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. 

Bridget and I judged for a NAVHDA test this spring in Utah. Within a few minutes I had the feeling that she was the real deal when it comes to hunting, conservation, dogs, specifically Vizsla's.  We have a great talk about her start into the hunting world, then dogs and training, and her work with Ducks Unlimited and habitat work. You will love this episode!!!

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!!

Great conversation with Chris,after we shot at a few hundred clay targets. Still not sure if Chris was sandbagging me by missing a few targets, or if old men rule. We shot great while playing with five different Beretta scatterguns. This new sponsorship might get me in trouble. That trouble would be selling some other guns to get some new ones, or buying another gun safe. Oh well it  challenge that I'm up to.

 Ben O'Williams is still swinging on birds and training new pups, In his mid eighties, he shows no signs of slowing down. I am changing my traveling wingshooting schedule to include at least 3 trips to hunt the Hungarian Partridge. Even though it's and introduced species. The Hun is a survivor of the western prairie. Listen and learn from the expert.

I spent 3 days in Bozeman with George Hickox.  Attending his class without my dogs was a real eye opener. George's methods are rooted in positive reinforcement and timing. All things I preach to the choir,but rarely remember to implement. It was kind of like going back to high school English class. Only to find out that I forgot how to punctuate a sentence!!!

Dr. Thomas is a life long bird hunter. From his first duck hunt on his Dads shoulders, to hunting upland birds everywhere you could imagine. Don has a deep background with wingshooting, So deep in fact that all of his life choices revolve around living in some of the best bird county in North America. Don is a true traveling wingshooter.

Craig is an hunter, author, and artist. His book about the pursuit of birds with his English Setters, is a collection of short stories, each very descriptive in every detail of the days hunt. Craig steps into the past every time he hunts. Using old guns, old trucks, and even putting on a tie for the opener. You can find this book and others from Craig at  http://www.rckulchak.com/

George Bird Evans authored 20 books and hundreds of articles on a subject that flowed from his heart, to his fingertips. From the keys of of his old Remington typewriter, he wrote of upland hunting,his love of Setters, grouse and woodcock. I was invited to "Old Hemlock" to live, if even for a brief hour, in the 200 year old home that George and his wife Kay called home for five decades. George passed away in 1998 and Kay in 2007. Old Hemlock remains there through the Old Hemlock foundation. Lejay Graffious is the estate administrator. and year round caretaker of this piece of upland hunting history. We talk about George's dogs,guns, and his many talents. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpZVsJ5xKNZFB4lTWwk90SA

This is from Jan 1 2015. most of you have never heard this one. and I liked it so much, I want to you to hear how it all started.  Jeff and I go way back, the stories of old hunts and old dogs is what this podcast was all started on, and what it will always be.

Al and his family run Krystal Creek Kennels in Cedar Grove Wisconsin. I have know Al for almost 20 years. Not only has he helped me with my dogs, he mentored me in my journey as a NAVHDA judge, and worked with me on the road in my construction firm.  Al shares some experiences of his life with dogs. From his first bird with a bolt action shotgun, to what he has learned from his dogs and applied that to training for customers dogs.

Ever wanted to hunt wild chukars? think twice before you go. But if you decide to try it, Utah is the place. I spent three days judging dogs in Utah, and met some of the toughest hunters in the country. Along with some big running dogs that fit the landscape. These are not the uplands, these are the uphills... all day

Great informative episode about a much confusing subject. French Brittany's vs American Brits.. There is a difference.  Fred Overby is the breed expert of the breed, here in the USA. We talk history, breeding, hunting and a few other things that will school you in the dog world.

So looked forward to get Tom Huggler on the show. Author of 20 books and over one thousand articles that appeared in over one hundred publications.  Truly a life time of dogs (mostly setters) that steered him into a career path of freelance writing about the hunting world of dogs and birds.

Justin is back for another informative episode. He answers some listener questions with that in depth approach  that he's known for. We talk steadiness, controlling your training environment, proof testing your dog and The two year plan. Thats right, dont think about where you'll be in two month with your training. Plan long term. And Justin shares his story about his non pointing Setter. Yeah even pro's are thrown a curve ball from time to time

After a long talk about shotguns, Dell and I dive into Cockers and what is so attractive about getting one of these "Little Big Dogs". And how we want to hunt one along with our pointing breeds.

Got to see first hand what a real gunsmith can do. We talk shotguns!! and get some good info on alot of questions that I ask, as well as finding out that "we lefty's are in need of some help" The rest of you right handed folks have no excuse as to why you miss. Damascus, dry firing, weight, and dirty shotguns are just a few of the topic we cover. enjoy!!!!

Brian O'Connor and his Drents. Brian and I have a great and wandering conversation about one of the most rare hunting dogs in North America. He hunts them in many states throughout the year, trains, and breeds them.  And he still has trouble pronouncing the name.