Upland Nation

Audio exclusive: RC Phillips recounts a grouse hunt in Michigan's Upper Peninsula ... tangles and clearcuts, swamps, and the occasional woodcock. We share the exhilaration of a pup's stellar work, a buddy's dog's lightbulb moment, and can almost feel the scratch from an alder branch on our cheek. But we also gain insights into grouse hunting strategy, feeding habits and habitat, and even some observations on the state of the population in both states.  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.

Audio exclusive! from decades of observations, hunting alongside them, training with them, being trained by them, I've compiled seven "best practices" of legendary bird dog trainers and pro guides. From steadiness to conditioning, field to training table, here are the things they do and why they do them. You might want to do them as well. 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.

Audio exclusive: Robert Murphy joins me from southeast Idaho, recalling a recent hunt for Hungarian partridge. While his vest remained light, his observations will fill your mental game bag with useful information. We cover unusual habitat the birds dwell in these days, their habits and population dynamics. We get some insights on the Spinone Italiano breed, as well, and how he introduces his pups to water in a low-key manner. 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.

Outdoor Life hunting & conservation editor Andrew McKean is a renaissance man - living the outdoor and conservation life, walking the talk and willing to take chances to make his points. He joins me to cover a topic that should be nearer and dearer to us all: what's changed among us and our peers in the bird hunting world? We'll talk about why, and how, and where we think things might change for the better ... again. We dig deep, covering everything from the impact of social and other media, to the threats to funding conservation. There's talk of what's disappeared from many hunters' motivation, what's taken its place, and how to bring the right kind of newcomers into the fold. Our social segment is humans speculating on my dog's thoughts when gazing into the abyss of a chukar hunt. 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.

Audio exclusive: Mike Lardy is just back from a deep-woods Wisconsin grouse hunt and a North Dakota mixed-bag trip.  We talk about a wirehair just out of rehab, harrowing encounter with a pair of wolves, wonderful dog work and encouraging bird numbers in one state and challenges in the other (plus some solutions and suggestions should you be there).  Lessons and ideas about habitat, too, that might help your season. Plus strategies and tactics especially useful for this, um, challenging season. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss a single hunting story! Go here. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Audio exclusive: Alex Solem joins me from South Dakota and takes us through yesterday's pheasant hunt and well, let's just say it was one for the books. But habitat and conditions weren't exactly what you'd expect so listen and learn. Suffice it to say, it's not always the vast expanses that yield big bird numbers. We talk dog work, kids and hunting, what early-season habitat looks like this year, and a few strategies that might pay off for you. We'll also look back to the South Dakota opening weekend, entirely different conditions and challenges, distinct strategies and tactics. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Brian Hare, Ph.D., does have suggestions on that question, including an age when a pup actually can exhibit the traits of a great bird dog, and we'll get his answer on this and dozens more. He's a core member of Duke's Center of Cognitive Neuroscience, professor and with over 100 scientific papers and dozens of pups run through his home and hundreds through his research he's uniquely qualified to help us raise better bird dog puppies. Author of three books with his wife Vanessa Wood, his latest is Puppy Kindergarten. We'll explore everything from the best age to bring a puppy home, to when a dog's congnitive functions are fully formed, to whether or not we can teach an old dog new tricks. Brian will address my questions about common puppy-raising mistakes bird hunters make, and guide us from crate training (revelations here!) to "socialization" and how much is enough. Does it matter when a pup in a litter "picks" us? What about introduction to water, gunfire, other people and dogs? We'll cover it all. Our social segment features advice from followers on hunting boot care.  And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, ClayCopter, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Audio exclusive: Avid chukar hunter Coby Rowe is just back from his state's opening weekend with an on-the-ground report on habitat conditions, bird numbers and some insights into how chukars are behaving in the face of feed challenges and population dynamics. We get a blow-by-blow account of some beautiful finds by his Epagneul Breton, and vivid descriptions of the land and its challenges. You'll take away some insights on hunting these elusive birds as well. 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.

Marilyn Vetter joins me to cover all things strategic at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. From where the money comes from and where it goes, to why the Farm Bill matters, to the reason well-managed privately-owned ground benefits all bird hunters ... the "what's in it for me?" question we all ask. We'll talk about the big wins for PF/QF, what's ahead in the way of challenges, and look at the future of conservation in the U.S. We explore major initiatives of the organization, why a bird hunters' group should love bees and butterflies, and even get a puppy training tip.  "Fix It" has a different way to look at training the retrieve where you start at the end, and on social media we get your advice on finding game bird habitat. 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: Friend of the show and founder of Sage & Braker, Fred Bohm is the consummate hunter: exotics, big game, and his first love, upland birds. Fred is just back from the Rockies, where he hunted dusky grouse. It's a rough-and-tumble high-altitude family affair with a number of highlights: a first bird for his 11-year-old son, a young setter paired with a seasoned dog, big birds, and stunning scenery. But I'll let Fred give you the details while they're fresh in his memory. 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.