Upland Nation

Chukar hunt! C'mon along on a recent foray into the wild-bird country of the Great Basin.

Need a chukar fix? How about a few valley quail too? I'll debrief a recent hunt of mine ... sort of a bookend thing, with stunning dog work at both ends. We pull a few thousand feet of elevation, miss a few birds and connect on others. I'll talk terrain, habitat, strategy and tactics plus some pure dumb luck too. A fascinating find or two, as well.
"Fix It" has a few theories on why birds scatter this time of year, and we'll take a sneak peek at the Upland Nation Index and your responses to the longest-running, largest private-sector survey of upland hunters. Favorite dog breed? What are the key issues you face? We'll take a look.
You get a final chance to enter to win the Sage & Braker shotgun cleaning mat in our furfeathersfriends.com sweepstakes, too, but only if you listen and know the Word of the Week.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile,, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

BONUS: Bird hunting and beer ... a primer to drinking, buying, storing and pouring - and celebrating the hunt

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, mazeltov ... what better way to celebrate than enjoying fresh, locally-brewed beer? And after an epic hunt, even more so!
Here's your guide to craft brews in hopes you'll venture beyond Corporate Beer to the good stuff, made near your hunting spot by local folks. It's literally a taste of your hunt, a chance to imbibe local culture and enjoy the hunt in a frosty (not too frosty) glass.
Gulp down a heaping helping of bird hunting!
From various beer styles to ingredients, buying, pouring, storing and sharing, I'll share what I've learned from talking with brewmasters, writing about beer, helping brew in commercial facilities and at home, and er, drinking a few pints here and there in bird hunting country. I'll list some craft brewpubs worth visiting in bird hunting country, too, along with hunting tips for each beery bird hunting town.
Don't say I didn't get you anything for Christmas!
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Bird dog of the year: owner & handler share their secrets, training and hunting tips

Crosswind's Envy a Trip to the Train Station, call name "Rip," is the Dog of the Year for the National Shoot to Retrieve Association and while he didn't have much to say, his owner and handler offer plenty of help to fellow hunters in this episode. I'll get the inside scoop from Sara Thorne, Rip's owner, and handler Brandon Ralston. Getting to a lofty pinnacle in the field trial world yields benefits for owner, handler and dog that translate directly to bird hunting and we'll explore that intersection.
From training tricks to conditioning advice, diet, strategy in the bird field and trial course, Brandon and Sara will share the hard-won tips that put Rip at the top of the heap. We'll also answer the question: can a trial dog also be a bird hunter?
"Handle It" is now "Fix It," and this week there's a shooting tip for you. Listeners share their Christmas wish list - and their dog's too. And we launch the 2025 edition of our Fur Feathers Friends tradition with some early prizes if you listen and enter with our Word of the Week. Prizes and entry information here.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Bird dog training - on a hunting trip? Why not? Here's how.

If you're like me, the um, standard of excellence you expect from your dog (and he from you) has devolved since opening day. That got me thinking: why can't we train our dogs during a hunt, or a hunting season? Well, you can. You may not do as much, or as frequently, but there are a ton of things you can do to help your dog stay on his "A" game during a hunt. I'll offer some suggestions.
I'll also get a bunch of related observations and suggestions off my chest that might help you finish the hunting season on a high note. Simple stuff, things you haven't thought about for a while, or never knew.
"Handle It" might help your dog avoid a broken toe; and we find out who does and doesn't wear eye and ear protection in the field.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Pro bird dog trainer "re-shapes" our thinking on how dogs think, use of e-collars

Talmage Smedly joins me for an in-depth conversation on why dogs do what they do and how we can guide them. He calls on his horse training experience as well as a different perspective on how e-collars and commands in general can be used. If you're looking for a new way of working with your dog, he's got it.
We'll cover his views on how to use an e-collar, what instincts shape a young dog, using a leash and checkcord, and the advantages of "positive punishment," among other things. He'll help us fix some of our steadiness and retrieving problems too.
Listener Keith Friel offers another reason to run two dogs together in the field, and "Handle It" is a plea for more leashes, tie-out stakes and crates.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Thanksgiving reflections from you on birds, dogs, friends, family and beautiful places ... and a tech tip

You are one lucky so-and-so. Great dog, friends in the field, tolerant spouse, incredible hunting spots. This soon-to-be annual podcast celebrates it all as we give thanks for everything to do with bird hunting.
Your comments, ideas, photos, add to the season's wonderment, warm feelings, and fuel our constant state of gratitude. But I'll also offer a tech tip that might be of use to you on your next road trip.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

30-year pro grouse guide on what makes him smile, beautiful places and the joy of newness

Tim Linehan guides forest grouse hunters ... in Montana. He's been an Orvis-endorsed outfitters for over 30 years chasing ruffies, duskies, blues, sooties ... or whatever they're calling the critters these days. He'll share strategies, including how to start a hunt; tactics when a dog points; shooting advice and habitat types for each species. We also share stories on the joys of bird hunting from good shots to young dogs, and the real reasons we hunt.
Great tips from a couple listeners on dog emergencies and how to avoid them; "Handle It" covers a question from Neil Higgins of Minnesota on a young dog's steadiness.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Bird hunting "Industry Insiders" spill the beans on boots and choke tubes

We talk with two leaders in their categories: Scott Trulock of Trulock Choke Tubes and Mark Strickland of Crispi US about their products, new gear in the pipeline, trends in their space, and the care and feeding of our boots and shotguns. Whether you're shopping for new stuff or simply want to take better care of your current gear, they've got advice.
We'll also look at some of your beautiful photos from the field and in "Handle It" I'll offer a way to warm up your pup after a cold day in the field.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.