidental opportunity than a pursuit. That all changed later in life when he discovered upland hunting and fell in love with it, especially the combination of physical effort, dog work, and the social community it creates.

Justin now spends much of his fall chasing Appalachian grouse and Virginia woodcock with his Llewellin setter, Filly. He also guides in Michigan for a few weeks each season and makes a point to introduce new people to the uplands whenever he can. His professional work centers on solving tough environmental and planning challenges through geospatial data. He runs a consulting company called Farther Afield, which donates a portion of profits to upland conservation. When he’s not hunting or training dogs, he’s home between Virginia and West Virginia with his wife Tiffany and their twin boys.

Topics Covered:

• Justin's journey to bird dogs through a friend
• Hunting with different types of setters
• The "boutique" style of Appalachian grouse hunting
• Justin's conservation mindset with his company, Farther Afield
• What Justin finds fulfilling about guiding for other hunters

Connect with Justin:

https://www.instagram.com/j.madron/

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Today’s guest is Kevin Bauer, the mind behind Furvor, a company born out of a simple moment on the trail. After a hot summer hike left their two dogs, Henry and Ollie, completely worn out, Kevin discovered that adding bone broth to their water and kibble boosted recovery, energy, and mobility. That experience sparked the idea for Furvor—a brand dedicated to bringing the incredible health benefits of bone broth to our pets. After more than a year of research, blending, and testing with one of the nation’s top bone broth manufacturers, they created a first-of-its-kind topper that delivers more nutrition, more flavor, and more value for our dogs.

Topics Covered:

• ​Kevin's spark of inspiration with Furvor
• ​The well-studied health benefits of bone broth
• ​The overlap of human and canine athlete nutritional needs
• ​A university study of the Furvor product
• ​When to feed Furvor to your hunting dogs

Connect with Furvor:

https://furvorpet.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq_x0xU4aCJmCOBnWXuUdPU0jJ599BQGv7mflaYnhQ0jHHD4EJO

https://www.instagram.com/furvorpets/

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Live from the Ohio pheasant fields, Cameron Berrien and I recap our hunt for some Buckeye Birds. Believe it or not, Ohio does support a huntable amount of wild pheasants. By no means does the state rival the better known western destinations, but the birds are there if you're willing to look for them. Join us as we dive in to our hunt, strategies for Ohio roosters, and more!

Topics Covered:

• ​The status of pheasants in Ohio
• ​Strategies to hunt low bird density areas
• ​The quail comeback in Ohio
• ​Cameron's recent hunting adventures

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi

Today we're joined by a team that's been restoring native prairies for nearly 40 years. Based in the heart of Iowa, Nicolas Lirio and Kent Boucher of Hoksey Native Seeds continue to carry on the legacy left by the company's founder, Carroll Hoksbergen. Their mission is to produce high quality native grasses and wildflower seeds that help farmers and landowners across the Midwest from Illinois to South Dakota bring the prairie back to life.

Topics Covered:

• The origin story of Hoksey Native Seeds.
• Pheasant hunting the Hoksey property
• Why Nicolas values "messy" prairies
• Kent's journey to becoming a Hoksey employee
• The Prairie Farm Podcast
• How Hoksey is restoring landscapes across the Midwest

Connect with Hoksey Native Seeds:

https://hokseynativeseeds.com/

Connect with The Prairie Farm Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0BcIjPg6wE0A8JU3lAmwsC?si=6c6d6eccd7b74c58

Proud Sponsors:

Gundog Central

Hunt Redi