Pheasant Fest Q&A

Michael Mapes from Second Chance Bird Dogs joins the show to explain his mission to rescue bird dogs and give them a second home. Michael shares the astounding number of phone calls he receives from dog owners that no longer want their dog, why they call him, the advice he gives them, and the steps he takes to take them in, train them, and find new homes for every dog. Michael also shares how his organization has an army of support, how he’s turned this into a full-time career, ideas to help everyone come alongside families struggling with their own bird dogs, and ways to support dogs that need a second chance. @secondchancebirddogsPresented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Hunt Fish SD (huntfishsd.com/), Aberdeen SD (aberdeensd.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher from the Prairie Farm Podcast join the show to talk about a variety of current events in the world of conservation, including the controversial BWCA vote in the senate, rising cancer rates in farm country, Farm Bill notes, politics, Hoksey’s new Prairie forum, producing food, when to plant a prairie, hunting keepsakes, and so much more. @theprairiefarmPresented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Hunt Fish SD (huntfishsd.com/), Aberdeen SD (aberdeensd.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aaron Kuehl is the National Director of Habitat Programs for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. On this episode, Aaron reveals the launch of PF & QF’s new online “Habitat University” which offers FREE in-depth online course information about habitat management and how to maximize your efforts in all landscapes. Topics dive into everything about CRP, state specific habitat guides, fire management and tools, building wildlife cover with livestock, eliminating invasive species, safe & effective weed control, tools of the habitat trade, site prep secrets for success, pollinator series, quail by regions, power in partnerships, working lands for wildlife, food plots vs habitat plots, and so much more. @pheasantsforever | @quailforeverPresented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Hunt Fish SD (huntfishsd.com/), Aberdeen SD (aberdeensd.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Doug Ernst has taught firearm safety training courses for 53 years. On today’s episode, we take Minnesota’s official firearm safety training test and break down questions and answers. We also discuss regular firearm handling mistakes that hunters make, along with some common laws hunters break without even knowing it. We discuss how the course has evolved over time and how online courses differ from hands-on learning in a classroom. This episode is a gun safety course refresher for some hunters and offers plenty of thoughts to consider for hunters and shooters at each stage of life.   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Hunt Fish SD (huntfishsd.com/), Aberdeen SD (aberdeensd.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Arlyn DeBruyckere has been bird hunting for more than 50 years.  He’s also a teacher, firearm safety instructor, hunting mentor, trap shooting coach, active member of several PF chapters, dedicated husband & father, farmer, and conservationist.  Travis and Arlyn share stories from the field and discuss the seasons that hunters go through over the course of a rich & fulfilling life as a bird hunter.  It’s a conversation that ranges from first birds in the bag to controlled burns.  From chapter banquets to gun-shy dogs, and so much more.    Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Hunt Fish SD (huntfishsd.com/), Aberdeen SD (aberdeensd.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin Binfet (Wyoming’s Game & Fish Deputy Chief) joins the show to discuss in-depth sage grouse management in Wyoming and recent news about dissolving their 21-year-old sage grouse work groups. Justin and Travis discuss the role of the work groups, why they were dissolved, the new path toward sage grouse management, reasons for optimism in Wyoming’s management plan, where wildlife habitat funding comes from, current sage grouse populations and future trends, lek monitoring, invasive habitat work, why cheatgrass is so harmful on the landscape, current drought conditions, hope for spring nests and a positive outlook for all upland bird species in Wyoming.    Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Marshwear Clothing (marshwearclothing.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/), Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/), & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Troy Holcomb is a forester for the Minnesota DNR.  Troy and Travis have an in-depth discussion on the business & economy of forest management and the effects consumers have on wildlife habitat. Troy explains how our forests have evolved with logging practices and commercial contracts, trends in the logging industry based on consumer goods, when, where & why forests are logged, which trees are in high demand, who does the work and why some bids don’t get accepted, public vs private land management, short term and long term logging practices paint big picture, why forest management differs across the country and it’s devastating effects on ruffed grouse and other wildlife, is the ruffed grouse cycle tied to logging and forest management, and so much more. @mndnr   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Marshwear Clothing (marshwearclothing.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/) & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve Ries from Top Gun Kennels in Iowa lost his son to cancer back in 2003.  At his son’s request, they started a non-profit organization called Aiming For A Cure to help other families in their fight against cancer. Steve explains the mission of Aiming For A Cure today, how they’ve raised $8 million dollars to help others, why others join the fight, the details of their upcoming hunt & banquet, and how it all helps kids and families that need assistance the most.  We also talk about Steve’s 35 years at the kennel, breeding and genetics in GSP’s, and finding the right dog for you.  @aimingforacure | www.aimingforacure.com   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Marshwear Clothing (marshwearclothing.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/) & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

George Lyall & Mark Zeitler join the show to discuss the Karl Zeitler Memorial Hunt & the many ways that bird dogs bring people together to help others. Mark explains why he started this event in his father’s honor, what the memorial hunt entails, the Law Dog Challenge, raising funds to help K9 officers, and the value of volunteering to serve alongside others. We also discuss The Method dog training seminars coming up and a whole lot more. @karlzeitlermemorialhunt @themethoddogtraining   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Marshwear Clothing (marshwearclothing.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/) & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is an open-mic experience on the show floor at the 2026 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Listeners of this podcast bring their questions to Travis Frank, Scott Fransen & Tyler Webster.  It’s a totally unscripted bird hunting Q & A with guests from all over North America.    Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb), Black Gold Explorer Dog Food (blackgoldpet.com/), Marshwear Clothing (marshwearclothing.com/), RuffLand Kennels (rufflandkennels.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (horseandhunt.com/) & Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.