Upland Nation

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.

BONUS: Bird hunting road trip - Montana, one of my top five states

Pack the dog, extra ammo, and fasten your seatbelt. We're headed for Big Sky country on this bonus episode. Stories, suggestions and tips, starting points and advice that might help on your next road trip.
This state is loaded with public-access walk-in and government-administered ground. I'll cover my own experiences with habitat, seasons, and tactics for all the prairie birds. Plus, a few towns and regions where you might start your own quest for sharptails, ringnecks, sage grouse and Hungarian partridge. And some hard-won lessons on planning your trip from homework to itinerary.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Versatile champion, bird dog trainer, hunter: Curt Fry's views on all things dogs and birds

He and his dogs are NAVHDA versatile champions several times over ... and those dogs are English Setters. It's one testament to this guy's training acumen, passion for dogs and bird hunting. Curt Fry is also a hunt test judge, clinician, hardcore grouse and woodcock hunter. We do a deep dive into steadying a bird dog from start to finish: objectives, tools, and strategy. His views on water work and dog handling are of value to anyone with a hunting dog.
Curt also offers hunting strategies and tactics and finding more land to hunt. We review the various types of hunt tests and field trials and why bird hunters benefit from participating. Curt even has suggestions on where to find training birds.
"Road Trip" covers one of my top-five states; and listeners chime in on why sometimes it's a good idea to use different loads in each barrel.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Let's go on a chukar hunt ... and everyone chips in on saving a buck or two

It's the off-season, and time to re-live some of the hunts from last fall. In this Field Debrief, I'll relate a chukar hunt we did on eclipse weekend last October in Northern Nevada. Fascinating finds, beautiful country, and a few lessons, too.
Then, everyone offers suggestions on saving money on gear, trips, and dogs. And, what NOT to economize on.
"Road Trip" has your mountain quail destination, and listeners share their bucket-list bird species.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.