Upland Nation

Let's all go back to e-collar school with Pete Fisher. A consultant to Dogtra, the collar company, he's also an award-winning pro trainer and avid hunter. He gives a tutorial on all the critical uses from steadiness to retrieving, covers introducing a collar to young dogs, and reminds us that timing really is everything. 

We'll learn when and when not to use a remote training collar, other uses and capabilities he's built a career ...

We climb the hills and get dirty in this interview with YouTube personality Eric Forrester. Trainer, breeder, avid bird hunter, road warrior, we'll get advice on all of that, and more. From what motivates him, to his training philosophy, we've got insights. You'll also learn about his minimalist bird camp, surprises he's found in the field, the joys of hunting a brace of wires, travel tips and more.

"Fix It" suggests a training too...

It's not the Dakotas ... but if you're desperate and have a few hours or days, there may be a ringneck in your future in some of these western U.S. public-access locales. At the 30,000 foot level, I'll give you starting points in all the western states that harbor ringnecks. Whether you find any is up to you and your dog!

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems and the gun room at Mid Valley Clays and Shoo...

Just like a chukar hunt ... long and covering a lot of ground. That's today's interview with avid devil-bird chaser and pro dog trainer Jeff Funke of Three Devils Kennel. We'll take a deep dive into a wide variety of topics from breeding German Wirehaired Pointers, to the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation's testing program, to the reasons conformation is critical in a hunting situation. We'll cover chukar hunting scenarios from drop...

You'll need a moment after all the wisdom coming from this Pheasant Fest interview. First, Ronnie and Susanna Smith on puppy development, behavioral tips and tricks to maximize performance for your bird dog. Then, Tom Dokken explains control, solves your training problems and discusses praise in all its dimensions.

"Fix It" helps keep your dog's boredom at bay, and listeners tell us what they're changing among their gear.

It's your...

Because I need all the help I can get, I've studied shotgun shooting with some of the best. Their wisdom is best consumed in a lesson with them, but until then I've distilled it into a series of check lists - a flow chart - with basic steps you can take to connect on more shots. Somewhere in these dozens of suggestions may be one that puts another bird in the bag for you this coming season.

Insider editions are brought to you by Ca...

From Reno, Nevada to Kansas City, we venture into the minds of two industry leaders: Brent Pike, founder of Pyke Gear, and Andy McCormick, president of Legacy Sports and Pointer Shotguns. We'll learn why and how Pyke Gear is designed and what's coming in the future. McCormick will give us a tour of the new FT12 semi-auto shotgun and relate some hunting stories as well as gun care tips.

Listeners offer hunting tips and tactics and "...

Yep, a two-fer! A bird-hunting power couple if you ever saw one, president Marilyn provides insights and news from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, conservation advice and some hunting tips. Clyde, probably the winningest NAVHDA trainer, offers advice on everything from picking a pup to steadiness training and everything in between. He shares hunting tactics too.

"Fix It" has some surrogates for live birds when training steadin...

"High intensity" is how author and passionate chukar hunter describes his chosen sport. He should know, he's been doing it long enough to acquire a unique perspective and plenty of wisdom which he shares with us all. He's the author of A Chukar Hunter's Companion, the definitive book on the topic, and roams the high desert all season in search of, well, listen for yourself if you're in need of motivation or inspiration.

We'll expl...

My friend Eric Thompson moved to Montana for one thing: bird hunting. We benefit from his experiences since, with advice on finding new places to hunt, and a few strategies and tactics for the field. We learn about the highs and lows of owning - and losing - dogs, and how to help newcomers explore our sport.

We'll debrief Eric's past season in multiple states, with some highlights and a few stories. "Fix It" has an unusual source ...

"It ain't over 'til it's over" ... so said baseball player-philosopher Yogi Berra. It's true in bird hunting, too. Once your dog stands a bird, there are a lot of things you can do right - or wrong - to conclude the transaction successfully with a bird on the ground. It's what you want, but just as important, it's what your dog wants, isn't it?

I'll cover five places in the hunt (okay, one is before the hunt) when doing something d...

The talented team of Tom and Tina Dokken is well-known for dog training expertise and the iconic Dead Fowl Trainer, but Tina has an additional calling: bringing more women into bird hunting. She offers advice on everything from how women learn differently than men, and what we can do as spouses or partners to motivate and educate newcomers.

We'll get tips and tactics on everything from dog training to shooting, some resources for ...

Ruth Weiss is a senior judge in the NAVHDA testing system as well as an active handler with 74 dogs tested including two versatile champions. She's seen it all and will share her insights on everything from steadiness to retrieving (advice for all levels), introducing a pup to water, and how and when to use praise. She's also an avid bird hunter and offers insights on handling a dog in the field as well as a peek into the world of ...

Here's the third episode of the new, bi-weekly bonus programs doing a deep dive into single topics, inspirational stories, hunting adventures and special people. 

Delving deep, we philosophize about the value of hunting by yourself. Okay, with your dog, of course, but nobody else. Free, unencumbered, and a chance to explore your inner self. I'll weigh the advantages vs. the drawbacks and hope you agree it's a worthy path to follow ...

Are pricey bespoke guns worth their stratospheric prices? My friend and Field & Stream's shotgun editor Phil Bourjaily has an answer and he should know. He's been writing on the subject for decades and now we get the lowdown. Phil also shares what he looks for (and so should we) when buying any shotgun, the joys and limitations of heavy and light guns, grouse hunting with a Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel, and the real reas...

Bob West is one of the legends in bird dog training, a writer, hunter, and all-around font of wisdom when it comes to hunting dogs. He joins me for reminiscences about what's changed in dog training,and  how different today's trainers are from the old timers.

Bob suggests what we should be doing differently in our own training, his choice for hardest birds to hunt, how dogs think, answers some specific questions about steadiness tr...

Here's the second episode of the new, bi-weekly bonus programs doing a deep dive into single topics, inspirational stories, hunting adventures and special people. 

This one is a list of ways to save money so you can wring out an extra day, buy more shells, or drink better beer on a road trip. I've compiled a bunch of suggestions, ideas and advice from my own years as a road warrior that might help you this season.

From booking trav...

He's a fanatic bird hunter, conservationist, dog trainer and strong advocate for recruiting newbies to our ranks. Oh, he's also on the board of Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever. Douglas Spale has a unique backstory, too, and all his passions and life experiences combine to make him a fantastic interview.

We'll cover everything from his own hunting origin story to dog training tips, hunting strategies to conservation. Then, we'll tal...