Today’s guest is Devin Rice, a Michigan native whose love for the outdoors started early—baiting worm hooks and catching bluegills off his grandpa’s dock at just four years old. Like a lot of folks, the pandemic flipped a switch for Devin, and once he got his first German Shorthaired Pointer, Walker, everything changed. He did the unthinkable—hung up the bow—and became fully obsessed with chasing the king of the woods: ruffed grouse.
Now running two high-octane GSPs through the uplands, Devin is a full-blown grouse and woodcock addict, even if he’ll be the first to admit he might be one of the worst wing shots you’ll ever meet—so bad it’s almost impressive he says. When he’s not in the woods, Devin is a full-time husband, father, and firefighter/paramedic, somehow squeezing in bird hunting whenever he can. He’s also a self-proclaimed cigar connoisseur and mustache maestro.
Topics Covered:
Connect with Devin:
https://www.instagram.com/ruffed_rice_upland/
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Today’s guest is West Newby. West is an avid upland hunter and bird dog enthusiast who’s been chasing birds since he was 17 years old. He got his start walking the woods for ruffed grouse with friends—no dogs, just miles and grit—which eventually sparked a deep passion for bird dogs and training. Before ever owning his own dog, West immersed himself in the training world, helping others work their bird dogs and learning a wide range of techniques while shaping his own approach. That journey ultimately led him to a Small Munsterlander, and from there it was full steam ahead into upland hunting and bird dog training. Since then, West has traveled across much of the United States chasing birds alongside his dog, Captain Edward Teague. We’re excited to dig into his experiences, training philosophy, and what he’s learned from a lifetime in the uplands.
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Connect with West:
https://www.instagram.com/west_newby/?hl=en
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Keng Yang is a passionate public-land hunter dedicated to chasing pheasants and waterfowl across the prairie with his trusted nine-year-old German Wirehaired Pointer, Kaiya. Starting his hunting journey later in life, Keng quickly found himself fully immersed in the pursuit — driven by a love for wild places, strong bird dogs, and the camaraderie found in the field. Today, he’s constantly exploring new open spaces and connecting with the growing community of hunters who share his values.
Equally committed to giving back, Keng has led multiple hunter-education and mentorship programs in recent years, helping newcomers gain skills, confidence, and a deep appreciation for conservation. Whether he’s introducing first-time hunters to the tradition or following Kaiya into the next birdy field, Keng embodies the passion and purpose that define modern public-lands hunting.
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Connect with Keng:
https://www.instagram.com/kengyang1/?hl=en
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Justin Madron grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, where the outdoors were part of everyday life. He started hunting deer and bear at a young age, and his earliest introduction to hunting dogs came through hounds. Though grouse were around, they were more of an incidental opportunity than a pursuit. That all changed later in life when he discovered upland hunting and fell in love with it, especially the combination of physical effort, dog work, and the social community it creates.
Justin now spends much of his fall chasing Appalachian grouse and Virginia woodcock with his Llewellin setter, Filly. He also guides in Michigan for a few weeks each season and makes a point to introduce new people to the uplands whenever he can. His professional work centers on solving tough environmental and planning challenges through geospatial data. He runs a consulting company called Farther Afield, which donates a portion of profits to upland conservation. When he’s not hunting or training dogs, he’s home between Virginia and West Virginia with his wife Tiffany and their twin boys.
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Connect with Justin:
https://www.instagram.com/j.madron/
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Today’s guest is Kevin Bauer, the mind behind Furvor, a company born out of a simple moment on the trail. After a hot summer hike left their two dogs, Henry and Ollie, completely worn out, Kevin discovered that adding bone broth to their water and kibble boosted recovery, energy, and mobility. That experience sparked the idea for Furvor—a brand dedicated to bringing the incredible health benefits of bone broth to our pets. After more than a year of research, blending, and testing with one of the nation’s top bone broth manufacturers, they created a first-of-its-kind topper that delivers more nutrition, more flavor, and more value for our dogs.
Topics Covered:
Connect with Furvor:
https://furvorpet.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq_x0xU4aCJmCOBnWXuUdPU0jJ599BQGv7mflaYnhQ0jHHD4EJO
https://www.instagram.com/furvorpets/
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Live from the Ohio pheasant fields, Cameron Berrien and I recap our hunt for some Buckeye Birds. Believe it or not, Ohio does support a huntable amount of wild pheasants. By no means does the state rival the better known western destinations, but the birds are there if you're willing to look for them. Join us as we dive in to our hunt, strategies for Ohio roosters, and more!
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Today we're joined by a team that's been restoring native prairies for nearly 40 years. Based in the heart of Iowa, Nicolas Lirio and Kent Boucher of Hoksey Native Seeds continue to carry on the legacy left by the company's founder, Carroll Hoksbergen. Their mission is to produce high quality native grasses and wildflower seeds that help farmers and landowners across the Midwest from Illinois to South Dakota bring the prairie back to life.
Topics Covered:
Connect with Hoksey Native Seeds:
https://hokseynativeseeds.com/
Connect with The Prairie Farm Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0BcIjPg6wE0A8JU3lAmwsC?si=6c6d6eccd7b74c58
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Cameron Berrien is a 24-year-old outdoorsman from Goshen, Ohio, where he shares life with his wife, Hannah, and their three dogs—a corgi, a chocolate lab, and a rare Burgos Pointer . With a camera in one hand and a shotgun in the other, Cameron spends most of his days chasing birds, training dogs, and capturing the moments that make it all worthwhile.
Passionate about bird hunting, canine photography, and the development of true working dogs, Cameron has developed a deep love for the nearly unknown Burgos Pointer—a storied European pointing breed. He and Hannah hope to one day help preserve and promote the breed through responsible breeding and education.
This year marks Cameron’s first full season pursuing wild upland birds, with trips to Washington, Idaho lined up, and Michigan in the works—making long-awaited dreams a reality.
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Connect with Cameron:
https://www.instagram.com/cameron.berrien/?hl=en
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Garrett Black is an avid upland hunter with a deep passion for pursuing bobwhite quail across the storied landscapes of Florida and Georgia. These fields and pine savannas are some of the most historic and legendary grounds in America for quail hunting, and Garrett has made them his home turf. With a sharp eye for tradition and a love for the dogs, habitat, and heritage that make this pursuit so unique, Garrett brings firsthand experience and perspective from one of the country’s most iconic upland regions.
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Connect with Garrett:
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Today’s guests are two of the driving forces behind the growing upland conservation movement in Canada — Mark Symes and Andrew Lowles, both active leaders with RGS Canada.
Mark comes from a diverse entrepreneurial and forestry background and runs his Pudelpointer, Gus in the grouse woods. Andrew is a biologist with experience across forestry, wildlife, and fisheries management, currently overseeing freshwater fisheries resources for his province. When he’s not at his day job, he’s training an English Setter pup and two labs who have earned their keep as unconventional — but deadly — grouse and woodcock dogs.
Both are licensed guides, avid anglers, passionate waterfowlers, and private land stewards managing their own woodlots for wildlife while still working full-time careers. Andrew also serves as Eastern Canada Director and Treasurer for the Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada.
Today, we’re diving into the vision and Strategic Aspirations of RGS Canada — from launching new chapters across the country to tackling uniquely Canadian challenges in access, habitat, and forest management.
Topics Covered:
Connect with RGS Canada:
https://www.instagram.com/rgs.canada/
Connect with Mark and Andrew:
https://www.instagram.com/markmsymes/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/lowles.andrew/?hl=en
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Today’s guest is Garrett Baker, a lifelong outdoorsman and passionate upland hunter. Garrett grew up in Northcentral Pennsylvania and picked up a shotgun at just 12 years old—heading now into his 26th hunting season. He hunts over American Brittanys, with his two current companions, Lexi and Gracie, carrying on the legacy of his first bird dog, Lou, who shared the field with him for 12 memorable years.
Outside of the uplands, Garrett works as a Maintenance Supervisor at American Refining Group, but his true passion is introducing others to the upland hunting lifestyle. Nearly a decade ago, he and his father opened The Bird Dog Inn in Erwin, South Dakota, where they welcome DIY hunters from across the country and are building new opportunities for first-time hunters and women in the field. Garrett also serves on his local Ruffed Grouse Society chapter in St. Marys, PA, and is actively training his youngest Brittany through NAVHDA and VHDF.
Topics Covered:
Book The Bird Dog Inn
Connect with Garrett
https://www.instagram.com/g_baker_64/?hl=en
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Today’s guest is Nick Martin, the creator of The Iowa Bird Chaser YouTube channel. Nick set out on a unique mission—to harvest a pheasant in all 99 counties across Iowa. Along the way, he’s sharing the journey, the challenges, and the beauty of upland hunting in the Hawkeye State. Through his channel, Nick is not only chasing birds, but also capturing the stories, landscapes, and community that make Iowa such a special place to hunt.
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Connect with Nick:
https://www.instagram.com/iowa_birdchaser/?hl=en
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My guests today are Nick Sherrod and Jake Terry, the owners of Gundog Grind Coffee. But their business is more than just another coffee company—it’s a lifestyle rooted in birds, family, friends, and of course, the dogs that make every hunt memorable. Inspired by mornings in the flooded timber and long days on the prairie, they craft gourmet roasts designed to fuel hunters and outdoorsmen with rich flavor and purpose. From light to dark blends, every bag is made with carefully sourced beans and infused with the spirit of time spent in the field. But Gundog Grind’s mission goes deeper than coffee—they’re committed to giving back by supporting conservation organizations that protect the habitats and hunting traditions we all value. At its core, Gundog Grind is about bringing people together, whether around a hunting campfire or a kitchen table, to share stories, celebrate dogs, and enjoy a great cup of coffee.
Topics Covered:
Connect with Jake
https://www.instagram.com/jaketerry_photo/
Connect with Nick
https://www.instagram.com/nick.sherrod/?hl=en
Connect with Gundog Grind
https://www.instagram.com/gundoggrind/
Proud Sponsors
Courtney Bastian’s journey into upland hunting began in 2008 when her German Wirehaired Pointer, Briar, placed a pheasant in her hands—a moment that shifted her life toward bird dogs, shotguns, and wild places. At the height of the 2020 pandemic, Courtney launched The Bird Dog Babe Podcast, building community during the challenges of the pandemic and beyond. This endeavor was then the grounds for the genesis of HerUpland, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for women and youth through hunting camps, wingshooting clinics, and mentorship.
Based in Montana with her husband, William, and their children, Burke and Blayre, Courtney balances family life with a kennel of bird dogs and a small menagerie of farm animals. With a background in biology and animal science and an MBA in progress, she blends passion and professionalism to advance conservation, community, and confidence in the uplands.
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Connect with Courtney:
https://www.instagram.com/birddogbabe/?hl=en
Connect with HerUpland
https://www.instagram.com/herupland/?hl=en
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Brian Krebs grew up in Minnesota, where his passion for the outdoors began with pheasant and deer hunting. After college, his pursuits expanded westward, where he fell in love with exploring new country and took up shed hunting. But his roots still lie in the pheasant fields.
For more than 25 years, Brian has been dedicated to pheasant habitat conservation. Deeply involved with local Pheasants Forever chapters, he has worked to improve habitat and give back to the upland hunting community that shaped him. In addition to his conservation efforts, Brian has a lifelong passion for training dogs—whether developing a bird dog in the field or working with his shed dog, Griz on shed hunts.
Today, Brian’s life reflects the same values he started with: a love for wild places, the thrill of the hunt, and a belief in leaving the land better for future generations.
Topics covered:
Brian's vivid memories of his first pheasant
Hunting Western birds vs Midwestern roosters
How hunting can be type 2 kind of fun
Brian's ideal pheasant hunt vs. Ryan's
How to introduce our spouse/significant other to hunting
Connect with Brian:
https://www.instagram.com/getdrawnwest/
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Richard Westley Wong was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is a dual Canadian-American citizen. He is a food photographer based in Minnesota, where he lives with his wife and two sons. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at the family cabin in Northern Wisconsin, fishing, training bird dogs, running hunt tests, and hunting with his three-year-old Vizsla, Trigger.
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Connect with Rich:
https://www.instagram.com/wisc_me_nord/
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Scott Kinnane grew up in Vinton, Iowa, before moving to a small farmhouse in Minnetonka, Minnesota, surrounded by hardwoods and abandoned sand pits. After raising three children in Eden Prairie, he and his wife settled in Bemidji on a 100-acre farm with a mile of Mississippi River shoreline, where they are restoring native prairie and managing their forest.
Raised by a single mother with one younger sister, Scott credits the ten dogs he’s had over the years with shaping him into a better person. Now a proud grandfather of four, he finds his greatest joy in upland hunting, guided by his dogs, and in the freedom of dirt roads, prairie winds, and deep woods.
Inspired by Gene Hill’s A Listening Walk, Scott hunts slowly, savoring every moment. He is passionate about mentoring—believing it’s more than a single youth hunt, but an ongoing commitment to guide, teach, and share the outdoors with those who need it, whether they ask or not.
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Connect with Scott:
https://www.instagram.com/scott.kinnane.8/
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Today on The Upland Social, we are going to take a different approach. Because the upland community is so awesome, we recently hit 1,000 followers on Instagram. To celebrate, we hosted an "Online Upland Party" where participants could discuss their plans for the upcoming fall. Join us for the party!
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Jim Burris is a passionate outdoorsman who recently relocated from North Carolina to Wisconsin. He’s hunted with bird dogs for over 25 years going back to his time grouse hunting the Appalachian hills of West Virginia with his Ryman English Setter. Currently, he has a pudelpointer named Manu that he travels the country with hunting any upland bird they can find. He is a lover and collector of rare upland hunting literature and fine shotguns.
Jim is the founder and chairman for the Bird Dog Society, a non-profit dedicated to providing education, outreach, and events to bird dog owners to support an enriched and healthy lifestyle with their dogs. Professionally Jim is the director of a large aquaculture research center studying the physiological processes of fish. If there is anything that can top Jim’s passion for upland hunting it would be his passion for fishing, but it’s a close competition for his time.
Topics Covered:
Check out The Bird Dog Society:
Follow Jim and The Bird Dog Society on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/birddogs.and.flyrods/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/birddogsociety/?hl=en
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Today on the Upland Social, Josh Tatman joins us for some great conversation. A Wyoming resident, Josh is an avid bird hunter, dedicated outdoor writer, and a strong advocate for conservation. With a deep passion for the landscapes and wildlife of the West, he brings a wealth of experience and perspective to the field, both in the uplands and on the page.
Topics covered include:
https://www.instagram.com/josh_tatman/?hl=en