Upland Nation

Somewhere in Montana, I hunted with Nic De Castro (founder) and Trevor Walz (partnership manager) of LandTrust.com ... a new company with an entrepreneurial approach to accessing high quality private hunting land ... sort of an "AirBnB" for folks like us. They make a match between willing landowners and hunters.
Following a fascinating hunt, we sat down to talk about their business model, then had a wide-ranging discussion on our day afield, bird dog training and care, prairie bird tactics and strategies, how habitat "givens" are off the table this season, lessons we've learned working with dogs, and more.
Enjoy this bonus episode brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

You show me yours, I'll show you mine! Our annual peek into hard-core hunting vests: configuration, contents, and advice from you and my three decades learning the hard way. If you don't have it, you'll want it.
"Handle It" covers a better way to deliver hand signals, you tell us how many wild birds you shot last season, and there's a shot at $60K toward a new truck if you hunt Huron, SD.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, LandTrust.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

My friend Al Gadoury opens his book on all things ringneck ... plus a few observations on sharptails and Huns, too. You may have seen him on a few episodes of Wingshooting USA TV, Al is a pro guide in Montana who knows of what he speaks. He'll clue us in to why sharptails won't be where they usually are and why, plus some tips on developing a young dog on the prairies.
Al will take us to school on hunting pheasants, starting with habitat, to stealth, to strategy and tactics for hard-hunted public birds. We'll learn why blocking isn't just for South Dakota mob-scene hunts, and gain insight into the fascinating world of spaniel trial gunning - not for the faint of heart!
"Road Trip" offers some starting points for sharptailed grouse, and we look at what birds you hunt most.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Three decades of public-land hunting distilled down to one podcast ... yeah, I learned the hard way so you don't have to. I'll cover everything from finding it, planning and research, to hunting walk-in and public property for Phasianus colchicus, the ringnecked pheasant. From travel tips to tactics for overcrowded parking areas, habitat hints and coping with bad weather, I've dug deep into my notes and compiled a few dozen suggestions you might want to consider if you're traveling this season. You'll get some states, regions and towns to start in ... then, it's up to you.
"Handle It" extols the virtues of food treats - not just for pups ... and we look at last season's scorecard: how many wild birds did YOU shoot?
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

One of my favorite states, and on most hunters' bucket list if not this season's destination ... South Dakota is the focus this week, as I recount some stories, give you some starting points, go species-by-species through the state. I'll also outline habitat types, strategies for each bird, and some helpful tips and tactics.
There's also one of my coolest hunts in Nebraska, and listeners share their pre-season shopping list. Maybe there's something on it you should get, too.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

We're getting ready for Opening Day with a big, steaming pile of useful information. First, listeners' advice on reinforcing the "whoa" command, then we shoot a new target game that simulates wild birds and is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Dave Fiedler and Dan Pesznecker are at Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, where we talk about Helice (that's a Helice target in the photo).
Kevin McGlaughlin takes us on his recent epic hunt to Montana, where he shot seven species of upland birds ... who knew there were chukars in Montana? In our "Road Trip" segment I'll share some starting points for first-time grouse hunters in the Northeast, then it's up to you.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Problem dogs and better shooting ... can you relate? This week we go back inside the industry, actually two industries: Renee Hernandez and Trevor Young of HIVIZ Sights talk about the company's founding (to help shotgunners), its recent move to Wyoming, and what's new in technology. We get some shooting help and a hint of new products coming down the pike.
Then Mike Mapes shares his vision for a place where gun dogs can go to prepare for their forever home. Second Chance Bird Dogs trains them for hunting homes and new owners, a labor of love for Mike and now a thriving operation. Learn from him how to cope with sticking points in your own dog's behavior, from heeling to steadiness, and more generally what traits we can seize on to become better trainers and dog owners.
And listeners contribute their beliefs - and more than a few laughs - at the "right" way to shoot ... pull-through, instinctive, sustained lead or poke and hope.
And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Buying a used gun, shooting grouse, gun fit, and why we're always missing ... instructor/clinician/fitter and fine gun dealer Bryan Bilinski can now add author to his resume'. The proprietor of FieldSport Ltd. has 35 years of experience messing with guns, dogs, and birds, and teaches hundreds of hunters to shoot better every year in his wingshooting workshops.
We'll get an early peek at his new book: Wingshooting The Art & Science. Then we'll work step-by-step through a few tough grouse shots, hunting strategies and tactics, learn how to practice shooting the right way, and find out what the biggest warning signs are when buying a used shotgun.
"Road Trip" this week goes to Wyoming for Huns and chukars, and listeners chime in with the pro's and cons of paper maps in the digital age.
Please visit our sponsors:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns,, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.