Upland Nation

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.

Kali Parmley, editor in chief, Gun Dog magazine is our featured guest, but your voice is also coming through loud and clear ...
You and your fellow hunters’ thoughts on feeding … twice daily, even on hunting days? What are the dangers, physiological, safety, and performance considerations?
Kali talks about the importance of mentoring, the ethics of sharing some hunting spots, why the magazine has a new look and editorial emphasis, and her favorite hunting challenges. She’ll explain her dog breed choices, and the joys of hunting dog ownership. Parmley lists some essential gear she uses, and explains what she finds most fulfilling about upland hunting, from a dog’s first point to a bucket-list hunt or five.
Scott shares some more advice on getting along in hunting country, becoming a “temporary citizen” of rural America.
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. 

A rare treat: a dog trainer who guides. You'll get the best of both worlds in this interview with Ethan Pippitt of Standing Stone Kennels in Kansas. He'll provide insights on puppy training from Day One, to managing dogs and hunters in the fields of South Dakota, where he guides hunters from a lodge near Winner.
On the training side, we'll cover socialization, introduction to guns and birds, and steadiness. Ethan will tell us what kind of rewards best motivate dogs and why, how clicker training works, and what we should do more - and less - of when training our own dogs. In the field, we'll talk safety, better shooting, etiquette and how pointing breeds can handle running roosters.
Finally, Scott will suggest a public-access destination for ruffed grouse and woodcock in Vermont.
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.

Jeff Gillaspie of Tinker Kennels takes us for a ride, almost literally, on the rolling prairie of South Dakota. We saddle up and head out in pursuit of sharptails and prairie chickens, following elegant English setters.
Jeff outlines the mechanics of a horseback hunt, but also the intangible magic that comes from going really "old school." From gear and fitness, to strategy and tactics, we get the lowdown on why this should be on your life-list.
Jeff's hard-earned experience running dogs in big country will help any hunter's string, with advice on hydration, feeding, conditioning and training.
Scott outlines a short list of less-common public-land providers you might explore.
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. 

Jared Moss of Best Gun Dogs shares his secrets and philosophy of breeding and training exceptional dogs. While his breed of choice is shorthairs, his advice is relevant for any dog at any level.
We go from the earliest bird contacts to the field, from his mentors to those we can still learn from in their books and videos. We'll cover the do's and don'ts of training, critical skills and gear, plus that one most important command - and why.
Jared will help us think like a dog, be more perceptive in our training, and probably get better results by moving slower!
I'll direct you to a hotbed of public access in Nebraska, too. And it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; HuntHuronSD.com, UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.
 

Once he hits that point, it's all up to you. Managing what happens next can better ensure you actually hit a bird and reward your hard-working dog with a retrieve. I've pulled together some of the lessons learned the hard way that might help you next season.
From foot position relative to the birds' flight, to getting your dog to stay steady in the face of running birds - and the birds to stay put - to determining if you're cross-dominant (so that's why you miss!).
Perhaps it's not your fault at all - it's your hat's. Or maybe it's because you are looking but not seeing the bird. Have you considered your chokes? Patterned your gun? I'll explain why it will put more birds in your vest.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

We dive deeper into the bobwhite situation with John Morgan, director of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative. An avid hunter, conservationist and academic, John tells us what his group does, and how it interacts with other upland conservation groups.
He outlines current research efforts, what works and doesn't (including "planting" birds). John also addresses a common question: why do groups like yours do so much work on privately-owned land?
Host Scott Linden also outlines some better places to air your dog on a road trip, and suggests a southern California public-land hunting spot worth a look.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Let's take a trip to the British moors in pursuit of red grouse ... guided by Chris Batha, shooting instructor, clays champion and gun fitter - among other things! We'll live like kings for a day of shooting, learn some of the history of hunting over there, then dive deep into how we can become better shooters over here.
We get insights usually only available to those attending his lessons and workshops, on everything from gun fitting to non-toxic ammo, solving common shooting problems starting with foot position and ending with "push sir, push!"
Our "Handle It" segment addresses the dilemma of shooting all our training birds and how to save a few while teaching steadiness. We also explore a less-well-known region managed for ruffed grouse. Hint: it's not in Wisconsin.
... and it's all brought to you by:
Sage & Braker Mercantile, Dr. Tim's performance dog food; UplandNationDeals.com, Happy Jack, FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.