I have been waiting to get Tom Keller to join me to talk about wild pheasant restocking in Pennsylvania. He is a busy man back in the Keystone state. Starting off studying American Woodcock, then jumping into the pheasant relocation program. In 1971 PA residents harvested 1.2 million ringnecks. Those days are long gone, but there maybe to hope on the horizon. This year  PA held the first wild ringneck hunt in almost a couple decades. And to top things off the state is working on habitat to try bringing the Bobwhite quail back in a few years down the road.  he is also a dogless hunter of grouse and woodcock. Talk about a guy that likes a challenge. We even talk a little about black bears

Justin takes lion hunting to a level that I was not aware of. Besides the snow, the mountains, and always on the watch for a pack of timber wolves. Justin treats his pack much like us bird hunters treat our babies. But lion dogs are gritty, gutsy, and at times fearless. We upland hunters can call it quits when the limit is reached or the sun gets low in the sky,but Justin has to stay with his pack no matter what. That could mean all night. In fact he mybe as gritty as his hounds.

We got alot of great listener questions for Justin. He answers them in a way that only he can do. I have met dozens and dozens of dog trainers, and none of them explain things better,clearer, or with more thought than this guy. You will want to listen twice to this one!!!!

So much fun to get the background of how they started out in the dog world/training world/ breeding world/ making friends in the dog world. relationships that form and stand the test of time. I really enjoyed doing this one.

Very fun and informative conversation, about Labs, ducks, training and breeding good retrievers.  30 years ago Chris had everything lined up for a perfect storm. Great Job, great dog and great location. He  had to quit his job and start a career that was more challenging and certainly more rewarding. Webb Footed Kennels is one of the premier training facilities in the country. 

Vance and I talk about his  introduction to Pudelpointers, and his time with the real club in Germany.

Jared  joins me this week to talk Ringnecks. State by state run down along with some history,hope and the future of upland hunting.

Last installment of our trip to NW North Dakota. There are a few words exchanged!!!!

Short silly recolection of day 2 on the North Dakota Safari

This should at least be educational, if not a three ring circus. Dave and I head to ND to start his young Lab and two of my inexperianced Braccos. stay tuned for updates on their progress, or set backs. its going to be a epic trip!!!  wish us luck

Great episode with Joel Nelson and his hunting team. Falcons and Munsterlanders. I learned alot about a sport that I will somwday pursue.

What a family!! Kristina is a Veterinarian Ben is a DNR officer and they balance 10 dogs and a 2 year old son. I wish I lived closer to them. I mean who wouldn't want them for neighbors. Nova Scotia Duck Tollers and GSPs make for a great combo. And we get some good advice from Kristina on caring for our four legged partners.

Scott is a well know TV personality, best know for hunting big game around the world. truth be told, he has always preferred small game with a scattergun. In fact, while on various locations, filming hunts, he sneaks off with a shotgun to knock down any local upland bird he can find. Now, after 15 years of filming,  he has 3 pudlepointers and cant find enough time in Oregon to keep the dogs retrieving all the feathered game he chases.

AJ DeRosa is a young man with an old soul. He loves a good pipe, a good shotgun and dog, and just may be the young blood connection, of us old-timey grouse hunters to the next generation of passionate outdoors people. A self-made filmmaker, who's eye for recording the moments in the woods, stands out as some of the best upland films out there today.  Just google  Project Upland/ Northwoods Collective, and you will see what I mean.

Its the end of my interview with Blaine. But its the silver lining of our conversation. Blaine explians his training thoughts. From a life of living,hunting,training and loving dogs.

I was invited to come to Belfast Maine and judge dogs for three days. The Carter family put me up and showed me the real side of Maine. Blaine, Patti, Jason and Missy are in my opinion, the "first family" of NAVHDA. Blaine and I cover old stories of his youth, his first hound,first bird dog and some old NAVHDA history.

I learned alot from this episode. Ann is a forester, turned grouse hunter,turned grouse guide. So it was a perfect blend of talent that lead her to create Northwind Enterprisies and their newest digital mapping system Scout-N-Hunt. If you dont learn something from this episode, you may be a worse grouse hunter than ME......

Once again, Al and I break down some training myths and what to expect when you enter the second year with your pup/teenage dog. plus we finish up with some favorite hunting and training stories

This episode is one that makes me think a bit more about my dogs. Forever and a day, I assumed my dogs were just ready to run, no mater how much I did, or didn't do. Now  there is a program that caters to our dogs. And helps us to realize that our dogs might just need a little more work to hunt all day!!!

Lee lee Milner Was raised to train dogs. Her earliest memories are of growing up at her dads kennel. Even after pursuing a different path for a few years in NY. She couldn't help but return to her roots of training dogs. And now she has started Girls with Gun Dogs.

Her mission is to get more women into the hunting world through training dogs. It's a great idea and one that work for me. Having three daughters who loved the dogs, made for a natural transition into the hunting world. https://girlswithgundogs.com/

Interesting conversation with Joe Scott from Alpha Dog Nutrition. I'm old school when it comes to feeding dogs. I might have to rethink my ways. Taking care of our dogs (that we know work harder than we do) is so important. And if we can help them preform and recover better??? Lets try it!!!

Brad's Mossy Pond Retrievers and hunt club.  Talk about an overachiever !!!! Brads dream to build a successful training facility, wasn't just luck. Long days and hard work, A great first dog that made Brad look better in the dove field than Brads shooting ability, and a real love of training dogs. We talk about quitting a good job. His first paying customer. A future Father-in-law that deeded property to him for his first kennel. And always putting the customer first (even if it means missing a hunting season)

I had no idea when I hit the record button,that Kim comes from a 150 years of a shooting family tradition. Its no wonder she is the #1 womens scattergun shooter in the world. If you dont listen to this episode twice?? I'll buy you a beer.

So alot of folks want me to get Dave back over to the kennel for another podcast.. And boy, did we do it up right. Dave went on Facebook Live with me, and we tried to our best ability to answer dog and hunting questions from my listeners that tuned in. might be an  the worst episode ever, or one of the best. What I can tell you is, clear moonshine is better than apple shine. And short of that, I  will have to listen to this along with you to remember what the heck we did for two hours. 

What a great conversation with Barton Ramsey. Southern Oak retrievers and his new venture, Cornerstone Gundog Academy.  Besides having a great line of British Labs, Barton started an online training program that help folks get their dog ready and possibly finished for the upcoming duck season.  After my short introduction to clicker training last month, I got a really good base of knowledge about what we should be doing with that new pup, and the dog we might have .... skipped a few things with!!