Advertise on podcast: Upland Nation

Audio exclusive: My friend Eric Thompson sums up his recent prairie grouse adventures, from how to overcome thin bird numbers to epic dog work, the development of a young Braque, mud and Canadians. Eric is the poster child for walking another mile (or 17) to find elusive birds. We'll find out why. We cover sage grouse, Huns, and Sharptails on this excursion into productive cover that might be a little bit different than you'd expect. There's a lesson in kindness, and another in the value of discovery, too. Thanks Eric. Subscribe today to make sure you get these new audio exclusive hunt debriefs! And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

My friend and pro guide Al Gadoury walks us through a recent prairie grouse hunt. The predictions were dire, but in true 6X Outfitters fashion, Al came through for his client, turning it into a stellar day. You'll learn something about birds, habitat, behavior, and enjoy the tales of his young dog's adventures, among other things. Subscribe today to make sure you get these new audio exclusive hunt debriefs! And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

In this Insider edition, Brent Pike joins me to preview some of his Pyke Gear company's newest and soon-to-be-available products and provide insights into the how and why of design and manufacturing. we'll get a "consumer's guide" to what makes a quality pant, vest and more. From materials, to innovation, to why you really do get what you pay for, Brent has some thoughts that might help you with your next investment. We'll talk hunting too - including a 28-covey quail hunt. "Fix It" has a different way to look at crowded hunting areas, and our social media discussion is an exercise in sharing viewers' and listeners' favorite types of cover. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Heading our way? There's a lot to pack ... and to unpack ... about hunting here in the West. From planning and strategy to safety and um, er, getting along with the locals (human and otherwise), I'll outline some of the things you should think about. Even seasoned western hunters might find something they forgot. In this audio exclusive "Insights" edition, a quick compendium of some of the important considerations you might find of use as you pick a location, travel, and hunt the vast prairies and craggy draws that make up the West. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

A panel of active hunters from across the country share their opinions and perspectives on this hot topic. We enjoy an enlightening and informative, civilized debate on a topic that induces white-hot beard-on-fire rage in a few folk (who, invited multiple times, agreed to participate then didn't show up). Brave, outspoken and perceptive participants included Matt Millbauer or Washington, Matt Soberg of Covey Rise magazine, Robert Poor of Arizona, and Michael Mortara of Texas. Even the "over my dead body" types might want to consider some of this panel's explanations and motives from conservation funding to etiquette, to site fidelity in game bird species. Others might want to re-consider who they invite and why.  In our dual social segments, more participants weigh in on all sides of the story. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

This week in our continuing series on pheasant-rich states, we focus on Kansas. Who better to clue us in than the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife & Parks' upland game bird program coordinator, Jeff Prendergast? Jeff gives us the 30,000-foot-level view of the state's prime regions, then breaks down the factors that make them so good. We'll do the same with bobwhites, including key food sources, cover types, hunting strategies and tactics. Jeff offers tips on finding birds, coping with crowded walk-in areas, and shares some of his department's resources available to hunters. "Fix It" clarifies a field-trial term we often encounter, and in our social segment viewers and listeners share photos and stories on how their dog says "thanks for taking me hunting!" And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bryan O'Connor manages the state's upland bird programs and has an intimate knowledge of their habitat and habits. He'll share his observations on bird numbers and populations dynamics, some of the better places to start your hunt, and insights into the state's walk-in program. Bryan has a long list of things he does differently from other hunters that we might try, advice on tactics and strategies, too. "Fix It" finds a semi-bright side to hunting in wildfire country, and viewers and listeners offer up their best advice on teaching retrieving. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

We continue our journey through pheasant country (with a few detours along the way), as I debrief North Dakota's wild bird experts from their Dept. of Game & Fish. Joining me are Jesse Kolar, upland game bird supervisor, and his right hand, RJ Gross. Their perspective as biologists, coupled with their extensive hunting experience, will be of service no matter where you hunt. We talk good starting points for ringnecks, Huns and sharptails, plus habitat quirks and go-to spots. They'll offer insights into the birds' habits, population dynamics, and biology, offer hunting and scouting tips, and bring us up to speed on their walk-in program. RJ points out some lesser-known public access ground, and Jesse tells us how they conduct their bird counts.  "Fix It" has another use for your checkcord, and our social segment is loaded (pun intended) with shooting tips from viewers and listeners. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

There are many organizations working on hunters' behalf behind the scenes, and one of them is led by Chuck Sykes. He's executive director of the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, facilitating hunter recruitment, retention and re-activation across the country. The group serves as a brokerage, a clearing-house, of data, research, information and initiatives to support state wildlife agencies, non-profits and conservation groups.  We'll talk about why more hunters are critical to conservation, how it's funded, and who are the most likely successful new hunters (hint: not kids, according to the research). Chuck will share what they're after when starting to hunt, as well as simple steps we can follow to be their mentor. "Fix It" has one more information source in your search for more hunting ground, and listeners and viewers offer up their promises for the upcoming season - to themselves, their buddies and their dogs. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Audio exclusive: Nicks, cuts, scratches, snakebite and worse ... what do you do? How do you recognize medical problems in the field? How do you decide when to conduct a field repair and when to race for the nearest veterinarian? I'll recall my own experiences and how to handle many of them. No, not veterinary advice, but at least a heads-up for you. There's some tools and gear, some clues to what might be wrong, and a list of those situations where time is of the essence. Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA Clay Target League, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

There's little doubt your hunting season will be affected by the hundreds of wildfires that have devastated vast swaths of bird country. So how do we make the most of it, balancing ethics, conservation, and our own passion? Mikal Cline is the Upland Game Bird Coordinator at Oregon's Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Justin Small is Upland Game Staff Specialist at Nevada's Dept. of Wildlife. Two biologists who hunt, they've got a unique perspective on how fire impacts birds and their habitat. We'll learn how birds react to fire, which ones will likely survive and which won't, what they do and where they go. We'll explore the short- and long-term aftermaths, and understand why a conservative approach to each hunter's bag is critical. There are nuggets on best post-fire habitat, alternate species to hunt, and a few eye-opening observations. "Fix it" has advice on another way to find ground that hasn't been hammered by other hunters. The social segment covers things we've switched from - and to - for this season. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bathroom stops, flat tires, curiosity ... I've stumbled onto postage-stamp sized parcels and massive tracts of public and publicly-accessible land open to hunters. Many of them are managed by obscure agencies we never think of when it comes to planning our hunting trips. Others are below-the-radar properties we drive past without even considering their bird hunting potential. Somewhere in this list is a place you might want to try this season. Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA Clay Target League, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Enjoy this very popular (read: helpful) show even if you heard it a few years ago ... Pro trainer, chukar hunter, and author ... George DeCosta Jr. is also a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon fanatic. We'll talk puppy development, go to school on steadying a dog (hint: long before he encounters birds), and get a few chukar hunting tips too. George suggests some essential training gear and what he carries in his hunting vest that we should too. George's new book Tips and Tales covers just about everything you need to train a versatile dog, some hunting stories and a ton of wisdom. We'll go page by page through some of the stuff you are probably working on right now. Listeners tell us where their dog sleeps on a hunting trip, and the Handle It segment offers a DIY project that will steady your dog when a checkcord is impractical. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Avid hunter, world traveler and former chief instructor for the National Sporting Clays Association, Don Currie shares his decades of experience helping people like us to shoot better. We'll focus on transferring on range skills to the field, quick gun fitting fixes, what to look at when mounting your shotgun, and the critical parts of a good gun mount. We'll cover ways to ensure you're in the right place at the right time on flushing birds, how foot position helps, our most common shooting errors and more. We'll get Don's take on adjusting choke tube constrictions to shotgun gauge, and he'll share a recent Argentina hunt where he shot four different bird species.  "Fix It" suggests an under-utilized information resource for finding new hunting spots; and in our social segment, listeners and viewers share their advice on training steadiness in a pointing dog.  And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, ClayCopter, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Audio exclusive! Here's the list of things I carry - and where - to ensure a safe and productive hunting trip. We go from front bumper to roof rack and touch on the gear that you too might want to carry. From safety and rescue stuff to dog-care, I'll share my inventory in hopes there's something there you might want to pack. I'll also mention a few things in my hunting vest you may not have considered that could save your dog's life. Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA Clay Target League, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.