My friend Eric Thompson moved to Montana for one thing: bird hunting. We benefit from his experiences since, with advice on finding new places to hunt, and a few strategies and tactics for the field. We learn about the highs and lows of owning - and losing - dogs, and how to help newcomers explore our sport.

We'll debrief Eric's past season in multiple states, with some highlights and a few stories. "Fix It" has an unusual source of new hunting spots, and readers thank their bird-hunting and dog-training mentors.

You get a chance to win a four-pack of Pointer shotguns or HiViz sight and a range bag from Sage & Braker (value over $200 total) in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Pointer shotguns, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

"It ain't over 'til it's over" ... so said baseball player-philosopher Yogi Berra. It's true in bird hunting, too. Once your dog stands a bird, there are a lot of things you can do right - or wrong - to conclude the transaction successfully with a bird on the ground. It's what you want, but just as important, it's what your dog wants, isn't it?

I'll cover five places in the hunt (okay, one is before the hunt) when doing something differently - better - ups your odds. From hardware, to human software, handling to shooting, these lessons I learned the hard way may help you.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Purina Pro Plan Sport dog food.

[Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.)

The talented team of Tom and Tina Dokken is well-known for dog training expertise and the iconic Dead Fowl Trainer, but Tina has an additional calling: bringing more women into bird hunting. She offers advice on everything from how women learn differently than men, and what we can do as spouses or partners to motivate and educate newcomers.

We'll get tips and tactics on everything from dog training to shooting, some resources for new hunters, along with insights on what NOT to do when helping a newcomer. "Fix It" suggests using stealth to become better shooters, and listeners offer one-sentence's-worth of advice to new dog trainers.

You get a chance to win a four-pack of Pointer shotguns, or a HiViz sight and Sage & Braker range bag, valued at over $200 total in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Pointer Shotguns, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Ruth Weiss is a senior judge in the NAVHDA testing system as well as an active handler with 74 dogs tested including two versatile champions. She's seen it all and will share her insights on everything from steadiness to retrieving (advice for all levels), introducing a pup to water, and how and when to use praise. She's also an avid bird hunter and offers insights on handling a dog in the field as well as a peek into the world of Mearns quail. Her upbeat attitude is contagious and springs from a love of dogs and how they think.

"Fix It" suggests one time when praise is the wrong thing to provide, and listeners chip in with the bird species they hunted most last season.

You get a chance to win a free day of private land hunting from LandTrust.com, value $150 in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

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

Here's the third episode of the new, bi-weekly bonus programs doing a deep dive into single topics, inspirational stories, hunting adventures and special people. 

Delving deep, we philosophize about the value of hunting by yourself. Okay, with your dog, of course, but nobody else. Free, unencumbered, and a chance to explore your inner self. I'll weigh the advantages vs. the drawbacks and hope you agree it's a worthy path to follow sometimes.

I'll also touch on a few practical aspects you'll want to consider if you go it alone.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Purina Pro Plan Sport dog food.

Are pricey bespoke guns worth their stratospheric prices? My friend and Field & Stream's shotgun editor Phil Bourjaily has an answer and he should know. He's been writing on the subject for decades and now we get the lowdown. Phil also shares what he looks for (and so should we) when buying any shotgun, the joys and limitations of heavy and light guns, grouse hunting with a Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel, and the real reason shotguns were originally engraved.

We'll also cover Phil's hunting season, reminisce about some dogs, and get sound advice on hunting strategy. "Fix It" covers a way to dial down your dog's energy level to make training more productive, and listeners offer suggestions for our reading list in honor of World Book Day.

You get a chance to win a four-pack of Pointer shotguns or HiViz sight and a range bag from Sage & Braker (value over $200 total) in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

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

Bob West is one of the legends in bird dog training, a writer, hunter, and all-around font of wisdom when it comes to hunting dogs. He joins me for reminiscences about what's changed in dog training,and  how different today's trainers are from the old timers.

Bob suggests what we should be doing differently in our own training, his choice for hardest birds to hunt, how dogs think, answers some specific questions about steadiness training and we venture down a rabbit hole on the topic of - what? - Chinese field trials (which, it turns out, were really Japanese bird-dog buyers in the 1980's). Bob also offers advice on bringing a new dog into the string: match your current dog's sex, or go opposite?

"Fix It" offers a poor man's bird launcher, and listeners tell us what they're training right now.

You get a chance to win a free day of private land hunting from LandTrust.com, value $150 in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Here's the second episode of the new, bi-weekly bonus programs doing a deep dive into single topics, inspirational stories, hunting adventures and special people. 

This one is a list of ways to save money so you can wring out an extra day, buy more shells, or drink better beer on a road trip. I've compiled a bunch of suggestions, ideas and advice from my own years as a road warrior that might help you this season.

From booking travel and lodging to less-common ways to find savings on everything from fuel to access, I hope you'll find something of value (pun intended) on this podcast.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Purina Pro Plan Sport dog food.

He's a fanatic bird hunter, conservationist, dog trainer and strong advocate for recruiting newbies to our ranks. Oh, he's also on the board of Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever. Douglas Spale has a unique backstory, too, and all his passions and life experiences combine to make him a fantastic interview.

We'll cover everything from his own hunting origin story to dog training tips, hunting strategies to conservation. Then, we'll talk how to help motivate and engage potential hunters. As a board member, Douglas also offers insights into the policies and operations of the largest upland conservation groups, PF/QF.

"Fix It" asks the question: are you responsible for your dog's broken points? And listeners share the highlights of their most recent hunting season - a segment full of motivation and inspiration.

You get a chance to enter to win a four-pack of Pointer shotguns or free day of private land hunting from LandTrust.com, value $150 in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird Dog Hall of Famer Rick Smith of the legendary family that includes father Delmar and cousin Ronnie, joins me from the floor of Pheasant Fest. In a wide-ranging discussion, we cover rodeo(!), essential training gear, and do a very deep dive into dog psychology and training methods. We talk about steadiness, retrieving, picking a pup, a dog's mindset and how to change it.

Listeners offer their critique of my survival kit, including other things to add; and "Fix It" talks about, well, talking to your dog.

You get a chance to enter to win a free day of private land hunting from LandTrust.com, value $150 in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.