Marty jumped in to bird dogs in spite of living in an apartment and getting a dog from a Craigs List add.  The odd were against him, but Marty did everything needed to enjoy his Brittany that turn out to be a Springer!! He hunts Illinois public land for pheasants and dove. Proof that a good dog is a good dog. My hats off to Marty and all is efforts to do what we all love. Just proves what desire and a good dog can do for anyone.

Hank Shaw spends some time with us, to teach us a few things about what to do, and what not to due, when we cook are upland birds, rabbits, and waterfowl. This podcast could be called to pluck,or not to pluck. Apparently I have been wasted alot of tasty skin over the years.  I admit, I hate plucking birds, but that's gonna change starting now!!!

Pay attention and take notes on this very informative episode. Hanks books, Duck Duck Goose, and Buck Buck Moose, are the only books you need to enjoy your wild game to Haute Cuisine... Trust me

A great chat with David Schmidt. Dave and some friends decided to make there own TV show, featuring hounds!!! never before done,and may never be again. Dave Shares some of the adventures and rabbit holes that they encountered. Now he helps run the National Hound and Tree Dog Association. Dog hunters everywhere need to support each other. Sometimes because we join DU or RGS we think we are protecting our hunting right along with protecting habitat.   Wrong!!!!! There are folks sneaking around our flanks that would stop us from using our dogs for every interest.  Lets pay attention and lock arms.

Fritz Heller approaches grouse hunting with an eye for detail. Along with his brother they have over 200 spots to hunt the king of the woods. And he does it with Labs!!! yeah a dog most known for ducks and pheasants. Listen as Fritz shares a few secrets about how he has averaged almost 5 flushes an hour over a several year span. We also talk about his non typical choice of shotguns, and how his dad passed up on the occasional grouse while pheasant hunting. in his words.."son we are pheasant hunters" Fritz has strayed away from those days.  And if you like Utube videos? check out the Grouse Commander series. Fritz and friends have that down as good as there bird hunting.

Perry and Blaine head south to visit Frank Verret, in the deep south. To chase the wintering Woodcock.  80% of central flyway woodcock head to Louisiana. The boys found out that 80% of the usual hunting ground is under water. But good rubber boots,good food, and good friends can win the days.  Poor phone lines made for poor audio. I suggest listening with headphones on if you want to understand Frank's Cajun speak and Blaine's Yankee accent.

John Rex Gates, is one of the most accomplished Trainer/Handlers of Field Trial dogs in North America."Born into it",as John says. At an age where most of us might have been experiencing our first summer of school vacation. John Rex was traveling with his Dad from Georgia to the Canadian prairies, with dozens and dozens of dogs getting their feet wet on wild birds. He is a true legend among dog people, his love of dogs comes through loud and clear.

Justin and I recap some of his month of guiding in Montana.  Then answer some listener questions about training that did not showing up when we hunt wild birds. We also cover snake avoidance and applying that to porcupines,deer and how to do that in the field. Boots for dogs with pad problems, and one of the biggest problems we as bird hunters can face...GUNSHY issues. and a comparison to great dogs and Holly Holm, the new women's bantam weight UFC champion. enjoy and please rate and comment on itunes

We almost lost Sage grouse hunting!!!  I talk with Ed Arnett from TRCP. He is a Western bird hunter, and Senior Scientist for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Ed gives us the low down on what it means to all of us, when a animal is listed on the endangered species list. We cover lots of other topics including habitat, DU, PH,QU, and how we hunters all need to get more involved,even if its with a few more dollars. Also about flushing dogs range control,and Ed training his labs to search for wind turbine killed bats!!  Audio has more than a few problems, but hell its free!!! Though you could help us out with a rating and comment on Itunes..

Quickie Podcast... I talk about some of the points that Steve Rinella brought up in my last podcast. Truth be told, anything done with your dog is a plus!!! If you listened last night and didnt hear the song??? Well thats my poor editing and production skills. I reloaded the correct file and the song will be at the end, around 14 minutes. If you would, give the podcast a rating and review on Itunes...please and thank you.

This is a short follow up to the last podcast I did with Steve Rinella. and a sneak peak/listen to the song I wrote (sort of) about hunting with our dogs

And to be clear. I would rather have a bad day with my dogs than a good day doing anything else. I have in my will, that I want to be buried with whatever dog is is oldest in my kennel at the time of my demise. I know that sounds weird,but lets just say, there is a rainbow bridge for people and dogs??? I'm not showing up without one!!!!

A great conversation with Mat Cervantes. He owns a Small Munsterlaner that he got while stationed in Germany. We talk about the differences in how we hunt here, and how it is done in Europe. We cover testing, training, breeding. and how serious hunting is taken by our counterparts across the pond. You will come away with a different perspective. What I took away from this episode was, we might need to pay more attention to what we take for granted,and what we should strive for. And not to be a broken record, please go to Itunes subscribe, rate the show,and leave a review. the fluffy dogs are gaining on us!!! Thanks so much  Ron

I have a great conversation with Steve Snell from Gun Dog Supply,  We cover tons of equipment and great hunting stories. From boots to vest, GPS, training collars, first aid, a little how to.. and a great story on saving one dog and almost losing another in the Texas brush country. You will learn something for sure on this one. Steve and family operate GDS as their parents have since 1972. They test everything they sell. and by that I mean Steve hunts over 100 day a year with wide ranges of dogs. According to Steve.. "these are considered work days"  I call bull on that... enjoy. And please if you listen on I tunes, leave us a rating and review. I hate it when the fluffy dog podcasts, get higher ratings than HUNTING dogs.

I chat with Camille Rice. She was born into a Weimaraner family back in the day, when she,her brother and Dad drove a few minutes outside the city limits of Detroit to drop ringneck pheasants over the family's Weims. We discuss that, and many other details of a dog breed that had a good start in this country, followed by a bad reputation in the sporting dog world. With her and some other great breeders and the"Hunting Weimaraner Alliance" They are going to put the Weim back in its rightful place. We also date ourselves by the phrase "older than color film" and touch on Cam's battle not only to be accepted as an early women State Trooper, but an even bigger challenge to find a dog trainer that would even talk to a lady, let alone a Women and her Weim. 

Just me blabbering about my trip to Alaska, plus some random thoughts on guided hunts that I've been on.  along with a preview of upcoming episodes in August.

A visit with Mike Stewart from Wildrose Kennels. We cover alot of info on Americas favorite dog. The Labrador Retriever.  From bloodtracking to Bobwhites and sheds to Sharptails. Mike's methods of selective breeding and training are proven to produce a hunting dog that can do it all. Even medical therapy tasks.

This was a real blast, getting to talk with Dez Young.  He single handled produced a TV show that featured his dog Hank in the field. Then after being well recieved, continued to film his upland bird hunting experiances for many years. Not just with Hank, but also with Hanks offspring "Dash"   It was my favorite show.  Dez talks about his start in TV and many other subjects.  If you arent old enough to remember the series, then you should google Dez and his two great dogs, and learn a little about what upland hunting is all about.

This Episode was recoreded in Wisconsin at the SCOA Specialty. For those of you who have no idea what Im talking about, All parent breed clubs of all sporting dog breeds hold an annual meeting with hunt tests and conformation shows. Now i know most of you wont run around the ring with your hunting partner, but it is truly an important funcuntion. The reason most of us fall for a particular breed, is because of the dedication of breeders to maintain the standards set by these parent clubs.

WARNING:  this podcast had some language barriers, as I talked with Doctors  Amadeo and Maria Louisa Bottero.  They are international confomation judges from Italy. They own and hunt my Favorite breed in its motherland.

This week i talk with Stephen Sprago. He host the biggest hunting podcast from the land down under. We compare a boat load of subjects from small game to silencers, all the differences between New Zeland and the USA. and touch on traditions from deer camp to duck camp. or as the Kiwis call it MiMi (MyMy) for those who cant speak the language.

I sit down with my friend Al Harmeyer. Besides being the hardest working man I know, he is also a professional trainer, and applies that work ethic to helping folks with their K9 partners. Krystal Creek Kennels in Cedar Grove Wisconsin is where he lives and trains birds to all levels needed to compete, test, of simply getting your dog tuned up for hunting season. We tell a few old stories, but mostly Al answers questions from listeners of the HDP.

We continued our conversation about Craigs travels and observations about our favorite animal.  Rich history of the development of the pointing breeds in Europe.

We touch on hunt tests, breeders, and those who traveled back to North America to hunt with Craig.