Upland Nation

She braved national television, putting her shorthair and herself to the test: agility, acrobatics and grueling competition. For her, it's about that magical bond between dog and human ... maybe you too?
Sara Chisnell is a lawyer, hunter, and she and her dog Sue are heading to the NAVHDA Invitational soon. She offers insights and advice to anyone ready to go to whatever is their "next level." For her, it was the TV show "America's Top Dog."
From favorite hunting quarry, to Shutzhund training, Sara's can-do attitude is an inspiration to us all.
Scott offers some less-likely candidates you might cozy up to if you're looking for more public-access hunting ground, three states' gamebird population estimates for fall, and a "found dog" story that will put a smile on your face.
And the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Bird hunting podcast: From America's least-hunted bird on the summit of Ruby Dome, to a bird whose name is harder to pronounce than it is to shoot ... photographer/author Gary Kramer takes us on a continent-wide adventure in pursuit of every upland game bird. He personally chased and photographed - with a hunter's eye - every single one of them. His book GAME BIRDS - A Celebration of North American Upland Birds is the ultimate hunter's reference and conversation-starter. You can get it here.
Gary helps us take better photos with our cellphone, of birds, the habitat and our dogs, offering tips and advice that will make every nimrod a better "shooter." Oh, we'll also debrief his recent Amazon-basin fly fishing trip just for fun!
We look at lesser-known public-access ground in Oklahoma, get your thoughts on Opening Day (yay!), cover news you can use from a bright spot on the crowded fields we might be anticipating to another way for you to pay it forward and the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

What do pro guides think of clients, and vice-versa? What are the most important things we should do in the field? Rich Knarr of Rrank Gundogs shares guide secrets on hunting strategy, habitat, tactics, and dog training this week.
Rich cites his most important training too, what's important for hunters in the field, and more. He helps us if we are going to work with a pro guide, and why he chose shorthairs as his breed of choice ... along with a few cockers! Strategic feeding and his go-to remedy for a dog's low-blood-sugar problem (luckily, seldom needed) are also covered.
You'll get news you can use, also: youth hunts, a mentored hunter program and even Queen Elizabeth's new venture into the dog world. Our public access feature directs you to the best sage grouse prospects in the West. And the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

Not just a great practical joke! There really is a snipe, and hunting it in the high elevation wetlands is an adventure, says Michael Salamone. He recently authored an article on the topic for Upland Almanac, and he'll spill the beans on the bird usually associated with burlap sacks and unsuspecting rubes literally holding the bag.
We'll get local intelligence on habitat, behavior, strategies, dog choices, tactics, and why this little shorebird hangs out in wet mountain meadows. Shot size and gun gauge are covered, as are the "real" reasons we go. We'll wend our way through fens and over beaver dams in pursuit of the jinking-juking-vexing migratory birds.
I'll offer two tips on making your dog's road trip as fun - and relaxing - as your own, and the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Outdoor Life's Andrew McKean catches up with one of his former writers - me! We talk everything sage grouse, what he calls “America’s largest, most durable bird.” The myths, magic, mystique, and of course, how to hunt them. Except when you shouldn't hunt them - which might be this extreme-drought season.
We explore strategy and tactics, habitat needs, diet, and the importance of good boots. What you should look for, where to start your hunt, and why the type of sagebrush is critical. We cover dog choices, what he loves most about these iconic birds and their surroundings, and
Our public access feature covers a little spot in Nevada that is way off the beaten path but worth the effort. We also learn why dog food prices have risen four times as much as our own food, and why Jeff Bezos and Amazon are no friends of bird dog owners when it comes to dog food, and the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

It still amazes me how many hunters believe hunting licenses ... or income taxes ... or property taxes fund wildlife management and conservation. Even at gatherings of long-time hunters, when I mention this topic in a speech, there are more than a few blank stares!
So, please bear with me as I get this off my chest once and for all: in the depths of the Great Depression, hunters went to Congress and asked to be taxed so all forms of wildlife could be more carefully managed and habitat acquired for it.
I'll explain how this magic funding mechanism works, who gets what, and who doesn't pay (hint: "non-consumptive" users from birders to kayakers, backpackers to mountain bikers). When you're done, I hope you'll agree that whether you're a vegan, anti-gun activist or fence-sitter, to help wildlife you should buy a gun, ammo, bow and arrows.
Our public-access feature covers some of my favorite North Dakota spots, and the entire podcast is brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Our featured guest is Rashawn Gordon, Gordon’s Gun Dogs and Guide Service, Wellton, Arizona. Rashawn, a new guide and seasoned dog trainer, shares his experiences and hard-won advice. Plus public access ground, and news you can use.
First, listeners’ advice to new hunters, from expectation management to what not to do, to how to train the retrieve, and where the heck is the Owyhee River?
Then, Rashawn’s advice: Gambel’s quail strategy and tactics … do hawk calls really work? Let a puppy be a puppy, and a dog be a dog … trust his nose.
Critical training commands, chukars in Arizona? Best dog breeds and why. A rabbit hole is gone down, talking about Bodo Winterhelt (R.I.P.). How his advice changed Rashawn’s life … and many others’ as well.
Rashawn covers developing a pup’s natural abilities, introduction to birds, range, his two most important commands. He likes “wing on a string,” but not for the usual reasons! Rashawn outlines the most common “re-training” problem we dog owners create, and defines the two kinds of dogs he trains: hunting dogs, and competition dogs.
Rashawn shares early on-the-ground observations on Arizona quail populations for this season, a hunting dog that outdoes Lassie when it comes to alerting its owner, tells us when a dog is right to road in on birds, and where to find chukars – and an alligator – in Arizona. We debate 28 gauge vs. 20 gauge, ballistics, and the value of giving away shotguns.
There’s news on the Vermont woodcock opener and when you can get your duck stamp, and our public access segment covers pheasant ground in Minnesota.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Get the entire podcast here.
The dumb things bird hunters do to our guns, and how to avoid them ... that's one of the topics Fred Bohm covers in this wide-ranging discussion. Fred is founder of Sage & Braker Mercantile, a gun care products company, so he's seen it all. (Host Scott Linden has probably done it all!)
We cover preventative maintenance, cleaning tips, simple ways to avoid making problems worse. But that's just the start. Fred's a big-time hunter, with a Pudelpointer and now, a Setter pup. We'll trade notes on hunting strategies, get the lowdown on ptarmigan hunting, talk scouting new ground, and of course, rejoice in the reasons he - and we - go bird hunting.
Fred is also an artist with a camera, and he'll give us some basic guidance on what makes a great bird hunting photo, whether it's with our cell phone or a fancy-pants SLR.
In "This Land is Your Land," Scott concludes his thesis on the economic benefits of public land hunting ... for the nearby communities.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food, RuffLand performance Kennels; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.