Upland Nation
Episodes
Season debrief with two pro hunters, your own season, fix those feet
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two hardcore hunters join me to share their seasons ... highs and lows, stellar dog work, insights and observations. Jim Millensifer has hunted 14 bir...
Road trip! Nevada and California wild birds
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle up for a first-hand report on a recent road trip in search of quail and chukars ... and better weather. We'll be hunting Nevada and California ...
Pro trainer on who's in charge & when, creating the right relationship with your dog
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to Garden & Gun magazine, he's one of the top five dog trainers in the South. His track record as a field trialer and hunter, proves it....
Blue sky, dry ground ... a pretty good chukar and valley quail hunt
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you haven't had your close-to-perfect hunt yet this year, re-live mine and maybe learn something. Or get inspired to do one more trip. Either way, ...
Pro bird dog trainer on gun intro, retrieving, steadiness and the first two years
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a young dog or are getting one, listen carefully! Jim Van Engen's Right Start Kennel has cranked out almost 200 field trial champions than...
Public access bird hunting: some starting points for your next trip west or southeast
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding more places to hunt just got a bit easier. I'll give you some starting points for your pheasant foray out west, or bobwhite hunting in the sou...
George Hickox: legendary bird dog trainer, trialer, hunter on what dogs really want and why
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Break out a pen and paper and get ready to take copious notes. You will learn something. Trainer/handlers of the winningest field trial dog in history...
Chukar hunt! C'mon along on a recent foray into the wild-bird country of the Great Basin.
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Need a chukar fix? How about a few valley quail too? I'll debrief a recent hunt of mine ... sort of a bookend thing, with stunning dog work at both en...
BONUS: Bird hunting and beer ... a primer to drinking, buying, storing and pouring - and celebrating the hunt
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, mazeltov ... what better way to celebrate than enjoying fresh, locally-brewed beer? And after an epic...
Bird dog of the year: owner & handler share their secrets, training and hunting tips
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Crosswind's Envy a Trip to the Train Station, call name "Rip," is the Dog of the Year for the National Shoot to Retrieve Association and while he didn...
Bird dog training - on a hunting trip? Why not? Here's how.
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're like me, the um, standard of excellence you expect from your dog (and he from you) has devolved since opening day. That got me thinking: why...
Pro bird dog trainer "re-shapes" our thinking on how dogs think, use of e-collars
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Talmage Smedly joins me for an in-depth conversation on why dogs do what they do and how we can guide them. He calls on his horse training experience ...
Thanksgiving reflections from you on birds, dogs, friends, family and beautiful places ... and a tech tip
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You are one lucky so-and-so. Great dog, friends in the field, tolerant spouse, incredible hunting spots. This soon-to-be annual podcast celebrates it ...
30-year pro grouse guide on what makes him smile, beautiful places and the joy of newness
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Linehan guides forest grouse hunters ... in Montana. He's been an Orvis-endorsed outfitters for over 30 years chasing ruffies, duskies, blues, soo...
Bird hunting "Industry Insiders" spill the beans on boots and choke tubes
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with two leaders in their categories: Scott Trulock of Trulock Choke Tubes and Mark Strickland of Crispi US about their products, new gear in ...
Bottle & Mic edition: chukar opener debrief from the field ... 3 friends, 3 dogs and a few more birds
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join my friends Dave and Tom on our somewhat-annual gathering in the desert of southeast Oregon for the chukar and valley quail season opener. In what...
BONUS: Hunt like a Ninja with 30 tips on stealth & sneakiness for public-access birds
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
BONUS EPISODE: How's your season going? Not finding - let alone hitting - enough birds? Well I've compiled a pile of suggestions and observations that...
Pro guide & trainer on chukar hunting, gear, training and tactics
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My former neighbor and current friend Tim Curry of Central Oregon Sporting Dog brings me up to speed on neighborhood news and a lot of practical advic...
29 bird hunting tips you won't have to learn the hard way - my notes from guys smarter than me
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yup, nothing wrong with stealing good ideas, especially when they were offered sincerely and will help others (i.e., YOU). Here are over two dozen sug...
Wrecked hotel rooms and bird hunting with two dogs: Q&A and hunting two dogs together
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your worst travel-dog nightmares ... that niggling question you have ... and why hunt two dogs at the same time? We cover a lot of ground on this epis...
Pro bird hunting guide on prairie birds, dogs and tipping your guide
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From the field: I have a lengthy, broad-ranging conversation with Trevor Walz of LandTrust.com and a pro bird hunting guide. From conservation and man...
Sample: Out & About short feature
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A shooting tip from TV's worst shotgunner!
Bottle & Mic: debriefing a Montana sharptail road trip
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bottle & Mic ... first in a series of road trip debriefs, reflections on a trip I'm on with observations, suggestions, and ruminations fueled by a...
Your worst bird-hunting nightmares: lost or hurt dog ... some suggestions, and fueling him for peak performance
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bird hunter, shooting instructor on subgauges, shooting technique and what we're doing wrong & right
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Champion target shooter and avid bird hunter Dave Fiedler of Mid-Valley Clays and Shooting School joins me for a wide-ranging and fun conversation abo...
Shoot better ... than me! A couple-dozen hints, hacks and last-ditch efforts for those who miss the broad side of a barn
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I’m television’s worst shotgunner. It’s almost a badge of honor. The most frequent compliment I hear is “You shoot worse than I do!” I gladl...
Public-access bird-finding guru: desert birds from chukar to quail, and where they skulk
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Down to brass tacks we go with writer, editor, publisher Jim Matthews. He's been helping desert hunters find publicly-accessible game birds since the ...
Best in the Vest ... what I carry in my bird hunting vest (with a little help from my friends - YOU!)
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready yet? Listen carefully to what I'm carrying this season in my hunting vest and you may change your answer. I've re-configured and loaded ...
Bonus: Sharptail primer ... where to go and what to do once you get there
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've pulled together all my notes on places I've hunted and fantastic advice from pro guides and experienced DIY hunters. If you're enroute to sharpie...
Bird hunter, inspirational conservationist & visionary: Larry Potterfield, founder of Midway USA is our "Industry Insider"
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our continuing "Industry Insider" series, I talk with Larry Potterfield, who founded Midway USA on a wing and a prayer, selling shooting supplies t...
Bird dog trainer: say no to whoa and other better ideas
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
He's probably trained or handled more NAVHDA Prize 1 Utility dogs than anyone at his Sharp Shooter's Kennel; Clyde Vetter is a dog trainer with a diff...
Hunter, conservationist, CEO: Ben Jones updates us on the RGS/AWS re-organization
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of water under the bridge since we last talked: pandemic lockdown, a major restructuring of his organizations, and a new puppy. Ben Jones is CEO...
Bird hunter, dog trainer, PF/QF CEO charts a new course including reintroducing birds, stopping the plow on grasslands
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
She's had more than a year to get her footing and boy has she! Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever CEO Marilyn Vetter is guiding the 40-year old organizat...
BONUS: getting into the back-of-beyond ... tips, tricks, hacks and hints ... and why you should go
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I outline some of the practical and philosophical reasons to go deeper, risk a blown tire, and possibly your health. I share some of t...
Pro pheasant guide tramples a few myths; you'll be a better bird hunter for it
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wild pheasants in Big Sky country ... with advice from a seasoned guide and friend, Al Gadoury of 6X Outfitters. Al will take us to school on ringneck...
Chukar guide dispels myths and dispenses tips; meet the Cesky Fousek
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is cheatgrass really the magic potion for chukar hunters? Pro chukar guide Grant Richie addresses some long-held notions about this bucket-list bird, ...
Champion trainer takes us to school on steadiness from A-Z; retrieving from A-around T or thereabouts
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jake Bartells re-joins us to share his hard-won wisdom on training dogs to the highest level. His bonafides include multiple NAVHDA Versatile Champion...
BONUS: bird hunting destination ... western Kansas. Where, when, why and how
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm recounting one of my many visits to this incredible state, often overlooked by passionate pheasant hunters hell bent on one of the Dakotas. Take t...
Bird hunter & author on the spirit of hunting ... and access to more hunting ground
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
He's been through the wringer, but came out the other side stronger, more resilient and committed to the therapeutic value of hunting. Avid pheasant h...
Public land bird hunting: lessons from a self-taught expert
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This guy, like many of us, has learned things the hard way so you don't have to. Keng Yang (@kengyang1) is a hardcore DIY hunter from Minnesota who in...
BONUS EPISODE: Chukar country - the Great Basin ... a primer for bird hunters, from habitat to jumping-off points
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks for all your positive feedback on that Montana bonus episode ... now, another of my favorite places - the West's Great Basin. If chukars are on...