Today I am joined by Justin Berkley. A native Michigander, Justin now lives a nomadic bird hunting lifestyle, spending the months of August through February on the move, chasing whatever birds he and his string of bird dogs can find. You can follow along with his adventures on Instagram at Northern Forest Gun Dogs. 

Topics covered include:

• ​The genetic traits Justin is looking for in a dog
• ​The enchantment and struggle of an upland nomad
• ​Healthy competition with our dogs
• ​The magic of quail coveys
• ​Potential negative impacts of pen raised gamebirds
• ​Pheasants in downtown Detroit, Michigan

Rob Hubble runs the "Northwest Wingshooters" Youtube channel. He's 37 years old, hails from Washington State, but currently lives in Idaho. Rob has been married for 14 years to his awesome wife, Katie, and together, they have an 11 year old daughter, Sidney. He works as an airline pilot, but when he's not flying planes, he enjoys taking long walks with his dogs, especially when birds and shotguns are involved. Some of his other favorite hobbies include fishing, snowboarding, and mountain biking.

Topics covered:

• The variety of gamebirds in the Pacific Northwest
• The loving affection of Brittanies
• Pheasant hunting in the Northwest compared to Midwest

• Ruffed grouse behavior in different regions
• Type 2 fun bird hunting

Edgar Castillo is a retired law enforcement officer for 27 years, where he worked for a large Kansas city metropolitan agency. He also served in the U S Marines for a decade. Edgar was born in Guatemala and upon arriving in the U S he discovered his affinity for wing shooting. His passion lies in the uplands, wherever the dirt roads take him to hunting open fields, walking tree lines and busting through plum thickets in a never ending search for wild birds in wild places.

Topics covered include:

• The hunting scene in Kansas
• Edgar's origins as a hunter
• Hunting culture in Guatemala compared to the U.S.
• Hunting ptarmigan in Colorado and Alaska
• Relationships with other people's dogs
• Edgar's outdoor writing career

You’re listening to The Upland Social, a podcast dedicated to the bird hunting community. I’m your host, Ryan Lynton, an artist, writer, and lover of all things dogs and birds. We’ll gear up and hit the field with some of the most engaging and compelling voices on the bird hunting scene. Each week, we will hear from seasoned hunters, dog trainers, storytellers, wild game specialists, to everyday uplanders just like you and me. Their insights, experience, and stories will inspire and equip you to explore, conserve, and celebrate the wild places we all love. The landscape is truly limitless. So load up, drop the tailgate, and let’s go. 

This is The Upland Social.