Upland Nation

Our "tailgate obsession," who really pays for wildlife conservation, Himalayan snowcock

Brian Koch is the founder of UltimateUpland.com, a website dedicated to upland hunting and even some philosophical matters related to dogs, birds, hunters, and conservation. He'll share his thoughts on a variety of topics, some of which need sayin' even if they're not quite PC. WARNING: If you're an REI member, bird watcher or fan of birdie body piles, prepare to be butt-hurt.
Plus, a short primer on snowcock hunting, some fitness advice, and as always, a public-access "catalog" of lesser-know spots, advice on dog training and simulating game bird behavior with your pigeons, and of course, a chance to win a Pointer shotgun.
All brought to you by these sponsors:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and free shipping on your Gunner Kennel.

What's in my bird hunting vest? "Don't leave home without it" is more than an advertising catchphrase

In this edition of the bird hunting podcast, I go pocket-by-pocket through my own hunting vest. Somewhere in that mess is something you forgot, wish you had, gotta get, or never thought to bring. Take it all, and 1) you'll soon be in better shape because it's heavy; 2) you'll hunt harder, longer, safer, and so will your dog.
From ammo to zippers and everything in between, here's the stuff I take on every hunt ... and why. Plus, some of the hard-earned lessons on why I bring that gear now, and wish I had in years past.
Plus, a public-access hunting spot or two in Texas, advice on thinking like a dog to train better, and of course, a chance to win a Pointer shotgun.
All brought to you by these sponsors:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.

Bird hunting conundrums: Lost dogs - find 'em; new hunters - find 'em, too

I'll address two of the most-discussed topics I hear from YOU, offering tips and advice from hard-won personal experience and experts who've been there and done that. From a hasty search for your dog, to preventive tactics you can use to keep your hunting buddy found ... some tried-and-true methods are outlined.
New hunters are critical to the survival of the sport ... and the resource. Find out why, then let's talk about how to identify and recruit newcomers. (Hint: the best prospects are just like you.) Many of you already take a newcomer hunting every season, so thank you. For those who don't - yet - here are some ways to make it easy and fun for both parties.
In the "This Land is Your Land" segment, learn a few ways to save money on public-access, D-I-Y road trips. And in the "Handle It" segment, learn why pointing and steadiness is only instinctive for a moment ... then it's your responsibility!
All brought to you by these sponsors:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.

12 public-access tips and strategies from 30 years of exploring ... I'm sharing my sorta-secrets!

Actually, they're probably someone else's secrets, but I wrote them down and live by them. In 30 years, hunting 26 states for wild birds, I've learned a helluva lot about finding and utilizing private ground open to hunters and publicly-owned land. If you're a do-it-yourself hunter, you might find a tip or two of use. If you're just getting started, this information might shorten your learning curve.
From timing to tactics, how-to and where-to, I'm sharing some hard-earned lessons and answering a few questions from listeners, too. I'll give you my top 12 strategies, list some states worth the drive for their publicly-accessible ground, and hopefully, provide encouragement to new and experienced hunters.
And in the "Handle It" segment, learn why acoustics are to blame for your dog's "disobedience."
All brought to you by these sponsors - check out their deals:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.

Bird hunting magazines: how they're made and why. Editor Jake Smith takes us behind the presses at Pointing Dog Journal and Retriever Journal.

From how stories and images get chosen, to what readers want from their magazines, editor Jake Smith takes us deep into the world of sporting magazines. Plus, a preview of the next issue of Pointing Dog Journal.
Jake's wildlife background and journalism experience combine to provide us with hunting tips and advice, too. Plus great stories, insights into dogs and people, public access suggestions and dog training strategies.
Interested enough to subscribe? Go here for PDJ or here for Retriever Journal.
All brought to you by these sponsors - check out their deals:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.

Author Charle Fergus: "Rough Shooting Dog" and more ... on why we hunt, and a murder mystery starring a bird hunter

Insightful, introspective and prompter-of-deep thoughts in us, Fergus has written some of the most memorable books in the genre. Titles include A Rough Shooting Dog, A Hunter's Book of Days, The Upland Equation, and Gun Dog Breeds: A Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers and Pointing Dogs. Charles was book editor for Shooting Sportsman magazine as well.
But Fergus also writes books about wildlife and nature, and his deep appreciation for all things outdoors show in every word he writes ... including his newest book A Stranger Here Below, a murder mystery set in the 1830s. The protagonist is a sheriff and a grouse hunter, and his dilemma is shaped not only by crimes but classic shotguns, dogs, and birds among other things.
We talk about writing, how dogs and birds affected him and his writing, and how a deeper working knowledge of the wild world could benefit all of us. He picks his favorite bird hunting book, shares some stories, and may just change your way of thinking about bird hunting and dogs.
Plus, my own tip on public land access, a hard-earned lesson in yard training, gear discounts and a chance to win a Pointer shotgun. All brought to you by these sponsors - check out their deals:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.
 
 

Bird dog training and performance: Are you overtraining? How to get the most from your dog in the yard and the field.

Author of the classic book Absolutely Positively Gundog Training, Robert Milner talks philosophy and practical applications of his minimalist-positive-science based approach to training.
Milner founded Wildrose Kennels, "retired," then founded www.duckhillkennels.com, where he trains British Labradors in ways you may not know about yet or even agree with! A student of "horse whisperer" Ray Hunt, Milner talks about the right number of training days per week and times per day to get maximum performance from your dog. He outlines why "punishment" or "correction" are superfluous if you read your dog well and reward the expected behavior, and what types of reward work.
Creating neural pathways that create "right" behaviors, from the very start, ignoring misbehavior, and how B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning research can be applied to dogs ... all are part of a wide-ranging discussion that only scratches the surface.
Milner gives us mini-lessons in recall, retrieve, and steadiness to wing-shot-fall, suggests the one most important command, and offers solutions to the problems his clients' dogs have most often.
Milner was a pioneer in importing British-style Labradors to the U.S., and he'll also outline how those dogs differ from American-style retrievers, and how English field trials work.
Plus, my own tip on a slightly-different way to look at public land access and information, a hard-earned lesson in yard training, gear discounts and a chance to win a Pointer shotgun. All brought to you by these sponsors - check out their deals:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.

Bird hunting podcast: flushers vs. pointers ... the "debate" begins - all in good fun!

What’s your fave? Callers and Facebook commenters extol the virtues of their favorite hunting dog style. From pointing-and flushing - Labs to staunch shorthairs, you love your dogs and we’ll find out why. We celebrate our relationship with our hunting dogs every podcast, but this podcast is particularly close to the heart for all of us.
Is it the mystery and magic of a quivering point? The rollicking excitement of a hard-charging field-bred cocker? Or both, paired, working as a team?
Ebullience, hunting range, personality … are females more “biddable” that males? Is the energy level different from breed to breed or flusher to pointer? Training tips from a Canadian pro and her take on the “debate.” And how you should “never give a dog a chance to fail.”
Plus: Why you should keep your young dog from jumping up or down … the effects on “growth plates.”
You also get dog training tips, another publicly-accessible place to hunt, gear discounts and a chance to win a Pointer shotgun. And it's all brought to you by these sponsors - check out their deals:
Cabela's, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Electronic Shooters Protection, Dogtra, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; FindBirdHuntingSpots.com and Gunner Kennels.
Take advantage of great deals from many of our sponsors: 10% off and free shipping on any purchase over $200 at Dogtra with the code SLUN10 (plus sale prices on many collar-transmitter bundles); win a Pointer shotgun at FindBirdHuntingSpots.com; 30% off your first order from Dr. Tim's with the code UPLANDNATION; and financing on your Gunner Kennel.