Friday Fave: Pro's talk hunt strategy & tactics, habitat and dog care

If you're still planning your big trips for the season, I've got some suggestions. Here's a list and brief reasons why you might want to consider these five states for your destination.  I've weighed my personal experience, quality of walk-in and public land access, number of acres available to bird hunters, and a few other criteria to assemble a "top five" list. Yours may be different, but if you're looking for a new place, new bird species, or different terrain here are some starting points. 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.

You want more, you got it in this reprise of a highly-rated interview: Grouse, woodcock, training during the hunt, and a short history of Gordon Setters ... those are the topics in my conversation with Stephen Faust, pro grouse and woodcock guide, dog trainer and breeder, and avid hunter. We'll also cover a typical guide's day in the field, how we can be better guide clients, and dog training tips.  We'll track a woodcock's day - where it hangs, what it eats and even how professionals like Stephen tag chicks in the spring. We'll look at habitat and habits, and dog handling for these wily birds. Then, into the grouse woods for insights into some lesser-known prime food sources, cover types, and habitat needs from opening day to winter.  "Fix It" offers a useful web source for finding birds, and listeners (a lot of them) weigh in on "Do beeper collars scare birds?" You'll take something useful away from that discussion! And it's all brought to you by: HiVizSights.com, RuffLand Kennels, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Pointer shotguns, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Orvis-endorsed guide Michael Browning of Grouse Haven Wing-Shooting takes us into the Maine woods for a tutorial on all things ruffies and timberdoodles. From the birds' daily schedule to good habitat types, he's got decades of experience in the deep woods. Well, not so deep. That's one thing we'll learn about habitat. We also explore how to handle our dogs in the forest, being a good guide client, bird behavior, finding public ground, and get a few dog-training insights. "Fix It" reminds us of another important date for walk-in hunters, and listeners share their "lightbulb people" ... the ones who started their bird-hunting adventure and why. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

A helpful perspective, to say the least ... worth another listen: Back to Pheasant Fest for an in-depth tutorial on everything from dog training to sharptail hunting from two guys who hunt hard and often: Trevor Walz and Tom Dombroski of LandTrust.com. For fun, to scout new properties, a little guiding, and to work a long string of dogs, these guys are on the ground all season and have a couple lifetimes of experience. We'll cover habitat, tactics, dog care and more. "Handle It" touches on the importance of collecting dead birds ... and listeners chime in on how important a limit is to them and why. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Orvis-endorsed bird hunting guide Ryan Aune of Wyoming Wings & Waters knows wild birds, and he really knows Wyoming wingshooting. He guides clients on a mixed bag of prairie and forest grouse, Huns, and pheasants in the Cowboy State and knows how to find public-access bird hunting spots. Twice a finalist for Orvis Wingshooting Guide of the Year, this guy scouts deep in the boondocks to find unmolested birds, and we can all learn from his experience when we seek new birds on new ground. We'll cover everything from food sources to habitat requirements, handling dogs on hinky birds and early steadiness training. We cover finding birdy spots, essential habitat components, and even wax philosophically about why we hunt. We delve deep into bird behavior and what makes good cover for all the bird species he hunts. We'll touch on essential gear, best practices when approaching a pointed dog, and handling running birds. "Fix It" has a suggestion for coping with public access spots that have been hammered, and listeners share their pup's first bird stories.  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.

It's puppy season and who couldn't use some encouragement for those late nights ... or advice on maximizing your new dog's mental and physical development? Steve Snell, owner of Gun Dog Supply, knows dogs, and especially young ones. A recent email from Steve prompted me to follow up on his seven tips for puppy owners. Turns out, many of the tips are just as relevant to owners of not-so-young dogs, too. From picking a breeder to buying a pup, a Texas hunting story or two, to the importance of putting hands on a pup and crate training essentials, Steve gives us the most important things a pup and its owner should be doing early in their relationship.  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.

If you're in search of new bird hunting ground, I've got a panel for you from the departments that acquire and manage the walk-in programs in three bird-rich states. Wes Sowards of Kansas, Michael Peyton of South Dakota and Greg Lemon of Montana offer their tips on how their programs work for wingshooting, and more importantly, how to take full advantage of them. We talk about how land is acquired and managed, why ground-truthing is critical, who pays for the walk-in programs, each state's quirks, and how to maximize your time and effort by finding less-hammered ground. They'll give you some starting points in their state for several bird species, and each guest also offers a tip and some helpful hacks that could help you find more birds next season while avoiding the crowds. After that, it's up to you. "Fix It" helps you introduce nail clipping to your new pup, and listeners offer advice on introducing gun fire to a young dog. And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, ClayCopter, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.  

Enjoy this trip into the field - maybe you need a hunting fix about now. Buckle up for a first-hand report on a recent wingshooting road trip in search of quail and chukars ... and better weather. We'll be hunting Nevada and California and learning a lot. Some astounding dog work and fascinating observations on bird behavior and habitat, especially in the Golden State. Strategies need adjusting in the high desert of California, where cactus is king and rattlesnakes roam all year ... even finding birdy places requires a different point of view. "Fix It" covers some practical pre-hunt tips and listeners share some fascinating dog and bird hunting trivia. You get a chance to enter to win a pair of Pyke Gear Dakota pants (value $230) 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: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Thanks to those avid wingshooting fanatics who requested this one at Pheasant Fest. I've done some homework (maybe too much), dug deep to give you a picture of America's favorite game bird. From habits to habitat, life history to some of the threats, a bit of politics, and a lot of fun facts and trivia. Hopefully, something in here is of value to you.  And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, CableGangz, TrulockChokes, Pointer shotguns, USA Clay Target League, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

In my survey, you tell me most of you have, or will, pay to hunt. So why not get your money's worth, whether it's a day trip to a local farm, or that trip-of-a-lifetime to a fancy resort? I've been to a hundred hunting and fishing lodges to make TV shows, and have seen it all. I'll share my experiences, and help you navigate the dangerous waters of booking, pricing, expectations, habitat and lodging options. You'll have a better idea of what you can do, what you'll pay, how to tip your guide, and why pen-raised birds can be great, okay and dismal. Just like buying a new truck, much of your experience is dependent on you - from inquiring about a place, to negotiating price, to what your guide should (and shouldn't) do. Listen carefully and somewhere in here is a tip or two you'll be glad you heard. 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.