Upland Nation

Bird hunting podcast: why doesn’t South Dakota count pheasants anymore? Tips, tricks, strategies from Pheasant Fest

In our first in the series, we re-visit the floor of Pheasant Fest, where I interviewed industry leaders, insiders, experts and good friends. This week, Nick Harrington and Chris Hull of South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks answers your questions on the past season's harvest numbers, why the department doesn't count pheasant broods anymore, and then offer strategies and tactics on finding more birds - and land - in the pheasant hunting capital of the world.
Back in the studio, we cover one more essential item to put in your vest, answer the question about whether or not you've ever been really, really lost, and recap a recent chukar hunt that had a few surprises.
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird dog first aid: essential gear for your vest and your truck

Get the gear:
After a long and arduous season and 35 stitches (in Flick), I'm more qualified than ever to speak to the gear that will keep a dog safe, effect repairs in the field, and stabilize him for a balls-out drive to the veterinarian. I'll go over the kit I carry in my vest and the bigger bag that's in my truck, including why each item might be helpful to you.
Then, a shopping list for the new puppy's early training career, and from social media how your dog summed up the hunting season.
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird dog trials and how they make you a better hunter

The National Shoot to Retrieve Association's first objective is to help members extend their hunting season ... a good reason to join! But President Bill Sumpter has a lot of other reasons you should consider as well.
And much of what makes a dog and handler excel at NSTRA trials will benefit both on a hunt too. Bill offers sage advice on scoring higher ... from obedience, to bird handling, to strategy, dogs and humans who hone their skills in a trial will likely find more birds in the field. Bill outlines the why and how, shares some hunting tips and one piece of critical gear, and then we talk Huns and sharptail hunting.
Bill goes deep to explain his passion for setters, and why he loves Hungarian partridge hunting.
You chip in with why (or why not) to feed the morning of a hunt; our "Handle It" segment covers instant energy in the field - for your dog.
It's brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunter, chef Andrew Zimmern shares adventures and cooking tips

This guy knows critters: how to hunt them, and how to cook them. Perhaps best known for his Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods, Andrew Zimmern also packs a shotgun, and turns what he shoots into culinary marvels. A four-time James Beard Award winner, he's sharing his experience on the Outdoor Channel program Andrew Zimmern's Wild Game Kitchen and exclusively here on the Upland Nation podcast.
We'll hear fascinating stories about giant porcupines and scary stuff he's put in his mouth, but we'll also get practical, inspirational advice on taking game birds from field to feast. From basic cooking techniques to seasonings that easily take your birds to the next level, he's got you covered.
Your sense of humor is on display when you caption my social-media photos, and "Handle It" suggests why you might Keep Calm and Carry On.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunters, shooting instructors share tips and advice on wild birds and gun fit

Make your dog happy. Shoot better. That's one of the topics as shooting instructors and hunters Dave and Vandy Fiedler of Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School join us. We'll cover the Churchill method of shotgunning, hunting scenarios, common mistakes, and some easy ways to get closer to a better shotgun fit at the big-box store.
We learn to shoot doubles better, find out why patterning the gun is overrated and patterning your ammo is underrated, how to select a shotgun, and using clay targets to become a better bird hunter.
"Handle It" shows you a fun game that will teach you how much praise to use when training your dog; and you chime in on your new year's resolutions for your dog.
It's brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Pro chukar guide’s tips, advice, wisdom for all bird hunters and their dogs

Grant Richie is a professional chukar hunting guide, roaming (and floating) Hell's Canyon and surrounds from his base at Minam Store. A fourth-generation resident, he knows the area like nobody else, and he also knows chukars.
Grant will share his hard-earned wisdom, tips and strategies, tactics and advice on everything from the magic and history of the "Chukar Fortress," as he calls it, to dog care for the grueling climbs, shooting advice, prime habitat and bird behavior. He's giving us a rare inside look at what makes the birds tick and how to find them. We get a glimpse at his favorite dog breed (Cesky Fousek), how fire, water, weather and chukars interact, and how he gets four dogs, two hunters and a guide into one boat!
"Handle It" divorces praise from release commands, and your dogs tell us what New Year's resolutions they've made for you.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, MidwayUSA,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

32 years a wild bird hunter: dogs I’ve known and loved

Hundreds of TV episodes and thousands of miles chasing wild birds ... there's gotta be some dogs worth talking about. What do we learn from them? How do they affect us? Can we ever repay the lessons they teach us?
I'll boil it down to a few hunting dogs that have brightened a day afield, given me food for thought, and got me thinking. With luck, my stories will kindle some of your own.
Our Handle It segment has a tip for keeping your dog steady at the flush; and you chime in with your favorite smells in the field.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, Trulock Chokes, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, your online shotgun shopping resource, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

MeatEater confidential: my exclusive interview with Steve Rinella

He probably doesn't need an introduction. His MeatEater brand is ubiquitous. Steven Rinella is the host of the long-running television show MeatEater and top-ranked MeatEater podcast. And he's the cover story in a recent magazine article I wrote. In listening to my interviews, I thought you might enjoy learning what I learned about the man, the brand, the evolution of all things MeatEater, and where his inspirations come from (hint: not where you think). You won't find this frank, wide-ranging discussion anywhere else, even in the magazine article I wrote.
It was never meant to be a podcast, so there's a lot more me-talk than you'd get in a regular episode. But it's two friends, catching up, sharing notes, and in the course of it, you and I get to learn a bit.
We go down a few rabbit holes, get sidetracked in industry geekdom, talk business and family, and share some stories since the last time our paths crossed. Okay, so there's not much bird hunting or dog talk, but there's plenty of good stuff. Enjoy.
Steve Rinella is the New York Times bestselling author of ten books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing, and wild game cooking. He is the recipient of the Conservation Achievement Award from The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, Trulock Chokes, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, your online shotgun shopping resource, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.