Upland Nation

Bird dog trainer Tom Dokken on drones, that bumper’s origin story, flushing dogs in the uplands plus tips for every human carrying a shotgun

The joy of a first hunt with a young dog - that moment when the light bulb flickers on for the first time. Drones, the origins of his legendary Dead Fowl Trainer, training the human after training the dog ... we'll cover it all in this extensive interview with notable hunting dog trainer Tom Dokken. From getting the most from flushing breeds in the uplands to the most important commands, how to ensure your dog's peak performance in the field and must-have training tools, Tom has decades of experience and he's willing to share.
Then, listeners share critical gear they carry in the field - bet you'll add something to your vest after hearing their suggestions. And "Road Trip" recalls a recent lesson I learned - again - that you'll want to consider.
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The definitive bird dog ”tailgate exam” ... your gnarliest cover ... what’s in your truck?

Train now for the drill that could add days or weeks to your hunting season ... by keeping your dog healthy and in one piece! We'll go from tail tip to toes to top line with techniques that will find and fix most anything that happened to your dog in the field. Poke into ears and eyes, and get the bad stuff out.
Then, you reminisce on the nightmarish covers you've lived to tell about. From cedar swamps to clear cuts, everyone else should be grateful. And "Road Trip" is about the critical stuff you may not have yet in your hunting rig.
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Bird hunter, mentor, chukar fanatic talks new hunter recruitment, chukar strategy & tactics

Chukar hunter, mentor, and my good friend Eric Thompson joins us from the floor of Pheasant Fest to talk about his effort to recruit and motivate new hunters, Hardwired Outdoors . Then, it's all about chukar hunting: habitat, bird behavior, strategy and tactics, and how to find - and shoot at - the "devil bird."
We'll look at how many of you have used a pro trainer in the past ... and in the Handle It segment, I broach a somewhat-touchy subject: silence or talk when a dog slams a point?
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Bird dogs and hounds - common ground for training and care ... and is there room for non-toxic shot in your vest?

Slat mills, epsom salts and other stuff we should know about, courtesy of bird hunter, competitive houndsman and dog food rep Josh Michaelis. You'll be surprised at how many training tips, nutrition, first aid and dog care knowledge is relevant and transferable from coonhounds to the bird dog world.
Hannah Leonard is with Sporting Lead Free, an organization educating us to the long-term hazards of lead ammo to the habitat and our sport. She'll bring up some stuff I didn't know and may convince you to consider non-toxic shot.
"Handle It" offers a reason to have your pointing dog sit one out in lieu of a flusher, human or otherwise ... sometimes. And you share your "old dog" photos and share some heartfelt stories about those wizened dogs.
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends Joy Dog Food and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunting tips from listeners - wisdom, humor, practicality and philosophy, 10 words at a time

You are the stars of this episode as I share the dozens of bird hunting tips you provided on social media when I asked for your hard-earned advice. From developing puppies to shutting the heck up, and everything in between, there are hundreds of years' experience in these hacks and helps. You'll learn, laugh and love some of the stories and suggestions.
"Road Trip" explores a little-known slice of South Dakota, and we find out where everyone is going on their big trips this season from the newsletter poll.
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, Joy Dog Food and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunting gear gurus share the good stuff and what’s in the pipeline, how to wear a strap vest and new technologies

Gear geeks unite! We go deep into the machinations of a legacy company and an upstart for insights into vests, apparel, and more. Russ Jones of Browning Apparel will showcase some of their newest gear, take us to school on everything from what "denier" means to the engineering behind their strap vest, plus talk about some of the newest technology in fabrics and design. Then Heath Seiner of Hunt Redi talks about why the world needs a new strap vest and how his company's innovations set them apart, and we get a tutorial on how to wear and utilize every aspect of the new technical gear.
"Handle It" helps your dog succeed in the training yard by you being more of a Boy Scout, and listeners tell us where their dog rides on the way home from a hunt and why.
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, Joy Dog Food, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Who’s your (conservation) daddy? Bird hunter, TRCP CEO talks shaking up guv’ment on our behalf

Whit Fosburgh of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership joins me from the floor of Pheasant Fest with insights into his organization, how they help us get more and better access to hunting ground, and gives us an insider look at government. It's a dirty job, but his group is in there fighting for us daily. We go way back to the early days, and find out what's happening in the halls of Congress right now that will affect our hunting.
You share your training goals for the weekend, how many of us give our bird dog a vacation, and the "Handle It" dog training segment encourages you to let your gear take the heat when it comes to correcting your dog.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, Joy Dog Food, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird dog training couple: helping and preventing gun shy dogs, fly vs. ladybug, why the eyes have it, and using a sundial

I'd originally reached out at the suggestion of a listener who thought Jon and Jessica Hann of Perfection Kennels could answer every imaginable question about gunshy dogs and how to prevent or cure them. Sure enough, they'll be addressing that issue in depth. But as hunters themselves and successful field trialers they have a lot more to offer. From steadiness to use of the e-collar, hunting strategies and tactics, essential hunting and dog training gear, they've got something of interest to every serious bird dog owner.
Listeners talk about their big trip ... and our "Roadtrip" segment has suggestions on information sources you may not have considered when doing your research.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, Joy Dog Food, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.