The Flush Podcast - Stories from the field

Jim Wooley was Pheasants Forever’s third full-time employee and first wildlife biologist. Jim shares the story of his career in conservation and the role he played decades ago in the growing the Habitat Organization from the ground up. Jim explains why he took a risk and accepted the job, how fast PF grew, why the mission worked then and still does today, and why every one of us leads to succ...

Marc Musselman from Alclair joins the show to help us understand hearing protection for shooters and hunters. We discuss how shotgun blasts slowly steal your hearing, how frequencies work in hearing protection, how your brain adjusts to hearing protection, how to get the audio settings right, how today’s hearing protection technology works in different hunting scenarios, hearing protection op...

Scott Fransen & Tyler Webster join Travis to celebrate the start of another season of The Flush television show. The trio share behind the scenes moments that make the season great, adventures that rise to the top, characters worth watching, and helpful tips that lead to success. We also discuss the current pheasant hatch, answer listener questions, and look ahead to our next season...

We’ve partnered with OnX Hunt to launch a brand-new television show called OnX Hunt Gameday. Ben Brettingen from OnX Hunt joins us to reveal this television show, how it came to be, what makes it different from other hunting shows, and how the panel of experts will take you into their minds during each hunt to read terrain, overcome obstacles and achieve success. Ben & Travis break down multip...

John Laux is the Permanent Habitat Protection Manager at Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. John & Travis discuss recent news in the upland world, USFWS to open up 92 million acres of land to public hunting, a new PF land acquisition in MN, a Farm Bill update, PATH program updates and optimism for more acres, a once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunity creates more habitat in ND, more Build a...

Greg Blair is the Sporting Dog Manager at Purina, and has walked the fields with some of the finest bird dogs in America – including his own National Champion. Greg and Travis discuss what it takes to get the most out of your bird dog during the hunt, at trials, hunt tests, and at home. Greg explains how field trials positively affect dogs that hunt wild birds, sporting dog genetics, finding...

Keng Yang is a young hunter on a mission to protect wild places and mentor new hunters. Keng and Travis share a few hunting stories before diving into Keng’s drive to go ALL IN for conservation and hunting in the stage Travis calls the 6th stage of a hunter. Keng explains his role as a one-on-one hunting mentor and how it has effected his life, his mission as a PF chapter board memb...

George Lyall joins the show to talk about finding and implementing a trusted dog training program that works for you and your dog. George & Travis also talk about the value of dog training seminars to see results and situations in person, creating good dog training habits in your home, becoming a solid pack leader, providing guidance, The Method course and overcoming obstacles, summer routines...

Reid Vander Veen from Ruffland Kennels joins the show to talk in-depth about dog kennel and dog transportation. We discuss scary accidents, lap dogs vs shotgun vs kennel riders, ways to pimp your kennels, how hunters have created the ultimate kennels for non-hunters with dogs, kennel accessories, flying with dogs in a kennel, when it’s too hot or too cold to safely ride in a kennel, dogs sleeping...

Michael Mapes from Second Chance Bird Dogs joins the show to explain his mission to rescue bird dogs and give them a second home. Michael shares the astounding number of phone calls he receives from dog owners that no longer want their dog, why they call him, the advice he gives them, and the steps he takes to take them in, train them, and find new homes for every dog. Michael also shares how his...

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher from the Prairie Farm Podcast join the show to talk about a variety of current events in the world of conservation, including the controversial BWCA vote in the senate, rising cancer rates in farm country, Farm Bill notes, politics, Hoksey’s new Prairie forum, producing food, when to plant a prairie, hunting keepsakes, and so much more. @theprairiefarm Presented by...

Aaron Kuehl is the National Director of Habitat Programs for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. On this episode, Aaron reveals the launch of PF & QF’s new online “Habitat University” which offers FREE in-depth online course information about habitat management and how to maximize your efforts in all landscapes. Topics dive into everything about CRP, state specific habitat guides,...

Doug Ernst has taught firearm safety training courses for 53 years. On today’s episode, we take Minnesota’s official firearm safety training test and break down questions and answers. We also discuss regular firearm handling mistakes that hunters make, along with some common laws hunters break without even knowing it. We discuss how the course has evolved over time and how online courses differ fr...

Arlyn DeBruyckere has been bird hunting for more than 50 years.  He’s also a teacher, firearm safety instructor, hunting mentor, trap shooting coach, active member of several PF chapters, dedicated husband & father, farmer, and conservationist.  Travis and Arlyn share stories from the field and discuss the seasons that hunters go through over the course of a rich & fulfilling life as a bir...

Justin Binfet (Wyoming’s Game & Fish Deputy Chief) joins the show to discuss in-depth sage grouse management in Wyoming and recent news about dissolving their 21-year-old sage grouse work groups. Justin and Travis discuss the role of the work groups, why they were dissolved, the new path toward sage grouse management, reasons for optimism in Wyoming’s management plan, where wildlife habitat fu...

Troy Holcomb is a forester for the Minnesota DNR.  Troy and Travis have an in-depth discussion on the business & economy of forest management and the effects consumers have on wildlife habitat. Troy explains how our forests have evolved with logging practices and commercial contracts, trends in the logging industry based on consumer goods, when, where & why forests are logged, which trees...

Steve Ries from Top Gun Kennels in Iowa lost his son to cancer back in 2003.  At his son’s request, they started a non-profit organization called Aiming For A Cure to help other families in their fight against cancer. Steve explains the mission of Aiming For A Cure today, how they’ve raised $8 million dollars to help others, why others join the fight, the details of their upcoming hunt & banqu...

George Lyall & Mark Zeitler join the show to discuss the Karl Zeitler Memorial Hunt & the many ways that bird dogs bring people together to help others. Mark explains why he started this event in his father’s honor, what the memorial hunt entails, the Law Dog Challenge, raising funds to help K9 officers, and the value of volunteering to serve alongside others. We also discuss The Method do...

This episode is an open-mic experience on the show floor at the 2026 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Listeners of this podcast bring their questions to Travis Frank, Scott Fransen & Tyler Webster.  It’s a totally unscripted bird hunting Q & A with guests from all over North America.    Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/), OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/), GAIM Hunting...

Upland Feud LIVE at Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Minneapolis, Minnesota! We celebrate the largest gathering of upland bird hunters in the world by throwing an after party event with our friends at OnX Hunt, called the Mill City Upland Social Club. In front of a packed audience at Hell’s Kitchen, teams from The Flush & OnX Hunt compete with audience guests to raise money for the birds a...

We celebrate six years and 300 episodes of The Flush podcast by digging back through powerful stories that have shaped this show.  We celebrate good times, reflect on hard times, look for perspective, and stand in awe at some of the feats we’ve accomplished with our incredible friends and loyal listeners.  It’s a milestone episode that we’re grateful to share with you all as we look ahead to 300 m...

Ben Brettingen joins Travis Frank to preview Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.  We share the details of our Friday night Mill City Upland Social Club with OnX Hunt, which includes a LIVE recording of the Flush podcast featuring a game of Upland Feud. We discuss a new OnX upland game at their booth, Concert for Conservation, Karaoke for Conservation, seminar schedules, new gear, and so much more…...

RJ Gross is an Upland Game Biologist for the state of North Dakota.  RJ and Travis talk in-depth about how wildlife survive extreme winter conditions.  Does feeding wildlife help?  When and where do wildlife go to eat during arctic blasts, how pheasants winter differently than grouse and quail, what’s our current winter severity index, snow roosting, ice and snow vs extreme cold, habitat success a...

Rowan Ricks from Trakn Outdoors joins the show to discuss his upcoming event for wild bird hunters called the Old West Shootout.  We also share stories from some of the coldest experiences in our lives, getting stuck in the mountains, wild hunting adventures from Alaskan ptarmigan to Himalayan Snowcock to Chukar, winter weather, and the habitat to survive arctic blasts, and of course we dig into h...

We recap our hunting season, sharing stories of the good, bad, and memorable moments that we’ll remember most.  Scott Fransen & Tyler Webster join Travis Frank for a conversation full of fun stories, lessons learned and reports from across bird country.  Plus, a listener's story leads to plenty of laughter and a reminder of why bird hunting with dogs is always unpredictable.    Presented by: W...