Joined by Nick Adair of the Gun Dog It Yourself Podcast, we recap some recent hunts and get an update from Nick and his dogs on his multi-state ruffed grouse hunting road-trip. Show Highlights: Great Lakes grouse woods report “What seriously happened last night?” Where are all the woodcock? Making memories with aging bird dogs Puppy walks and porcu…

You never know who's paths may cross on these trips and when previous GDIY guest from episode 230, Tyson Bowden, messaged saying he was in the area we were able to link up. His buddy Lars Jacobson of Crispi Boots was his riding partner and we all got out in the middle of nowhere for a quick hunt and conversation. First impressions of Montana Overan…

Autumn and Casey Koback join the show this week to detail how they went from a mandate for zero dogs to a house full. The husband and wife team dive into their journey of not joining things to leading a local chapter and how opportunities to help others fuel their passion. They also share how they've fallen in love traveling with friends to chase b…

Ryan Sparks is the Editor of the Quail Forever Journal and a life-long quail hunter. In this episode he shares about his upbringing bird hunting the family farm in Nebraska, why pheasant hunting deserves more credit than Mike gives it, and why he is and always will be a Pointer guy. Ryan also shares his tips for writing from an editor's perspective…

Riding a horse to chase bird dogs across the prairies of North Dakota will be one of the experiences that sticks with me for quite a while. Kenton Bryant, Dave Stover, and Will Dunn join me to discuss everything about the tradition of horseback field trials. Watch Here! History of horseback hunting in the United States Horseback field trials in the…

Joined by Cooper Rossner of Guyette and Deeter, we discuss sporting collectible auctions, action buying 101, decoy carving, double guns and more. Show Highlights: Thoughts on AirPods Pro and other hearing protection The coolest high school in New Jersey! Are sea ducks good to eat? Hurricanes, salt marshes and brackish water The art and romance of d…

Bob St. Pierre joins the show this week to share about his journey with 5 German Shorthairs, including just recently adding a pup this summer. Bob is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and the host of the On The Wing Podcast. He and Mike take a dive into why opening day is so important and meaningf…

Revisiting the conversation I had with Del Whitman of D.C. Whitman Custom Gunsmithing discussing the basics of selecting the proper ammunition to effectively and ethically hunt your targeted game. This episode was originally released on Local grouse hunting update Pointer & flusher combo on grouse Getting into ballistics Appropriate ammo for vintag…

Joined by Will Primos and Anthony Matarese, we discuss a newly released book authored by the two, Straight Shooting For Hunters: A Champion’s Guide to Using Shotguns in the Field. Show Highlights: Straight Shooting for Hunters What Will and Anthony hope readers gain from the book How to maintain focus on the target Assessing and addressing eye domi…

This episode is all about the ever neglected flushing dog! John Huddleston of Over the Mountain Kennels is a tried and true Boykin Spaniel man and joins me to talk flushing dog training and much much more. Watch Here! The 2025 St. Huberts Trial on February 8th and 9th is ready for Sign Ups! What makes a quality flushing dog? The proper range for a …

Mindy Brown joins the show to share how she grew up with bird dogs following her dad afield to getting her first Weim through an ad in the paper. She discusses her commitment to breeding better Weimaraners with her co-breeder Camille of Timberdoodle Weims and how they make decisions to help the breed move forward. Mindy also shares honestly about t…

Mike Neiduski of Ugly Dog Hunting joins me for a discussion that spans a number of relevant dog topics which most of them simply come back to the question of "Why are we testing?" WATCH HERE! Impressions of the upland community through so many unique lenses Becoming a judge to become a better handler? Learning by seeing so many different dogs and h…

Multiple ruffed grouse hunters join the show to recount their experience encountering wolves with their bird dogs. Show Highlights: Ted Koehler wolf encounter in Wisconsin Joe Parpala wolf encounter in Minnesota Mike Amman wolf encounter in Wisconsin Ted Sommer wolf encounter in Wisconsin Special thanks to Keith Crowley, former guest of the show (E…

One of the concerns for dog handlers in certain regions would be the presence of wolves. How concerned should you actually be though? Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialists for the Wisconsin DNR, joins me to discuss the species and how it impacts us as dog handlers. Cougars, Bears, & Wolves....oh, my! The historical timeline of wolves in Wiscon…

This week's episode features Mike answering questions submitted on our Facebook and Instagram pages. He covers his run with Mack in the NAVHDA Utility Test, things to come with Ugly Dog, goals and dreams ahead, gear folks must have in their hunting vest, and more. He also tells the origin story of Mr. July, how he feels about prepping for next year…

Not all professional gun dog trainers have the land and resources that are typically associated with training gun dogs. Josh Wiggins of Houston Dog Works joins me for a wide ranging conversation on his training perspectives that affords him the capability to train sporting dogs while living and operating in a major city such as Houston, TX. This is…

Joined once again by Ann Jandernoa we answer listener questions on all things grouse and woodcock hunting during part two of our annual conversation. Show Highlights: How might wet spring conditions affect grouse nesting and brooding? Checking rainfall amounts in your area - VegDRI Index Hunting pressured grouse Do woodcock run more than they used …

There is much more to breeding than just pairing up a male and female! Gretchen Zwerlein of V.D. Wildblumen Kleine Munsterlander joins me to discuss her process when it comes to making the decision to breed, whelping the litter, and her process when it comes to developing throughout the early puppyhood stages. Watch Here! Why the Munsterlander? Wha…

Mike Krantz lives and hunts in southern Minnesota. He is an avid member of the Southern Minnesota NAVHDA chapter, and spearheads a weekly training group in the summer. One thing is for certain, if Mike's around jokes will be told and this episode is no different. Mike shares about transitioning from Weimaraners to a Slovakian rough haired pointer, …

Danielle Prewett from Meateater joins us to discuss her new cookbook, Wild + Whole: Seasonal Recipes for the Conscious Cook. She also shares valuable tips and insights on preparing and savoring the meat you and your dogs have worked so hard for! WATCH HERE -What does "sustainable" actually mean? -The price and cost of buying meat -Eating only wild …

Joined once again by Ann Jandernoa we answer listener questions on all things grouse and woodcock hunting during part one of our annual conversation. Show Highlights: Saunas and white walkers in the northwoods?! Check out the Hunt the Habitat Podcast Did you say giant cinnamon rolls?! Early season habitat Running dogs in the heat Ruffwear Swamp Coo…

I'm just dropping in for a quick recap of my recent trip to Montana. Also, since I haven't checked in solo for quite a while I have a few housekeeping items to check off the list! Watch Here Some quick announcements and housekeeping A new puppy?!? From camper to mobile truck camping. A summary of my new system Getting to Montana with a stop off in …

Tamara Champagne is a working dog trainer who has fallen in love with sporting dogs. She recently began the journey with a German Shorthair and now is qualified for next year's NAVHDA Invitational. Tamara and Mike sat down at this year's Invite to share how she got into bird dogs, crossover between working dogs and sporting dogs, maintaining attitu…

Check out this special bonus episode as a follow up from Episode 22 with Jake & Brooke about their road to the NAVHDA Invitational! This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com. Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.…

Nate Czarnota of Iron Oak Dog Company sits down with me after his training seminar to discuss a number of topics that were addressed throughout the weekend. WATCH HERE What was the goal of putting on this style of a seminar? Active dog, reactive handler Leash and line management Be comfortable being uncomfortable Anyone thats really advanced is tru…

Joined by author, Tony Jones, we discuss his book, The God of Wild Places, his passion for hunting, life and much more. Show Highlights: A pair of cake eaters from Edina and Duluth East Exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Grouse habitat in the BWCA Frank & Jesse James and the Northfield Raid In the words of Jim Harrison, “...he really m…

Nick Adair is the host of the Gun Dog It Yourself podcast where he discusses all aspects of gun dog training with his guests. Nick recently came through Minnesota on the way to Montana and we recorded an episode swap. This is the first installment, Mike's chance to interview Nick, and the second, Nick interviewing Mike, will come out in a few weeks…

There is a ton of information, opinions, concerns, and concepts out there when it comes to training dogs with electronic collars. One of the most qualified people in the dog training space to speak on the subject is Justin Rigney of K9 Services Unlimited. WATCH HERE Justin landed in dog training and became a "professional student" What even is an "…

Joined by Minnesota State Coordinator for Pheasants Forever, Sabin Adams, we discuss the mission of The Habitat Organization, hunting season and much more. Show Highlights: The newly minted Minnesota state coordinator for Pheasants Forever How new public land acquisitions happen Minnesota pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge! Sabi…

Brooke & Jake Bartells are bound for the NAVHDA Invitational with their Epagneul Bretons and this is their story. While Jake has been many times, this is Brooke's first trip handling her first bird dog, Rushie. One she's trained and hunted over from day one, including early wake ups, long-distances traveled, and learning from a long list of mentors…

Chris Armanini of Full Send K9 comes on to discuss and demonstrate his entire program of the "Unforced Force Fetch." Watch the Podcast Watch the Training (part 1) Watch the Training (part 2) What aspects of the traditional approaches motivated a new outlook? How many dogs were washed out because their genetics couldn't overcome a traditional approa…

Joined by author and dog trainer, George DeCosta, we discuss the release of his latest book, Tales with Tails: From the Heart of a Man Who Loves Life and Bird Dogs. Show Highlights: The season opener is nearly upon us! Tuning up on the sporting clays course Missing birds over young dogs Wildfire impacts in the west this year Inspiration courtesy of…

Rhys Haugen is the founder of High Plains Gear, a upland hunting vest company committed to American made materials and manufacturing for all their products. Rhys shares his motivation and journey in starting an upland hunting vest company, how he got started in bird dogs, and his experiences hunting and finding a dog while stationed overseas. Addit…

In this episode, we explore the value of continuous learning and the importance of embracing new perspectives in dog training. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's always room to grow by stepping outside your comfort zone. I'm joined by Randall Lykens of Liberty Canine, Justin Rigney of K9 Services Unlimited, Tim Andrews, and…

Joined by author and host of the Orvis Hunting and Shooting podcast, Reid Bryant, we discuss the upcoming reprinting of the Orvis Guide to Upland Hunting in paperback. Show Highlights: Staying focused amidst a world of distractions Writing and creating from a place of inspiration versus being “productive” Who would be a dream guest on your podcast …

Amanda Ponti dove head first into bird dogs and now there is no looking back. She currently works for Sporting Lead Free and serves on the board of HerUpland. Amanda and Mike discuss her entry into bird dogs, why she chooses to give back so much, why you should consider switching ammo to lead-free options, and how bird hunting inspired a transforma…

I'm joined by Mark Dinsmore who is here to remind people that you cant have effective training without appropriate planning and focusing on the execution of the plan. Watch Here! Trialing an EB in France European vs US trials "French" or "Epagneul Breton" and comparing them to the "American" Brittany Start with a specific goal in mind Break your go…

We’ve assembled a special upland bird hunter’s super show episode with Travis Frank of The Flush and Nick Larson of Birdshot Podcast for a conversation focused on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ new Bird Hunter Diary app and ruffed grouse drumming counts. Joining the conversation from the Minnesota DNR are Assistant Area Wildlife Man…

Jerry Havel runs Pineridge Grouse Camp and is a co-founder of Upland Gun Company. Jerry and Mike take a dive into how the ruffed grouse numbers are looking in Minnesota, how he develops a grouse dog, and why folks should consider a side by side from Upland Gun Company. This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHuntin…

Brett Edstrom comes on to discuss how the 'best' Ruffed Grouse dogs are proven on wild birds in cover dog trials. Its the catch and release approach to Ruffed Grouse Hunting that George Bird Evans used to long for in his writings! WATCH HERE Learning under a "legendary" trainer Did we lose anything through the decades of "wash outs"? From retriever…

Joined by Utah upland game bird biologist, Jason Robinson, we discuss western upland game birds, their biology, habitat and much more. Show Highlights: Growing up in the wilds of Utah When was the last time you watched Jeremiah Johnson? A graduate study focused on sage grouse Nesting and brooding conditions in the west White-tailed ptarmigan huntin…

With the much anticipated early bird hunting season finally upon us in a few weeks, I've received quite a number of emails and messages concerned about snakes and questions about the Rattlesnake Vaccine so I thought it would be worth republishing the episode I recorded last year with Chris Jenkins of the Orianne Society where we talked everything s…

Tyler Webster is the host of the Birds, Booze, and Buds Podcast and we sat down to discuss those exact things. Join Mike and Tyler for a post dinner & drinks conversation that covers the legitimacy of the 28 gauge, getting outside the comfort zone when hunting, choosing the right amount of drive in a dog based on lifestyle on hunting opportunities,…

Ryan McIntosh of Southern Wires Kennels joins us to share his journey and insights from establishing himself as a professional dog trainer in the demanding Texas heat. Tune in to hear about the challenges he faced, from finding his preferred training approach to building confidence in the process. WATCH HERE Deciding to take the plunge into profess…

Joined by host of the TGS Outdoors YouTube channel, Jonny Carter, we discuss his recent trip to the R.F.M. Factory in Italy, shotgun industry updates and much more. Show Highlights: Grouse populations in the US and UK Nick does his best ruffed grouse drumming imitation for Jonny Edwards Eyewear Hiroki 2 - shooting glasses by Ed Solomons Wingshootin…

Todd and Jocelyn Sackett from Sweet Briar Pet Transport joins us to discuss how their unique service can add efficiency and convenience to your travel plans. Whether you're working with a trainer across the country or trying to figure out how to fit in that dream trip without sacrificing days of travel time, a professional pet transport service mig…

Erin Kalpin from Rockcreek Kennels joins the show this week. Erin's father, Scott, started Rockcreek almost 30 years ago and Erin has been along for the ride since. She shares how her dad kept her interested all these years, what it was like transitioning from a career outside dogs back into training full time, and how she's raising her own girls t…

Kristofer Sandlund from Sweden joins us to share his perspectives on hunting, training, and living with dogs in Sweden and compare them to the practices in the US. Watch Here Getting started with hunting dogs in Sweden Duck Tollers to Kleiner Munsterlanders Calling in Hazel Grouse How to hunt the 'horror bird' Cappercallie Grouse Where to find the …

Joined again by dog trainer, writer and upland hunter Jeremy Moore of Dog Bone Hunter we wrap up our conversation with more dog training insights. Show Highlights: Feel, connection and trust with your bird dog Foundations first, whether it’s a pointing dog or flushing dog Maintaining a calm demeanor as a handler and the things your bird dog perceiv…

This week we close out Jim Sorenson's story of chasing the upland slam in Part 3 originally released on 9/6/22. Ruffed Grouse Chukar Blue Grouse Spruce Grouse Sage Grouse Upland Slam Taxidermy Woodock Willow Ptarmigan Rock Ptarmigan Whitetail Ptarmigan Are Snipe and Rail being left out? Closing out Bella the 3rd dog The best and worst "behaved" bir…