Upland Nation

Public-access bird-finding guru: desert birds from chukar to quail, and where they skulk

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.

Best in the Vest ... what I carry in my bird hunting vest (with a little help from my friends - YOU!)

Are you ready yet? Listen carefully to what I'm carrying this season in my hunting vest and you may change your answer.
I've re-configured and loaded new gear into the ultimate western hunter's strap vest ... anything that might help keep you safe, your dog productive, and help you shoot better. Oh, and bail out your hunting buddy, too. From getting found, to caring for Fido, to route finding and first aid, here's the stuff you, I and our friends have decided is worth the weight. There's a right way and a wrong way to wear it, too, so I'll touch on that as well.
Listeners tell us where they're going on the opener ... "old favorite" or new spot. And "Handle It" is about your pre-hunt ritual.
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 now airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Bonus: Sharptail primer ... where to go and what to do once you get there

I've pulled together all my notes on places I've hunted and fantastic advice from pro guides and experienced DIY hunters. If you're enroute to sharpie country, there might be something in this that'll help.
All sharptails, all the time on this bonus episode ... it's the start of the season for "America's bird," so enjoy the stories, strategies and hunting advice.
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.

Bird hunter, inspirational conservationist & visionary: Larry Potterfield, founder of Midway USA is our "Industry Insider"

In our continuing "Industry Insider" series, I talk with Larry Potterfield, who founded Midway USA on a wing and a prayer, selling shooting supplies to enthusiasts. He's grown the company into an international power player in most outdoors categories, and is overseeing a growth spurt that includes a new state of the art distribution center and headquarters building.
We talk company history and philosophy, then go far afield to talk bespoke shotguns, quail hunting, youth shooting, conservation, shooting driven birds, safaris around the world, building a lake for kids' fishing, and how to buy a used shotgun.
"Handle It" answers a listener question about who gets the retrieve: the shooter or the dog handler?
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 Wingshooting USA TV starting now airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Bird dog trainer: say no to whoa and other better ideas

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.

Hunter, conservationist, CEO: Ben Jones updates us on the RGS/AWS re-organization

A lot of water under the bridge since we last talked: pandemic lockdown, a major restructuring of his organizations, and a new puppy. Ben Jones is CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society, and we've got a lot of ground to cover. We'll get an update on the new strategic direction and how it's affected the groups' operations and funding, jump into the groups' works on the ground and politically, and talk habitat, conservation and ... puppies.
Ben has some tips for ruffed grouse and woodcock hunters, puppy training advice, and shares the most important items in his hunting vest, and listeners offer advice on hunting a brace of dogs in our "Handle It" segment.
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.

Bird hunter, dog trainer, PF/QF CEO charts a new course including reintroducing birds, stopping the plow on grasslands

She's had more than a year to get her footing and boy has she! Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever CEO Marilyn Vetter is guiding the 40-year old organization through a time of major strategic transitions and a new era of accountability and metrics-based policy. We talk about the group, its goals, measuring their progress and of course, dogs and hunting.
An avid bird hunter and skilled dog trainer, Vetter covers a wide variety of topics from reintroducing wild birds to newly-rehabilitated habitat, to alliances that may not make sense ... until she explains them. Key aspects of the upcoming Farm Bill, including an effort to compensate grasslands owners for not plowing the ground are also on the table. Dog training suggestions, what she carries in her hunting vest, and more are all on the agenda.
Listeners chime in with odd things they've found on their hunts, and "Handle It" caps off our retrieving series with last-ditch desperation moves to get the bird out of your dog's mouth and into your vest.
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.

BONUS: getting into the back-of-beyond ... tips, tricks, hacks and hints ... and why you should go

In this episode I outline some of the practical and philosophical reasons to go deeper, risk a blown tire, and possibly your health. I share some of the lessons I've learned walking miles of wilderness for wild birds that you can apply in your own adventures.
If you're up for the drive, the walk, and the risk, there is massive reward at the end of the trek. See if you don't agree.
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.
Don't forget to watch Wingshooting USA TV on five networks, local stations and regional sports networks! Find out where it airs in your area, here.