Upland Nation

If you're in search of new bird hunting ground, I've got a panel for you from the departments that acquire and manage the walk-in programs in three bird-rich states. Wes Sowards of Kansas, Michael Peyton of South Dakota and Greg Lemon of Montana offer their tips on how their programs work for wingshooting, and more importantly, how to take full advantage of them.

We talk about how land is acquired and managed, why ground-truthing is critical, who pays for the walk-in programs, each state's quirks, and how to maximize your time and effort by finding less-hammered ground.

They'll give you some starting points in their state for several bird species, and each guest also offers a tip and some helpful hacks that could help you find more birds next season while avoiding the crowds. After that, it's up to you.

"Fix It" helps you introduce nail clipping to your new pup, and listeners offer advice on introducing gun fire to a young dog.

And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, ClayCopter, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Enjoy this trip into the field - maybe you need a hunting fix about now.

Buckle up for a first-hand report on a recent wingshooting road trip in search of quail and chukars ... and better weather. We'll be hunting Nevada and California and learning a lot. Some astounding dog work and fascinating observations on bird behavior and habitat, especially in the Golden State. Strategies need adjusting in the high desert of California, where cactus is king and rattlesnakes roam all year ... even finding birdy places requires a different point of view.

"Fix It" covers some practical pre-hunt tips and listeners share some fascinating dog and bird hunting trivia.

You get a chance to enter to win a pair of Pyke Gear Dakota pants (value $230) in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, too, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.

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

Thanks to those avid wingshooting fanatics who requested this one at Pheasant Fest. I've done some homework (maybe too much), dug deep to give you a picture of America's favorite game bird. From habits to habitat, life history to some of the threats, a bit of politics, and a lot of fun facts and trivia.

Hopefully, something in here is of value to you. 

And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

In my survey, you tell me most of you have, or will, pay to hunt. So why not get your money's worth, whether it's a day trip to a local farm, or that trip-of-a-lifetime to a fancy resort?

I've been to a hundred hunting and fishing lodges to make TV shows, and have seen it all. I'll share my experiences, and help you navigate the dangerous waters of booking, pricing, expectations, habitat and lodging options. You'll have a better idea of what you can do, what you'll pay, how to tip your guide, and why pen-raised birds can be great, okay and dismal.

Just like buying a new truck, much of your experience is dependent on you - from inquiring about a place, to negotiating price, to what your guide should (and shouldn't) do. Listen carefully and somewhere in here is a tip or two you'll be glad you heard.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA Clay Target League, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Here's your chance to get caught up on chukar hunting basics, reprised from September, 2023:

I've fielded so many questions over the years, I decided it was time to offer up a primer on hunting these fascinating, mystifying game birds. I've asked the dumb questions to smart hunters, learned a few things the hard way, and spent more than a few nights puzzling over their habits and habitat. If you've ever wondered where to find them, how to prepare, get your dog trained up, successful strategies and tactics from shot size to e-collar tricks, here's your starting point.

Then, start walking. Uphill.

Listeners tell us where they're going on opening day, and "Road Trip" offers some alternative information sources to get you on public-access land.

And it's all brought to you by:

Pointer shotguns,  Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

The Smith family name is legendary in dog-training circles and among bird hunters for good reason. From Delmar and Ronnie Sr. to the next generation, Rick and Ronnie, and now Ronnie's wife Susanna, most modern training methods started in their yards and fields.

We'll cover "training to the mind" of the pup, and why setting a mental agenda in a dog are primary goals in their training. How to observe a dog, think before you act, and keeping in mind what's important to a dog ... how to balance training with a dog's ability to focus ... and channeling prey drive to benefit you both, are some of the topics we cover. 

Special thanks to Pyke Gear for hosting the Upland Nation podcast in their booth!

And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Here's a take on chukar hunting worth re-visiting from January, 2024 ...

Wild chukars, Huns, sharptails and sage grouse are Ryan Aune's domain, roaming the uplands of Wyoming as an Orvis-endorsed wingshooting guide. He and his string of 10 dogs (setters, shorthairs and a springer) take clients into some of the roughest, most challenging terrain in the West, and he's got a few lessons for us. We cover the relative merits of setters versus shorthairs, learn about bird behavior, habitat, and he'll share his strategies and tactics for getting closer to birds. We'll talk conditioning dogs, training and pad care too.

"Handle It" offers a new in-field energy supplement for dogs, and listeners share their own training goals for 2024.

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

If you haven't watched his YouTube videos from chukar country (and more), you're missing out. This guy takes DIY bird hunting - and video - to a whole 'nother level. You'll learn from Eric Forrester this week as he joins me after a rollicking season of new species, new states and fascinating challenges.

From new dogs, to tough conditions, low bird numbers to spectacular vistas, Eric takes us on a fulfilling and challenging journey around the West in search of chukars, Huns, sharptails, and scaled quail. We learn how to find new places to hunt, strategies and tactics, habitat types, even get some shooting suggestions. Eric bursn the boot leather and puts in the miles so you don't have to. And should you decide to climb the hills for devil birds or any other species, his advice is priceless.

"Fix It" is a heads-up for those planning to visit another state next season - caution! And listeners show their comedy-writing chops with a caption for one of my photos. You decide if they're worth a laugh or two.

And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

In this Insider edition, Purina's Karl Gunzer joins me from the Pyke Gear booth at Pheasant Fest with a wide range of fascinating and helpful insights. Former field trialer and avid hunter, he has suggestions on everything from feeding for performance to new Purina products. He'll also touch on the value of field trials for bird hunters, what he's learned in the field from the biggest names in gun dog training, and then answers a lot of the questions you have about dog food and care.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA Clay Target League, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Kneel at the foot of bird-dog wisdom. Here's a reprise episode that will turn you into a better dog handler.

Hunter, dog trainer, nutritional guru, magazine writer, an Upland National treasure ... Bob West of Purina joins me for a wide-ranging discussion full of reminiscences. Besides talking about his fellow legends, Bob's backstory might just prove he was the first "influencer" in our world ... back when TV was still made on magnetic tape and in 4:3 screen ratios!

Bob is semi-retired but still a fixture at bird-dog events where you can bend his ear about fueling a hunting dog, training it, and hunting it. His insights, built on a foundation of trials and tests, are invaluable for anyone with a bird dog. We'll learn why trials and tests are a critical part of hunting-dog training, find out why sometimes giving up is the best strategy with a recalcitrant dog (at least temporarily), how important "wins" are on the training table, what the "three action introduction" is and why it's integral to a dog's performance in the field and at a hunting test.

But there's more: pad care and what we miss, how a dog's G.I. tract is really affected by food during a hunt, the best reason yet for NOT feeding the morning of a hunt, and one man's opinion on whether or not dogs can "reason."

"Handle It" covers some home-made training gear, and listeners laud their dog-training and hunting mentors.

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