Upland Nation

Re-visit Tom and absorb his wisdom ... The joy of a first hunt with a young dog - that moment when the light bulb flickers on for the first time. Drones, the origins of his legendary Dead Fowl Trainer, training the human after training the dog ... we'll cover it all in this extensive interview with notable hunting dog trainer Tom Dokken. From getting the most from flushing breeds in the uplands to...

Orvis-endorsed outfitter Rick Watson joins me for a wide-ranging discussion on all things grouse and woodcock. We'll nail down good coverts and bird behavior, shooting techniques, and dog handling ideas.  We dig deeper into the mystique of ruffies, why setters are his chosen breed, and why "steadiness" is relative. There's a short trip to Georgia and Scotland, and one indispensable item he never l...

Feeling nostalgic, I wax poetic on some of the things that made last season's opener so memorable. From friends to dog work, new country and a broken bone or two, here are some recollections that might spur a few of your own. Insider editions are brought to you by CableGangz tie-out systems. [Take 10% off your next order at CableGangz.com with the promo code CG10.] with additional support from USA...

I've compiled my notes, advice from friends and a ton of pro guides' advice into a how-to, where-to, why-to tutorial on the sharptailed grouse. I'll cover the states with huntable populations, habitat, food sources, hunting strategy and tactics, and a few hunting stories. From history (cavemen to Custer), to public access, to shooting, to which dogs are ideal (most of the time), I've got some back...

Be prepared, the Boy Scouts say. Here's your chance - with a reprise of a very popular subject: I hope it never happens to you - that eerie silence when you hoped to hear collar tags jingling, knowing your dog is well and truly lost. Or, he limps back, bleeding. As the season gets into full swing, what better than to prepare for each of these situations? I'll offer a four-step strategy for finding...

Phil Puckorius and Dominic Grossi are avid hunters and the chief and assistant chief instructors for the National Sporting Clays Association ... who better to help us hit more birds? They've got theory and practice to share ... from "reading" the bird in flight to shotgun fit, foot position to a version of "follow-through" that actually works. We go into the deep woods for shooting tactics on ruff...

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride ... Huron plays second fiddle to many of the marquee pheasant hunting towns in South Dakota. But that's one reason it should be on your shopping list: less attention means fewer hunters. Add a mixed bag and massive number of public-access acres, and you might want to take a look Here's my admittedly-biased perspective on a town I've visited a lot, hunting for...

He runs twice as far as you walk ... and he does it barefoot. Taking care of your bird dog's feet ensures a great day in the field and a long, problem-free season. I'll share advice from veterinarians and my own and friends' experience preparing our dog's feet for hunting season. I'll offer my personal perspective on "toughening" pads, and what to use for "boots." And once you're out there, I'll o...

Get ready now - listen again to this hard-won advice: Knot-tying to breaking up a dog fight ... these are essential capabilities you will be glad you have at some point in your hunting career. You might know some of them, but probably not all of them. Or, if you DO, this is your nudge to teach them to someone else! Taking photos, staying warm, getting found (or not getting lost!), this knowledge c...

From the deep woods to the dusty desert, Mark Nissen knows game birds. Orvis-endorsed guide of the year, he and his Classic Bird Hunts outfitting team chases ruffies, woodcock, and all three desert quail in Wisconsin and Arizona. In our wide-ranging chat, Mark covers best habitat, bird behavior, and relates an inspiring highlight from last season.  We also talk strategies for elusive scaled quail,...

If you're still planning your big trips for the season, I've got some suggestions. Here's a list and brief reasons why you might want to consider these five states for your destination.  I've weighed my personal experience, quality of walk-in and public land access, number of acres available to bird hunters, and a few other criteria to assemble a "top five" list. Yours may be different, but if you...

You want more, you got it in this reprise of a highly-rated interview: Grouse, woodcock, training during the hunt, and a short history of Gordon Setters ... those are the topics in my conversation with Stephen Faust, pro grouse and woodcock guide, dog trainer and breeder, and avid hunter. We'll also cover a typical guide's day in the field, how we can be better guide clients, and dog training tips...

Orvis-endorsed guide Michael Browning of Grouse Haven Wing-Shooting takes us into the Maine woods for a tutorial on all things ruffies and timberdoodles. From the birds' daily schedule to good habitat types, he's got decades of experience in the deep woods. Well, not so deep. That's one thing we'll learn about habitat. We also explore how to handle our dogs in the forest, being a good guide client...

A helpful perspective, to say the least ... worth another listen: Back to Pheasant Fest for an in-depth tutorial on everything from dog training to sharptail hunting from two guys who hunt hard and often: Trevor Walz and Tom Dombroski of LandTrust.com. For fun, to scout new properties, a little guiding, and to work a long string of dogs, these guys are on the ground all season and have a couple li...

Orvis-endorsed bird hunting guide Ryan Aune of Wyoming Wings & Waters knows wild birds, and he really knows Wyoming wingshooting. He guides clients on a mixed bag of prairie and forest grouse, Huns, and pheasants in the Cowboy State and knows how to find public-access bird hunting spots. Twice a finalist for Orvis Wingshooting Guide of the Year, this guy scouts deep in the boondocks to find un...

It's puppy season and who couldn't use some encouragement for those late nights ... or advice on maximizing your new dog's mental and physical development? Steve Snell, owner of Gun Dog Supply , knows dogs, and especially young ones. A recent email from Steve prompted me to follow up on his seven tips for puppy owners. Turns out, many of the tips are just as relevant to owners of not-so-young dogs...

If you're in search of new bird hunting ground, I've got a panel for you from the departments that acquire and manage the walk-in programs in three bird-rich states. Wes Sowards of Kansas, Michael Peyton of South Dakota and Greg Lemon of Montana offer their tips on how their programs work for wingshooting, and more importantly, how to take full advantage of them. We talk about how land is acquired...

Enjoy this trip into the field - maybe you need a hunting fix about now. Buckle up for a first-hand report on a recent wingshooting road trip in search of quail and chukars ... and better weather. We'll be hunting Nevada and California and learning a lot. Some astounding dog work and fascinating observations on bird behavior and habitat, especially in the Golden State. Strategies need adjusting in...

Thanks to those avid wingshooting fanatics who requested this one at Pheasant Fest. I've done some homework (maybe too much), dug deep to give you a picture of America's favorite game bird. From habits to habitat, life history to some of the threats, a bit of politics, and a lot of fun facts and trivia. Hopefully, something in here is of value to you.  And it's all brought to you by: Mid Valley Cl...

In my survey, you tell me most of you have, or will, pay to hunt. So why not get your money's worth, whether it's a day trip to a local farm, or that trip-of-a-lifetime to a fancy resort? I've been to a hundred hunting and fishing lodges to make TV shows, and have seen it all. I'll share my experiences, and help you navigate the dangerous waters of booking, pricing, expectations, habitat and lodgi...

Here's your chance to get caught up on chukar hunting basics, reprised from September, 2023: I've fielded so many questions over the years, I decided it was time to offer up a primer on hunting these fascinating, mystifying game birds. I've asked the dumb questions to smart hunters, learned a few things the hard way, and spent more than a few nights puzzling over their habits and habitat. If you'v...

The Smith family name is legendary in dog-training circles and among bird hunters for good reason. From Delmar and Ronnie Sr. to the next generation, Rick and Ronnie, and now Ronnie's wife Susanna, most modern training methods started in their yards and fields. We'll cover "training to the mind" of the pup, and why setting a mental agenda in a dog are primary goals in their training. How to observ...

Here's a take on chukar hunting worth re-visiting from January, 2024 ... Wild chukars, Huns, sharptails and sage grouse are Ryan Aune's domain, roaming the uplands of Wyoming as an Orvis-endorsed wingshooting guide. He and his string of 10 dogs (setters, shorthairs and a springer) take clients into some of the roughest, most challenging terrain in the West, and he's got a few lessons for us. We co...

If you haven't watched his YouTube videos from chukar country (and more), you're missing out. This guy takes DIY bird hunting - and video - to a whole 'nother level. You'll learn from Eric Forrester this week as he joins me after a rollicking season of new species, new states and fascinating challenges. From new dogs, to tough conditions, low bird numbers to spectacular vistas, Eric takes us on a...

In this Insider edition, Purina's Karl Gunzer joins me from the Pyke Gear booth at Pheasant Fest with a wide range of fascinating and helpful insights. Former field trialer and avid hunter, he has suggestions on everything from feeding for performance to new Purina products. He'll also touch on the value of field trials for bird hunters, what he's learned in the field from the biggest names in gun...