The Flush Podcast - Stories from the field

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher from Hoksey Native Seeds are in studio to discuss their unique view of prairie farm life, growing seeds for habitat, most commonly asked grass and pollinator questions, quality of life, simple pollinator projects, hands on habitat, going back in time, our footprint on this earth, making healthy choices, being difference makers, using chemicals on our landscape, a lack of suffering, and so much more …@theprairiefarm

Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntF...

In Part 3 of our bird dog training course with Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells and George Lyall, we discuss in the field bird dog field training.  The step-by-step conversation begins with transitioning “The Method” course work into field work, transitioning the point of contact from a command lead to E-collar, using a flank collar to apply breaks and whoa training steadiness.  We also discuss finding the right fields and situations to run dogs, training on wild birds vs pen-raised birds and which ones can help and hurt your progress, encouraging chase, building prey drive, repetitions, and having patience to see the pr...

In Part 2 of our bird dog training course with Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells and George Lyall, we discuss bird dog foundation & obedience training.  We begin at the kennel and work dogs through an obstacle course to help them overcome challenges and gain confidence in themselves and their owners. We discuss how to properly use a lead, developing a point of contact, introducing the E-collar & verbal commands, recall, and running the dog off leash for the first time. @haycreekkennel @jwellskennels

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Puppy Development training is the foundation for every bird dog. We walk step by step through “The Method” training process with puppies from the moment you start looking for a bird dog to the day you introduce them to birds and gun fire for the first time.  We bring two dogs into the show with three highly qualified dog trainers, Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells, & George Lyall, to discuss why it’s important to come up with a 2-year plan, picking up your puppy and bringing it home, kennel training, potty training, sleep training, physical touch, developing good habits, working through...

When dog owners struggle, that’s when they call trainers for help. On this episode, we sit down with dog owners that share their struggles and the trainers that helped them overcome them. Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells & George Lyall explain how to understand the mindset of dogs and the power that comes with it.  @haycreekkennel @jwellskennels

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.co...

Bird hunters unite to get their hands dirty working on habitat.  John Wartman, president of the Carver County Pheasants Forever chapter explains why his chapter won the 2024 Forever award, why adding opportunities for chapter members to work together has given his chapter renewed life, the value and bond created by volunteering, Hands on Habitat day, stories introducing kids to hunting and wild places, plus a whole lot more…@pheasantsforever

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh W...

*LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED* Adam Thomas shares his horrifying story of a bird dog training drill that backfired and sent him on a helicopter to the closest ER. Adam relives the events leading up to the explosion, explains why it happened, how his body and mind reacted to it, his hope for a full recovery, lessons learned, and maintaining his goal of training his bird dog, Charlie, to compete in the NAVHDA Invitational this fall.  Adam’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers in the field and how quick life can change. @athomasone

Pres...

Listeners share their real-life stories while at the 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City, MO. This is an open mic episode where Travis Frank & Scott Fransen hear from guests sharing their own experiences in the field, from epic success to unexpected heartbreaks, this episode takes us on a wild journey with bird dogs, habitat heroes, laughs, tears, inspiration, and a whole lot more.

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.mar...

Listeners share their real life stories while at the 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City, MO. This is an open mic episode where Travis Frank & Scott Fransen hear from guests sharing their own experiences in the field, from epic success to unexpected heartbreaks, this episode takes us on a wild journey with bird dogs, habitat heroes, laughs, tears, conservation, inspiration, and a whole lot more.

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (htt...

Join us for our 3rd annual Upland Trivia game hosted LIVE at Border Brewing Co. in Kansas City at Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic.  Will George Lyall continue his dominance?  Will Tyler Webster rebound from his disappointing finish last year?  Play along with a packed house of listeners that came to cheer on the crew, heckle the hosts, and take home prizes.  @western.wingshooter.podcast | @g.lyall66 | @fransenscott

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothin...

Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is finally here! We count down the final hours before the show opens to preview our schedule of events in Kansas City.  Plus, we share a listener story that won’t soon be forgotten.  We’ll see you at the largest upland gathering in the world!

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) & Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/)

Ben Brettingen from OnX Hunt & Hannah Petersen from Mud Lake Kennels join the show for a spring dog training episode that dives into the mindsight of raising bird dogs and honing their natural skills.  The episode begins with a brief game of upland trivia, followed by a Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic preview, then dives into Hannah’s journey into dog training, canine obedience training, introducing a puppy to wild birds, gaining confidence through experience, trusting the process, reading your dog, flipping the light switch, Minnesota Grouse Dog Association trials, bird dog trials vs hunting, Ben joins the RGS & AWS Boa...

Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Executive Director of Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation joins the show for an in-depth conversation on America’s wild quail. Ryan and Travis discuss the RPQRF mission, biology & behavior of quail, quail research projects, parasites in quail, eye worms & cecal worms, Quail Gaurd, quail mating and nesting, quail habitat and timely rains, grazing for quail, preserving quail hunting in America, predation, winter survival, and so much more …@rpqrf | www.quailresearch.org

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Marilyn Vetter, Bob St. Pierre, & Ron Leathers of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever join us for an in-depth “State of the Union” habitat conversation.  We discuss the health of the organization, conservation partnerships and what they mean for wildlife, internal strengths and opportunities, members are growing, Federal Farm Bill & DC happenings, habitat heroes & leaders, looking inward, celebrating 20 years of Quail Forever, Hands on Habitat, bird biology, Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic preview, listener questions, season highlights, and so much more…@pheasantsforever | @quailforever

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Scott Fransen, Tyler Webster, Tim Brown & our loyal listeners join us to celebrate 250 episodes of The Flush podcast and help us answer the question, “what will you remember from this hunting season?” Join us as we relive incredible moments and unforgettable stories from the uplands. From skunk retrieves to porcupines, first hunts to last hunts, epic misses to perfect shots, amazing dog retrieves to the ones that got away, and so much more. It’s a special story time episode in “The Roost.”

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Scott & Hannah Fransen join the show to provide an update to Hannah’s journey into hunting. Hannah shares the steps she took to finally harvest her first bird, the struggles she overcame, the mental game a first-time hunter must endure, missing birds, breaking through, learning how to read habitat, becoming one with her bird dog, appreciating wild places, and future goals as a hunter that’s hooked. Plus, Scott gives a father’s perspective of this journey, pheasant updates from the last week of hunting in South Dakota, The Flush Podcast now has video, and we begin sharing hunting storie...

Nick Martin is known as the Iowa Bird Chaser.  Nick is on a mission to harvest a wild pheasant on public land in every county in Iowa.  We discuss the goal Nick set for himself and the value of setting goals, the struggles that have come trying to find birds on some public properties, what he’s learned about himself, grading Iowa’s public lands, celebrating success, breaking down a property, the ones that get away, achieving goals, finding a hunting balance in life, and so much more...@iowa_birdchaser

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Steve Hall is a farmer, bird hunter, dog breeder, family man, and volunteer PF chapter member from central Iowa.  Steve and Travis discuss life on the farm, balancing agriculture farming with wildlife habitat, breeding bird dogs, checking the boxes to breed dogs, falling in love with a dog breed, experiences & lessons learned raising puppies, finding the right homes for bird dogs, hunting accidents, grading this hunting season, upland bird hunting in Iowa, balancing family time with hunting, positive attitude in life, laughing off a scary hunting accident, and more @castironkennels

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David Thionnet is a lifelong quail hunter from Oklahoma.  David and Travis share stories from their action-packed bobwhite quail hunt, David explains the quail hunting tradition that hooked him as a young child and his love of the covey rise, why numbers are up this year, habitat that helps and hurts quail populations, hunting with 6 bird dogs at one time, OLAP public access program, Quail Coalition, sharing in the hunting traditions, more stories from Beadie the blind bird hunter, and plenty more!

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Beadie Brown is a blind bird hunter that lost his eyesight during a tragic hunting accident at the age of 12.  Beadie relives the story when he was shot in the field and then explains how he continues to hunt today with the help of his nephew Kaleb Curry.  Beadie discusses how he navigates terrain in the field, training and hunting with his own bird dogs, experiencing the power of the flush, holding each bird in hand, learning patience, the importance of hunting safety, overcoming your own obstacles to reach your goals, attitude is everything, helping others leads to greater re...

Kurt Swenson is a North Dakota landowner and hunter that makes his working land work for wildlife.  Kurt helps us understand what it’s like to be a landowner on the other side of the door when hunters stop and ask permission to hunt his land.  He explains when and why he lets people hunt, sharing the land program, building relationships, how to ruin private access for others, what landowners think about out-of-state hunters, what goes into building habitat, pheasant tattoos spark conservation conversations, all habitat is not created equal, working with ND state agencies, culling roosters, role playing hunt...

Darwin Weeldreyer is a dedicated South Dakota pheasant hunter, Pheasants Forever volunteer, and habitat champion.  We discuss pheasant populations in South Dakota, late season hunting tactics, enjoying the big flush during the late season, creating habitat, growing the upland bird hunting community, working together to make the land better, enjoying hunts with friends and strangers, and culling roosters before nasty winter weather hits and hurts the birds.  We also share a list of Christmas wishes from our bird hunting listeners.

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Are there wild pheasants and bobwhite quail in Indiana?  We join a passionate crew of upland bird hunters in the Hoosier State that can prove there are a lot of them.  Craig Standish and his buddies explain why Indiana’s fertile soil grows wild pheasants and quail, how their efforts to create more wildlife habitat is working, their proof is in the flush, the power of good dogs, the return of bobwhite quail, farming practices that can work for wildlife, a little grass goes a long way, their roles as PF volunteers, and success stories from the hunt.  Plus, Dave...

Tyler Webster & Wess Larabee from the Western Wingshooter Podcast join us to break down late season tactics to outsmart wild pheasants.  We discuss how to approach habitat on solo hunts & with groups, the art of blocking, late season food sources, when to hunt, slowing down, don’t get caught up in the big flush, walking backwards and repeating a walk, double tapping, Tyler goes down, where is the real pheasant capital of America, and so much more.  @the.westernwingshooter.podcast

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Scott Fransen & Bill Sherck join the show to help Travis give thanks for another unpredictable season of bird hunting, time spent in the field with friends & family, and a whole lot of heckling before your Thanksgiving meal.  We share important moments from hunts with our kids, lessons learned as fathers and mentors, views from recent hunt, reports from pheasant country, and more heckling the boss.

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Jay Brekke from Brekke Veterinary joins the show to offer advice on how to help our bird dogs grind through a rigorous hunting season and prepare for cold weather hunts ahead.  Travis and Jay discuss the changing season ahead for bird hunters, hypothermia in dogs, tailgate checks, paw conditioning, mean seeds, dog food & supplements, and Jay’s new telehealth service for hunting dogs called Altitude Sport Dog Health.  We also share recent stories from the field to help you harvest more pheasants and quail in the coming weeks. www.brekkevet.com & www.altitudesportdoghealth.com

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Scott Fransen, his wife (Jean), and their three daughters (Grace, Maddy, Hannah), sit down to share stories from their unforgettable family hunt, where youngest daughter, Hannah, goes on her first wild pheasant hunt in western Minnesota.  The crew shares their favorite moments from the hunt, kicking Dad when he is down and out, the challenges of hunting wild pheasants, falling down, hen explosions at their feet and why this hunt is Scott’s favorite of all time. 

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Travis Frank and his wife (Sarah), mom (Phyliss), daughter (Lydia), and son (Weston), sit down to share stories from their unforgettable “Frank Family Pheasant Hunt” in North Dakota.  The crew shares their favorite moments from the hunt, celebrating first pheasants & partridge, outsmarting wild pheasants, overcoming obstacles as a family, planning and executing a family hunt, witnessing the fall migration, watching a bull moose pass by, embracing the experience, a new fishing lodge in North Dakota that’s perfect for hunters, and so much more…@fishindianhills

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While chukar hunting in Idaho, Trevor Henderson’s bird dog, Ellie, went on point and was then shot and killed by a coyote hunter.  Trevor relives the horrific story from that hunt, and describes the events that followed when officers arrived on the scene and told him there was no crime committed.  Trevor shares his mission to seek Justice for Ellie, explains what he’s learned about hunting laws in Idaho and around the country that pertain to bird dogs, what he’s doing to protect all dogs, why he started “The Ellie Project”, and what he wants bird hunters to k...

Ali Walton & Jon Tremblay join the show to help us get wild in the kitchen.  We laugh and share stories from special moments shared together, talk tools to help your wild game cooking, share recipes, share more stories, heckling friends and having fun, social media tips and viral videos, field reports from pheasant country, the big one that didn’t get away, Walton’s grows, from Nashville music to Kansas meat, and so much more. @waltonsinc

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Is this the year of the quail?  It might be! Ryan Sparks from Quail Forever joins the show to preview America’s upcoming quail hunting season.  Find out where quail numbers are up, where quail have rebounded from drought, where timely rains have dramatically raised quail numbers, stories from the covey rise, growing up in quail country, and all things quail from north to south, east to west.  Plus, we recap Minnesota’s pheasant opener, talk dry conditions, and so much more. @qualforever

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In a 100-year-old church-turned hunting camp we share stories from our bird hunt in Minnesota’s Northwoods. Brian Kelvington, Ted Anderson, Chris Christy join the show to talk about flushing big numbers of ruffed grouse and woodcock, hunting only the best cover, when to pull the plug on a spot and when to stay, finding perfect habitat, hunting camp traditions, wolf encounters with bird dogs, hunting gear updates, and so much more…

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After a week in Canada’s bush country, Ben Brettingen & George Lyall sit down with Travis Frank to share stories from their remote wilderness ruffed grouse hunting adventure based out of Sunset Channel Outpost on Lake of the Woods.  The trio share laughs, struggles, lessons learned, success stories, tips to find ruffed grouse in the upper Midwest, going remote, catching walleyes from shore, hunting waterfowl between grouse flushes, recipes from camp, reasons to plan a true adventure, and so much more… @benbrettingen @g.lyall66

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Jared Wiklund from Pheasants Forever joins the show to preview the 2024 pheasant hunting season.  We break down each state to discuss where upland bird hunters will flush more roosters this fall, areas that were hit hardest by spring rain, where the hatch exceeded expectations and where it fell short, pheasant facts, build a wildlife area week, rain & habitat updates, be bear aware, and so much more…  @pheasantsforever

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Jeb Williams is the Director of North Dakota Game & Fish.  Jeb & Travis preview North Dakota’s bird hunting season by discussing bird counts for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge & waterfowl.  The two also talk about the impact of non-resident hunting in ND, expanding public access, gaining permission on private ground, electronically posted lands, habitat, water levels, new areas to hunt, and so much more. @ndgameandfish

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/) Lucky Duck Premium Decoys (https://www.luc...

Travis Frank joins Josh Tatman & Dan Towsley in the mountains of Wyoming in search of blue grouse & cutthroat trout. At 10,000 ft above sea level the crew takes a break from the adventure to share stories from the hunt, discuss blue grouse hunting in-depth, hunting in high elevations, preparing for wild west terrain, camping on top of the mountain, sharing hunting grit, Wyoming wildfires & habitat, a first bird for a young pup, plus so much more!  @josh_tatman | @dtowsley

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Ben Brettingen from OnX Hunt and Travis Frank go through their opening day checklist to prepare for the new hunting season.  The two talk hunting gear head to toe, new gear for this season, setting personal goals for the season, tips to be more successful in the field, breaking down cover & understand birds, planning for long roadtrips, new OnX Hunt features, Ben’s sunglasses, and so much more!  @benbrettingen

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Julia Schrenkler & Mercedes Akinseye join the show to discuss their annual opening day bird hunting tradition called “Grousemas.” The duo of dedicated bird hunters also share about their passion for conservation, their path to the uplands, learning together at their own pace, starting a tradition vs waiting for an invite, the gifts of giving back, being polite & respectful hunters, and so much more.  @juliaschrenkler

Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/) Lucky Duck Premium Decoys (https://www.luckyduc...

Marc Musselman & Jonny Serrano from Alclair join the show to discuss the least sexy topic in hunting – hearing protection.  Marc and Travis talk about overcoming the challenges upland bird hunters face when it comes to blocking wind noise, hearing the sound direction of a flush, and enhancing natural sounds while still blocking the muzzle blast of a gun.  Travis shares his own story about losing his hearing and the impact it’s had on his life.  Marc explains his lifetime commitment to serving others, enhancing the quality of life, and adapting with hearing technology to make hearing protection part of ever...

We’ve assembled a special upland bird hunter’s super show episode with Bob St. Pierre of On the Wing Podcast 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 Gamebird Coordinator Nathan Huck.  The conversation begins with ruffed grouse drumming counts and hatch information and then takes a deep dive into the app to explain how it works, what the DNR will lea...