On The Wing Podcast

Rooster Road Trip continues with a stop at one of our Build a Wildlife Area projects where we opened up a land-locked parcel to create more than 1,000 acres of public access. Kansas doesn’t always get the credit it deserves for quail, but when habitat is high-quality and access is open, it can flat-out deliver. In this episode, the Rooster Road Trip crew rolls into northeast Kansas to dig into wha...

Some days test your legs, dogs, patience, and purpose, but they also teach the deepest lessons. Rooster Road Trip rolls through Kansas with a hard-earned reminder: not every day in bird country goes as planned. In this episode, the crew dives into the realities of public land pheasant and quail hunting, long miles, tough habitat conditions, and the discipline required to keep scouting when the hab...

Wild bobwhite quail, public lands, and bird dogs collide in Kansas as our 16th installment of Rooster Road Trip takes flight. You’ll hear how the Rooster Road Trip ethos focused on hunting public land for five days with whatever conditions Mother Nature delivers has stayed consistent over the years, even as habitat challenges evolve. The group breaks down current habitat and public land conditions...

A first-of-its-kind “Grouse Camp” brings the prairies, forests, bird dogs, and upland community together under one roof. National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic has long been the premier gathering for the upland community, but 2026 raises the bar. In this episode, we preview the debut of Grouse Camp, a brand-new, immersive experience built for serious upland hunters who care as much about habitat...

Statehouse conservation battles are shaping your future experiences in the uplands. This episode provides a valuable state-by-state rundown of what’s coming in 2026 and how bird hunters can influence policy through advocacy efforts at the state level. From dedicated conservation funding to the restructuring of state natural resource agencies, the 2026 legislative season is already loaded with majo...

A rich, winter-ready wild game dish that hunters can master with simple stock and sauce techniques.  In this holiday feasting edition of On the Wing podcast, we dig into an upland-inspired meal built for cold evenings after long days in the field. Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks returns to the podcast and guides hunting cooks through his red wine and mushroom quail recipe, an approac...

A fall feast of pheasant, apples, and Passalacqua Winery’s white wine created for hunters who love wild game.  In this snackable holiday edition of On the Wing podcast, Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks breaks down his pretzel-crusted pheasant cutlets with apple cream sauce, a cold-weather dish that blends upland hunting traditions with rich autumn flavors. If you’re looking for a new...

In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of Illinois upland hunting with chapter volunteer leader and bird dog devotee Freddy Reyes. Aaron Williams, PF & QF’s regional representative for northern Illinois, also provides a boots-on-the-ground upland report for early-season pheasant and quail hunting. Together, they break down common struggles for new hunters (from gear and dogs to confidenc...

A single newspaper column sparked one of America’s greatest upland conservation movements, here’s how it happened. Before there were banquets, chapters, or habitat acres on the ground, there was a typewriter and an idea. In this episode of On the Wing Podcast , PF & QF’s Bob St. Pierre and Jared Wicklund sit down with Star Tribune Outdoors Editor Dennis Anderson, the man whose 1982 newspaper c...

Three hunters, six dogs, and three western states—one unforgettable pursuit for prairie chickens, sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and ptarmigan. This episode of On the Wing Podcast follows three Pheasants Forever volunteers, Kenny Reed, Colton Nefsker, and Justin Nie, as they return from an epic upland hunting road trip across South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. From prairie chickens and sharp-...

Chasing ptarmigan across Alaska’s tundra pushes bird dogs, hunters, and grit to their absolute limits. This episode of On the Wing Podcast transports listeners deep into the Alaskan backcountry as host Bob St. Pierre sits down with upland hunter Hunter Kamm, who just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime ptarmigan hunting trip. From the Kenai Peninsula to the Alaska Range, Hunter recounts the journey...

Want more wild birds, better access, and stronger habitat? It all starts with joining the upland community. In the heart of bird hunting season, the On the Wing Podcast takes a closer look at what really keeps the upland tradition alive—its members. Host Bob St. Pierre sits down with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s membership team—Brian Essling, Emy Marier, and Scotty Moehlmann—for a candid...

Discover how a simple day at the range can ignite a lifelong passion for hunting and wildlife conservation. In this “snackable” edition of On the Wing podcast, host Bob St. Pierre sits down with PF & QF’s Hunting Heritage Program Manager Ashley Chance to explore how target shooting creates the next generation of hunters and conservationists. Through six fast facts, they unpack why a few broken...

Find out where the best quail hunting opportunities are this season—and why bird numbers are rebounding across key states. Quail hunters across the country are gearing up for what could be one of the most promising upland seasons in years. In this episode of On the Wing podcast, we break down the 2025 state-by-state quail hunting forecast, covering major quail states like Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa,...

In this episode of On the Wing podcast, host Bob St. Pierre sits down with Pheasants Forever Journal editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter to unpack his new article, “Mix It Up.” Together they break down five fresh pheasant hunting tactics to keep your hunts productive all season long. From ditching rigid game plans and trusting your bird dog’s instincts to exploring overlooked thin-cover areas and trying b...

Discover the hidden world of chukar hunting with insider research, expert field reports, and hard-earned lessons. In this episode of On the Wing Podcast, we dive deep into the rugged and rewarding pursuit of chukar hunting. Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by biologist Catherine Isaac, conservation leader Levi Day, and upland hunter Andrew Vavra to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of c...

In conjunction with Build a Wildlife Area Week, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are excited to announce the creation of a new public wildlife area in Iowa honoring Jim Wooley, the first biologist the organization hired during the mid-1980s. On this episode of On the Wing Podcast, host Bob St. Pierre is joined by Jim Wooley and two of his long-time biologist colleagues Matt O’Connor and Matt Ho...

As autumn arrives in the northern states, bird hunters look forward to ruffed grouse season. On this episode of On the Wing Podcast, Jeremy Collard from the Ruffed Grouse Society joins host Bob St. Pierre to discuss the 2025 outlook for ruffed grouse hunting. St. Pierre also shares his “Yooper” roots and highlights the release of PF & QF’s second Opening Day film about celebrating the opener w...

South Dakota’s reputation as the nation’s pheasant hunting capital makes it a bucket-list destination for upland hunters. In this episode of On the Wing Podcast, host Bob St. Pierre is joined by Matt Gottlob, Pheasants Forever’s South Dakota State Coordinator, and South Dakota Game Fish & Parks biologists Alex Solem and Jake Wolfe to preview the 2025 South Dakota bird hunting season. The conve...

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by University of Georgia’s Dr. James Martin and Tall Timbers’ biologists Amanda Cramer and Justin Rectenwald for a conversation recapping the group’s three-year study focused on assessing crippling loss from bobwhite quail hunters. The results show hunters often wound more birds than they realize, many of which are never recovered. Episod...

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra for a conversation with MeatEater’s Tony Peterson focused on his love of chasing birds with his Labrador retrievers. Peterson leads MeatEater’s dog content as the host of Houndations Podcast and DOG EDU . Peterson is also the father of two twin teenage daughters who he is raising in the outdoors, and the group...

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Schmidt to attempt answering the difficult question, “Will there be a new Farm Bill in 2025?” The trio also discuss the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and what the absence of a new Farm Bill means for the crown jewel of voluntary conservation programs. Episode...

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by The Flush’s Travis Frank, Western Wingshooter Podcast’s Tyler Webster, and Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter for a discussion focused on prairie grouse. The conversation covers late summer dog training during the “catch & release” season, habitat, dog work, hunting, and cooking approaches to sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie chickens, and sag...

Host Bob St. Pierre talks with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever leaders Al Eiden, Ron Leathers, and Andrew Vavra about habitat improvement efforts in eleven western states. They also discuss hunting opportunities for 26 upland bird species found in these regions. Episode Highlights: • Eiden and Leathers discuss PF & QF’s habitat work along the Bear River, which spans Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho an...

Host Bob St. Pierre speaks with Dave Trauba of Minnesota DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife about how the agency conducts August roadside counts and uses the data. Trauba also discusses the “Pheasant Action Plan” and efforts to solicity hunter feedback on possibly extending the season into January and adjusting the 9am start time. Episode Highlights: • Trauba tells some fascinating stories from ear...