Upland Nation

My former neighbor and current friend Tim Curry of Central Oregon Sporting Dog brings me up to speed on neighborhood news and a lot of practical advice on dog training and chukar hunting. From introducing gun fire, to introducing birds to a pup, what chukars really eat and where they go, to introducing an electronic training collar the right way, he's got things figured out.
Tim also has some hard-won advice on getting a dog in the "Handle It" segment, and listeners offer tips on what to bring in your truck on a hunting trip.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.
 

Yup, nothing wrong with stealing good ideas, especially when they were offered sincerely and will help others (i.e., YOU). Here are over two dozen suggestions from pro guides, pro trainers, field trialers and hunt testers plus good hunting buddies. Now, you won't have to learn the hard way - they already did!
From dog training and handling to hunting strategies, here are bits and pieces to keep you and your dog more productive and your dog safer. Finding birds to finding public-access hunting areas, here are some lesser-known ways to make your hunt epic.
"Handle It" covers a way to cool your dog, and your own photos of great hunting spots are shared. Beautiful!
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Your worst travel-dog nightmares ... that niggling question you have ... and why hunt two dogs at the same time? We cover a lot of ground on this episode, including a new feature "What's on your mind?"
I'll answer questions you've asked on everything from rattlesnakes to sending a dog for a missed bird, even offer an RV buying tip. Then, a sharing session on the pro's and cons of hunting two dogs at the same time. Insights and cautions, encouragement and practical advice too. Finally, we share the funny stories of life on the road with dogs - and photos too.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

From the field: I have a lengthy, broad-ranging conversation with Trevor Walz of LandTrust.com and a pro bird hunting guide. From conservation and management to handling dog disputes, what's in his vest to habitat needs and hunting strategies for prairie grouse, we cover it all. Tipping a guide? He's got a suggestion and rationale. Finding birds? Listen carefully. Then, listen again.
There's something for every bird hunter in this discussion from eastern Montana.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

A shooting tip from TV's worst shotgunner!

Bottle & Mic ... first in a series of road trip debriefs, reflections on a trip I'm on with observations, suggestions, and ruminations fueled by a wee dram or two.
This bonus episode comes from Lincoln, Montana enroute home from a sharptailed grouse hunt that included weather challenges, practical hunting magic, dog stories, and a lot of appreciation for rural America and the people we meet along the way.
Now, pour another one and pass that bottle please.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Champion target shooter and avid bird hunter Dave Fiedler of Mid-Valley Clays and Shooting School joins me for a wide-ranging and fun conversation about all things shotguns and wingshooting. From ballistics to buying a new shotgun, what we could do better in the field to the funnest target game, we've got the um, "field" covered.
We also talk about the right gauge for the right bird at the right time of year, and the most important thing to do to your shotgun at the end of a hunt. In our "Handle It" segment I answer Eric Thompson's question about bringing on the next generation of hunters. You might be surprised at the 800-lb. gorilla in the room that I poke with a stick.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.

Are you ready yet? Listen carefully to what I'm carrying this season in my hunting vest and you may change your answer.
I've re-configured and loaded new gear into the ultimate western hunter's strap vest ... anything that might help keep you safe, your dog productive, and help you shoot better. Oh, and bail out your hunting buddy, too. From getting found, to caring for Fido, to route finding and first aid, here's the stuff you, I and our friends have decided is worth the weight. There's a right way and a wrong way to wear it, too, so I'll touch on that as well.
Listeners tell us where they're going on the opener ... "old favorite" or new spot. And "Handle It" is about your pre-hunt ritual.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, MidwayUSA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
And don't miss Wingshooting USA TV now airing on local stations, sports networks and national TV networks. Learn more here.