AZ Quail Today Podcast

Ryan Rice
  • 5.0 (2)
  • WILDERNESS

Welcome to AZ Quail Today, your go-to podcast for everything quail hunting in Arizona. From expert insights on local habitats to interviews with passionate hunters, join us as we dive into the world of quail hunting in Arizona.

  1. Episode #59 How A Young Couple Builds A Life Of Hunting, Adventures And Clean Meat

    3D AGO

    Episode #59 How A Young Couple Builds A Life Of Hunting, Adventures And Clean Meat

    We sit down with Sam and Annie to talk about how a young couple blends love, faith, and hunting into a future family life built on adventure. We swap stories from quail hunts and deer blinds, dig into clean meat and nutrition, and end with simple encouragement for anyone curious about getting started.  • Annie’s background, how she gets into elk and deer hunting without growing up around it  • First quail hunt impressions, dogs working and the speed of upland shooting  • How hunting fits into marriage and future family culture  • Picking the right dog for hunting and home life, plus managing allergies  • Why quail eggs and wild game matter for clean eating and high-protein nutrition  • The Arkansas deer hunt story, including Sam scoping himself  • Why processing and skinning feels satisfying and how it connects to respect for food  • Practical encouragement for new hunters to try it before committing  As always, visit us over at azquailtoday.com.  To help further our work, please consider making a tax deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside!  Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    33 min
  2. Episode #58 Handle The Handler for Better Bird Dogs: Conversation with Guy Sr. at Mollicone Kennels

    MAY 1

    Episode #58 Handle The Handler for Better Bird Dogs: Conversation with Guy Sr. at Mollicone Kennels

    We talk with Guy Molicone Sr. about why the handler is often the biggest variable in bird dog training and how small changes in language and timing create huge gains. We also get honest about e-collars, rule sets at home, and what great dogs can teach us about expectations and appreciation.  • trimming commands down to a simple vocabulary and using tone consistently  • transitioning a trained dog back to an owner through coaching, video and a written playbook  • learning by watching other dogs run and seeing many field situations unfold  • using phone video to capture instruction and keep repeatable techniques  • separating GPS tracking from e-collar training to protect timing and precision  • treating the e-collar as a tool that reinforces known behavior rather than punishes confusion  • never giving a command you cannot enforce and why ignored commands become meaningless  • building confident dogs with clear yes and no rules and earned rewards at home  • a favorite bird dog memory about Harley and how rare talent shows up in the field  Well, you can uh visit us over at azquelltoday.com, uh, Instagram, Facebook, and uh hopefully this was helpful. If you like it, share it with a friend. To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside.  Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    43 min
  3. Episode #57 Train The Bird Dog Mind: A Conversation w/ Guy Mollicone Sr.

    APR 24

    Episode #57 Train The Bird Dog Mind: A Conversation w/ Guy Mollicone Sr.

    We sit down with Pro bird dog trainer Guy Sr. of Mollicone Kennels to unpack what makes a reliable quail dog in Arizona and why handler habits matter as much as the dog’s talent. We talk predator psychology, offseason training that fits real life, and how clear rules and consistency turn drive into teamwork. • Guy’s background with bird dogs and how Mollicone Kennels began  • Shifting from “bird dog training” to understanding canines as predators  • How summer camp training works in southeastern Arizona and why location matters  • Scent work versus sight pointing in different Arizona cover types  • Offseason priorities like obedience, recall, stop, and stand  • Why consistency builds confidence and inconsistency creates chaos  • Drive and cooperation differences across pointers, Brittanys, and other breeds  • Owner involvement through visits and training videos at key transitions  • Using a whoa board or a simple cot for steadiness and place work  • Progression from pigeons to game birds to wild birds  • What success looks like at pickup and how owners maintain results  To those of you listening in, if you like what you're hearing, is helpful to you, then share it with a friend.  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.  Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    35 min
  4. Episode #56 Bird Dog Boot Camp: Conversation with Nate Istrate

    APR 17

    Episode #56 Bird Dog Boot Camp: Conversation with Nate Istrate

    We catch up with Nate Istrate and get real about what changes when you send a bird dog to a serious trainer. We trade stories from the field and lay out a simple rule that makes every new hunter and dog handler better: only give commands you can enforce. • Nate’s English pointer Sam and what a refresher tune-up looks like • Dropping off a dog at boot camp with Guy Molicone Sr. in Sierra Vista • Building a reliable whoa and why timing matters • How steadiness to release changes quail hunting • Why pros get fast results and the horse training connection • Living with an older dog and balancing family life • Thinking through a future dog, breeds, and household compromises • Using planted birds for offseason reps and where to start in Arizona • First Mearns quail hunt recap and what tough days teach • Arizona Game and Fish Commission meetings and uncertainty around rule changes To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    38 min
  5. Episode #55 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels | Part 2 of 2

    APR 10

    Episode #55 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels | Part 2 of 2

    We stay in the field with Guy Molicone Jr. and get honest about what bird dogs need most at each stage, from prey drive to steadiness and safe gun work. We trade stories and practical drills that help a dog love birds, learn control, and keep everyone safe when shots and nerves get real.  • Building prey drive before advanced control tools  • Working with emotionally sensitive pointing breeds  • Using silence versus hype to shape engagement  • Letting a dog carry the bird as a reward  • Why some pointing dogs value the point over the retrieve  • Critical feedback on Zona and Happy and what to shore up  • Building a reliable stop through flush and shot  • Safer hunting setups when mentoring new shooters  • Avoiding weekend “cramming” and using rest days  • How clinics help owners learn faster and make fewer mistakes  Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.  Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    39 min
  6. Episode #54 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels Part 1 of 2

    APR 3

    Episode #54 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels Part 1 of 2

    We sit down with Guy Molicone Jr after a dog training clinic and break down what actually happened with a mix of dogs, skill levels, and real-world distractions. We dig into why foundation work matters, how to communicate clearly, and how to keep a high-drive bird dog hunting with us instead of for itself.  • the clinic format and why we split it into parts  • where to find Molicone Kennels and how to join a future clinic  • why group size and Arizona heat change training quality  • using the woa board to teach a reliable stop  • letting dogs learn by watching other dogs work  • making obedience feel like a game for certain dogs  • tightening home habits so the field gets easier  • separating command from correction and using praise well  • smart e-collar use for accountability without confusion  • balancing drive with a real working relationship  Please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    36 min
  7. Episode #53 Interview with Guy Mollicone Jr | Bird Dog Basics That Actually Works

    MAR 27

    Episode #53 Interview with Guy Mollicone Jr | Bird Dog Basics That Actually Works

    We sit down with pro dog trainer Guy Molicone Jr. to talk about what actually builds a reliable bird dog for Arizona quail hunting. We get honest about why rushing gun intro and bird exposure creates long-term problems and how a better relationship with your dog fixes more than any single drill.  • Guy’s story from early desert hunts to professional training  • Why learning theory and behavior modification matter in bird dog training  • Common “repair” cases like gun shyness and blinking birds  • How to sequence prey drive, bird exposure, and obedience control  • Why recall is the safety system for every hunting dog  • How to use whoa sparingly so it keeps its meaning  • Handler consistency and why dogs react to your stress  • Marker words, timing, and “jackpot” rewards without treats  • A realistic first-year development roadmap for busy owners  If you like what you hear, make sure you share it with a friend.  To help further our work, please consider making a tax deductible gift. Visit us online at azquil today.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.  Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    40 min
  8. Episode #52: Hike Strong, Hunt Better. Special Interview with Leslie Rice

    MAR 20

    Episode #52: Hike Strong, Hunt Better. Special Interview with Leslie Rice

    We argue that hiking is the strongest lever a quail hunter can pull in the off season, then invite Leslie to share why desert miles build health, confidence and joy. We cover training basics, smart sun, scouting on foot and bucket-list routes in the Grand Canyon and beyond. • why three to five trail miles make hunts fun, not brutal • the math of seasonal mileage and realistic field demands • heart, lungs, legs and balance as the hunter’s engine • weight loss reducing joint load on rough terrain • mobility as independence and longevity • mental benefits from quiet miles and hard climbs • vitamin D, mineral sunscreen and UPF layers • scouting quail habitat while hiking Arizona trails • Leslie’s favorite hikes, from McDowell to the Canyon • simple starting plan, shoes, routes and consistency To help further our work please consider making a tax deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday dot com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

    36 min
See All (60)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to AZ Quail Today, your go-to podcast for everything quail hunting in Arizona. From expert insights on local habitats to interviews with passionate hunters, join us as we dive into the world of quail hunting in Arizona.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Rice
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AZ Quail Today Podcast
  • Show Website
    AZ Quail Today Podcast

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