Upland Nation Scott Linden

"Figure out what your gun likes ..." one of the best pieces of advice you'll ever get from shotgun guru and Gun Dog magazine writer Brad Fitzpatrick. He's authored the shotgun column in the magazine for years, and has the enviable job of test-shooting everything new and classic in the shotgun world. Brad is a bird hunter, TV host, author of five books and countless articles, and he's here to share his insights on everything from technology and materials to the care and feeding of your shotgun.
We'll get schooled on the differences between "value" guns and high end firearms, what to look for in fit, finish, engineering and design. Brad shares some of the more innovative materials and designs he's tested recently, and shares experiences bird hunting in southern Africa. He tells us how he tried (and failed) to destroy the finish on one shotgun, and offers tips on storing, shooting, and carrying our firearms n the field.
We talk about the merits of a 3-inch 28-gauge gun, and his own choice for the ideal field gun - and why.
"Road Trip" acknowledges some of the lesser-known public-access providers, and I discuss why only one-third of you train with a partner or group ... and why you might want to reconsider that!
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer Shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Hunter, dog trainer, nutritional guru, magazine writer, an Upland National treasure ... Bob West of Purina joins me for a wide-ranging discussion full of reminiscences. Besides talking about his fellow legends, Bob's backstory might just prove he was the first "influencer" in our world ... back when TV was still made on magnetic tape and in 4:3 screen ratios!
Bob is semi-retired but still a fixture at bird-dog events where you can bend his ear about fueling a hunting dog, training it, and hunting it. His insights, built on a foundation of trials and tests, are invaluable for anyone with a bird dog. We'll learn why trials and tests are a critical part of hunting-dog training, find out why sometimes giving up is the best strategy with a recalcitrant dog (at least temporarily), how important "wins" are on the training table, what the "three action introduction" is and why it's integral to a dog's performance in the field and at a hunting test.
But there's more: pad care and what we miss, how a dog's G.I. tract is really affected by food during a hunt, the best reason yet for NOT feeding the morning of a hunt, and one man's opinion on whether or not dogs can "reason."
"Handle It" covers some home-made training gear, and listeners laud their dog-training and hunting mentors.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

Pack the dog, extra ammo, and fasten your seatbelt. We're headed for Big Sky country on this bonus episode. Stories, suggestions and tips, starting points and advice that might help on your next road trip.
This state is loaded with public-access walk-in and government-administered ground. I'll cover my own experiences with habitat, seasons, and tactics for all the prairie birds. Plus, a few towns and regions where you might start your own quest for sharptails, ringnecks, sage grouse and Hungarian partridge. And some hard-won lessons on planning your trip from homework to itinerary.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

He and his dogs are NAVHDA versatile champions several times over ... and those dogs are English Setters. It's one testament to this guy's training acumen, passion for dogs and bird hunting. Curt Fry is also a hunt test judge, clinician, hardcore grouse and woodcock hunter. We do a deep dive into steadying a bird dog from start to finish: objectives, tools, and strategy. His views on water work and dog handling are of value to anyone with a hunting dog.
Curt also offers hunting strategies and tactics and finding more land to hunt. We review the various types of hunt tests and field trials and why bird hunters benefit from participating. Curt even has suggestions on where to find training birds.
"Road Trip" covers one of my top-five states; and listeners chime in on why sometimes it's a good idea to use different loads in each barrel.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, Pointer shotguns, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

It's the off-season, and time to re-live some of the hunts from last fall. In this Field Debrief, I'll relate a chukar hunt we did on eclipse weekend last October in Northern Nevada. Fascinating finds, beautiful country, and a few lessons, too.
Then, everyone offers suggestions on saving money on gear, trips, and dogs. And, what NOT to economize on.
"Road Trip" has your mountain quail destination, and listeners share their bucket-list bird species.
And it's all brought to you by: Pointer Shotguns, Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.

This week, we talk to industry insider Dan Compton, product director for The Kinetic Group's Remington, Hevi-Shot and Federal shotgun ammunition lines. He's a hunter so of course we'll talk about that, but we'll also find out what's new at each company, what's in development, and how shotshells work. We look at recent innovations in design, find out why copper plating helps your shooting accuracy, and learn how to take care of our ammo.
We'll also learn how shotshell components affect ballistic performance, why some retired shotshell "recipes" are being pulled out of mothballs, and finally figure out who owns what in the dynamic ammunition industry.
"Handle It" this week answers David Klopp's question about chasing wing-clipped birds, and listeners sound off on the lessons they wish they'd learned sooner.
And it's all brought to you by: Sage & Braker Mercantile, LandTrust.com, HiVizSights.com, Pointer Shotguns, @midwayusa, #midwayusa, Midway USA, Mid Valley Clays and Shooting School, TrulockChokes, HiViz shooting systems, ESPAmerica, Purina Pro Plan Sport and FindBirdHuntingSpots.com.