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Birdshot Podcast presented by OnX Hunt and Hosted by Nick Larson: A wingshooting and upland hunting podcast where we discuss all things upland hunting, upland birds, and the bird dogs, guns and gear used to pursue them.
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Project Upland, in our continued effort to serve our community in new and innovative ways while seeking to lower the barriers of entry into upland hunting, is pleased to publish PROJECTUPLAND.COM ON THE GO. In order to make our content easier to access in more diverse ways, we now publish audio versions of our growing library of online written content. It is our hope that, by creating a new pathway to access the materials we produce, we strengthen our community and bring it closer together.
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Explore the history, myths, and incredible stories of hunting dog breeds around the world. Co-hosted by Jennifer Wapenski and Craig Koshyk. A Project Upland Podcast. HUNTING DOG CONFIDENTIAL is made possible by Eukanuba Sporting Dog. Complete and balanced nutrition for your canine athlete. https://www.eukanubasportingdog.com/
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The Bird Dog Babe

Courtney Bastian

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Join Courtney Bastian as she explores all things Bird Dogs; hunting, training, competing, testing, breeding, nutrition, and health. This podcast also focuses on conservation efforts for birds and public land, ethical and responsible hunting, gear options, and getting more women and children involved in the outdoors. Courtney's intense curiosity drives her to take a vulnerable, honest approach with her guests to provide educational and inspirational content in each episode.
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To bird dog aficionados, names like Elhew Snakefoot, Count Noble, Shadowoaks Bo, and Manitoba Rap are well known. But to the average person, the names of dogs in our hall of fame mean absolutely nothing at all. But there are a few dogs from hunting breeds that have achieved fame beyond the bird dog world. Let’s have a look at some of the most celeb…
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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 Man…
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September 1 is one of the most popular hunting dates in the United States. In many states, it’s the opening day of dove season, which is the start of upland hunting for many wing shooting enthusiasts. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) sets a range of dates, season lengths, and bag limits that states can choose from to harvest dove…
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Is it a fuzzy face infatuation that pulls at your heartstrings? Or is it that your dog is a bird-finding machine? For most, it’s probably a combination of the two. When deciding to breed or not to breed, be honest with your motivations. That adorable face comes with heavy liabilities and responsibilities. Unfortunately, the fact that you’re in love…
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Joined by Utah upland game bird biologist, Jason Robinson, we discuss western upland game birds, their biology, habitat and much more. Show Highlights: Growing up in the wilds of Utah When was the last time you watched Jeremiah Johnson? A graduate study focused on sage grouse Nesting and brooding conditions in the west White-tailed ptarmigan huntin…
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A dog conditioned for big runs in the open prairie with relatively flat terrain may not fare as well in the mountains chasing chukar or the thick brambles of the north country chasing ruffed grouse and woodcock. When the training grounds don’t match the hunting conditions, it’s like training for a marathon but running a Tough Mudder instead. The bo…
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Getting a willful, prey-driven hunting dog to heel can be difficult at first. It is one of the most common reasons a handler loses their prize one in the NAVHDA testing system. It’s also one of the reasons owners avoid stimulating environments while walking their dog. The drive within our hunting dogs is the putty from which we play. Because heelin…
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Joined by host of the TGS Outdoors YouTube channel, Jonny Carter, we discuss his recent trip to the R.F.M. Factory in Italy, shotgun industry updates and much more. Show Highlights: Grouse populations in the US and UK Nick does his best ruffed grouse drumming imitation for Jonny Edwards Eyewear Hiroki 2 - shooting glasses by Ed Solomons Wingshootin…
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Doves are the highest-harvested game bird in the United States, with over 10 million bagged annually. The high harvest rate isn’t surprising, considering dove hunting season is the first hunting season to open for most wing shooters. However, the dove’s widespread range no doubt contributes to the large harvest. They can be found in nearly every st…
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Joined again by dog trainer, writer and upland hunter Jeremy Moore of Dog Bone Hunter we wrap up our conversation with more dog training insights. Show Highlights: Feel, connection and trust with your bird dog Foundations first, whether it’s a pointing dog or flushing dog Maintaining a calm demeanor as a handler and the things your bird dog perceiv…
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When acting selfishly while playing youth sports, the common phrase “there’s no I in team” was repeatedly thrown around. My coaches insisted I trust others with the ball to develop good teamwork. But giving up the ball didn’t come naturally. I often got “the eye” from my coaches, revealing their disappointment in my lack of team play. They’d use va…
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The recall is an extremely important ritual we have with our dogs. When called, the dog quickly and directly finds its position either in front or to our side. It happily and thoughtlessly finds its position, returning as excitedly as it went out and finishing with robotic consistency; something that has been groomed into it since the day it came h…
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Joined by dog trainer, writer and upland hunter Jeremy Moore of Dog Bone Hunter we discuss a fishing trip to the U.P., ruffed grouse drumming counts and more. Show Highlights: A fishing trip to the U.P Well mannered bird dogs and place training Setters on the loose at the cabin E-collar use or lack thereof Ruffed grouse drumming counts Hotspots wit…
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Like most parents, I hope my children will share my interests so we can enjoy them together. As a passionate upland hunter, I dream of days spent in the field nurturing their curiosity, instilling a desire for conservation, and fostering a profound respect and appreciation for the game birds we pursue. There’s a special kind of magic and responsibi…
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In this episode we are joined by grouse project leader for the Minnesota DNR, Charlotte Roy, to discuss the results of the 2024 ruffed grouse drumming survey. Show Highlights: Understanding the Drumming Survey Process Impact of Weather on Grouse Population Historical Context and Current Trends The Grouse Population Cycle Winter Conditions and Grous…
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Vintage shotguns can be particular with the kinds of shotgun shells you put through them. In a world filled with high-velocity, heavy payload shells, the difficulty of finding lighter loads can take away some of the allure of owning a classic. But it shouldn’t stop you. There’s something warm and cozy about hunting with a 50-, 75-, or even 100-year…
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In this episode we welcome freelance filmmaker and avid upland hunter Kevin Erdvig back to the show to discuss updates to his gun safe, bird dog string and more. Show Highlights: Sorting out eye dominance issues The Instinctive Shot by Chris Batha and other book mentions Phantom 2.0 shooting glasses by Ranger Eyewear A gun fitting with Lars Jacob J…
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“Suddenly into the middle of the coterie of breeders a bombshell was flung, so startling as to cause a violent upheaval of all the old theories, and a complete revolution in setter breeding, the effects of which have lasted to the present day.” —Walter Baxendale Walter Baxendale’s “bombshell” was a man named Edward Laverack, now universally regarde…
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In May of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new rules governing dog imports into the United States. The rules are aimed at standardizing the process between countries and preventing the introduction of canine rabies into the U.S., but the broad-sweeping changes will have lasting impacts on breed clubs that de…
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In this episode we welcome wingshooting instructor and gun fitter Lars Jacob back to the show to discuss instinctive shooting. Show Highlights: Spring foraging: morel mushrooms A family history of turkey hunting and call making Lars’ definition of Instinctive shooting Pull away vs swing through vs sustained lead “Don’t spill the scotch!” The import…
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I can’t help but stare through the conference room’s glass curtain wall, in awe of some of the world’s most productive wetlands on Earth. This morning, the frozen wetlands are blanketed in snow after this winter’s biggest storms pounded the area, which is great for recharging those wetlands later in the year. During spring, summer, and fall, these …
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In this episode we share a conversation from the recently launched Ugly Dog Podcast with host Mike Neiduski and guest Nick Larson on upland hunting, bird dogs, shotguns and more. Show Highlights: About the Birdshot Podcast The spark aka the ruffed grouse Rituals, hunting trips and hunting close to home Hartley’s cruciate ligament injury - out for t…
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My first-ever interaction with an English Springer Spaniel was when my wife, Emily, brought one home. When considering which dog breed our first hunting dog should be, we ultimately landed on the one with which Emily was most familiar. She grew up with Springers, and consequently, that is where we landed. At that time, we weren’t aware of the diffe…
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“Where were you last night?” These words strike fear in nearly all adolescent children. Is the parent simply curious? Was it an ambivalent conversation starter or a knowing and accusatory set up? The answer always lies within the subtle tones, expression, and body language of the parent. The same is true when thinking about the delivery of a comman…
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In this episode we are joined by Scott Trulock of Trulock Chokes to discuss all things choke tubes, constriction, patterning and more. Show Highlights: Trulock Chokes: where it all began What is a choke tube and what does it do? What characteristics does a quality choke tube have? Variations in choke tubes and method of constriction How to pattern …
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It’s not quite U.S. domestic politics or dog food, but raise the topic of “force fetch” or its euphemism, “trained retrieve,” and you’ll quickly discover that pointing dog folks have lots of feelings about it. You’ll generally find four camps: a camp of those who say they don’t need it because they don’t need their dog to retrieve but only help the…
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Having dealt with so-called “fine” firearms for decades, the question “What exactly is a ‘best gun?’” comes up a lot. Explaining what a best gun is can be challenging because it’s more of a concept or ethos to building a gun, not something that follows a set of rules or criteria. As such, the term is used quite liberally, especially when it comes t…
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As each year passes, some of us find enough time to raise and finish our dream upland dog. It is an amazing opportunity to have your dog at the ready, all day long, just begging to be educated. Extra time, whether due to retirement or working from home, has inspired many of us to get out there every day and mold our pup into the finest hunting mach…
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In this episode we welcome Craig Doherty, author of Building a Grouse Dog, back to the show to discuss choosing the right bird dog for you, developing bird dogs and more. Show Highlights: Craig’s column in Pointing Dog Journal Wild Apple Kennel Bob Wehle and Elhew Pointers Beech trees and other New England Grouse cover notes First year puppy expect…
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Depending on where in the world you’re hunting turkeys, you may be fortunate to see other remarkable wildlife while you sit and hammer on your box or slate call. You may even have one or two curious predatory critters come into your calls, hoping for an easy meal. For many modern turkey species, their main predators are owls, coyotes, and cougars. …
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If I were to ask you to honestly explain to me your expectations of whoa, what would your answer look like? Would you be okay with the three or four step California roll type whoa, utilizing more than a few commands while throwing in a few choice expletives? You know, the kind of whoa where you turn red while the dog sighs and rolls its eyes at you…
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Dogs that have been trained to hold point until the handler arrives will do so partly due to it being cooperative. However, this is mostly due to the dog fearing that if it moves, the bird will fly away. Steadiness comes into play once the dog realizes the presence of its handler. Before initiating the steadiness process, you would have hopefully p…
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You did your homework, picked the right hunting dog breed, and found the breeder who provided you with the genetic package you dreamt of. On the drive home it hits you. Have I prepared for this new puppy? Now what? How do I start? You own the equivalent of a Ferrari but are unsure how to take it for its first spin without scratching it. Too often, …
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In this episode we take a walk through some woodcock cover in hopes of banding spring chicks with Lindsey Shartell, board member of Woodcock Minnesota. Show Highlights: Meeting Lindsey Shartell of Woodcock Minnesota What makes a good woodcock banding dog? Where do we find woodcock broods? Turkey hunt updates from Lindsey Guess the age of this clear…
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Setters are incredible dogs that offer a wide diversity of type, hunting tendencies, and coat colors. Although some may be harder or softer than others, and some pups may be slightly more hesitant to retrieve, there are two constants that remain regardless of breed or strain: their beauty and amazing companionship in the field and at home. Llewelli…
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Sit and stay is a tall order. I don’t know about you, but this is no easy task for me or my bird dogs. Many of us are now quarantined in our homes. I’m sitting here writing this article with four very patient hunting dogs huddled up beside me awaiting anything remotely training related. And so place training is one of the things that can be accompl…
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In this episode we catch up with the editor of the Quail Forever Journal to discuss his passion for upland birds and the outdoors along with some spring turkey hunting as well. Show Highlights: Meet editor of the Quail Forever Journal Ryan Sparks An early introduction to quail Fishing, hunting and traveling far and wide Ryan’s thesis paper on quail…
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The reverberation of a ruffed grouse drumming during early mornings in spring forests is one of the most magical sounds. When you hear it, it starkly contrasts against all other sounds found in the springtime. Its unique nature provokes human curiosity and admiration. No doubt, that very same feeling we get today is what sparked naturalist John Bar…
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Our bird dog training routine has been completely uprooted, though my dogs are thoroughly enjoying all the extra training. Unfortunately for many people, what would have been the start of training season with friends and professional trainers has now become a stay-at-home DIY situation. Nevertheless, we can take this extra time to get some excellen…
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In this episode we continue our basic turkey hunting tips and tactics conversation with Jacob Myers of the Southern Outdoorsman Podcast. Show Highlights: “Run and gun” versus setting up and blind calling? Gobblers coming in silent What about when he’s gobbling his head off? Soft calling and watching the bird’s behavior Calling jakes to pull in the …
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So what if my dog has a wiggle butt and flags a bit on point? It’s kinda cute and still gets meat to the frying pan. If that’s the case and your dog will efficiently hunt, locate plenty of birds for you and stand point, I would happily agree with you. More often than not, however, it will affect your hunt in some aspect as it’s a symptom of underly…
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In this episode we talk basic turkey hunting tips and tactics with Alabama turkey hunter Jacob Myers of the Southern Outdoorsman Podcast. Show Highlights: How to miss a turkey Should I use a red dot sight? Turkey hunting safety precautions Where to hunt turkeys Understanding turkey behavior What is “covert calling”? Scratching leaves, going silent …
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Being part of the hunting and shooting industry, I get to try the latest and greatest new guns every year. But when I’m not toting a gun for work, I’m usually carrying a vintage shotgun. My duck and pigeon gun turned 100 this year, and my grouse gun isn’t far behind it. I have a safe full of old pumps, semi-autos, side-by-sides, and over-unders, an…
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In this episode we catch up with Jim Gerchy, grouse hunting guide at Pineridge Grouse Camp, to talk grouse hunting, bird dogs, shotguns and more. We also preview the Midwest Double Gun Classic at Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake, MN. Show Highlights: Jim's Perfect Margarita Recipe Fishing Adventures and Spring Pursuits Jim's Journey into Bird Hunt…
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I’m sure you noticed that you can’t make a move your bird dog doesn’t notice. It’s kind of creepy at times finding your dog at the door staring at you the moment the thought crosses your mind to go out dog training or hunting, as if they are somehow reading your mind. It’s because they’ve been studying your every move since the day you brought them…
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Some say the sweetest springtime sounds come from wild turkeys. As many turkey hunters have experienced, real turkeys aren’t always the ones producing that cacophony of yelps. Oftentimes, on crowded small parcels of land, one may be seduced by the sounds emanating from what turns out to be a hungry hunter, not a hen on the prowl. Hunters using turk…
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Bird dog training at its core is behavior modification reliant upon catching your dog in the thought process and being able to read their emotions. Doing so allows us to predict behaviors before they occur, thereby maximizing the potential for learning. Also, the character of the dog at that moment and the behaviors they are exhibiting dictates the…
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In this episode we cover more upland bird hunting and dog training as well as overcoming shooting challenges with seasoned hunting guide and dog trainer, Matty Rawlinson. Additionally, we cover the significance of gun fitting for wing shooting success, sharing insights into how a custom-fitted gun can enhance shooting accuracy. The episode also det…
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Have you ever hunted over a dog with a sixth sense for finding birds? Perhaps the dog had a higher-than-average drive to push out to find game. Or maybe it was highly intelligent and sought the most productive cover. Its exceptional nose could’ve been dialed in. Regardless of the attribute, it must have had a cooperative temperament, trusted its ha…
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