Upland Nation

The bird hunting podcast that jams in more information to help you find bird hunting spots and be a better hunter and dog owner. This week:
Fun and fellowship as callers help listeners find new spots to hunt and share hunting stories, plus tips from insiders on new sources of information to help in your quest. From-the-field advice, some old-school tactics and a lot of hunting talk about places, bird populations and dogs.
Our first "stump the host" session includes callers asking about land management for wild birds, buying a first shotgun for beginners, and how to keep flushing dogs within gun range.
Plus, a new public-access spot near Las Vegas!
JUST THE GOOD STUFF formatted to respect your time and intelligence.

Exotic Arizona ... warm, late season and some less-common quail species. Phil Wechsler is an expert on Gambel's, scaled, and Mearn's quail and hunting them in the unforgiving terrain of southern Arizona. His advice on dogs, tactics, and strategy is relevant anywhere, any time.
Plenty of travel tips, as well, including where to go if your trailer-full of dogs is overheating - Pronto!
Phil's mid-season HQ is South Dakota, so he's got suggestions for you sharptail, Hun, and pheasant hunters too. From dog training to foot care, the practical experience Phil offers is worth its weight in megabytes.
You also get another public-access spot if you're hoping to round out your quail grand slam, so download today!

Calls from listeners! Your stories are inspirational and fascinating. Who helped you get started, and how - from dogs that dazzled, to kids who nagged, spouses, great-grandads and all the "usual suspects" who put us in the field with a gun in our hands. If you're looking for motivation to become a mentor, we've got practical tips and insights, why's and wherefore's on how important it is.
Without new hunters - NOW - there will be no hunting very soon. I'll explain why, and what you can do about it.
Plus, a free, publicly-accessible hunting spot you can visit, a dog handling tip that might put more birds in the bag - after the shot!

If your dog could buy you a present, what would he get? And you know your dog is worthy of gifts too, so here are some ideas from experts at Bass Pro/Cabela's and Gun Dog Supply. What to buy, why, and how to use it once it's unwrapped ... from the guys who have done the shopping for you!
Your suggestions, calls, and Facebook comments too.
Plus, quail ground that's publicly-accessible in California, and a training tip (they're called "bird dogs" for a reason).

Our first annual Thanksgiving Day podcast covers gratitude: for dogs, places, people, and this great country of ours. We've got callers from all over North America celebrating the season, plus observations and ideas on why being thankful just might be the best thing that happens to you, your dog, your hunting buddies, and your health!
Plus, a public-access waterfowl spot that also delivers for uplanders on our "This Land is Your Land" segment, and insights on working with flushing dogs for those used to pointers, that might put another bird in the bag.
Listen while you cook, dine, doze, or get settled on the couch waiting for kickoff time!

So tell me how you really feel! Mention sharing your hunting spots and you're sure to make waves. So, why not have a civil discussion about the topic? That's what your calls are about in this episode. Everything from give-it-all-away, to strategic sharing, to "when pigs fly." You will be surprised at the take-away.
Plus, a hunt debrief and in-depth chat with one of the few breeders of Braque Francais in the U.S., Brad Boisen of Grand Ciel Lodge. From what happens when groups "Americanize" European breeds, to their hunting style, conformation, testing and the sheer joy of hunting with yet another fantastic dog breed. But you know how that feels!
And of course, a place to hunt, dog training and care advice, the Upland Trivia quiz and a prize.

Our first call-in episode and what a discussion! Upland Nation citizens like you address the problems facing our sport ... from habitat loss to mismanagement, recruiting newcomers, to our image in the media. Upland Nation fans have some pretty darn good ideas and fascinating insights!
But first, Guinness Book of World Record-holder David Miller of CZ-USA recounts his most recent success with four young shooters and over 14,000 broken clays. He also helps us translate clay-target success to the field, motivate youngsters, improve our gun mount and shooting techniques. You'll get a sneak preview on some proprietary technology in the new CZ shotguns as well as some new features.
You'll get a shot at a trivia question and prize, plus some of the other ways to make your e-collar earn its keep in the yard and in the field.

Best known for his "SmartWork" system of books and DVDs, Evan Graham made his mark scoring high in top-level retriever trials. But his way of thinking - and training - is useful to anyone with a dog. From managing expectations and measuring a dog's progress, to the right way to introduce gunshots, he's got suggestions for all of us.
Graham helps pointer guys get their dogs to retrieve, explains "force breaking" and what it really means, and shows us why most dog problems are really handler problems. We'll drill down to fundamental ways of thinking about your relationship with your dog and how it affects his performance.
Practical tips about using live and dead birds, a 100-foot checkcord, and many other topics are covered in this fast-paced interview. You can learn more about Evan and his upcoming seminars, order his books or DVDs, here.
We'll also answer a listener question about helping a flushing dog stay within gun range, look at publicly-accessible land in Nevada, and award someone a YETI Rambler in the Upland Nation trivia test.