Upland Nation

Pro bird dog training couple goes deep, shares wisdom: Ronnie Smith & Susanna Love

Joining us from the floor of Pheasant Fest: Bird dog training royalty, Ronnie Jr. & Susanna are carrying on the legacy of Ronnie's dad Ronnie Sr. and his uncle, Delmar and their famous methods, refined for the 21st century. The husband-wife team offer insights on everything from gun sensitivity to puppy development, steadiness to getting a dog into a receptive frame of mind for learning.
"Handle It" covers another aspect of dog training with a lesson from my yard; and you sound off on 'pay to play' ... would you or wouldn't you?
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Bird hunting pro & Pheasants Forever magazine editor Tom Carpenter shares tips, advice, wisdom

We're back on the floor at Pheasant Fest, talking with the editor of Pheasants Forever's magazine, Tom Carpenter. Tom will explain how and why he chooses the stories he does. Then we get deep in the cattails talking about his own hunting calendar, and he offers tips on hunting and dogs garnered from his decades in the field.
The Road Trip feature returns on a rotating basis, this week covering a mixed-bag public-access destination in Kansas. Listeners share what they'll be shooting at next, and I've got a tip for cold-weather training.
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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.

Helping bird hunters find more ground: BHA exec’s practical tips and legislative agenda

Fighting for access to publicly-owned hunting and fishing ground ... that's the mission of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and their CEO Land Tawney joined me on the floor of Pheasant Fest to explain how they're doing it. Spoiler alert: beer is often involved in the planning and fellowship process.
From on-the-ground projects to legislative efforts, BHA is filling a niche and helping any hunter who steps off the pavement. But it all starts with welcoming virtually anyone interested in access to public land, from mushroom hunters to bird watchers. Tawney will bring us up to speed on critical regulatory changes, share some access tips, help us better use an online mapping app, and he'll share some of his own hunting stories.
"Handle It" covers essential training gear for puppy owners; and listeners chime in with their feelings about dog food - would you switch brands?
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Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Pheasant Fest continues: E-collar guru shares hard-won wisdom and some clever uses

E-collar guru Pete Fisher of Dogtra joins us from the floor of Pheasant Fest, covering a number of topics from innovative uses for all of a training collar's capabilities including some you may not have thought of ... when to stow the handheld, what a collar's stimulation should be used for, and of course, he shares his wisdom from decades as a pro trainer and bird hunter.
Listeners answer the question "hunting preserves ... is there an upside?" And, in the Handle It segment, I'll outline some of the places to run a dog when there's nowhere to run a dog.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, FurFeathersFriends and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Is your bird dog fat? And other nutrition and performance questions from the floor of Pheasant Fest

Eukanuba's Russ Kelley, scientist and bird dog owner, clues us into the mysteries and magic of proper bird dog feeding. From key ingredients, to why meat is not as important as the amino acids it contains, how muscle is built and fat is managed, Russ answers your questions.
Back in the studio, we talk about your training goals for the off season, cover the advantages of teaching "whoa" on furry critters, and how to challenge your dog - mentally - when it's dark and cold outside.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.