Upland Nation

Exclusive industry insider edition: Not just a major retailer in the bird dog world, Steve Snell is an avid bird hunter. In our extensive interview, we go from the company's history through the transition to online retailing, then hit on some of the most-asked questions Steve gets from customers about gear and how to use it. He talks about trends in product development, why a riveted collar ID tag is crucial, get a debrief on his hunting season in several states, and some advice on hunting public land strategically. 

Steve walks us through a new GPS collar coming soon from Dogtra, shares tips on traveling with dogs, and offers tips on hunting the elusive blue quail, including the importance of cutting your pointing dog some slack.

Steve gives us advice on hunting through a tough season of too much, or too little rain/drought/hail and smaller bird populations.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Heartland Lodge, where you'll get special freebies and gifts for every booking (learn more here).

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

Start the year right - get your training act together! Legendary trainer, champion trialer and bird hunter George Hickox shares his wisdom on all things bird dogs. He'll re-define what motivates your hunting dog and how to take him to the next level. He'll change your thinking on a number of topics, and walk us through a better way to get a dog to be steady on pointed birds. We'll cover the benefits and how-to's of roading a dog, too.

We'll go to bird dog summer camp, talk sharptail and Hun behavior, and learn, learn, learn.

"Fix It" might help your dog's pads late in the season, and listeners share their thoughts on the benefits of hunting solo ... or with someone.

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

PS: This episode is also available in video form here.

Planning next season already? Got a few weeks left for this one? Here's the lowdown on hunting in the world's pheasant capital, from fellow hunter and director of the Aberdeen Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Casey Weismantel. He's an ugly dog owner and avid ringneck hunter, and nobody has more fingers on the pulse of hunting our favorite bird. 

We cover the season's highs and lows, some weather and habitat anomalies, and geat a few insider tips on maximizing the value of your ten-day license. Casey has advice on pheasant habits and habitat, hunting strategies for early and late season. We discuss "pheasantnomics" and the importance of local knowledge (and how to get it), and what constitutes ethical and legal "road hunting" in South Dakota. Casey has ammo recommendations, walks us through public-access and walk-in strategies, and shares his evolution from novice to seasoned hunter.

"Fix It" dispels some late-season hunting myths, and listeners share their mentorship stories.

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.

Finally, someone to help us use tie-out stakes and "chain gangs" the right way. Industry insider and avid bird hunter Brennan Landry of CableGangz Supply makes the best gear in the category (and including roading gear, training table rigs and more) and he's here to walk us through using it right. From materials and engineering to manufacturing and the right way to hammer stakes into and out of the ground. 

Brennan is a big believer in roading bird dogs so he'll explain why, and how, to get the most out of the miles.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Heartland Lodge, where you'll get special freebies and gifts for every booking (learn more here).

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

Exclusive! We get the lowdown on new Purina dog foods the day they hit the shelves. Dr. RuthAnn Lobos (@petvetruthann), senior veterinarian at Purina will outline the rationale behind their new "Advantedge Plus" senior and digestive formulations, and why many of us should consider one or the other. We'll parse ingredients, specs, and the new product development process from a researcher's notion to stocking retail shelves.

We'll cover why and how dogs "choose" favorite foods, when our dog actually becomes a "senior" citizen, indications of a dog's aging, and find out what ingredients go into the new formulations and why. Dr. RuthAnn talks about why we shouldn't feed prior to a hunt, how Purina "taste tests" new foods, and defines a healthy physique for a sporting dog.

"Fix It" keeps your dog warm after a cold wet hunt, and listeners tell us what they're giving their dog for Christmas or Hannukah.

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

Why isn't he retrieving well? This time in the season, it seems like everyone is wondering what happened to their dog. From not bringing birds all the way back, dropping birds or just going hunting again, many upland dogs are just not delivering, literally, these days.

Retriever Hall of Fame inductee, pro trainer, and now successfully transitioned into pointing breeds, Jim Van Engen of Right Start Kennel has answers to our pressing questions. Simply put: force fetch. He'll hit the critical points in a dog's retrieving training whether flusher or pointer, and how to teach those important steps. Of course, we'll talk all things hunting and hit some of the high points of this new phase in his training career.

Listeners sound off on safety practices in the field, and "Fix It" has a suggestion when the walk-in spot looks crowded.

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

Most of us, most of the time, could use some help when it comes to the business end of our shotgun. Recently, a guide friend said most of his clients have no idea what choke tubes were in their shotgun. Scary! Bottom line? You'll shoot better with the right choke tubes.

Scott Trulock of Trulock Chokes joins me to cover it all, from billet to "boom!" We'll get advice on materials and engineering, care and selection, patterning the right way, and how steel can turn your removable choke tube gun into a fixed-choke gun (yikes). Scott tells a little about how tubes are designed and made, and why a little old company in Wigham Georgia makes over 3,000 varieties of chokes.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Heartland Lodge, where you'll get special freebies and gifts for every booking (learn more here).

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

Make your social posts really pop with better photos. Who better than pro photographer Brian Grossenbacher to help? You've seen his images on the cover of every outdoors magazine, and he's certainly spiffed up some of my articles. He's shot for everyone from YETI to Mossy Oak, Field & Stream to Gun Dog magazines.

Whether you're shooting with your phone or a fancy SLR, we'll cover ways to tell a better story with your photos, simple tips on making each picture more engaging to the eye and the heart. Brian will show us one easy way to make your dog (and human) photos stand out, and offer alternatives to the cliche' tailgate photo even non-hunters will love. 

"Fix It" helps you differentiate between good Hun cover and sharptail habitat, and listeners chip in with how much water they carry and why. 

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

Don't panic, no e-collar for you, just an argument for you getting deeper into the dog training process before, during and after you get your pup back from a pro trainer. In fact this guy says you may need more training than your four-footed partner. Talmage Smedley has suggestions on how to look - differently - at how your dog learns, then adjust your training approach accordingly. A look inward wouldn't hurt, either.

Open your mind, ask yourself a few questions, and your dog might perform as well in the middle of the season as he did when you brought him home from the trainer.

Listeners share their unique takes on early-season hunts, and in "Fix It" we help a listener find training birds.

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.

Why we go ... what we're grateful for, and why. Listeners share their own thoughts, new and classic, and I'll help with a few reasons of my own.

If you're looking for more reasons to go hunting, here they are.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and Heartland Lodge, where you'll get special freebies and gifts for every booking (learn more here).

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