On The Wing Podcast

While at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic last weekend, host Bob St.Pierre snuck away from the show floor to talk about the uplands with Ruffed Grouse Society’s President & CEO Ben Jones. Joining the conversation were Jim Inglis, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s director of government affairs and Andy Edwards, Quail Forever’s regional representative, who also happen to have spent their college years with Jones. This is an incredibly fun episode that starts with college memories then dives into grouse and woodcock habitat management. Episode highlights include: · Jim Inglis talks about Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s letter to USDA Secretary Perdue requesting a CRP extension which occurred at the start of National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic · Andy Edwards talks about how a radio-collared turkey, mistaken as a dead radio-collared bear, led to meeting Jim Inglis, then ultimately resulted in Andy meeting Ben Jones playing a mandolin in the back of a bus. Chris Farley was not involved. · The Public Lands Pavilion at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic and the partnership with Ruffed Grouse Society and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. · The difference between ruffed grouse drumming counts and pheasant/quail roadside counts. · The groups explore the biology of the woodcock migration and how Lake Superior influences the bird’s travels around the Great Lakes. · Jones provides an update on the impact of the West Nile Virus on ruffed grouse. · The crew discusses the regional nomenclature for the bird and where grouse, partridge and pats are the most common name.

Quail Forever is part of a collaborative called Missourians for Monarch which is focused on creating pollinator habitat for a wide range of wildlife species. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Kelly Srigley-Werner, U.S. Fish & Wildlife private land coordinator in Missouri; Donnamarie Duffin, Missourians for Monarchs coordinator, and Kim Cole, Quail Forever education & outreach program coordinator to talk about the habitat connections and conservation efforts linking bobwhite quail and monarch butterflies. Episode highlights include: · The monarch butterfly’s fascinating life cycle spanning a multi-generational migration from Canada across the United States to Mexico. · The importance of Missouri as the geographic center of the monarch’s migration. · The 45-member Missourians for Monarchs partnership work to improve almost 400,000 acres for monarchs, and in turn quail, in just five years. · How drones are being developed to count the critically important milkweed stem-by-stem to ensure healthy monarch populatons. · And speed-dating for conservation . . .

The precipitous decline of America’s bobwhite quail populations has been well-documented over the years. However, the state of Missouri has a few shining examples of reversing that quail decline with landowner enthusiasm for conservation aided by the expertise of local biologists. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Chris McLeland, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s southern regional director along with Lee Metcalf and Tim Kavan, private lands conservationists with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Quail Forever chapter volunteers, to explain what’s bringing back bobwhites in Missouri. Episode highlights include: · An explanation of the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) and how Missouri fits into the national plan for quail management. · How adding more forbs and more shrubs to northern Missouri private lands projects has produced three times more quail. · The benefits of edge-feathering and the disadvantages of brush piles for bobwhite

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Land Tawney, President & CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to talk about BHA’s origin story and the partnership around the new Public Lands Pavilion at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2020 in Minneapolis this February. Episode highlights include: · The son of a family with deep roots in conservation, Tawney recounts his dad’s role in the early days of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and his own career steps toward his leadership role with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. · Tawney also talks about how Backcountry Hunters & Anglers was started over an Oregon campfire in 2004 and the three areas of focus for the organization’s mission · The duo gives an overview of the new Public Lands Pavilion and Public Lands Stage making its debut at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Minneapolis this February with BHA, Ruffed Grouse Society, and Minnesota DNR as sponsors. · St.Pierre also talks about how Pheasants Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area concept was created and how Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Ruffed Grouse Society, Minnesota DNR and a handful of other partners are going to help create a new public wildlife management area during the three days of National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever President & CEO Howard Vincent for a conversation with Randy Newberg, a renowned public lands advocate, television host, and hunter. Newberg is slated to keynote this year’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic banquet on Saturday, February 15th in Minneapolis. Episode highlights include: · Vincent and Newberg share startling similarities as two guys who grew up in northern Minnesota and became public accountants. Incongruently, at least in Bob’s mind, they also developed into terrific public speakers and two of the most respected people in conservation. · Newberg talks about his outdoors roots hunting partridge in Minnesota, desert quail in Arizona, and pheasants in Montana. · Newberg also recounts how he got into the outdoor television world to save his failing health and how his son was the catalyst for the initial show concept.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Dr. Kate Kaufman, veterinarian with Blue Pearl Pet Hospital; Jeff Zajac, regional wildlife manager for the Minnesota DNR; and Jared Wiklund, PF & QF public relations manager for a conversation about native grasses featuring large awns. The group discusses both the biological side of grass awns and the potential health ramifications for bird dogs. Show highlights include: -Zajac talks about the species of grasses featuring large awns, their ecological role, and their historic use in CRP mixes. -Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever eliminated species of grass featuring large awns from the organization’s seed mixes, where applicable, to help mitigate risk to bird dogs. -Most of these grass species, particularly Canada wild rye, occurs naturally on the landscape, so Dr. Kaufman provides important tailgate tips for preventing awn problems in your bird dog. -Dr. Kaufman also talks about other important field injuries and diseases, and best practices for keeping your pup safe and healthy all year.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever chapter volunteers Scott Rall, Scott Roemhildt, and Kenny Reed for a conversation about how their volunteer efforts brought them together as close friends and traveling hunting buddies. Show highlights include: · Scott Rall was a Field & Stream Hero of Conservation finalist, known as “The Protector of the Prairie.” · Rall was also part of Pheasants Forever’s very first land acquisition, Pheasant Run One in Minnesota’s Noble’s County, now a public Wildlife Management Area. · The group talks about their motivations for volunteering, interests in wildlife habitat, and passion for permanent land acquisitions to create new public lands for hunters. · There’s also an interesting debate between the group, who all own land they manage as pheasant habitat for hunting, about what’s more of a trophy: a public lands rooster or a rooster they “created” on habitat they nurtured

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Logan Hinners, PF’s graphic design manager and trip photographer; and Jake Schiller, PF’s video production specialist for a recap of the final day of this year’s Late Season Longtails themed online event. Show highlights include: · Pheasants Forever’s distinction as a Public Land Creator accounting for more than 200,000 acres of new permanent public lands. · Tips and tricks for filming an upland bird hunt. · Commemorating a bird dog’s 100th rooster retrieve. · Waterfowl Production Areas are great for pheasants and quail too! · Highlights of the 2019 Rooster Road Trip.

We start this episode with major news for the uplands – the USDA will hold a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup beginning on December 9th for the first time since 2016. This news brings more than 8 million acres of habitat opportunity! Following the CRP update, host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Laura McIver, Quail Forever’s regional representative for Oklahoma, and Chad Love, editor of the Quail Forever Journal for a spirited conversation about our Rooster Road Trip turned Quail Quest. Recapping the day’s hunt leads to a wide-ranging conversation comparing pheasants to quail. We cover habitat, hunting, bird dogs, cooking, and every other debate between the two birds.

Nebraska never disappoints! Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Marissa Jensen, PF’s education & outreach program manager; and Jerrod Burke, a member of the Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever National Board of Directors, a native Nebraskan, and a three-time Rooster Road Trip participant to recap the crew’s first day in Nebraska. The conversation starts with a focus on Marissa’s role as the organization’s quarterback for the new Women on the Wing initiative and the overwhelming social media feedback to her Rooster Road Trip blog about her vision for the position. We then turned to Jerrod as he explains his opinion about the importance of Rooster Road Trip from one National Board member’s point of view. And once again, Andrew closed the episode out with a fun round of questions from our Instagram followers.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Laura McIver, Quail Forever’s regional representative for Oklahoma; and Logan Hinners, PF & QF’s graphic design manager & photographer to recap the second day of the 2019 Rooster Road Trip. In addition to a play-by-play from the crew’s second day in Kansas, Laura tells her story about becoming a bird hunter as an adult, and Logan delivers tips for making every uplander’s birds, dogs, and landscape photography more dramatic and tasteful. We wrap the show with a lightning round of fun questions from Pheasants Forever’s Instagram audience.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Marissa Jensen, PF’s education & outreach program manager; and Chad Love, editor of Quail Forever Journal to recap the first day of the 2019 Rooster Road Trip. Since Chad Love frequently hunts the Cimarron National Grassland for scaled and bobwhite quail, he was our de facto guide for the first day of this year’s Rooster Road Trip . . . and he felt the pressure. With some good-natured ribbing at Chad’s expense, the crew recounts the morning search for quail and the afternoon pheasant bonanza that included Marissa Jensen’s first Kansas rooster. And did you know a group of porcupines is called a “prickle?” We’ll explain how that fits in too.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Andrew Vavra, PF’s director of marketing; Marissa Jensen, PF’s education & outreach manager; and Chad Love, editor of Quail Forever Journal on the eve of the organization’s 10th annual Rooster Road Trip. Although the hunters, bird dogs, and states hunted have changed over the years, the mission of this road trip remains the same. Our goal is to show the connection between Pheasants Forever membership, quality habitat and public land birds. This year’s trip will start on Monday, December 2nd in the Cimarron National Grasslands of southwest Kansas, one of twenty National Grasslands in the country and the largest tract of public land in the state of Kansas.

There are 8.3 million acres of saline soils in South Dakota which aren’t productive for agriculture but provide a massive habitat opportunity for the Pheasant Capital. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Matt Morlock, Pheasants Forever’s South Dakota State Coordinator, Ben Lardy, Pheasants Forever’s Soil Health Specialist, and Jim Ristau, South Dakota Corn’s Director of Sustainability for a conversation about how planting grass on these salty soils can create habitat for wildlife and improve a farmer’s financial operation.

Host Bob St. Pierre is in St. Louis at Purina’s national headquarters to talk with Jack Scott, Purina's VP of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing, and Karl Gunzer, Purina's Director of Sporting Dog Groups, about the company's $1 million-dollar contribution to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s conservation mission. While Purina has been the Official Dog Food partner of “The Habitat Organization” since the late 1980’s, this new commitment takes the relationship directly into the organization's habitat mission with two specific focal points targeting environmental sustainability. The first is a new Soil Health and Habitat program that Jack explains is focused in the Prairie Pothole region and the heart of Pheasant Country. The second focal point described by Gunzer, is the successful Build a Wildlife Area campaign, where quality habitat and public lands are critical to Purina's vision for a healthy environment. The episode concludes with a discussion about Purina’s new Calming Care probiotic supplement for dogs with anxiety issues.

Based on Editor Tom Carpenter’s excellent article in the Fall edition of the Pheasants Forever Journal, host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Carpenter and Jared Wiklund, Pheasants Forever’s PR manager, to count down the top eleven public land pheasant hunting tips. This fun episode also includes discussions about the effectiveness of pheasant calls for locating roosters, using waders in the uplands, and the magic of pheasant hunting on the season’s first snow day.

Recording from The Terry Redlin Art Center in Watertown, South Dakota, Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by the Redlin Art Center’s Executive Director Julie Ranum for a conversation about Redlin’s legacy as a wildlife artist and his substantial impact on wildlife habitat. They also discuss the unveiling of “Country Road,” a recently acquired Redlin original that will be the featured exhibit during the state’s 2019 pheasant hunting season. Pheasants Forever biologists Matt Morlock and Erica Yost also join the conversation to forecast the pheasant hunting season and provide a few tips for non-resident hunters traveling to “The Pheasant Capital.” To round out the episode, PF volunteer Jake Hanson talks about the motivations for helping Pheasants Forever start a brand-new Watertown chapter.

Ron Boehme, host of The Hunting Dog Podcast, stops by the Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever headquarters to chat with Bob St.Pierre, host of On the Wing, and Jared Wiklund, the organization’s manager of public relations, about bird dogs and getting more bird hunters involved in conservation organizations. In classic form, Ron cracks a beer within the first minute of the episode and the laughter is followed by terrific hunting and dog stories.

Following a couple of days bird hunting the 116,000 acres of the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, host Bob St.Pierre is joined by three of his prairie grouse hunting partners for a conversation about the beauty of the public grasslands and being able to watch your bird dog work big ground. The group includes Matt Kucharski, vice chair of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s National Board of Directors along with Marilyn Vetter, chair of the National Board’s Strategic Planning Committee and her husband Clyde Vetter, a professional bird dog trainer. There’s also a little Lab vs. shorthair bird dog rivalry banter to go with glowing reviews for the hunter-friendly community of Pierre, South Dakota.

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by Marissa Jensen, Julia Schrenkler, and Eric Sterner, who all fell in love with bird hunting as adults. The group talks about how dogs, wild food, and outdoor adventure pulled them into hunting. They also dive into how they overcame the struggles of taking an animal’s life for the first time, learning gun safety, and understanding hunting regulation laws as adult-onset hunters. The conversation runs a diverse gauntlet of topics from a hunter’s role in habitat funding, to finding the right upland gear, to the introspective nature of hunting alone. The group also finds common ground in saving feathers to tie trout flies.

Prior to a Pint Night collaboration in the heart of the Northwoods, our host Bob St. Pierre is joined by Nick Larson of Project Upland, Jason Meekhof of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and Jon Steigerwaldt of the Ruffed Grouse Society to forecast the Great Lakes ruffed grouse hunting season kicking off in mid-September. This group of avid bird hunters talk about young forest habitat, forested public lands, grouse recipes, and grouse hunting tips. The conversation also includes a fun discussion about the wide array of nicknames for the American woodcock; including mud bat, worm burglar, and timberdoodle.

Bob is joined by Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom Carpenter and wildlife biologist Sabin Adams to forecast the sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chicken, and sage grouse hunting seasons kicking off as early as September 1st in Montana and Nebraska. The trio of enthusiastic prairie rats talk about the habitat needs for America’s native prairie grouse and how hunting these birds differs from pheasants and quail. The conversation is filled with tips on where to find these birds in vast open grasslands, gear and gun recommendations, and even some cooking tips for the birds’ dark meat.

Bob visits with Ryan Bronson and Jon Zinnel, members of Federal Ammunition’s conservation team, to talk about the company’s distinction as Pheasants Forever’s longest-tenured corporate partner. The trio reminisces about the history of the relationship, the origin story of the on-the-box royalty program benefiting Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s habitat mission, and the product names that finished as runners-up to the winning Prairie Storm load. To round out the episode, the group breaks news on 16 and 28-gauge loads on the horizon and explains details of a new Federal ammunition rebate program launching on September 1st incentivizing bird hunters to become members of Pheasants Forever.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever have always worked to be collaborative with farmers to find the sweet spot for habitat as farmers try to make a living in harmony with the land. Through this unique episode, Bob hosts a conversation with Zach Johnson, a guy known as MN Millennial Farmer on YouTube with 300,000 followers and the host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Field Work Podcast; Jan “The Embodiment” Payne, who is a farmer, longtime Pheasants Forever chapter volunteer and avid traveling bird hunter; and Tanner Bruse, Pheasants Forever’s Ag & Conservation Program Manager. The wide-ranging conversation covers soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and hunting traditions on the family farm. The group also provides guidance on how NOT to be a “citiot” when you go bird hunting this season.

If you’ve always dreamed of hunting upland birds in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, then this episode is your ticket to valhalla. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Al Eiden, Matt Hardinge and Chad Harvey, a trio of “The Habitat Organization’s” leaders in the western United States, for a conversation about epic western mixed bags, DIY public land bird hunts, and the nine different upland birds within a five-hour drive of Nevada’s neon lights. The group also talks about some impressive Pheasants Forever projects opening thousands of prime habitat acres to public land upland bird hunters.

In this episode, our host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer for a quick conversation about his 160-acre farm in Kentucky and how his habitat work on the farm earned him the distinction as Kentucky’s 2017 Landowner Conservationist of the Year. A Quail Forever member, Coach Zimmer also talked about growing up as a pheasant hunter in Illinois and getting hooked on quail hunting during his time in Texas where he quail hunted the King Ranch with Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones. Coach Zimmer also talks about the process he’s going through to learn how to shoot a shotgun left-handed after suffering a detached retina injury in 2016.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Chris McLeland, the organization’s southern US regional director, a wildlife biologist, a cattle rancher and reigning “Most Valuable Employee” with “The Habitat Organization.” Frequent podcast contributors Tom Carpenter and Tim Caughran also participate in a conversation focused on the benefits of cattle to creating early successional grassland habitat for quail, prairie grouse, pheasants, and bird hunters. The group also explains the importance of befriending the mail carrier in your favorite wingshooting zip code.

Consider this your guide for planning a DIY public lands bird hunt with some thoughtful tips, tricks and hacks from a pair of budget-conscious bird hunting biologists Sabin Adams and Will Clayton. Bob St.Pierre drives the conversation with Jared Wiklund, Pheasants Forever’s PR Manager riding shotgun, for a conversation that covers gas, lodging, licenses and beer money. The group also talks about reading the hunting prospects of public wildlife areas from the road and answers the odd trivia question, “do pheasants eat acorns?”

Ep. 36 Upland Bird Hunting SUPER Issue Previewed by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

On this episode, Bob St. Pierre leads a fascinating conversation about the USDA’s Working Lands for Wildlife program and how sage habitat conservation is improving ranchers’ lives and bird populations. In fact, the 7 million acres of sage grouse habitat improved through the group’s efforts over the last decade can now be seen from space. The roundtable includes NRCS’s Western Regional Coordinator Tim Griffiths, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Director of Finance and biologist Ron Leathers, and Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Sage Grouse Initiative Field Coordinator Michael Brown.

On this episode Bob St. Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Director of Field Ops. Tim Caughran, and biologists Jessica McGuire and Ryan Diener for a discussion about the organization’s habitat work in the southeast’s pine savannas and grasslands. McGuire leads a fun conversation about the connection between gopher tortoises and bobwhite quail. Then Diener explains the explosion of interest around quail in Arkansas. The group finishes with a discussion about the massive habitat and public hunting opportunities on U.S. Forest Service lands and National Park Service lands in quail country.

Bob is joined by Matt Hardinge, The Habitat Organization’s western U.S. regional rep for a conversation with Jeff Knetter and Sal Palazzolo, biologists with the Idaho Department of Game & Fish. The group discusses the habitat needs and hunting opportunities for nine upland birds in the state of Idaho – pheasants, California quail, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, spruce grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, Hungarian partridge, and chukars add up to a jaw-dropping upland opportunity. So, when your bird dog goes on point in Idaho, you better be prepared for nine different possible flushes.

On this episode, we continue our spring pollinator habitat discussion with biologist Drew Larsen who leads the organization’s pollinator habitat programs for chapters and schools. Along with Drew, Bob is joined by Tom Carpenter, Editor of the Pheasants Forever Journal, and Anthony Hauck for a discussion about the short-game and long-game for working with schools on pollinator habitat projects, the fact one-in-three bites of food require pollination, and Pearl Jam - yes, THAT Pearl Jam.

In this very special episode, Bob and Andrew Vavra, PF’s Director of Marketing, are joined by Dave Simonett, lead singer of the band Trampled by Turtles and “The Captain” Billy Hildebrand, host of KFAN Outdoors radio. During this fun conversation, the group relives Simonett’s first pheasant hunting adventure as an adult-onset hunter. The guys also talk about bird hunting as the bond cementing friendships, the importance of public lands, and hunting’s PR problems.

On this episode, Bob St. Pierre and Pheasants Forever’s Director of Marketing, Andrew Vavra, visit with veterinarian and owner of White Bear Animal Hospital, Dr. Stuart Dalton. Located down the street from the Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever headquarters, Dr. Dalton has become the primary vet for many of the organization’s bird dog owners, so this isn’t a stuffy antiseptic doctor visit. On the contrary, the trio starts with a funny story about Rainy, a young food-motivated German wirehaired pointer and continues with a conversation about Andrew’s coprophagia Lab (that’s vet-speak for “turd burglar”). In between, Dr. Dalton drops a wealth of knowledge for the hunting dog owner ranging from tick diseases, toxins, ACL injuries, and arthritis.

In March of 1982, Dennis Anderson, then the outdoors editor for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch, wrote an article that served as the catalyst launching Pheasants Forever. On April 15, 1983, the very first banquet in Pheasants Forever’s history took place in Saint Paul, Minnesota. To celebrate that anniversary, Dennis was joined by Bob St. Pierre and Pheasants Forever’s PR Manager, Jared Wiklund, and Director of PR, Anthony Hauck as he reminisces about the circumstances leading to the creation of Pheasants Forever from the perspective of someone who served as the organization’s first chairman of the board, president and first publication editor. Dennis also tells the story of how the organization’s unique locally-empowering model came to him as an idea in the shower and offers a few thoughts about the future of the organization.

Just in time for your spring habitat planning, Bob is joined by Jared Wiklund and Matt O’Connor, a long-time PF biologist, to talk about the importance of pollinator habitat for pheasants and quail. O’Connor also provides step-by-step guidance for preparing, planting, and maintaining your own pollinator habitat project with the payoff coming in the form of lots more birds . . . and a beautiful place for wedding and homecoming photos. Jared even makes a play to invite himself to your pollinator project for a hunt to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary this October.

In this episode, Bob visits with Keith Crowley, author of the new book Pheasant Dogs. The duo is joined by Pheasants Forever’s Rachel Hoveland and Jared Wiklund, whose dogs are both featured in the book, for a conversation that covers the laughter and tears of loving a bird dog. There is also a fun conversation about owners looking like their bird dogs, improving your own bird dog photography skills, and finally the organization’s 2019 Bird Dogs for Habitat campaign is unveiled.

Bob is joined by Logan Hinners, Pheasants Forever’s Graphic Design Manager and resident shed hunting fanatic, for a fun conversation with Tom Dokken, expert dog trainer and President of the North American Shed Hunting Dog Association. During this episode, Dokken breaks down the steps for training your bird dog pup to find antler sheds with both their nose and their eyes. He also tackles common concerns about training a bird dog to hunt sheds, like inadvertently teaching your pup to chase deer. There’s even a story about the friendship between “The Crush’s” Lee & Tiffany Lakosky and Tom & Tina Dokken around a bird dog.

While attending the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, South Carolina, Bob chats with Tim Caughran, Quail Forever’s Director of Field Operations, and Kenny Barker, QF’s Southeastern Regional Rep, about the organization’s rapid growth across the quail range. The trio also discuss bobwhite quail as the indicator species of healthy ecosystems, DIY public lands quail hunting, and Charleston’s incredible food scene; including an oyster eating throw-down at a Ducks Unlimited banquet.

Bob talks with Browning’s Brian Hobert and Russ Jones to unveil the new line of upland bird hunting clothing for men AND women. The trio breaks down the three-year journey gathering input from members and crafting the new innovative and more technical clothing items for the hardcore upland bird hunter. There’s also a fun story comparing Brian’s first bobwhite quail with the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team’s “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Russians in 1980. You’ll have to listen to laugh.

From pheasants and quail to pollinators and Pudelpointers, our signature national event has a wide array of attractions to encourage everyone to take a trip to Schaumburg this February 22nd through 24th. During this episode, Bob is joined by the PR duo of Anthony Hauck and Jared Wiklund for a preview of the organization’s signature event with Chris Kalis, the man behind the event’s curtain. We also hear from Anna Van Nostrand, the keynote speaker of our first-ever Women on the Wing Luncheon. Where’s Schaumburg? We’ll answer that question too!

In this episode Bob St. Pierre and Jared Wiklund talk with biologist Matt O’Connor about how to design food plots for bringing birds through a tough winter. O’Connor, who has been a biologist with Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever for almost 30 years, explains how to pick the best location for a food plot on your property, how to prepare your site, what equipment to use, and what to plant in your food plot.

Have you ever dreamed of taking a spring break hunting trip to quail country? Dr. Bill Palmer of Tall Timbers Research Station gives a few pointers on DIY public land quail hunts and describes the magic of a covey rise. The guys also discuss the creation of Quail Forever, the Mr. Mom bobwhite quail advantage, and the critical importance of prescribed fire to bobwhite quail habitat management.

If the Labrador retriever is the quintessential duck dog and the English setter is the ideal grouse dog, then what’s America’s pheasant dog? Recorded in August, Bob St. Pierre and Anthony Hauck talked with Karl Gunzer, Purina’s Sporting Dog Group Director, to answer this bird dog riddle. The trio also chats about Karl’s conservation career working with most of the conservation groups, his dog training acumen and some important nutrition guidance for the bird dog owner and traveling wingshooter.

Bob St. Pierre and PF/QF’s public relations manager, Jared Wiklund, catch up with Johnathan O’Dell, gamebird biologist for the Arizona Game & Fish Department, to talk about Arizona’s three species of quail (Gambel’s, scaled, and Mearns’). The trio discuss the habitat needs and optimum weather conditions for each species, along with tips for targeting them for the first-time desert quail hunter. The discussion even includes O’Dell’s journey to accomplish “The Tree Squirrel Slam” . . . and yes, that’s a real thing.

After a successful morning pheasant hunt on lands enrolled in Iowa’s Habitat & Access Program (IHAP), Bob and Jared talk with Terry Haindfield and Tom Fuller about Iowa’s habitat conditions, bird populations, and hunting prospects. Haindfield provides a unique perspective as a biologist with the Iowa DNR as well as a longtime Pheasants Forever chapter volunteer. Fuller adds additional perspective as a lifelong Iowa resident and as Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Field Services Director leading the organization’s field team who services the 750 chapters across the country.

This week’s episode of On The Wing features Bob St. Pierre and Pheasants Forever’s Editor, Tom “Carp” Carpenter catching up with the host of The Flush, Travis Frank. Presented by Pheasants Forever and Federal Ammunition, The Flush seeks out North America's top upland bird hunting destinations and brings the wild action to viewers across the country. Topics include musky fishing vs. pheasant hunting, the reason Travis doesn’t own a dog, the stress and struggles of filming while hunting wild birds, favorite memories from the field, and more.

On this episode of On the Wing, Bob catches up with Patrick Flanagan of Border to Border Outfitters during Flanagan’s last few days guiding ruffed grouse hunters in northern Minnesota. From Minnesota, Flanagan moves to Kansas to chase roosters before heading to Arizona in December for quail. The guys chat about the differences in hunting ruffed grouse versus pheasants versus quail. Also, if you’re a current member of Quail Forever, you’ll soon see Patrick on the cover of the Quail Forever Journal’s winter edition as our “Man in the Moon” hunter.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever government affairs duo Jim Inglis and Bethany Erb join us and recap our journey to create upland habitat in the 2018 Farm Bill. The group also debates the prevalence of acronyms in the conservation world, the symptoms of Potomac Fever, and how our policy work in D.C. is also creating public access for bird hunters.