On The Wing Podcast

We’ve assembled a special upland bird hunter’s super show episode with Travis Frank of The Flush and Nick Larson of Birdshot Podcast for a conversation focused on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ new Bird Hunter Diary app and ruffed grouse drumming counts. Joining the conversation from the Minnesota DNR are Assistant Area Wildlife Manager for northeast Minnesota Bailey Petersen and Resident Game Bird Consultant Nate Huck. Episode Highlights: • On the Wing host Bob St.Pierre kicks off the show with a recap of his recent visit to Washington, D.C. to moderate a panel focused on the idea of a North American Grasslands Conservation Act and to talk with elected officials about a new federal farm bill. • The conversation then jumps into Minnesota’s eye-popping ruffed grouse drumming counts indicating the highest adult carryover of birds since 1972. Peterson, a wildlife biologist, explains what those counts do AND don’t indicate for the upcoming hunting season. • Huck provides an overview of Minnesota’s new Bird Hunter Diary, what the state is looking to measure through the app, and how all upland hunters can help provide better data through citizen science. ✓ The Minnesota DNR’s Bird Hunter Diary is available at https://tinyurl.com/2nbdyz6p ✓ The Flush podcast is available at www.theflush.tv ✓ The Birdshot Podcast is available at www.birdshotpodcast.com onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. To get a free month of onX Hunt, go to https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/r/p56q9fg and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard for a conversation in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow focused on farm bill legislation. A democrat from Michigan, Chairwoman Stabenow talks about the bi-partisan nature of the farm bill’s conservation title II and the legislation’s intersection between farming, ranching, hunting, and fishing. Episode Highlights: • St.Pierre plays a fun game of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” based upon a famous baseball player from Senator Stabenow’s hometown of Clare, Michigan. • Chairwoman Stabenow explains how her proposed farm bill legislation would increase funding and acres for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). • Chairwoman Stabenow talks about the importance of seizing the opportunity to integrate Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding into the farm bill’s conservation baseline before the end of the year or else that opportunity disappears forever. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard for a conversation in Washington, D.C. with U.S. House Agriculture Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson focused on farm bill legislation. A republican from rural Pennsylvania, Chairman Thompson talks about the bi-partisan nature of the farm bill’s conservation title II and the legislation’s intersection between farming, ranching, hunting, and fishing. Episode Highlights: • Chairman Thompson kicks off the conversation with a story of how his shotgun ended up in Jamaica on his way to a duck hunt in Arkansas that nearly resulted in him bringing home a new Labrador retriever puppy from a Ducks Unlimited banquet. • Chairman Thompson talks about his work on the House’s farm bill language that includes improved soil rental rates for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and a tripling in funding for Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP). • Chairman Thompson also “handicaps the race” to get a new farm bill across the finish line before the current bill expires. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever President & Chief Executive Officer Marilyn Vetter for a conversation in which she reflects on her first year in the organization’s top leadership role. The pair also detail the vision, mission, values, and four strategic priorities comprising the organization’s new strategic plan themed “Building Forever.” Episode Highlights: • St.Pierre asks Vetter to share stories from her first year as “The Habitat Organization’s” leader; including the significant moments, times of frustration, best advice received, and favorite hunt. • Despite the organization already having a strategic plan in place, Vetter explains her philosophy behind initiating a revitalized strategic plan with a larger collection of PF & QF employee executives focused on the following quote from business leader and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek, “If a movement is to have an impact, it must belong to those who join it not just those who lead it.” • Vetter goes on to explain why the organization’s wildlife habitat mission isn’t changing, but how increasing a reliance on science-based decision-making and improving accountability sharpened the organization’s focus on four strategic priorities, which include: a. Increase & improve wildlife HABITAT on public and private lands b. Advance conservation POLICIES and program funding c. Expand public ACCESS to upland wildlife habitat d. Expand, educate and engage the upland conservation COMMUNITY Learn more about PF & QF’s new strategic plan by reading “Aiming High,” an excerpt from the Pheasants Forever Journal. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom Carpenter and Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for the first-ever meeting of the Upland Bird Hunters’ Book Club. The conversation starts with a discussion about Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It and how that book, and subsequent movie, changed the general public’s perception of fly fishing. St.Pierre poses the question, “has the upland bird hunting version of that classic narrative been written yet?” Episode Highlights: • The “national treasure” Tom Carpenter dives deep into his bookcase of classics with personal tales, including a story of his cherished friendship with renowned bird hunting writer Ben O. Williams. • Sparks covers a wide array of genres with his selections as his top five picks include a cookbook, a collection of essays, a couple of classics, and even a wacky fiction where a wealthy English hunter is reincarnated as a pheasant on his own hunting estate. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Yia Vang, a Hmong American chef, restaurant owner, and host of Outdoor Channel’s television show “Feral.” Vang talks about growing up as a small game hunter, going on his first pheasant hunt in Wisconsin, and his perspective on the Hmong “balanced” approach to food. Episode Highlights: • Vang talks about his journey from college to chef and food truck operator to the owner of a new restaurant, Vinai, in Minneapolis. • Vang also explains how Andrew Zimmern’s producers “discovered” him, which led to “Feral.” • WATCH Vang make pheasant fried rice, which is featured in the new PF & QF Upland Bird Hunting Super issue. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by the husband-and-wife dog training duo Susanna and Ronnie Smith. Ronnie comes from a long line of famous bird dog trainers that includes his father, Ronnie Sr., his uncle Delmar, and his cousin Rick. The couple talk about falling in love when Susanna brought her young German shorthaired pointer pup to Ronnie for training. This is their touching love story filled with bird dog conversation and priceless bird dog training tips. Episode Highlights: • Susanna shares her story of growing up as a ranching kid in Texas, moving to Washington, D.C. to work for the House Committee on Agriculture, then coming back home to her roots to work livestock, horses, and dogs. • Ronnie shares a few fun stories about guiding President George H. Bush, President George W. Bush, NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, and astronaut Eugene Cernan on Texas quail hunts. • The couple also share how the COVID pandemic changed the way they approached training a bird dog. • The Smiths are members of the Purina Pro Plan Pro Staff, check out this video about their story and learn more about the Smiths at their website.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Travis Frank, host of The Flush, to preview the television show’s new 2024 season on Outdoor Channel. The guys kick off the conversation with a fun debate about which characters they most resemble from 1990’s sitcoms, then talk about their philosophical differences in approaching podcast preparations. The highlight of the episode comes with Travis discussing his personal trepidation about filming his son’s first pheasant hunt and the joy he experiences raising two daughters and two sons as hunters and anglers. Travis also shares the horrific experience of getting a fishhook in his eye and his miraculous recovery. The Flush 2024 Season Lineup Week 1 July 1 Alberta Huns & Fowl Week 2 July 8 Superior Trail Ruffed Grouse Week 3 July 15 North Dakota Sharpies & Huns Week 4 July 22 Minnesota’s First CRP Farmer Week 5 July 29 Kansas Quail Week 6 August 5 Marilyn Vetter as PF & QF’s New President & CEO Week 7 August 12 Traveling Grouse Guide Week 8 August 19 A Boy’s First Pheasant Week 9 August 26 Iowa Pheasant Roadtrip Week 10 September 2 Idaho Quail Nightmare Week 11 September 9 Christmas Grouse Camp Week 12 September 16 Hank Hunt #3 at Prairie Wildlife Lodge Week 13 September 23 A Young Chukar Hunting Phenom The Flush airs on Outdoor Channel at the following times (Eastern): • Mondays at 9:30am • Wednesdays at 12:30pm • Fridays at 11:30am • Saturdays at 8:30am • Sundays at 6:30am

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever’s Dr. Jessica McGuire, University of Georgia’s Dr. James Martin, and Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a conversation about the new “Bobscapes” mobile app. The group chats about citizen science, artificial intelligence, and using Bobscapes data to better understand bobwhite quail populations. Episode Highlights: • Dr. Martin discusses the evolution of citizen science in wildlife research and also theorizes ways artificial intelligence may be used to help biologists in the future. • Jokingly referred to as a Bobscapes app “super user,” Sparks explains how easy the app is to use and how he enjoys putting it to work on his family’s Nebraska farm. • Learn more about Bobscapes and download the free app at www.Bobscapes.org. This episode of On the Wing podcast was made possible by a grant from the #Farming4Habitat campaign. Learn how private landowners are investing in the conservation of America’s fish and wildlife resources by visiting www.Farming4Habitat.org.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever biologists Ciera Garner and Heather Francis to talk about the intersection between pollinator habitat for pollinating insects and brood habitat for upland birds. Garner is the organization’s pollinator coordinator in Tennessee and Francis is a farm bill biologist III and on-boarding coordinator in Nebraska. In fact, pollinators are so important to them both that Garner’s wedding earlier this spring included a variety of native wildflower components as did Francis’ youngest son’s wedding that happened on the very same day as Garner’s nuptials. Episode Highlights: • The group focuses their conversation on a Top 10 list of wildflowers as voted on by a sampling of PF & QF’s team of biologists. • The criteria for the Top 10 list of wildflowers included each plant’s a) value in creating habitat structure; b) value as a food resource – both in seed produced as food, as well as the plant’s ability to attract soft-bodied insects as chick food; and c) as the wildcard value of the flower’s blooming beauty. • Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are currently offering a special Pollinator Week package including a PF or QF membership, six wildflower plants, a “Habitat Creator” sticker, and a “Pollinator Habitat” sign. Check out the offer at: www.PheasantsForever.org/PollinatorWeek www.QuailForever.org/PollinatorWeek Thanks to our Pollinator Week partners: • Corteva Agriscience • Bayer U.S. Crop Science • Syngenta US • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Monarch Joint Venture • Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a conversation with Jesse Griffiths, a restauranteur, chef, cooking instructor, MeatEater contributor, and James Beard award-winning food writer. Griffiths wrote an article in the new summer edition of the Quail Forever Journal titled, “The Three Quail I’ve Known,” about wild, stocked, and farm-raised quail. Episode Highlights: • The conversation starts with a focus on quail hunting opportunities in Texas and how a love for eating quail can lead to a passion for quail habitat conservation. • Sparks equates being a capable wild game cook at home to being able to read quality habitat for bird hunting. Both are equally important, but not always viewed as equals. • Griffiths closes the conversation with a lightning round of his favorite way to prepare quail, favorite quail side dishes, and favorite quail libations. Learn more about Jesse Griffiths by visiting the following sites: - His restaurant Dai Due at https://www.daidue.com/home - His books at https://www.thewildbooks.com/ - Follow Jesse on Instagram @sac.a.lait

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Mike Amman and Ashly Steinke, both volunteers with the Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society, for a conversation about prairie grouse, barrens habitat, and dog training. When most folks think about sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chickens, they automatically think about the large expanses of prairie grasslands across the Dakotas or Montana or Nebraska. There is, however, a somewhat “secret” population of sharp-tailed grouse in Wisconsin’s brushland habitat. Episode Highlights: • Steinke, an ecologist with Audubon Society, shares his personal passion and professional knowledge focused on growing Wisconsin’s sharp-tailed grouse population through habitat management and brushland connectivity. • Amman, a forester for Wisconsin’s Bayfield County, discusses his perspective on the importance of the state’s brushland habitat and the wildlife dependent upon this unique form of grasslands habitat, even though he’s also passionate about the state’s Northwoods forests. • The guys also discuss the value Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society find in having a booth to recruit new members from all over the country at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic. Learn more about sharp-tailed grouse in Wisconsin by visiting www.WiSharptails.org

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Irene Liu, Wenfei Tong, and Tom Swartwout, along with web developer and software engineer Ben Cooley for a “behind the scenes” conversation about the creation of the Map for Grasslands. The map is the output of a partnership spanning two years between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and more than two dozen conservation organizations working toward the creation of the North American Grasslands Conservation Act. Episode Highlights: • As a producer, editor, and director with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Conservation Media, Swartwout explains his organization’s interest in grasslands conservation and his team’s role in turning data into a visual tool for the public. • Liu and Tong discuss the data sources behind the map’s focus on bobwhite quail, pheasants, monarch butterflies, elk, and northern pintails as five of the fifteen different wildlife species highlighted within the www.MapForGrasslands.org. • Cooley then explains how he turned the tremendous volume of data sources into a heart-breaking AND compelling story of the need for grasslands habitat conservation by utilizing the “martini glass” principle.

Continuing Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s special Women on the Wing podcast series, host Ashley Chance is joined by co-host Britta Petersen for a conversation with Dr. Jess McGuire who is the Senior Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Bobwhite Program Manager. Jess shares stories about working on a variety of research projects, the ups and downs of conservation on private lands and why quail can save the uplands. Episode Highlights: • Why Jess has multiple unusual species in her freezer…. Cicadas anyone? • Hear about Jess’s experience as a biologist climbing trees with a chainsaw to build red cockaded woodpecker habitat. • How gopher tortoise conservation is quail conservation and why working with private landowners is extremely rewarding. • The crew discusses how sharing their enthusiasm for the natural world with kids, neighbors, former teammates, and private landowners will save the world. • Quail conservation at large and how creating and restoring habitat will produce more healthy and resilient quail populations. To learn more about the Bobscapes app referenced in the podcast, visit: https://bobscapes.org/ Suddenly curious about gopher tortoises? Visit: https://gophergamesfilm.com/

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Nick Hoffman, a singer-songwriter, fiddle player, and host of “Nick’s Wild Ride” on Outdoor Channel and Bally’s Sports. At the age of 17, Hoffman ran away from his Minnesota home to chase musical dreams in Branson, Missouri, and then later to Nashville where he landed as the fiddle player in Kenny Chesney’s band. From there, Hoffman takes us on his “wild ride” in the music industry, and growing up in a non-hunting family to hosting an award-winning outdoor television show. Episode Highlights: • Hoffman discusses his growing interest in hunting while touring with Chesney for 12 years, then while as a co-founder of the trio The Farm. He then explains how he jumped from a successful musical career into outdoor television. • The guys also talk about the importance of being a mentor beyond the initial introductory hunt, especially through failures. • Hoffman also explains the role his grandfather, Harry Hoffman, played in the early days of Federal Ammunition and how it has all come full circle with Federal Ammunition as the longest tenured partner of “Nick’s Wild Ride.”

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Senior Regional Representative Will Clayton for a conversation with chapter volunteers Nina Hoekstra and Dave Scherf. All four participants in this episode recently contributed to projects as part of PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat effort to improve upland acres across the country. Episode Highlights: • The crew talk about clearing barbed wire, old tires, and other trash during habitat workdays, then they go around-the-horn with tales of the weirdest garbage they have picked up on public lands. • Nina Hoekstra, a volunteer with Minnesota’s McLeod County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, talks about the intimidation of first getting involved as a PF volunteer, then being so inspired to change careers focused on her passion for wildlife habitat and upland bird hunting. Follow Nina on Instagram @in.ninas.nature • Dave Scherf, a long-time volunteer with Minnesota’s Metro Minneapolis Chapter of Pheasants Forever, talks about his love for public land and how Hands-On Habitat projects brings him so much personal joy. Special “THANK YOU” to onX Hunt for supporting PF & QF’s Hands-On Habitat efforts across the country throughout the entire month of May. As part of their commitment, onX Hunt is funding three grants for PF & QF chapters participating in Hands-On Habitat projects. Learn more and find an event near you at: www.PheasantsForever.org/HandsOnHabitat or www.QuailForever.org/HandsOnHabitat

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Conservation Leadership Program Manager Levi Day for a discussion about the organization’s effort to foster more interest in conservation careers, ranging from biologists to marketing professionals and accountants to educators. Episode Highlights: • Day recounts becoming a hunter, pursuing a career as an education professional, then developing a hunting friendship via social media that resulted in his jump into a conservation career of his own with PF & QF. • Day also explains PF & QF’s Journey to Conservation Careers program and recaps a successful career curriculum session that occurred on the morning of the podcast in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s Harrisburg High School.

Continuing Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s special Women on the Wing podcast series, host Ashley Chance is joined by co-host Britta Petersen for a conversation with North Dakota Senior Field Representative Renee Tomala. Renee talks to us about growing up in the outdoors, DIY dog training and how she works with Pheasants Forever Chapters to carry out our organization’s mission. SPOILER ALERT: There are now 13 Women on the Wing Chapters across the country with more on the way! Episode Highlights: • Being in the path of totality – Britta's eclipse experience. • The crew talks about getting comfortable eating unusual animal parts. • Renee talks about what a privilege it is to work with chapters to carry out our mission and all the ways she goes about that, leaving us to wonder what doesn't a regional representative do? • Renee gives us a brief history of Women on the Wing and Women on the Wing Chapters, which originated with an all-women staff years ago in North Dakota. • Today there are Women on the Wing Chapters in ND, TX, MN, MI, NC, WA, GA, WI, AZ, SD and OH doing all kinds of neat things including hosting events like “Unstuck your truck.” • Renee chronicles the (mis)adventures of Quill, her German Wirehaired Pointer aka ‘Porcupine Lover.’ Find a Women on the Wing Chapter near you on our website, and if you’d like to start a Women on the Wing Chapter where you live, reach out to Renee at [email protected]!

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Tony Jones, an adult-onset hunter, theologian, author, professor, podcaster, and former pastor. Jones has just released a new book, The God of Wild Places with the subtitle “Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors.” In the book, Jones writes about the role pheasant hunting, bird dogs, and wild meat have played in shaping his new perspective on life following a tumultuous divorce. Episode Highlights: • The guys start off the episode with a spirited flusher vs. pointer debate. • Jones tells the funny story of trading preaching services for pheasant hunting expertise and land access. • The discussion ends with a preview of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers annual Rendezvous taking place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 19 & 20 where Tony will be selling his books and where PF & QF will have a membership booth. Learn more about Tony Jones, his new book, and the Reverend Hunter podcast at www.ReverendHunter.com.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Clay Thompson, a SportDOG Brand pro staff dog trainer, for a conversation about his Oklahoma quail roots and his current South Dakota waterfowl and pheasant passions. The guys also discuss the new SportDOG Brand FieldSentinel, which Thompson equates to a dog’s “check engine light,” as it monitors a pup’s heart rate and the intensity & duration of exertion. Episode Highlights: • Thompson explains how skipping a day of college to go on a duck hunt with a well-trained bird dog changed his life for the better. • Thompson tells the story of how an impromptu South Dakota sharp-tailed grouse hunt on a hot day put his Labrador retriever into a scary situation, which was the genesis story for the new SportDOG Brand FieldSentinel. Check out the new SportDOG Brand FieldSentinel.

Continuing Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s special Women on the Wing podcast series, host Ashley Chance is joined by co-host Britta Petersen for a conversation with Iowa Senior Farm Bill Biologist Allie Barth. Barth is one of the longest tenured biologists in the organization and brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion focused on prescribed fire and the ins and outs of the Conservation Reserve Program. The trio also discuss how our organizations’ biologists use their skills and passion to create wildlife habitat, and Barth also shares some of the important things she’s learned from working with landowners. Episode Highlights: • Barth shows off her biologist chops throughout the conversation, while also talking about how lighting a prescribed fire can be thrilling, scary, and extremely beneficial. • The crew discuss why Labs should be everyone’s next dog. • Upcoming adventures: exploring the outdoors with Labs and kids, more fire, and turkey hunting!

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined Ben Wheeler, a Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever wildlife biologist and prescribed fire expert from Nebraska, for a conversation with author Maura O’Connor. The discussion focuses on O’Connor’s new book, Ignition, which is subtitled “Lighting Fires in a Burning World.” The trio talk about the importance of prescribed fire for wildlife habitat, as well as the importance of regular burning of prairies and forests to prevent massive wildfires. Episode Highlights: • Wheeler recounts famed biologist Herbert Stoddard’s advocacy for fire as a critically important wildlife habitat management tool, as well as Stoddard’s dubbing of the bobwhite quail as “the fire bird.” • O’Connor explains the role prescribed fire plays in protecting grasslands from woody encroachment, mitigating climate change, and protecting water resources. Check out O’Connor’s book, Ignition, on Amazon.

Host Ashley Chance is joined by co-host Britta Petersen to introduce a special Women on the Wing series of the podcast focused on highlighting the women that make up the Habitat Organization. Learn about who Britta and Ashley are as hunters and conservation professionals as well as what inspired them to tell the stories of other women in this series. SPOILER ALERT: 36% of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever staff are women and sharing their professional conservation journeys through this series is going to be amazing! Episode Highlights: Exploring the myth of man the hunter and woman the gatherer. What it means to have other women to go hunting with and learn from. Hear about the third consecutive year of an all-women buckthorn and honeysuckle murder squad. Upcoming adventures: prescribed fire, shed hunting and being pregnant during turkey season!

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by three biologists from Oklahoma and Texas to discuss the massive wildfires in the panhandle areas of both states in recent weeks, as well as the impact those wildfires have had on upland birds. Those biologists include Tell Judkins, upland game biologist with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation; John McLaughlin, upland game program leader with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department; and Thomas Janke, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s state coordinator for Texas. Episode Highlights: • Judkins and McLaughlin provide a recap of the massive number of acres burned and provide an update on the impact those wildfires have had on wildlife populations so far. • Janke explains difference between wildfires and prescribed fires, as well as the critically important role prescribed fire plays in properly managing upland habitat to maximize potential for wildlife. • Judkins and McLaughlin explain the concept of “fighting fire with fire” and the dual role prescribed fire plays in mitigating the risk and impact of wildfires. Read The Heart of The Habitat Organization is with the Southern Great Plains by Casey Sill

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by veterinarians Dr. RuthAnn Lobos and Dr. Seth Bynum for a podcast version of our “Ask a Vet” video series being presented by Purina Pro Plan. To kick off the conversation, Dr. Lobos and Dr. Bynum share their hunting and bird dog backgrounds, then Bob asks follow-up questions from the first six episodes of the video series. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoOX_tNUo44MiMiZqXrjqQqCDfw1jbFlI Episode Highlights: Ask a Vet Episode 1 – What’s in your bird dog’s first aid kit? Ask a Vet Episode 2 – How do I safely travel with my bird dog? Ask a Vet Episode 3 – How do I prevent bird dog injuries? Ask a Vet Episode 4 – What is the best feeding method for my bird dog? Ask a Vet Episode 5 – What supplements should I consider for my bird dog? Ask a Vet Episode 6 – When should I spay or neuter my bird dog?

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter and PF & QF Director of Communications Jared Wiklund to preview the special section, “Pheasant Habitat Essentials Guide” coming up in the spring edition of the Pheasants Forever Journal. The trio discuss nesting & brood-rearing habitat, winter habitat, food plots, pheasant stocking fallacies, the science of predators, and federal Farm Bill conservation and access programs. Episode Highlights: • Carp drops a wide array of “Carp-isms” like “hellholes” and “tootles” during the conversation. He also explains a few scientific terms like the immense “fecundity” of coyote populations and the constant “senescence” of habitat. • Jared explains the #Farming4Habitat campaign to highlight the robust investments America’s landowners make in support of fish and wildlife resources, particularly through Farm Bill conservation programs. The campaign’s partners include Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Congressional Sportsmen’s Alliance, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Learn more at www.Farming4Habitat.org.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by three Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever co-workers to provide overviews of family-centric attractions that’ll be a part of National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic coming up on March 1-3 in Sioux Falls. Episode Highlights: • Kim Cole, PF & QF’s Habitat Education Program Manager, provides an overview of the event’s Youth Village sponsored by Sportsman’s Guide, which features archery, fly tying, and conservation career development. • Ashley Chance, PF & QF’s Hunting Heritage Program Manager, gives a rundown of the Path to the Uplands Stage sponsored by ALPS OutdoorZ. The lineup includes Ben Brettingen from onX, Dr. Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek from the South Dakota State University, Nick Hoffman of Nick’s Wild Ride on Outdoor Channel, James Beard Food Writer Hank Shaw, and Doug Duren of MeatEater fame. • Shannon Hoheisel, PF & QF’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, closes out the episode with an overview of “Family Day” sponsored by First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard. Sunday’s Family Day features free admission for attendees 16 years of age and younger, and a complimentary Spunky Pup pheasant dog toy for the first 500 families through the gates. Learn more about National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic at www.PheasantFest.org

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Buddy Huffaker, the President & CEO of The Aldo Leopold Foundation, and Rich Wissink, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s VP of Conservation Programs for a discussion about Aldo Leopold’s influence on conservation in 2024 and the 75th anniversary celebration of Leopold’s seminal work, A Sand County Almanac. The trio discuss how hunting and bird dogs shaped Leopold’s view of the natural world, his writings, and his Land Ethic. Episode Highlights: • Huffaker talks about becoming a hunter to better understand Leopold’s writings and how hunting has influenced his own view of Leopold, conservation, and the outdoors. • Wissink, a lifelong Wisconsinite and wildlife biologist, explains how his own career in conservation with the Wisconsin DNR and PF & QF has been influenced by Leopold. • Huffaker also explains how Delia Owen’s #1 New York Times Bestseller book, Where the Crawdads Sing, was influenced by Leopold. A Sand County Almanac is available through the Aldo Leopold Foundation for an affordable $7.50 each in recognition of the publication’s 75th anniversary and with the goal of helping get the text into more people’s hands to influence the broader public’s “Land Ethic.”

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Jordan Martincich, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s VP of Development, and Ariel Wiegard, PF & QF’s VP of Government Affairs, for a discussion about a new effort to create sustainable conservation funding in Kansas. Jordan, a lifelong Kansas resident, provides the background on the initiative’s origin story, proposed funding structure, and anticipated deliverables. In fact, the Kansans for Conservation coalition includes a wide array of partners covering agriculture, energy, and conservation sectors. Episode Highlights: • Wiegard explains 35 of our country’s 50 states already have some form of sustainable funding in place for conservation investments, but Kansas does not. In fact, the absence of a dedicated conservation revenue stream is resulting in Kansas leaving considerable federal dollars on the table that could be coming back to Kansas. Wiegard also describes the mechanics of this proposal and how it would NOT result in the creation of a new tax. The proposal is a re-allocation of existing funding sources toward natural resources. • Martincich reports Kansas House Bill #2541 was introduced in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee at the request of Representative Doug Blex on January 18th, which is the first step. A hearing was conducted related to HB #2541 on January 22nd. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever members who live in Kansas are encouraged to contact their Kansas House Representative and voice their support for House Bill #2541. Learn more at www.KansansForConservation.org

Host Bob St.Pierre has a “get to know you” chat with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s new Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard. Following career stops with TRCP, Syngenta, and American Soybean Association, Wiegard joined PF & QF’s leadership team in late 2023. During the conversation, she talks about her hunting roots, her bird dogs, and how her career path in agriculture and conservation has culminated in her dream job at PF & QF. Episode Highlights: • Wiegard shares the terrific story behind her veteran German shorthair’s name, Argos. In Homer’s Odyssey, Argos is the only one who recognizes Odysseus after his ten-year journey. • Wiegard provides legislative updates on the Farm Bill, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP), and North American Grasslands Conservation Act. She also shares her vision for growth in the organization’s efforts to influence conservation policy at the state level.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Charlotte Roy, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Grouse Project Leader and Bailey Petersen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Assistant Area Wildlife Manager for northeast Minnesota, for a deep dive into the biology, habitat, and hunting tactics for spruce grouse. Episode Highlights: • Roy discusses a recently completed spruce grouse study spanning three years, which provided a tremendous amount of insight into this beautiful and secretive grouse species of the boreal forest. • Petersen, an avid upland bird hunter who travels across the country with her three English setters and one small Munsterlander, provides a wide array of tips for locating and hunting spruce grouse across Minnesota’s northern range. In fact, Petersen invites traveling bird hunters to contact her at [email protected] to answer questions about hunting these birds in Minnesota, the eastern most state where they are legal upland game. Learn more about spruce grouse on the Minnesota DNR’s website at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/birds/sprucegrouse.html

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Dave Simonett, lead singer and songwriter of the band Trampled by Turtles, to preview Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s first-ever Concert for Conservation. In partnership with Pepper Entertainment, the show will open with Chester Floyd and Carl Hansen before Trampled by Turtles takes the stage at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Thursday, February 29th. Check out the available tickets to PF & QF’s first-ever Concert for Conservation at pheasantsforever.org/TrampledbyTurtles Episode Highlights: • The guys talk about their shared love of saunas, reading books, watching baseball, and following bird dogs. • Simonett also talks about how bird hunting, upland habitat, public lands, and bird dogs have changed his lifestyle and influenced his songwriting. Check out the limited-time PF or QF membership offers featuring the special concert artwork at pheasantsforever.org/Trampled or quailforever.org/Trampled Special THANK YOU to our Concert for Conservation sponsors Pepper Entertainment, Leinenkugel’s, Purina Pro Plan, and onXHunt.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by lifelong South Dakota pheasant hunter and longtime Pheasants Forever chapter volunteer Darwin Weeldreyer. With two weeks remaining in South Dakota’s pheasant hunting season (as well as Nebraska and Kansas), Weeldreyer offers a few hard-earned tactics for outsmarting late season longtails. Episode Highlights: • Weeldreyer talks about originally getting involved with South Dakota’s Wessington Springs Chapter of Pheasants Forever to learn how to improve the habitat on land he inherited from his father, while also getting in good with the guy who would later become his father-in-law. • Fresh off a January pheasant hunt with eight inches of crusty snow on the ground, Weeldreyer gives a handful of hot tips for hunters chasing roosters the final couple of weeks of this hunting season. Get involved with PF or QF by becoming a volunteer with your local chapter.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Ryan Sparks during his first week as the new editor of Quail Forever Journal. Sparks talks about growing up in Nebraska and how quail have played an important role in every stage of his life leading to his dream job with Quail Forever. In fact, Sparks’ master’s thesis was titled, “Feathers and Farmers: A Cultural Ecology of Bobwhite Quail in Nebraska’s Platte River Valley.” Episode Highlights: • Sparks discusses his passion for Elhew English pointers, wild game cooking, and classic outdoors writing. He also floats the idea of a future quail hunting and bonefish cast & blast adventure to the Bahamas. • The guys also discuss Sparks’ vision for where he’d like to take the Quail Forever Journal and his interest in sourcing more stories from QF members. In fact, if you’ve got a story idea, please email Ryan at [email protected]. Become a Quail Forever member so you can start receiving the Quail Forever Journal and read Ryan Sparks’ work.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever President and CEO Marilyn Vetter for an in-depth conversation with Donnie Vincent, a biologist, explorer, conservationist, hunter, and filmmaker. Vincent will serve as the keynote speaker at the organization’s Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic National Banquet on March 2nd in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Episode Highlights: • Vincent explains the origin of his favorite quote, “To experience fantastic things, you have to put yourself in fantastic places” and how that ethos fits into his approach to life and filmmaking. • Vetter tells the funny and winding story of connecting with Donnie Vincent through a friend from Alaska, Ken Gates, that resulted in her husband having an impromptu hour and a half long conversation with Donnie in the fishing aisle of a Wisconsin sporting goods store. • Vincent also gives a taste of the habitat and hunting thoughts he’s building his keynote address around. Tickets to the National Banquet are sold out, but we are taking names on a waiting list at https://pfqf.myeventscenter.com/event/2024-National-Pheasant-Fest-Quail-Classic-84173 Learn more about Donnie Vincent at www.DonnieVincent.com and check out his signature film about what hunting means to him, Who We Are.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever member Vincent Martino to share Idaho’s secrets as a top-tier upland bird hunting state. Marino, a former Marine Corps officer who recently was able to retire after selling his software company, recaps his recently completed adventure to hunt and bag all nine of Idaho’s upland bird species in a single season. Episode Highlights: Martino runs through his hunts for each of the nine species, which he successfully took over points by one of his two Brittany pups all on public land over the last four months. This includes ruffed grouse, blue grouse, Hungarian partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, California quail, sage grouse, pheasants, chukar, and spruce grouse!

This is the fifth episode of Pheasants Forever’s 14th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Design Director Logan Hinners, and Video Production Specialist Jordan Darley to recap this year’s Rooster Road Trip. The featured element is the group answering questions crowdsourced from PF & QF’s social media channels. Episode Highlights: · Darley explains his rational for leaving paradise in Hawaii to pursue his dream in North Dakota of becoming a wildlife biologist. He then talks about the importance of telling the story of our natural world through film as the impetus for his career pivot from a biologist to a video production specialist. · Each participant also talks about their favorite pieces of hunting gear, shotgun/ammo/choke preferences, and traveling hacks for living with bird dogs on the road. · Vavra also makes an impassioned plea for all the upland hunters complaining about a lack of public hunting access to get involved with a non-profit organizations and political efforts to move conservation policy forward in state capitols and in Washington, D.C. Check out all of this year’s Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the PF or QF Browning Blackout Knife. Don’t delay, the deadline to enter is December 20, 2023. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2023 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Autos • YETI • Irish Setter • Leupold

This is the fourth episode of PF’s 14th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Design Director Logan Hinners, and Social Media Strategist Nate Akey to recap the final day of this year’s adventure in Nebraska. Episode Highlights: The conversation starts with the group reminiscing around Rooster Road Trip’s origin story as an experiment for social media that has burgeoned into the PF’s largest online event and a driver of significant unrestricted revenue for the organization’s wildlife habitat mission. The crew also have some fun talking about the Threads social media mash-up around the launch of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer earlier this summer. Hinners and Akey talk about their young pup’s evolution as bird dogs over the course of the weeklong Rooster Road Trip and how wild birds are invaluable to their progression. And Vavra, the only person to have participated in all 14 Rooster Road Trip adventures, declares this year the “birdiest” Rooster Road Trip of all. Check out the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the PF Browning Blackout Knife. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2023 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Autos • YETI • Irish Setter • Leupold

This is the third episode of Pheasants Forever’s 14th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Iowa Regional Field Representative Lexi Ashbrook, and Nebraska Coordinating Wildlife Biologist Ben Wheeler as the group recaps hunting public lands in Iowa and Nebraska for pheasants and bobwhite quail. Episode Highlights: Ashbrook explains bonding with her dad while growing up pheasant hunting without a dog and how excited she is to have her own first bird dog, “Timber” a German shorthaired pointer, who is figuring things out on this trip. Vavra talks about his affinity for Iowa’s IHAP and Nebraska’s Open Fields & Waters, which are both programs creating public access to private land with wildlife habitat improvements being made in the process. Wheeler reminisces about the highlights, lowlights, and funny stories of his veteran bird dog, “Annie,” an 11-year old German shorthaired pointer. Check out the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the PF Browning Blackout Knife. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2023 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Autos • YETI • Irish Setter • Leupold

This is the second episode of Pheasants Forever’s 14th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Corporate Partnerships & Product Development Coordinator Erica Divan, and Iowa State Coordinator Josh Divan for opening day of pheasant hunting season in Iowa. Episode Highlights: · The Divan’s share their special opening day traditions as a young married couple and Erica Divan talks about feeling great at 5 ½ months pregnant while bird hunting on the trip. · Andrew expresses his love for watching pointing dogs work running roosters even though he admits to being a devoted Lab lover. · Josh Divan provides play-by-play to bagging his three-bird Iowa limit in the span of 90 seconds after missing a relatively easy opportunity earlier in the day. Check out the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the PF Browning Blackout Knife. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2023 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Autos • YETI • Irish Setter • Leupold

This is the first episode of Pheasants Forever’s 14th annual Rooster Road Trip. True to Rooster Road Trip’s ethos, this year’s “Hunting the Heartland” edition takes place exclusively on publicly accessible lands. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, Senior Regional Representative Will Clayton, and Regional Representative Chance Steward to recap the trip’s first day of public land hunting on wildlife areas in south central Minnesota. Episode Highlights: · Vavra kicks off the conversation with the Rooster Road Trip’s origin story and talks about this year’s plan to hunt Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. · Clayton describes the importance of early successional grassland habitat for pheasants and what it looks like to a hunter’s eye. · The group exchange barbs over bird dogs, water retrieves, shooting prowess, and St.Pierre’s propensity to separate from the group for a “walkabout” hunt by himself without cameras. Check out the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 725 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the PF Browning Blackout Knife. And special thanks to our Rooster Road Trip 2023 sponsors: • Browning • SoundGear • Ruff Land Kennels • Federal Ammunition • Garmin • Apple Autos • YETI • Irish Setter • Leupold

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever’s Program Manager Andy Edwards for a conversation focused on the upcoming bobwhite quail hunting season in the Southeast. Michael Hook, small game program coordinator for South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and chair of the National Bobwhite and Grasslands Initiative – Technical Committee and Tim Caughran, PF & QF’s director of field operations in the South Region, roll through a highlight reel of hunting opportunities across southern bobwhite quail states. Episode Highlights: • Hook covers his home state of South Carolina, along with Alabama and Texas. He also explains his day-to-day responsibilities as a small game program coordinator. • Caughran touches on Virginia, Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana, while stressing the importance of being willing to venture deeper into the places other folks aren’t willing to go when in search of public land bobwhites. • Edwards highlights Georgia and touches on ways to use onX Hunt and your knowledge of quail habitat to seek out new areas to hunt this season. Check out Quail Forever’s full state-by-state quail hunting forecast for more details.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever’s Program Manager Andy Edwards for a conversation focused on guests Casey Cardinal, resident game bird biologist for the New Mexico Game & Fish Department and chair of the Western Quail Working Group, and Lauren Stamm, Quail Forever’s regional representative for the southwestern U.S. The group provide an upland bird hunting forecast covering quail species across the western states starting in the southwest desert up to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Episode Highlights: • Cardinal gets the conversation started by targeting scaled quail in west Texas and rolls across New Mexico and Arizona with positive prospects for bobwhite, Gambel’s, and Montezuma quail. • Stamm covers Nevada and California for valley quail, Gambel’s quail, and chukar. • Cardinal closes the conversation with a wide array of hunting forecasts for valley quail, mountain quail, sharp-tail grouse, dusky grouse, and chukars across the Pacific Northwest. • Edwards and St.Pierre add their perspectives as Midwest-based bird hunters traveling to the West where rattlesnakes, mountain cliffs, and cactus are intimidating factors for the first-timers. Check out Quail Forever’s full state-by-state quail hunting forecast for more details.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Nebraska Senior State Coordinator Kelsi Wehrman, Iowa State Coordinator Josh Divan, Missouri State Coordinator Andrew White, and Oklahoma & Kansas Regional Representative Laura McIver for a conversation about the upcoming pheasant and quail hunting seasons across the Great Plains. Each participant discusses weather, upland habitat, public lands, and hunting tactics in their respective state. Episode Highlights: · Wehrman and McIver talk about Nebraska and Kansas emerging from an extended drought to create optimism for the hunting season ahead and a potential big rebound for next season. · Divan’s Iowa report echoes Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota’s glowing recap heard during the last episode focused upon this spring and summer’s weather for “nearly perfect” nesting conditions for upland birds. · Wehrman and White both share first-time observations of quail “mega-broods” in Nebraska and Missouri this year. · Each participant provides a closing tip to help put an extra bird in your vest. Check out Pheasants Forever’s full state-by-state pheasant hunting forecast and Quail Forever’s full state-by-state quail hunting forecast for more details.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined PF & QF’s North Dakota and Montana Senior Field Representative Renee Tomala, Minnesota State Coordinator Tanner Bruse, and South Dakota State Coordinator Matt Gottlob to preview the pheasant hunting seasons in each of their home states. The group talks about weather, habitat, and hunting tactics. Episode Highlights: · Tomala provides an update about her bird dog, Quill, who suffered a traumatic injury in the field last season during the filming of an episode of The Flush. · Gottlob and St.Pierre talk about both being Type 1 diabetics and how they overcome the challenges of their conditions as avid hunters. · Each participant provides a closing tip to help put an extra bird in your vest. Check out Pheasants Forever’s full state-by-state pheasant hunting forecast: pheasantsforever.org/forecast

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Program Manager Andy Edwards for a conversation with University of Tennessee’s Dr. Craig Harper and Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Park’s biologist John Gruchy for a discussion focused on bobwhite quail research and management. Episode Highlights: · Dr. Harper discusses historic quail management recommendations and how we have learned a lot from our mistakes over the last 20 years. He also urges, “every day of the year is a possible day to do something good for bobwhite quail. Don’t be relegated to any certain time of the year.” · Gruchy takes Dr. Harper’s comments and explains how state agencies are putting those constant learnings about quail and quail habitat to work on the ground. Learn mor about Dr. Harper’s research and publications at https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/craig-harper/

In celebration of Build a Wildlife Area week, host Bob St.Pierre visits with three people instrumental in the creation of the new 195.5-acre Howard K. Vincent Waterfowl Production Area honoring PF & QF’s recently retired president and chief executive officer. The group in this conversation includes President of the Spirit Lake Protective Association John Smeltzer, Iowa Great Lakes Pheasants Forever Chapter volunteer Mary Jo Rapp, and PF & QF’s Minnesota State Coordinator Tanner Bruse. Episode Highlights: · Rapp explains how this project fulfills her local PF chapter memberships’ interest in improving habitat on public lands in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. · Smeltzer, a retired biologist with the Colorado Department of Parks & Wildlife, explains his passion for Spirit Lake’s water quality where he has made his retirement home and how that water quality focus also dovetails with his passion for hunting upland birds. · And the group of Labrador-loving guests have some fun ribbing St.Pierre for being the only pointer guy on this podcast. Learn more about PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area program at www.PheasantsForever.org/BuildaWildlifeArea

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter to discuss his feature article from the upcoming fall edition of the PF Journal titled, “9 Pheasant Hunting Lessons (Re)Learned.” This upcoming season will be Carp’s 50th spent chasing roosters and he has boiled down five decades worth of tricks into a list of nine core tips that will help add tailfeathers (and a roostery sag!) to your vest this autumn. Episode Highlights: · Bob retells the story of a Facebook friend proclaiming Carp as “a national treasure.” · The conversation is filled with terrific discussion about finding public land spots, hunting the “golden hour,” using the wind to advantage, being ready all the time, the importance of confidence in finding birds, and some of Carp’s hunting tales. During the conversation, Carp expresses his passion for onXHunt as a scouting tool by converting the company name to a verb, “onXing.” If you’ve not yet unlocked the bird hunting secrets of onXHunt, use the code PFQF at onxhunt.com for 20% off this year’s membership.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society’s Engagement Coordinator Sam Tilman, along with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Conservation Programs Rich Wissink to discuss their shared love of the autumn ruffed grouse woods. The conversation covers ruffed grouse and woodcock habitat, biology, and hunting tactics. Episode Highlights: · Wissink, recently back from a Montana sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge hunt during opening weekend, provides a recap of his first hunting trip into the uplands this season. · Tillman provides a great description of grouse and woodcock habitat for listeners who’ve never visited the Northwoods but are interested in a new upland hunting adventure. · The group also has some fun running down the roster of nicknames for the American woodcock. · Tillman also explains the difference between how ruffed grouse populations are surveyed using drumming counts versus august roadside counts used to measure pheasant and quail population indexes. Learn more about the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society at www.RuffedGrouseSociety.org

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Project Leader Scott Glup, PF & QF Director of Conservation Delivery for the Midwest Eran Sandquist, and Public Land Tees co-owner Sam Soholt for a discussion about how the federal Duck Stamp also creates habitat for upland birds. Episode Highlights: · Glup starts the conversation with a brief history of the federal Duck Stamp’s origin story. He also talks about how Fred Staunton, a biologist from South Dakota, fought to use Duck Stamp dollars for the purchase of small wetlands for public access which we now know as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). · Sandquist then explains the habitat value of WPAs for upland birds and how PF & QF partners with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to facilitate WPA acquisitions and habitat restorations. · Soholt closed the episode with an overview of the Stamp It Forward program, which has purchased more than $150,000 in Duck Stamps over the last four years. Soholt then explains this year’s effort, called the “Prairie Pothole Duck Ruck,” which has a goal of generating $100,000 for the purchase of 4,000 Duck Stamps powered by Soholt walking 100 miles from North Dakota to South Dakota’s Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge. Learn more at www.PublicLandTees.com/DuckRuck