Upland Nation

Chukar guide dispels myths and dispenses tips; meet the Cesky Fousek

Is cheatgrass really the magic potion for chukar hunters? Pro chukar guide Grant Richie addresses some long-held notions about this bucket-list bird, from habitat and feed, to proven tactics and strategies. Grant runs hunts in the legendary Hell's Canyon region, some of the most rugged chukar terrain in the U.S. He offers tips and advice on finding birds, handling dogs on the running devils, and shares some of the more unusual places he's found them.
Grant also shares his love of the Cesky Fousek dog breed, offering insights on their hunting style and heritage. Four game bird species in a day, rescuing dogs from traps, running gnarly whitewater in pursuit of chukars? All in a day's work for this expert hunter and boatman.
Find out  how fellow hunters get in shape for hunting season (hint: "Pear" is NOT a shape), and in "Handle It" listeners offer tips on finishing the retrieve ... achieving a flawless delivery to hand.
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 Wingshooting USA TV now airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Champion trainer takes us to school on steadiness from A-Z; retrieving from A-around T or thereabouts

Jake Bartells re-joins us to share his hard-won wisdom on training dogs to the highest level. His bonafides include multiple NAVHDA Versatile Champions and a 12-year-old daughter who's learned enough to have her own dog entered in the Invitational Test this year.
You want help with your dog's steadiness, well Jake's got a step-by-step tutorial you can take to the bank ... er, podium. We'll get a good start on retrieving too. The ideas, background and rationale may sound a little different from what you're used to, but the methods (instilled by his mentor, master trainer Clyde Vetter of Sharp Shooter's Kennel) work.
"Handle It" address listener questions about do-it-yourself check cords: their assembly and why I love a certain kind of material. And listeners tell us what their bucket list bird is for this season ... you may be surprised.
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.

BONUS: bird hunting destination ... western Kansas. Where, when, why and how

I'm recounting one of my many visits to this incredible state, often overlooked by passionate pheasant hunters hell bent on one of the Dakotas. Take three days, in three different places, that may offer an alternative to the usual spots for this year's road trip.
We'll explore public and walk-in habitats in the midst of pheasant country, Kansas style.
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.

Bird hunter & author on the spirit of hunting ... and access to more hunting ground

He's been through the wringer, but came out the other side stronger, more resilient and committed to the therapeutic value of hunting. Avid pheasant hunter and theologian Tony Jones outlines it all in his new book The God of Wild Places, and in this fascinating interview from the floor of Pheasant Fest. Starting late in life, Tony's outdoor journey began during a low point, and along with the love of a loyal dog he lifted himself from rock bottom to a point of grace.
Spiritual, religious, or just plain grateful to be worshipping the great outdoors, you will learn something about the psychological and emotional payoffs of spending time in the field in this wide-ranging interview that also touches on practical matters including getting access to private ground, and better utilizing public land.
"Handle It" offers a hack that might help your dog become a better retriever, and listeners debate the "best" clay target game for bird hunters.
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 first reprise episode of Wingshooting USA TV starting July 1 on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Public land bird hunting: lessons from a self-taught expert

This guy, like many of us, has learned things the hard way so you don't have to. Keng Yang (@kengyang1) is a hardcore DIY hunter from Minnesota who inspired us at Pheasant Fest last year with ideas and tips on finding new public access hunting land. His personal experiences are lessons for all of us.
From the floor of Pheasant Fest we talk dogs, hunting strategies, and devote considerable time to researching and accessing walk-in and publicly-owned ground.
Listeners share their must-have dog gear, and the "Handle It" feature covers a little trick you can do with your training table to teach steadiness.
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.

BONUS EPISODE: Chukar country - the Great Basin ... a primer for bird hunters, from habitat to jumping-off points

Thanks for all your positive feedback on that Montana bonus episode ... now, another of my favorite places - the West's Great Basin. If chukars are on your bucket list, here's a primer on where to go, what to do, and how to hunt them. From topography to behavior, habitat characteristics to strategy, here's my 30 years' experience roaming this incredible country, so you don't have to learn like I did ... the hard way!
It's a big place, so I'll suggest some starting points, precautions you should take and preparations you should make; you'll also learn more about the Basin's "bonus bird," valley quail. There will be plenty of hunting stories, too.
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 first reprise episode of Wingshooting USA TV starting July 1 on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Shotgun guru takes us to school on new guns, innovations, technology and shooting better

"Figure out what your gun likes ..." one of the best pieces of advice you'll ever get from shotgun guru and Gun Dog magazine writer Brad Fitzpatrick. He's authored the shotgun column in the magazine for years, and has the enviable job of test-shooting everything new and classic in the shotgun world. Brad is a bird hunter, TV host, author of five books and countless articles, and he's here to share his insights on everything from technology and materials to the care and feeding of your shotgun.
We'll get schooled on the differences between "value" guns and high end firearms, what to look for in fit, finish, engineering and design. Brad shares some of the more innovative materials and designs he's tested recently, and shares experiences bird hunting in southern Africa. He tells us how he tried (and failed) to destroy the finish on one shotgun, and offers tips on storing, shooting, and carrying our firearms n the field.
We talk about the merits of a 3-inch 28-gauge gun, and his own choice for the ideal field gun - and why.
"Road Trip" acknowledges some of the lesser-known public-access providers, and I discuss why only one-third of you train with a partner or group ... and why you might want to reconsider that!
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.

Bird-dog training legend: Bob West's insights on tests, 3 critical commands, pad care and a feeding regimen

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.