Upland Nation

Trevor Walz of Western Prairie Outfitters joins me for a deep dive into prairie bird habitat and hunting strategies. From the importance of shade, to scouting new ground, this guy has some useful insights. We dabble in Mearn's quail as well, as his outfit also guides Arizona in winter. 

We'll cover some of the early steps you can take to help your dog's steadiness, starting with creating a more "composed" dog, and touch on some ess...

Sure, you know the "usual suspects" when it comes to publicly-accessible ground ... walk-in, forest service, BLM. But there are dozens of other patches of real estate managed by nameless, faceless agencies on our behalf, and many are open to hunting.

I'll tell a few hunting stories that took place on some of these lesser-known parcels, and provide you with a shopping list of others you might explore. There's also a step-by-step app...

What's a rooster do all day? If you know, you'll be a better hunter. So I asked Pheasants Forever's resident guru Sabin Adams to take us to school on the subject and boy did I learn a lot. From feeding to roosting to loafing, he clocks the bird's movements so you can be in the right place at the right times. 

Sabin talks food sources, the importance of physical relationships between food, cover, and water (!). What to do in snowy c...

He sounds like your favorite coach, teacher or Scoutmaster ... understanding where you (or your dog) are, and where you want them to be. Charlie Jurney is a multi-champion dog trainer, hunter, and author. You've seen his byline in many dog magazines, and on his book Finished Dog.

We'll roam the field and water, uplands and marshes while we talk about his connections to legends Richard Wolters and Delmar Smith, then explore his own...

In light of the incredible reaction to Sen. Lee's recent proposal to sell public lands, I'm adding fuel to the fire with information and motivation to keep you poised for the next battle. "Knowledge is power" and knowing from where the money comes and where it goes, arms us better than a 10-gauge street sweeper with a 50-round drum magazine. 

Until re-election time and the need for campaign contributions, those in power often forge...

Summer camp! Nope, not braiding lanyards and making s'mores. Out on the prairie, it's all about dogs and wild birds and Mel Leuck joins me from her camp to give us the lowdown on what really happens there. What's a day look like? Why drive so far? She'll have the answers. We also cover important training topics including steadiness on birds, keeping your dog out in front of you, and how to keep dogs cool early in the season.

A vet ...

The smoke has cleared and yes, we won on that proposal of Sen. Mike Lee's to sell off public lands. My guests from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership are Michael O'Casey and Tristan Henry, and we'll look back on what happened and how, and more importantly what bird hunters can do NOW to prevent another land grab. From "all politics are local" to adopting your very own cause, we'll go deep into the weeds on policy and h...

If you've ever left the dog behind, forgotten your license or bought a new sleeping bag enroute to your bird camp, this Insider episode is dedicated to you. Over the years, and with help from many of you, we've compiled a comprehensive list of just about anything you'll need on a bird hunt. Here's your reminder. 

Here is the link (all lists are in this master list): Ultimate Upland Checklist

Insider editions are brought to you by C...

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...

Hey, some of the answers might be right ... and helpful! Listeners ask a lot of questions, and I'm tackling them all on this episode. From pad care to finding new spots to hunt, feeding your dog to finding a shooting instructor, I've dug deep to provide useful starting points - and points to ponder - for a couple dozen questions. (Have your own? Send them here for the next edition: scottlindenoutdoors@gmail.com.)

"Fix It" offers an...

It's the time of year when you're assembling this and searching for that, getting your gear together with an eye toward opening day and adventures to come. Here's one piece of gear that you truly shouldn't leave home without - a survival kit. It doesn't need to be big or heavy - this one weighs just over a pound - but its contents could save your life or minimize the inconveniences that come your way.

From staying warm and dry to f...

Pro cocker spaniel trainer Gene Barnhardt joins me to cover all things flushing ... and more! You've seen Gene handling dogs on Wingshooting USA TV, and now we'll hear his insights into spaniels from retrieving to range, quartering to water work. Gene is also a breeder so expect insights on how to find the best pup, too. We'll talk teaching steadiness, how to hunt with flushers, mistakes we make when training a flushing dog, and ho...

It's easy, and ultimately helps preserve the habitat and our legacy. But it's up to all of us to find and recruit the next generation of bird hunters. We'll learn how with two of the best in the business: Ashley Chance is Hunting Heritage Programs Manager for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; Justin Morrisey oversees the National Shooting Sports Foundation's +One program. 

We'll cover the existential need for funding via hunters...

Here it is ... the ultimate shopping list for new puppy owners. Not just the standard stuff, but those other things you will find helpful. In addition to the things, I'll offer some uses you may not have thought about. Plus, some homemade and re-purposed stuff, freebies and cheap versions, bird substitutes from the toybox and pantry.

Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at...

Everything you wanted to know about hunting pheasants in South Dakota, explained by a local expert. Casey Weismantel is executive director of the Aberdeen, SD Convention & Visitors Bureau, ugly dog owner and avid pheasant hunter.He's got answers to our questions about best times to go, maximizing the public-access options, planning your hunt and he'll even help us with some non-resident license hacks. 

We talk best habitat, how...

BE A BETTER SHOOTER with these insights from NSCA Level 3 instructor and bird hunter Dave Fiedler. My friend Dave has a different take on becoming a better shooter ... simplify, shed a bad habit (or maybe two), and soon you'll be yelling "Fetch!" Dave will take us through a lesson just as he teaches at Mid Valley Clays & Shooting School with an emphasis on hunting, not target shooting. You can take his tips into the garage and ...

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...