Upland Nation

Callers share their love of shotguns ... and take us to school on the fine points. No rivalry is more rampant than this one, unless you talk pointers vs. flushers! If you're partial to a double gun, you may change your mind (I doubt it!). But you will understand the passion each aficionado has for their style.
Not only will you learn why you love your gun(s) and your friends love theirs, you'll get helpful tips on caring for your shotgun. Learn about chokes, cast-off, gun fit, and all the intangible stuff that makes guns an extension of our psyche. From grandpa's heirloom Purdey, to the most efficient Italian semi-auto, you'll get an education on the why's and wherefore's of shotguns.
Some of the stories will remind you of your own ... fathers bestowing vintage guns on sons, first birds by daughters, great dogs and wonderful friends long-gone. Take out your (unloaded) gun and listen along with callers and Facebook messagers who shared their memories and advice on shooting, ammo choices, gun fit, and gun care.
Plus, gear discounts, a chance to win a Pointer shotgun, dog training advice and Scott's bucket-list public access destination for this fall.
The Upland Nation podcast is brought to you by @cabelas @sageandbraker @espamerica @drtims and @dogtra

We will be hunting this fall!
Inspiration and motivation from callers and Facebook messagers comes this week in the form of passion for a favorite bird species. Find out why they love their sharpies, timberdoodles, chickens and ditch parrots ... among others ... and learn something to help you this fall.
Out of some fascinating conversations came tips and techniques, hunting strategies, family traditions and touching stories of multi-generational hunts and childhood memories. Plus, what we can learn from some of the old-timers about hunting dogless, learning how birds and dogs think, and what defines a "good hunt."
Funny stories, how to stage-manage a large party pheasant drive, and finding woodcock habitat are also part of the discussion as we look downrange to the coming hunting season.
Hey @Don Mraz, @David Brebner, @DSunDet, @Gary Forrest, @John Pivetta, @Brandon Murphy, @Celia Rausch, and @Billy Turner ... you're on the show this week!
Plus, gear deals from Dogtra (10% off plus free shipping with code SLUN10), Gunner Kennels (finance your purchase), and Dr. Tim's dog food (30% off first order with code UPLANDNATION).
Also brought to you Cabela's, Sage & Braker gun care, ESP hearing protection, and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

In this special edition, the organization's CEO Ben Jones joins me for an exclusive interview outlining the reasons for a massive revamping of the group's business model.
A model for every group? Jones says there are fundamental economic realities exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis that his group has addressed in sweeping actions including layoffs, new hires, and cost-savings, but primarily in a new way of funding the organization. Their approach to "entrepreneurial conservation" may prompt other organizations to look at what RGS and sister group American Woodcock Society are doing:
Replacing biologists with foresters adept at timber marketing as well as biology; utilizing the forest as a cash source; becoming more adaptable and nimble to meet the needs of both the resource and the organization's mission ... pulling ruffed grouse and woodcock back from the brink of endangered or threatened species designations.
The long-term objectives, Jones says, will be exponentially greater acreage under conservation management, a financially-stable RGS/AWS, and larger membership base ... while redoubling the group's commitment to science and member service.

Stay positive. Be optimistic. Plan ahead. We will beat this thing.
In the spirit of sportsmanship, our callers share their favorite bird hunting states ... from bird species, to terrain, to scenery, challenges, and the people who make visiting so fun.
Passions are many, and you'll hear them all in my continuing effort to stay focused on the future, when we are all free again to pursue our sport ... with our friends, family, and our dogs.
Thanks to all the callers who kept things upbeat and encouraging - personal stories about friendship, dogs, family and nostalgia that will keep us going until the leash is unclipped and we're in the field again.
You'll also get gear discounts, a chance to win a shotgun, dog-care tip, and strategies on planning your public-access hunting trips.

Your calls on ideas for these wacky times ... from training tips to gear, motivation to encouragement.
An update on news that affects bird hunters and dog owners, a way to help victims of the Nashville tornadoes, too.
Improve your shooting and your dog's skills ... no matter what kind of challenges you face during these trying times. Plus gear you can make, a buckaroo's tip on negotiating the most challenging aspect of public-land access ... barbed-wire gates!
Gear and dog food discounts, too!

While everything is changing on an hourly basis, here are some things to know, now.
What should we do? Avoid? How do we protect ourselves from a virus that may have come from a Chinese live-animal market?
Is my dog food safe? Can my dog infect my family? Vice-versa?
What about my field trial - cancelled? Conventions and sportsmen's shows?
How do we protect our dogs? Are there risks in using training birds?
What about gear? Should we be worried about our new Italian shotgun now on order? What about components sourced overseas?
I've done some digging and have up-to-the-hour information from industry insiders, public health experts, and others ... in hopes of bringing a bit of sanity to a crazy issue. Hope it helps!

Got a pup? Want a pup? Need a pup? Selling, buying? Or do you just need some encouragement and sympathy?
Your calls are the star of this podcast! This edition of the Upland Nation bird hunting podcast covers it all. Behavior, tricks and tips, advice from those still cleaning up after puppies. Listeners call in with questions and a ton of hard-won advice you can use today.
Reading body language, what goes through a pup's mind and how to use that knowledge, critical commands, things they should learn early, how to socialize a pup. How much and how to discipline? How much praise, and for what? Why LOVE is an important factor.
Why the most important thing you might do is ... nothing.
How trust impacts a puppy's development, long-range goals and how to reach them.
And it's all from experienced pro's and those agonizing - right now - over their first pup.
Plus, a public-access spot for your next season, an important dog-training tool, discounts and deals, and the chance to win a Pointer shotgun.

If you hunt "walk-in" land, you're likely hunting CRP ground. On this upland bird hunting podcast, I interview an expert in the subject, one of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s longest tenured staff members, Dave Nomsen. Dave is the recipient of the George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation, a former university professor, and a prime mover on PF/QF’s conservation initiatives.
Nomsen is now Pheasants Forever's director in South Dakota following more than two decades as the organization's vice president of government affairs.
Dave takes us to school on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and related policy matters with acronyms like CREP, VPA-HIP and others. These federally-funded programs are paid by your tax dollars, and in many ways benefit upland hunters: new habitat, directly. Access to private ground, indirectly. CRP acres grow game birds, songbirds, pollinators, big game, and conserve soil and clean water.
Among the many questions Dave answers: Why should we taxpayers fund CRP when farmers and ranchers get the paychecks? How much are we paying, and why? How can game birds take advantage of the habitat we help fund?
Dave will bring us up to speed on the program’s status today – in the midst of a re-enrollment period. He’ll make it relevant to upland bird hunters, what we can do now to positively affect that re-enrollment and policy in general. If you’ve wondered why CRP ground can be hayed or burned, plowed or disked, he’ll explain.
CRP is a gigantic federal spending program ($2 billion) and a massive game bird factory. Is it worth the investment? You decide after this primer on the biggest conservation program that taxpayers fund.
Plus discounts on gear, a chance to win a shotgun, a public access tip (Scott’s second-favorite state for wild birds), and advice for puppy owners from your friends and Upland Nation listeners. Everything you want, nothing you don’t want.