The Hunting Dog Podcast

If you haven't learned about BHA yet, here's your chance to learn about a very motivated group of outdoors people. BHA is growing at warp speed all across North America. Helping all of us to keep public lands and waters in haven't hands. Your hands!!!

Nick is back in the kennel to talk retriever training and hunt testing. Not to mention... he passed his Kenny dog at both of the retriver worlds top venues. And of course a bit about things that have nothing to do with dogs.

Amanda part of a growing segment of outdoors people, passing on their knowledge and passions to those who haven't had the opportunity. T.E.A.C.H. outdoors is a homespun group of hunters, fishermen, and dog people, that give so much more than just lip service to recruitment. They put their talents and boots on the ground for others to experience the world live in and the world we love.

Admittedly I asked Jordan to come on the show to answer questions about my first Cocker. It turned into a great episode about training, breed bias, and raising children. Of course, we talk about more than that!! Enjoy this one and listen twice, if you really want to learn something.

Ben Jones is the president and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society. We talk about the decline of my favorite game bird. It's not too late to get to save the resource that we all hold dear to our heart. It's really about all species. We need to devote our time and wallets to what is most important to us.

After talking with Brandon,I found a new place to hunt. When the birds bounce back in Montana, I will be knocking on his door. We talk about his dogs, family, guns and a bit about using OnX maps.

After meeting Phil Swain in my early years of judging for NAVHDA,I was impressed. As I grew in my roll, I was still learning form him. He is currently one of the longest standing and most articulate judges that the organization is proud list in their ranks. We break down the (NA) Natural Ability test. Share a few laughs and hopefully explain the standards that we use when evaluating dogs in the field.

What an eye-opener for me, to hear about the number of dogs in just one breed and in just one area of the country. Amber Miller and the network of "true" dog loving folks. We get some sad numbers, yet happy stories from the world of dog rehoming. Amber and her husband Bo, along with dozens of others, help the German Shorthaired Pointer world. I'm sure this plays out in every state and every breed. I can only hope that someday their efforts won't be needed.

One of the best trips I ever took, Rusty,Russ,Ruf, all names for the same person. We have been hanging out since 1962. Hunting in Illinois as teenagers, we have almost always spent at least one trip over the years together, reminiscing the old days and embracing the future. We hit our old stomping grounds around Tyndall SD. Even staying at the same motel that was built before indoor plumbing!!

I have known Carol and Norm for 20 plus years. All that time they were running the Spinone in the NAVHDA training and testing arena. From the beginning they believed in the Spinone, was the perfect breed for them, and today it still is.

Ok, listen up and make plans to hit South Dakota. I'm going twice this year. Are you? After this episode, you'll be thinking about it. After last year's low harvest, pheasants are springing back in great numbers. 46% overall increase, which means over one million roosters will fall to the gun this year. With any luck, I'll bring home a couple dozen for the freezer. America's most popular non-native is waiting to see you in America's friendliest state.

We wrap up the week with six listener/guests from the HDP hosted hunt in Wilmington NY. We all pick a few of our favorite memories and moments. This hunt really kicked off my upland season!!

We recap the day's hunt. Evan Boyle and his father-in-law Steve and Reid Bryant from Orvis, try to paint the picture of a great day in the woods. There were wet feet,wet dogs and cold beer on the table.

Here's a peek at the first three days of the HPD hosted hunt, at The Hungry Trout Lodge in Wilmington NY. set in the Adirondack mountains. We find many timberdoodles and miss a few Ruffies, along with a day of fly fishing (something I meant to practice beforehand). Stay tuned this week for more episodes from the mountains.

Scott Rall joined Pheasants Forever two years after its inception. Thirty-plus years later he is still giving 100% of his efforts to the country's best land and conversation organization. We talk about habitat, habitat, habitat ("If you build it, pheasants will come").