Upland Nation

From the floor of the 2026 Pheasant Fest, I turn the tables on Orvis' Hunting and Shooting podcast host Reid Bryant, and we talk about a wide range of topics: his past hunting season, flushing breeds in the grouse woods, book and magazine writing (his books are here), and his role vetting lodges, outfitters and guides for the Orvis Adventure program. 

There are tips on shopping for a destination (he personally visits virtually all of them in the Orvis program), how to get the most out of a lodge or guide experience, shooting grouse in the deep woods, hunting advice, dog training observations and more. 

Special thanks to Pyke Gear for hosting the podcast in their booth at Pheasant Fest.

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

I cornered Dr. RuthAnn Lobos of Purina (@petvetruthann) on the floor of the recent Pheasant Fest and asked her how we avoid late-night, long-distance, and simply annoying reasons we need to rush our dog to the veterinarian. She rattled off a long list of first-aid and dire medical situations, and how to handle them until we can get to a vet. Then, she shared ways we can avoid most of those trips (and expenses) with preventive care. From torn nails to diet, eye injuries to barbed-wire cuts, she covers it all.

Thanks to Pyke Gear for hosting the podcast at Pheasant Fest!

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

Friday Faves: If you're looking for new ground, stop here for a reprise episode from one of the gurus

Down to brass tacks we go with writer, editor, publisher Jim Matthews. He's been helping desert hunters find publicly-accessible game birds since the nineties, and he'll dial us in to finding some of the spots, strategies and tactics we need for valley and Gambel's quail, chukars, and the occasional mountain quail. Jim will take us from habits to habitat, what to look for when scouting (we could all do more of this, he says), and where to look when a place is "shot out."

Jim also keys us to his four-step bird-finding formula, how rain, snow, wind, cold and heat affect bird hunting, and suggests a couple pieces of gear most of us don't carry but should.

"Handle It" helps Jon Schwedler slow down his setter and use her nose better; and listeners share the length of their hunting trips - see where you stand!

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.

Geometry, physiology, gravity, physics, anatomy ... all have an impact on your dog's performance. And the guy to drive home that point is Jared Deutsch, Director of Conformation for the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation. He'll take us from nose to tail-tip, explain how each bit of your dog's body affects everything from scenting ability to avoiding pad tears. 

An avid hunter, Jared applies his knowledge every day in the field, and his insights will help anyone shopping for a pup, or trying to get the most from their adult dog. We'll cover the reasons why many injuries - and even the length of their life - are affected by their physical make-up. After all, we want our dogs to live long, productive, pain-free lives, right?

"Fix It" offers a few hacks for shooting downhill, and listeners share the new bird species they hunted last season.

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

Favorites Friday: A different take on quail conservation by a respected authority ... this is worth listening to again, from February, 2023.

Dr. Kelly Reyna is Director of the Ted and Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird Research and Principal Investigator of the Quail Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He's a bit of an optimist, and conducting leading-edge research on "untaming" pen-raised birds, how wild birds really react to predators, and habitat ... including how cattle and quail can get along.

Kelly is also an avid bird hunter so he looks at the practical as well as the academic challenges hunters face. His research dispels some notions that we've accepted as fact and helps us find more birds. From where to stand when you shoot, to what a dog actually smells when he scents a covey, to the best habitat for quail hunting, he's got suggestions. We'll explore bird behavior and where birds go when they flush, "weird quail" and how to hit more birds on the wing.

"Handle It" covers training your dog for doctoring, and listeners share their shooting problems ... and some solutions.

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

Okay, just getting it off my chest, and by saying these out loud maybe I'll work on them myself. 

Here are five areas of concentration that you've brought up frequently in the past few weeks. They're so common, I thought I'd write them down (to help me) and share them (to help you?). Focus on them - or any one of them - and you'll probably get better at something next season. 

Listeners saw the photo and took the test on social media, and many passed with flying colors. I'll have the results. "Fix It" helps you hit hard crossing birds and clay targets when all else has failed.

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

You don't have to venture to the People's Republic of California to hunt the elusive valley (aka California) quail. They mutter and flutter throughout the West, and I'll share some thoughts on these wily game birds based on my three decades of chasing the little buggers.

I'll outline typical and atypical habitats, bird behavior, hunting tactics and a few western towns that can serve as jumping-off points for your next hunt. I'll share my observations on their daily routine, and some less-common places you might find them.

The rest is up to you.

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.]

Favorites Friday: In this reprise, a guy who's forgotten more than we'll ever know. Here's your chance to learn from him if you missed this interview from July, 2024 ...

Wild pheasants in Big Sky country ... with advice from a seasoned guide and friend, Al Gadoury of 6X Outfitters. Al will take us to school on ringnecks, along the way dispelling some myths about habitat and wild bird behavior. He'll also offer advice on the right way to employ blockers (not what you think), and his method for pairing a flushing dog with a pointing dog. We'll get dozens of tips on tactics and strategy, dog care too, and Al answers a listener question, too.

Listeners share their thoughts on when to start a youngster, and "Handle It" focuses on reining in a big-running dog, with advice from me (and some much better qualified listeners!).

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.

And don't miss the Wingshooting USA TV starting now airing 1 on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

"Grouseman" Steve Grossman is joined by his son Travis as we get a pro-guide two-fer. These guys know ruffies, sharpies, Huns and prairie chickens from decades guiding in both South Dakota and Minnesota. We'll cover habitat and habits, less-common food sources and their importance, and what really matters on a hunt.

Both talk dog handling, broaden our definition of "edge cover," discuss pairing cockers with pointing breeds, and share lore and legend from the grouse woods and vast prairies.

"Fix It" is a primer on e-collar considerations for young dogs, and listeners answer the question "Do you trial or test, and why?"

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

Favorites Friday: This reprise of Clyde's interview is worth another listen ...

He's probably trained or handled more NAVHDA Prize 1 Utility dogs than anyone at his Sharp Shooter's Kennel; Clyde Vetter is a dog trainer with a different way of thinking about his passion: creating elite hunting dogs. He's created a training philosophy used by many of his fans and followers that sometimes flies in the face of conventional wisdom. But as his email signature says, "Let Success Make The Noise," not self-promotion. His test records are his success. The noise comes from his legion of dedicated friends and customers.

In a wide-ranging discussion, we cover the lure of prairie grouse, how to recruit more conservationists, how he uses training birds, and his unique way of training steadiness ... without "whoa." We cover retrieving as well, including why for some pups tug-of-war is a good thing. There's hunting advice, some unique items he carries in his vest (and why), and when you're done I guarantee you'll see dog training differently.

Listeners share advice on introducing a new dog to your pack, and "Handle It" is a primer on hunting dog pad care from my personal experience.

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, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

And don't miss the Wingshooting USA TV starting now airing 1 on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.