Tyler sits down with George Ermert, board member and policy chair of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, to break down what just happened with Wisconsin's Sandhill Crane hunt bill. The bill passed the State Assembly before stalling in the Senate. George explains the science behind a responsible Sandhill Crane hunt, the Eastern population numbers, USDA depredation tags, the coalition pushing this forward (Delta Waterfowl, Safari Club International, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation), what's coming in 2027, and how Michigan and Ontario are watching. Visit widucks.org for talking points and to get involved.

Topics: Wisconsin Sandhill Crane hunt, waterfowl policy, conservation, hunting advocacy, Delta Waterfowl, USFWS, Eastern Sandhill Crane population.

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Scott Stipetich, Senior Precision Ag and Conservation Specialist for Pheasants Forever in Wisconsin, joins Tyler and Matt to unpack how yield and profitability data are reshaping habitat conservation on working farms. We dig into identifying marginal cropland, converting unprofitable acres into prairie strips, pollinator plantings, and wetland restoration, and why wider habitat corridors mean better nesting success against fox, skunk, and coyote predation.

A must-listen for upland hunters, landowners, farmers, and anyone interested in pheasant habitat, CRP, and practical farm conservation in the Upper Midwest.

If you are looking for more information on the topics in this episode, check out these links:

Pheasants Forever - Find A Biologist

Precision Ag & Conservation in Wisconsin Story Map

Precision Ag & Conservation in Wisconsin Minidocumentary

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A major piece of legislation could have serious consequences for hunters, gun dog owners, and the future of dog training.

In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, Tyler is joined by Chris Ingram of the United Kennel Club (UKC) to break down the controversial Greyhound Protection Act and its inclusion in the Farm Bill. While intended to target commercial greyhound racing, the bill’s broad language may extend far beyond that—potentially impacting hunting with dogs, field trials, hunt tests, and training with live birds.

Drawing from the latest update and announcement released by UKC, we unpack why this language is raising concern across the hunting and dog training communities.

We cover:

Take action & learn more:

If you hunt, train dogs, or care about the future of hunting and conservation, this is one you need to pay attention to.

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In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, we sit down with Bill Kehoe—President of Badger State HRC—to dive deep into the world of hunting retriever clubs, gun dog training, and the community behind it all.

Bill shares his journey from getting his first Labrador Retriever to helping build one of Wisconsin’s HRC clubs, along with lessons learned from decades of training, hunting, and competing with retrievers. We break down how HRC (Hunting Retriever Club) organizations work, why joining a training group can dramatically improve your dog, and how these clubs create lifelong friendships, hunting opportunities, and better hunters.

We also cover:

The benefits of group dog training vs. going solo

How HRC hunt tests work (Started, Seasoned, Finished)

Building a retriever to the Hunting Retriever Champion level

The role of mentorship, land access, and shared equipment

Real-world hunting applications of training

The challenges of running an HRC club and organizing events

Plus, Bill shares stories from his military career, hunting experiences across North America, and insights into raising and training successful gun dogs.

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What happens when a luxury watch entrepreneur from New Jersey goes on his first duck hunt in Louisiana and immediately gets hooked? In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, the guys sit down with Christian of Theo & Harris to talk about his rapid-fire introduction to hunting, the culture shock of stepping into the outdoors, and why the experience hit deeper than he ever expected.

They cover adult-onset hunting, first duck hunt nerves, gear overload, hunting dogs, camaraderie in the blind, social media, masculinity, wild game, and the overwhelming world of waterfowl, upland, turkey, and big game hunting. Christian also shares how hunting is reshaping the way he thinks about life, purpose, adventure, and what it means to pursue something real in a modern world.

If you’ve ever wondered what hunting looks like through the eyes of a total newcomer, this one is honest, funny, thoughtful, and packed with perspective.

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This week on the Upduck Podcast, we sit down with dog trainer, behavioral specialist, and hunter Sami Strutz to break down what really goes into building a great hunting dog.

From common puppy mistakes to handler habits that quietly ruin dogs, Sami shares practical, real-world advice on training, behavior, and creating a dog that performs in the field and fits in the home.

We dive into:

The biggest mistakes new dog owners make

How to balance hunting dog vs house dog

Why consistency matters more than talent

Off-season training and keeping dogs sharp

The truth about genetics vs training

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This week on the Upduck Podcast, we sit down with Eric Forrester of Ghost Point Wirehairs to talk German Wirehaired Pointers, breeding and training bird dogs, NSTRA field trials, and the adventure of traveling out West to chase upland birds. From building a kennel to DIY bird hunting in big country, this episode is packed with bird dog insight, hunting stories, and practical advice for upland hunters.

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Wisconsin waterfowl hunters—your window to speak up is open. We break down the Wisconsin DNR public input period for the 2026–2030 duck and goose season framework, how to submit the survey, and why more than “Facebook complaining” matters. We also hit the latest on a potential Wisconsin Sandhill crane hunt, the urgency around Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding, and why the holiday goose hunt timing frustrates public-land hunters. Plus: Open Season Sportsman’s Expo plugs, turkey-rig talk, and a quick puppy update—because dogs fix everything.

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We’re joined by Alec Bekkers, Chair of the Wisconsin chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s really happening with public land hunting.

Alec shares how he got into hunting as an adult, why public land flipped a switch for him, and what BHA is doing to protect and expand access. We get into conservation vs preservation, why public land feels more crowded (hint: habitat and access), the realities of funding wildlife work, and how R3 can create better hunters and stronger conservation advocates.

(Quick PSA up top: Wisconsin’s public input window for the next 5-year waterfowl season framework is coming soon—watch for details.)

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No Jeff this week (stomach bug took him out), so Matt and Tyler hold down the mic with two guests who live at the intersection of service, dogs, and the outdoors: Brian Rollison (active duty Army armor officer) and Reid Parrish (Iraq & Afghanistan vet, full-time guide) from Hero to the Line.

Hero to the Line is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple mission and a massive impact: donate well-bred Labrador retriever puppies to veterans, active duty service members, and Gold Star families—then surround them with a community that helps them train, learn, and stay connected. We talk about why a dog can be the difference between sitting on the couch and getting outside, how training creates routine, and how a “new furry best friend” can help people work through life’s hardest chapters—whether that’s the transition to civilian life, grief, or the weight that follows deployment.

Brian shares his path from hunting doves in Virginia to chasing ducks across the country (and even a NATO rotation in Poland), and how receiving his lab Daisy changed everything. Reid breaks down how the organization grows through breeder relationships, sponsorships, and the magic of “whoopsie litters,” plus what it feels like watching recipients take that first step into the dog world—beds, food, training tips, and all.

We also get into the “holy cow” moment of seeing a finished-level dog run, why hunt tests flip a switch in people, and how Hero to the Line is building a nationwide network of dog owners and veterans (from Alaska to Florida).

Learn more / apply / support: Hero to the Line (hero2theline.org)

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