Advertise on podcast: The Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast

Reid's good friend Matt Morlock appears on the podcast to discuss all things South Dakota. Matt describes his childhood growing up as the son of a game warden and his career in conservation and stewardship. He also explains why and how South Dakota became the worldwide epicenter for pheasant hunting. Wonderful insights from a guy on the ground, and a great guy at that.

This re-post of a podcast from 2022 serves as a tribute to Glen Blackwood, whose recent passing is a tremendous loss for the upland community. Glen was a bird hunter, a fly anger, and a conservationist, but foremost a storyteller. It was a privilege to capture his voice here, and to share it.    

Reid welcomes dog trainer John McIltrot for Seranoa Kennels (www.seranoakennels.com) from Roundup, MT, alongside John's training partner Taylor Todd. John is a fascinating character: bird dog trainer, falconer, mentor, animal behaviorist, and prairie philosopher. He and Taylor explore concepts of animal behavior, mentorship, how to move slowly through a training process with humility and keen observation.

In a slight departure from the norm, Reid gathers with a group of pals to debrief a pheasant hunt on a farm in Hitchcock, South Dakota. The group, spearheaded by Lyndsey Braun and Doug Duren of Sharing the Land, explores topics of land stewardship, dog work, hits and misses, and challenges faced by new hunters. It's a meandering journey with lots of voices, but some great perspectives offered. Warning: some colorful language is used. Special thanks to Can-Am, BOSS Shotshells, Savage Arms, Gunner Kennels, Matt Morlock, and Dylan Hazen.

  Del Whitman is back to help explain shotshell pressures and how to create optimal patterns. Del puts the mystery of shot ballistics into layman's terms, describing how patterns perform and how extreme pressures destroy pattern density and pose risks to fine guns. In response to a listener query, he also digs into the magical properties of TSS and Tungsten alloys, which seem to break all the rules.

After too long a break, the podcast returns solo installment featuring a piece of written work originally published in Skydance Magazine. An essay about Reid's early days as a woodcock hunter is shared in response to some reflection about shooting woodcock, the particular frailty of the species, and the changes faced by a bird hunter as he gets a bit older. As always, rate and review the podcast, and explore more written work at www.reidbryant.com

  One for the ages... Reid is joined by Stewart McIntyre, Estate Manager at Loyton Sporting (https://loyton.com/) and winner of the coveted 2023 Purdey Gold Award for Game and Habitat Conservation. Stewart pulls back the curtain and articulates the complexity of British Game Shooting, not only as an industry but as a force for stewardship and conservation. If ever you've looked at driven shooting and scratched your head, listen to this podcast. Stewart does a remarkable job explaining just why driven shooting is such a remarkable driver of sustainable land use, and also why it can be misunderstood.

Claire Hall and Jeff Niblette join Reid from far, far away to discuss bird shooting in New Zealand. Both are affiliated with Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting and Fly-fishing Lodge Poronui which offers walked up and driven pheasant hunting on  property. Claire, a longtime Poronui staffer, speaks about the place, the region, and the hunting program, while Jeff, Owner of New Zealand Gamebirds, speaks to the shooting experience and the unique shooting culture in New Zealand.

This episode contains mild adult language that may be offensive to some.   Dave Brown, owner/operator of Dave Brown Outfitters, joins the podcast to describe the life of a professional wild bird guide. For several decades, Dave has been outfitting fly anglers and bird hunters from the Mexican border into Canada, and his perspective on the guide's life is informed by years and miles. Dave always brings a unique and considered perspective to issues of conservation, private land access, a nomadic pursuit of the seasons, and a whole lot more.    

On this episode of the podcast, Reid provides a quick update, talks about what the season has in store, and reads a short reflection called "Things That Get Away", first published in Ginkgo Magazine. Recorded on Sept 2, the he bird season has opened in several places across North America. It always sneaks up on us!

Lars Anderson, Sales Customer Service Manager at Crispi US, joins the podcast to discuss all things boot-related. Lars is an avid outdoorsman and hunter who was instrumental in developing Crispi's upland-specific boot, the Upland Pro. He and Reid discuss Crispi's rise in the hunting space, the technical aspects of a mountain-style boot, boot care, and break-in, and all that makes Crispi special.

Del Whitman returns to the Podcast to discuss the ways in which gunsmiths finish shotgun butts. He describes different choices and techniques, and further discusses his unique process of selecting, sizing, and fitting a recoil pad

Ben Jones, President and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society, joins Reid in a discussion about the great work being done on the ground at RGS, and the work that still needs attention. The duo digs into the work of listening to and coalescing the wants and needs of different groups to the ultimate good of grouse, woodcock, and ecosystems. A great conversation with one of the great voices in conservation. Learn more at https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/

Zander Ault of Patagonia, AZ joins Reid to discuss what it's like to live and build a business in one of bird hunting's most iconic destinations. Not a  hunter himself, Zander (and his partner Heidi) landed in Patagonia for the extraordinary gravel cycling, but soon found that the region was ground zero for desert quail hunters. Having opened and owned several businesses in town, Zander explores the tension of being a newcomer in a small, rural town, the challenge of keeping natural resources undiminished while cultivating a tourist economy, and some unique observations about the bird hunting community. Learn more about Zander and Hedi at www.thegravelhouse.com ...

In this episode, we visit Orvis Hill Country Shooting Grounds in Blue Ridge Summit, PA, where General Manager Jeremy Mays is joined by new property owner and tech entrepreneur Ben Wallace. While Orvis continues to manage day-to-day operations, Ben brings fresh investment and bold ideas to elevate the facility. Together, they share their vision, recent upgrades, and what's next for this impressive shooting destination. Learn more: orvis.com/orvis-hill-country.html