Upland Nation

Bird hunting ahorseback: a bucket-list experience. Here's how, plus dog care, sharptail strategies and public access tips

Jeff Gillaspie of Tinker Kennels takes us for a ride, almost literally, on the rolling prairie of South Dakota. We saddle up and head out in pursuit of sharptails and prairie chickens, following elegant English setters.
Jeff outlines the mechanics of a horseback hunt, but also the intangible magic that comes from going really "old school." From gear and fitness, to strategy and tactics, we get the lowdown on why this should be on your life-list.
Jeff's hard-earned experience running dogs in big country will help any hunter's string, with advice on hydration, feeding, conditioning and training.
Scott outlines a short list of less-common public-land providers you might explore.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; RuffLand performance kennels, HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com. 

Bird hunting and dog training podcast: Pro trainer insights from picking a pup to what he needs to know, common training mistakes we make and that most critical command

Jared Moss of Best Gun Dogs shares his secrets and philosophy of breeding and training exceptional dogs. While his breed of choice is shorthairs, his advice is relevant for any dog at any level.
We go from the earliest bird contacts to the field, from his mentors to those we can still learn from in their books and videos. We'll cover the do's and don'ts of training, critical skills and gear, plus that one most important command - and why.
Jared will help us think like a dog, be more perceptive in our training, and probably get better results by moving slower!
I'll direct you to a hotbed of public access in Nebraska, too. And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

Bird hunting basics: or are they? Some suggestions that might help you shoot better in the field.

Once he hits that point, it's all up to you. Managing what happens next can better ensure you actually hit a bird and reward your hard-working dog with a retrieve. I've pulled together some of the lessons learned the hard way that might help you next season.
From foot position relative to the birds' flight, to getting your dog to stay steady in the face of running birds - and the birds to stay put - to determining if you're cross-dominant (so that's why you miss!).
Perhaps it's not your fault at all - it's your hat's. Or maybe it's because you are looking but not seeing the bird. Have you considered your chokes? Patterned your gun? I'll explain why it will put more birds in your vest.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunting: it starts with better bobwhite habitat; and public-access hunting in Cali?

We dive deeper into the bobwhite situation with John Morgan, director of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. An avid hunter, conservationist and academic, John tells us what his group does, and how it interacts with other upland conservation groups.
He outlines current research efforts, what works and doesn't (including "planting" birds). John also addresses a common question: why do groups like yours do so much work on privately-owned land?
Host Scott Linden also outlines some better places to air your dog on a road trip, and suggests a southern California public-land hunting spot worth a look.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Shooting wild birds and clays - a British expert's tips and suggestions; finding ruffed grouse, saving those training birds

Let's take a trip to the British moors in pursuit of red grouse ... guided by Chris Batha, shooting instructor, clays champion and gun fitter - among other things! We'll live like kings for a day of shooting, learn some of the history of hunting over there, then dive deep into how we can become better shooters over here.
We get insights usually only available to those attending his lessons and workshops, on everything from gun fitting to non-toxic ammo, solving common shooting problems starting with foot position and ending with "push sir, push!"
Our "Handle It" segment addresses the dilemma of shooting all our training birds and how to save a few while teaching steadiness. We also explore a less-well-known region managed for ruffed grouse. Hint: it's not in Wisconsin.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Why aren't there more quail? Your questions answered. Bird dog shopping, an alternative pheasant destination.

Why are bobwhite numbers so dismal? What can we do? What is Quail Forever doing? Why can't we simply plant more birds? Those are some of the questions I ask Southeast Regional Director of Quail Forever, Tim Caughran.
Tim has answers to all those, and many more, as we dive deep into quail behavior and biology, habitat, and why butterfly-hugger are critical partners. Tim offers up a tip on where to find wild bobwhites on public land, what kind of cover is your best bet, how to find hidden quail hangouts, and some hunting strategies.
Plus, advice on puppy shopping and intel gathering, and where to go in a pheasant state that doesn't have the initials SD.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Great bird hunting books, how to enjoy them, places to stay when walk-in hunting, health warning for your dog

Listener Preston Fulmer suggested we talk about sporting literature and we got to it this week with guest Glen Blackwood. Glen authors a column for Upland Almanac magazine, reviews books for the Ruffed Grouse Society, and is a book dealer himself.
For Glen, it started on Christmas morning, when he would often find a vintage first edition under the tree.
We start comparing the psyches of fly anglers and wingshooters, then explore great writers of the past and why Glen thinks we should read them; then, on to contemporary authors who are up-and-coming, their titles, and why Glen things they’re so good.
We talk about “wildness” and why it fuels so much of our literary legacy as well as our own pursuits. We get advice on finding and buying first editions, and reasons not to. We learn why story collections are great “samplers” of genres and authors.
We also share some your best shooting tips, learn some warnings and prevention tips for your dog’s arthritis, and outline some less-common places to stay on your public-access hunting trips.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Making an upland bird hunting magazine, public bobwhites, dog gear, your gear recommendations

We go behind the curtain at Upland Almanac magazine, talking with publisher John Gosselin and Tom Carney, editor. From how cover paintings are chosen, to how any good writer professional or not, can get his story in ... writing tips to the economics and mechanics of getting a magazine off the press and in your hands.
Our wide-ranging discussion also covers bird dogs and hunting, writers and artists we should follow, and a few things we three might regret!
We'll look at public-access quail in Georgia, and listeners and readers suggest gear they won't leave without, and safety equipment that could save your dog's life.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.