Upland Nation

We talk with two leaders in their categories: Scott Trulock of Trulock Choke Tubes and Mark Strickland of Crispi US about their products, new gear in the pipeline, trends in their space, and the care and feeding of our boots and shotguns. Whether you're shopping for new stuff or simply want to take better care of your current gear, they've got advice.

We'll also look at some of your beautiful photos from the field and in "Handle It" I'll offer a way to warm up your pup after a cold day in the field.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Join my friends Dave and Tom on our somewhat-annual gathering in the desert of southeast Oregon for the chukar and valley quail season opener. In what's become an informal reunion of new and old friends we reminisce on old dogs, an epic opening weekend, some foibles and incredible hunting. Trigger warning: there's a lot of philosophizing, too. 

But somewhere among the joking and joshing are lessons on why we hunt, what dogs do to us - and for us - and even a tip or two.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

BONUS EPISODE: How's your season going? Not finding - let alone hitting - enough birds? Well I've compiled a pile of suggestions and observations that might help, especially if you're hunting walk-in and public ground. Often, being a bit sneakier, subtle and deliberate will get you closer to a better shot. From pre-hunt preparation to approaching a dog on point, here are 30 or so things I've learned the hard way so you don't have to.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

My former neighbor and current friend Tim Curry of Central Oregon Sporting Dog brings me up to speed on neighborhood news and a lot of practical advice on dog training and chukar hunting. From introducing gun fire, to introducing birds to a pup, what chukars really eat and where they go, to introducing an electronic training collar the right way, he's got things figured out.

Tim also has some hard-won advice on getting a dog in the "Handle It" segment, and listeners offer tips on what to bring in your truck on a hunting trip.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Yup, nothing wrong with stealing good ideas, especially when they were offered sincerely and will help others (i.e., YOU). Here are over two dozen suggestions from pro guides, pro trainers, field trialers and hunt testers plus good hunting buddies. Now, you won't have to learn the hard way - they already did!

From dog training and handling to hunting strategies, here are bits and pieces to keep you and your dog more productive and your dog safer. Finding birds to finding public-access hunting areas, here are some lesser-known ways to make your hunt epic.

"Handle It" covers a way to cool your dog, and your own photos of great hunting spots are shared. Beautiful!

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Your worst travel-dog nightmares ... that niggling question you have ... and why hunt two dogs at the same time? We cover a lot of ground on this episode, including a new feature "What's on your mind?"

I'll answer questions you've asked on everything from rattlesnakes to sending a dog for a missed bird, even offer an RV buying tip. Then, a sharing session on the pro's and cons of hunting two dogs at the same time. Insights and cautions, encouragement and practical advice too. Finally, we share the funny stories of life on the road with dogs - and photos too.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

From the field: I have a lengthy, broad-ranging conversation with Trevor Walz of LandTrust.com and a pro bird hunting guide. From conservation and management to handling dog disputes, what's in his vest to habitat needs and hunting strategies for prairie grouse, we cover it all. Tipping a guide? He's got a suggestion and rationale. Finding birds? Listen carefully. Then, listen again.

There's something for every bird hunter in this discussion from eastern Montana.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

A shooting tip from TV's worst shotgunner!

Bottle & Mic ... first in a series of road trip debriefs, reflections on a trip I'm on with observations, suggestions, and ruminations fueled by a wee dram or two.

This bonus episode comes from Lincoln, Montana enroute home from a sharptailed grouse hunt that included weather challenges, practical hunting magic, dog stories, and a lot of appreciation for rural America and the people we meet along the way.

Now, pour another one and pass that bottle please.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

I hope it never happens to you - that eerie silence when you hoped to hear collar tags jingling, knowing your dog is well and truly lost. Or, he limps back, bleeding. As the season gets into full swing, what better than to prepare for each of these situations?

I'll offer a four-step strategy for finding your dog, from preparation to gear, to starting your search. There may be something there that will help you, based on my own experiences over the years.

Then, what's in my dog-care kit? I'll cover the stuff I carry in my vest that will help him continue to hunt, or stabilize him for a trip to the veterinarian. It's a simple, basic set of tools that'll take care of most in-field emergencies, from cactus spines to bee stings and barbed-wire cuts.

"Handle It" is all about fueling your four-footed hunting buddy - what works for me and why (I think!). Maybe there's something in it for you and your dog.

And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss the Wingshooting USA TV now airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.