On The Wing Podcast

On The Wing Podcast by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
  • 4.7 (333)
  • Wilderness
  • Biweekly

Welcome to the On the Wing Podcast with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. On the Wing is your destination for conversations about upland bird hunting, wildlife habitat, public lands, bird dogs, wild game cooking and epic adventures in search of pheasants, quail and grouse. These are the stories of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s 145,000 members, volunteers, team of professional wildlife biologists and experts in the field. Our shows are recorded in person and often on the road from the end of tailgates, backs of horse trailers and after a day in the field chasing birds.

  1. 2d ago

    Wild Game Cooking Secrets: Hank Shaw on Upland Birds and Mushrooms

    Award-winning wild game cook and food author Hank Shaw returns to On the Wing for an insider’s look at making the most of every bird, mushroom, and wild ingredient the outdoors provides. From pheasant and quail to ruffed grouse, woodcock, and wild turkey, Shaw shares practical cooking techniques that help hunters bring more flavor to the table without wasting a thing. Learn when to smoke upland birds, why sous vide can ruin tender cuts when used incorrectly, and how to keep lean pheasant and turkey breasts juicy. Shaw breaks down his favorite methods for grilling doves and quail, preparing pheasant thighs, making wild game sausage, and creating restaurant-worthy meals with simple ingredients. He also explains why shorter sous vide cooking times matter, when butter poaching makes sense, and how to turn a smoked pheasant carcass into an exceptional soup base. The conversation goes beyond the kitchen, exploring wild mushroom foraging, the best pairings for different upland birds, and the edible plants hiding in native prairie habitat. Discover why porcini, chanterelles, morels, and other wild mushrooms deserve a place alongside your harvest, plus how ingredients like rose hips can bring unexpected flavor to sharp-tailed grouse. Whether you're chasing roosters across the prairie, hunting ruffs in the grouse woods, or looking to become a better wild game cook, Shaw offers techniques and inspiration to make every harvest count. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Check out Hank Shaw’s full collection of books. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  2. Oct 21

    Pheasant Hunting Equalizers

    The right weather conditions, quality habitat and hunting tactics can turn tough pheasants into more shooting opportunities. Pheasant hunting is never supposed to be easy. That challenge is what keeps hunters coming back. But the right tactics can tip the odds in your favor. Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter breaks down eight pheasant hunting equalizers that can help you find more birds and turn close calls into more roostery sags in your gamebag. Wind and moisture can dramatically change how pheasants behave and how well your bird dog works scent. Learn why 15 to 20 mph winds can be ideal, how wet conditions affect scent, and why the second day after rain may offer some of the best hunting of the season. The conversation also digs into habitat strategy, including standing corn, freshly harvested fields, diverse pollinator cover, cattails, and the overlooked pockets that can hold birds when traditional pheasant habitat comes up empty. You'll also hear why the “forenoon,” as Carp fashions late morning, can be a prime time to hunt; how December snow and cold concentrate pheasants; and why stealth may be the most important pheasant hunting equalizer of all. Finally, Carpenter makes the case for putting miles on your boots and your bird dog. Whether you're chasing roosters with a pointing dog or flushing dog, persistence, observation and adapting to the conditions can be the ultimate equalizers. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Read PFJ Editor Tom Carpenter’s full Pheasant Hunting Equalizers story. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  3. Oct 14

    QF’s 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast

    Where should you chase quail in 2026? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks joins On the Wing to break down QF’s 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast species by species, revealing where habitat, rainfall, and bird numbers are lining up for a productive season. The conversation starts with bobwhite quail, including standout opportunities in Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Sparks explains why hunters should look beyond state lines and focus on interconnected habitat, precipitation, winter survival, and the positive benefits of prescribed fire. From there, the forecast moves to mountain quail in Washington, Oregon, and California, valley quail in California, Montezuma quail in Arizona and New Mexico, and Gambel's and scaled quail across the desert Southwest. You'll also get practical quail hunting tips for finding birds when conditions are tough, from identifying water sources and recent burns to locating productive habitat and asking landowners for access. Sparks shares a simple scouting strategy that can turn one permission request into thousands of acres of hunting ground. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Read QF’s full 2026 state-by-state Quail Hunting Forecast presented by Duck Camp. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  4. Oct 7

    Broken Bow’s Colton Patterson on Illustrating Wendell Berry Story

    Colton Patterson built Broken Bow around the music, artwork, traditions, and values he inherited from his grandfather. At just 19, his work has grown into a social media following with more than one million people, along with collaborations with artists like the Turnpike Troubadours. That same appreciation for Americana and the outdoors made Patterson a natural fit to illustrate Wendell Berry's Mike, a story about a bird dog, quail hunting, family, memory, and the connection between people and the land. Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks explains why Berry's writing has remained so influential to him, and how the story's deeper themes connect directly to conservation and the hunting tradition. The conversation explores Patterson's creative process, his love of old country and bluegrass music, the influence of his grandparents, and why his deliberately timeless artwork resonates in a digital world. The discussion also digs into the idea of "membership," Berry's concept that we don't simply occupy a place but belong to a community of people, animals, land, traditions, and generations. For anyone who loves bird dogs, quail hunting, conservation, or the culture surrounding the outdoors, this is a conversation about much more than pulling the trigger. It's about why we return to the field and what we carry home with us. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Read Wendell Berry’s story Mike as it appeared in Quail Forever Journal with Broken Bow’s illustrations. Check out Colton Patterson’s artwork at Broken Bow. Learn more about Wendell Berry and his writing in this terrific article from The New York Times following his passing in August. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  5. Sep 30

    PF’s 2026 Pheasant Hunting Forecast: Best States to Hunt this Season

    Pheasants have a knack for surviving whatever the prairie throws at them, and this year's forecast offers plenty of reasons to lace up the boots. From Montana and the Dakotas to Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota, the outlook varies by region, but the bigger story is encouraging: quality upland habitat produces birds. The crew breaks down the state-by-state pheasant hunting forecast, highlighting where hunters can expect the best opportunities and where conditions may require a little more work. Montana and North Dakota offer classic mixed-bag potential for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge, while South Dakota continues to stand out for both bird numbers and access. Nebraska and Kansas offer opportunities for hunters interested in adding bobwhite quail to their mixed bag, and Minnesota's strong hatch could make it an overlooked destination for public land pheasant hunting. Beyond the forecast, the conversation digs into what actually matters once you hit the field. Expect practical pheasant hunting tips on finding birds in dry conditions, hunting cattails and other overlooked cover early in the season, using OnX to mark productive ground, and preparing bird dogs for changing temperatures. Most importantly, the discussion puts the season in perspective: success isn't always measured by limits. It's about good dogs, wild places, friends, family, habitat, and making the most of the days you have. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Read the full 2026 state-by-state Pheasant Hunting Forecast presented by Garmin. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  6. Sep 23

    How Public Land Changes Hunting One Parcel at a Time

    Public land doesn’t have to start with thousands of acres. Sometimes it starts with one property, one partnership, and one group of volunteers willing to keep building. PF & QF’s Casey Sill joins On the Wing to talk about “Brick by Brick,” a new film documenting the impact Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area program has had on communities across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. The conversation explores how permanently protected habitat can create more than pheasant hunting opportunities. It can improve water quality, strengthen local communities, support rural economies, and connect fragmented parcels into larger, more useful public land complexes for a wide array of wildlife species. Sill breaks down his first upland hunting experience in Iowa, the dramatic habitat transformation around the Spirit Lake area, and why Build a Wildlife properties demonstrate the value of building public access one parcel at a time. For hunters who grew up without public access, Sill explains how discovering public land fundamentally changed the way he spends time outdoors and shaped where he ultimately chose to build a life. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes This year’s Build a Wildlife Area week is being sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund in partnership with our friends at The Flush. Learn more about PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area program.Check out PF & QF’s newest film, Brick by Brick presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Chief Upland, and SportDOG Brand. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  7. Sep 16

    Country Music Artist Drake White on Hunting, Music, and Healing

    Country music singer Drake White joins On the Wing for a candid conversation about music, hunting, bird dogs, and the long road back from a devastating stroke. White grew up hunting and fishing in Alabama, where quail, deer, rivers, dogs, and the outdoors shaped how he understood the world and eventually influenced his music. At the height of his career, White suffered a hemorrhagic stroke onstage in Roanoke after doctors discovered an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. The aftermath left him paralyzed on his left side and facing a recovery that would fundamentally change his life. Then a trail camera captured a giant Tennessee whitetail buck behind his house. That deer became a fixation, and hunting became a source of purpose during one of the darkest periods of his recovery. White shares how pursuing that deer helped reignite his competitive spirit, engage his brain, and reconnect him with the outdoors. He also discusses the making of a documentary detailing the role of hunting in his recovery, his relationship with fellow country music artist Riley Green, duck hunting, dove hunting, bird dogs, and why he believes the hunt can be about far more than what ends up in your vest. The conversation is ultimately about resilience, purpose, faith, and finding a reason to keep moving when everything changes. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes Watch “Ladder to the Sky: A Hunt’s the Healing Story” by Realtree and Drake White. Listen to Drake White and catch him on tour at www.DrakeWhite.com. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

  8. Sep 9

    “Gamey” - A Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Short Essay

    The word “gamey” gets thrown around whenever wild game tastes different from what we know. But what does the word “gamey” actually mean? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks takes a hard look at the word and makes the case that it does more harm than good. Wild game carries the imprint of where and how an animal lived. Age, diet, physical activity, season, stress, habitat, and processing can all influence flavor, meaning a bobwhite quail from one landscape can taste remarkably different from a scaled quail, pheasant, duck, deer, or other wild animal harvested somewhere else. Calling all of it “gamey” flattens those differences into one vague label. Sparks also explores why wild game cooking doesn't need to be complicated. From simply grilled quail to the broader tradition of eating animals harvested in the field, the goal isn't to disguise wild flavor. It's to understand and appreciate it. For hunters, anglers, and anyone who puts wild food on the table, there's a bigger lesson here: the flavor of wild game is part of the hunting experience. Learning to cook it well, recognize its differences, and respect what the animal provides can make the connection between field and table even stronger. Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds. Show notes • The winner of the Pheasants Forever + Irish Setter Wingshooters is announced.

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4.7
out of 5
333 Ratings

About

Welcome to the On the Wing Podcast with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. On the Wing is your destination for conversations about upland bird hunting, wildlife habitat, public lands, bird dogs, wild game cooking and epic adventures in search of pheasants, quail and grouse. These are the stories of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s 145,000 members, volunteers, team of professional wildlife biologists and experts in the field. Our shows are recorded in person and often on the road from the end of tailgates, backs of horse trailers and after a day in the field chasing birds.

Information

  • Creator
    On The Wing Podcast by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    388
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    On The Wing Podcast

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