Birdshot Podcast

Young bird dogs can make a handler question everything after one rough hunt. Then the next outing offers a very different picture.

Aaron Hepler of InCamp Podcast joins Nick to talk about learning alongside his French Brittany, Rue, and finding a place for bird hunting in a life that already includes bowhunting, work and family. Rue's development leads into a conversation about running pheasants, bird contacts, changing conditions and what it means to look for a pattern instead of judging a dog by a single mistake.

There is more to the story than training. Aaron...

Bird dog puppy progress can be easier to recognize looking back than it is in the moment. In this solo episode, Nick Larson catches up on the grouse season and recaps a South Dakota sharptail hunt with Hazel and Rose.

Back in the woods, six-month-old Hazel gets her first woodcock and begins showing more caution around grouse. Nick talks through the cover he explored, the birds he found and the check-ins that are helping him build confidence in her. A final walk produces the kind of puppy work that makes a day, even without a shot.

Ruffed grouse habitat can look good on a map and still leave plenty of questions once the boots hit the ground. Ann Jandernoa returns for her tenth appearance on the Birdshot Podcast to help Nick work through listener questions about reading cover and handling bird dogs.

The conversation starts with early-season conditions and how dry weather changes the places Ann looks for birds. From there, they get into stem density, the forest floor, and the smaller features that make one pocket of a cut more useful than the surrounding cover. A clump of balsam, a shaded edge...

Sharptail hunting on the prairie gave Nick plenty to think about, especially with Hazel along for her first prairie trip. In this solo episode, he recaps the hunts and shares what changed when he started choosing cover with a young setter in mind.

A cut hayfield that looked too short to hide a bird turned into one of the trip's most memorable walks. There was good work from an older dog, a puppy carrying a sharptail around a hay bale, and plenty of small moments that made the next hunt even more exciting.

Nick also...

Tick prevention for hunters and bird dogs starts before the first walk through cover. Travis Avery of Sawyer Products joins Nick to talk about permethrin, treated clothing, and what happens when a tick reaches that fabric.

I've sprayed my hunting pants for years, but I hadn't spent much time thinking about what the treatment was doing two weeks later. No smell. Nothing I could see. Travis's explanation helped me connect that familiar routine to how the product works. We also discuss treating boots and socks, along with the dog beds and kennel pads I already spray.

Wild bird contacts can shape a pointing dog in ways a training setup cannot. Mark Payton joins Nick to talk about first seasons, launchers, steadiness, and letting birds teach.

Mark is the author of Favorite Ways to Train Your Bird Dog and a longtime bird hunter who has worked dogs for the public for about 15 years. He returns to the podcast for a listener-question episode built around developing young dogs, carrying yard work into new places, and recognizing what a dog is saying before adding more pressure.

I have a new setter pup at my...

Idaho Grouse Fever author Andy Wayment joins Nick to talk about bird dogs, grouse literature, favorite shotguns, and what keeps a life of grouse hunting meaningful.

Andy returns to the podcast with two new projects: Idaho Grouse Fever: An Obsession for All Things Grouse and Breaking Cover, a monthly podcast focused on upland literature and tradition. He explains why his latest book reaches across all five of Idaho's grouse species and mixes hunting stories with classic writing, sporting art, shotguns, named coverts, and the friendships built around them.

I was halfway through the book when...

New Brunswick guide Jason Curtis shares what 39 years around grouse, woodcock, and wild birds have taught him about developing young bird dogs.

Nick welcomes Jason back to the podcast eight years after their first conversation. They start on the Miramichi River, where a fall trip can combine Atlantic salmon fishing with grouse and woodcock hunting, then move into the part of the conversation that hit closest to home: raising a puppy for her first season.

Jason explains why he begins exposure work early, how he introduces a wing, birds, a bell, and gunfire without turning...

TFL Shotgun Fest 2026 is coming to central Minnesota this July, and this year two shotgun Hall of Famers are teaching the clinics. Steve Gould joins Nick to walk through the whole weekend.

On this episode, host Nick Larson brings back Steve Gould, creator of the Target Focused Life YouTube channel and part-owner of the Alexandria Shooting Park, to preview the second annual TFL Shotgun Fest. The event runs Friday, July 24 (development day plus VIP night) and Saturday, July 25 (the main shooting day) at the Alexandria Shooting Park in central Minnesota.

The headline this year is...

TFL Shotgun Fest 2026 is coming to central Minnesota this July, and this year two shotgun Hall of Famers are teaching the clinics. Steve Gould joins Nick to walk through the whole weekend.

On this episode, host Nick Larson brings back Steve Gould, creator of the Target Focused Life YouTube channel and part-owner of the Alexandria Shooting Park, to preview the second annual TFL Shotgun Fest. The event runs Friday, July 24 (development day plus VIP night) and Saturday, July 25 (the main shooting day) at the Alexandria Shooting Park in central Minnesota.

The headline this year is...

Quail habitat is the whole story. Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich spent five years following bobwhite quail across the Midwest, and the data pointed at one thing over and over: disturbed ground grows birds.

On this episode, host Nick Larson brings back Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich, two biologists who helped run one of the largest quail habitat studies in the region. From 2014 to 2018 they monitored 500 nests, radio-collared chicks, and even collared raccoons to see how predators move through cover. What came out of it is a genuinely hopeful finding: you...

Quail habitat is the whole story. Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich spent five years following bobwhite quail across the Midwest, and the data pointed at one thing over and over: disturbed ground grows birds.

On this episode, host Nick Larson brings back Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich, two biologists who helped run one of the largest quail habitat studies in the region. From 2014 to 2018 they monitored 500 nests, radio-collared chicks, and even collared raccoons to see how predators move through cover. What came out of it is a genuinely hopeful finding: you can grow quail if you're deliberate...

Bird dogs come and go over a hunting life, and every new puppy is a chance to do it better than the last. Fresh off bringing home a new setter pup, Nick Larson sits down with Steve Snell of Gun Dog Supply to talk through what 50-plus dogs have taught Steve about raising the next one, from the first weeks at home to a lifetime in the field.

It had been since 2018 — episode #12 — that Steve was last on the show, and a lot of ground gets covered here. The conversation opens on bird dog safe...

Bird dogs come and go over a hunting life, and every new puppy is a chance to do it better than the last. Fresh off bringing home a new setter pup, Nick Larson sits down with Steve Snell of Gun Dog Supply to talk through what 50-plus dogs have taught Steve about raising the next one, from the first weeks at home to a lifetime in the field.

It had been since 2018 — episode #12 — that Steve was last on the show, and a lot of ground gets covered here. The conversation opens on bird dog safe...

In this episode of Birdshot Podcast, Nick sits down with Keith Marcott to talk about woodcock hunting, bird travel, and a lifetime spent chasing upland birds across North America and overseas. Keith shares stories from hunting woodcock in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Scotland, along with memories from Wyoming, the western bird country, and the years before GPS and OnX made it easier to find cover.
Keith Marcott is a retired engineer and lifelong upland hunter now based in Wyoming. After growing up bird hunting in the Northeast, he eventually built a life around western birds — Huns, chukar, sharptails, pr...

In this episode of Birdshot Podcast, Nick sits down with Keith Marcott to talk about woodcock hunting, bird travel, and a lifetime spent chasing upland birds across North America and overseas. Keith shares stories from hunting woodcock in New Brunswick, Quebec, and Scotland, along with memories from Wyoming, the western bird country, and the years before GPS and OnX made it easier to find cover.
Keith Marcott is a retired engineer and lifelong upland hunter now based in Wyoming. After growing up bird hunting in the Northeast, he eventually built a life around western birds — Huns, chukar, sharptails, pr...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Todd Bumgardner, founder of Pack Mule Training Co., for a deep dive into physical preparation for the uplands. They discuss the shift from extreme "murder yourself" workouts to a philosophy of long-term consistency, focusing on how small, frictionless habits can pay massive dividends come September. Todd brings nearly 20 years of experience training hunters and elite military units to help upland hunters move better, stay resilient, and extend their longevity in the field.

I’ve been following these principles for three years no...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Todd Bumgardner, founder of Pack Mule Training Co., for a deep dive into physical preparation for the uplands. They discuss the shift from extreme "murder yourself" workouts to a philosophy of long-term consistency, focusing on how small, frictionless habits can pay massive dividends come September. Todd brings nearly 20 years of experience training hunters and elite military units to help upland hunters move better, stay resilient, and extend their longevity in the field.

I’ve been following these principles for three years no...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Greg Maher of Meadow Creek Mounts for a conversation about the practical shift from traditional beads to optics in the turkey woods. They dig into the engineering behind rib-mounted sights, the "equalizer" effect of a red dot on gun fit, and why seeing more of the bird is a significant advantage when the shot counts.

Greg Maher is an engineer and a lifer in the turkey woods with over 20 years of experience. After identifying a need for better optic placement on shotguns that weren't...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Greg Maher of Meadow Creek Mounts for a conversation about the practical shift from traditional beads to optics in the turkey woods. They dig into the engineering behind rib-mounted sights, the "equalizer" effect of a red dot on gun fit, and why seeing more of the bird is a significant advantage when the shot counts.

Greg Maher is an engineer and a lifer in the turkey woods with over 20 years of experience. After identifying a need for better optic placement on shotguns that weren't...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Patrick Hunter for a laid-back and insightful conversation about upland bird hunting in the Southeast. They dig into everything from family hunting traditions and first shotguns to the pursuit of elusive woodcock and what makes southern hunting so different.

Patrick Hunter is an avid upland hunter and outdoorsman based in coastal South Carolina. With a background rooted in family hunting traditions, Patrick pursues a wide range of game including woodcock, quail, ducks, and wild turkeys. By day, he works as an engineer, but he...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Patrick Hunter for a laid-back and insightful conversation about upland bird hunting in the Southeast. They dig into everything from family hunting traditions and first shotguns to the pursuit of elusive woodcock and what makes southern hunting so different.

Patrick Hunter is an avid upland hunter and outdoorsman based in coastal South Carolina. With a background rooted in family hunting traditions, Patrick pursues a wide range of game including woodcock, quail, ducks, and wild turkeys. By day, he works as an engineer, but he...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Mike Neiduski of Ugly Dog Hunting Company for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation covering hockey, Pheasant Fest highlights, dog gear innovations, and the tools that made a difference this season. The conversation wraps with an exciting announcement, Nick is adding a new puppy to the family.

Mike Neiduski is the founder of Ugly Dog Hunting Company, a Minnesota-based retailer specializing in high-quality hunting dog gear and training equipment. A passionate upland hunter and dog owner, Mike is deeply involved in the bird hunting community...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson sits down with Mike Neiduski of Ugly Dog Hunting Company for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation covering hockey, Pheasant Fest highlights, dog gear innovations, and the tools that made a difference this season. The conversation wraps with an exciting announcement, Nick is adding a new puppy to the family.

Mike Neiduski is the founder of Ugly Dog Hunting Company, a Minnesota-based retailer specializing in high-quality hunting dog gear and training equipment. A passionate upland hunter and dog owner, Mike is deeply involved in the bird hunting community...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson sits down with Doug Stewart, an avid upland bird hunter, author, and expert on traditional side-by-side shotguns. Doug shares his deep passion for bird hunting, the stories behind his favorite guns, and offers plenty of advice for anyone interested in the world of vintage shotguns. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just starting to explore, Doug’s wealth of knowledge will leave you inspired and eager to get out in the field.

Doug is the author of two books about traditional side-by-side shotguns: The Traditional Si...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson sits down with Doug Stewart, an avid upland bird hunter, author, and expert on traditional side-by-side shotguns. Doug shares his deep passion for bird hunting, the stories behind his favorite guns, and offers plenty of advice for anyone interested in the world of vintage shotguns. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just starting to explore, Doug’s wealth of knowledge will leave you inspired and eager to get out in the field.

Doug is the author of two books about traditional side-by-side shotguns: The Traditional Si...

In this heartwarming episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Host Nick Larson welcomes back Tim Flanigan, a revered outdoorsman, author, photographer, and retired game warden. Now in his 80s, Tim reflects on a life immersed in upland bird hunting, wildlife photography, and conservation. He shares rich stories from his time in the field, thoughts on aging gracefully, and timeless lessons passed down through generations of hunters and mentors.

Tim Flanigan is a celebrated upland bird hunter, retired game warden, and author of books such as Grouse & Woodcock: The Birds of My Life and the Night...

In this heartwarming episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Host Nick Larson welcomes back Tim Flanigan, a revered outdoorsman, author, photographer, and retired game warden. Now in his 80s, Tim reflects on a life immersed in upland bird hunting, wildlife photography, and conservation. He shares rich stories from his time in the field, thoughts on aging gracefully, and timeless lessons passed down through generations of hunters and mentors.

Tim Flanigan is a celebrated upland bird hunter, retired game warden, and author of books such as Grouse & Woodcock: The Birds of My Life and the Night...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson is joined by Marc Musselman, CEO at Alclair Audio, to discuss the intersection of bird hunting and hearing protection. From nostalgic stories of Nebraska pheasant hunts to embracing Minnesota winters and late-season grouse excursions, the conversation evolves into a deep dive on the science and user experience behind custom digital hearing protection. Marc shares his journey through the hearing industry, the challenges of adoption among upland hunters, and why hearing protection should be as common as boots and a bird vest.

Marc Musselman is...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson is joined by Marc Musselman, CEO at Alclair Audio, to discuss the intersection of bird hunting and hearing protection. From nostalgic stories of Nebraska pheasant hunts to embracing Minnesota winters and late-season grouse excursions, the conversation evolves into a deep dive on the science and user experience behind custom digital hearing protection. Marc shares his journey through the hearing industry, the challenges of adoption among upland hunters, and why hearing protection should be as common as boots and a bird vest.

Marc Musselman is...

From the Ruffed Grouse Society:“With heavy hearts, we share the news that Glen Robert Blackwood, a beloved friend, colleague and devoted conservationist, passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, at age 62. Glen’s passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew him and in the broader conservation community he served so passionately.” (continue reading at ruffedgrousesociety.org)

Obituary: https://www.grcremation.com/obituaries/glen-blackwood

Episode Highlights (from the original recording):

Barn parties and popping for bass

Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society update

From the Ruffed Grouse Society:“With heavy hearts, we share the news that Glen Robert Blackwood, a beloved friend, colleague and devoted conservationist, passed away on Dec. 29, 2025, at age 62. Glen’s passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew him and in the broader conservation community he served so passionately.” (continue reading at ruffedgrousesociety.org)

Obituary: https://www.grcremation.com/obituaries/glen-blackwood

Episode Highlights (from the original recording):

Barn parties and popping for bass

Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society update

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson is joined by Fritz Heller, a dedicated upland hunter, to discuss the 2025 hunting season, dogs, grouse hunting, and much more. Fritz shares insights into the challenges of the season, including heat waves and the impact on bird numbers, as well as his experience training new puppies. The conversation also gets into Fritz's plans for the future, including his search for a camper for hunting trips and his thoughts on managing bird populations and hunting conditions.

Fritz Heller is an upland bird hunter, dog trainer, and...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson is joined by Fritz Heller, a dedicated upland hunter, to discuss the 2025 hunting season, dogs, grouse hunting, and much more. Fritz shares insights into the challenges of the season, including heat waves and the impact on bird numbers, as well as his experience training new puppies. The conversation also gets into Fritz's plans for the future, including his search for a camper for hunting trips and his thoughts on managing bird populations and hunting conditions.

Fritz Heller is an upland bird hunter, dog trainer, and...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson is joined by Phil Bourjaily, Shotgun Editor at Field & Stream and passionate bird hunter. Phil shares insights from his pheasant hunts, discusses the current state of upland bird populations, and offers tips on hunting pheasants with pointing dogs. He also talks about how habitat loss affects bird numbers, the role of public and private land hunting, and how hunting conditions vary season to season. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting into upland bird hunting, this conversation offers a wealth of knowledge and experience.

...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson is joined by Phil Bourjaily, Shotgun Editor at Field & Stream and passionate bird hunter. Phil shares insights from his pheasant hunts, discusses the current state of upland bird populations, and offers tips on hunting pheasants with pointing dogs. He also talks about how habitat loss affects bird numbers, the role of public and private land hunting, and how hunting conditions vary season to season. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting into upland bird hunting, this conversation offers a wealth of knowledge and experience.

...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson sits down with Minnesota upland hunter Isaiah Osborne to talk pheasants, sharptails, German shorthaired pointers, and growing up hunting without a bird dog. Isaiah shares his journey from discovering wild birds with friends in high school, to serving in the Marine Corps, to learning bird dogs from professional trainers in Arizona. The conversation covers pheasant behavior, Gambel’s quail, tracking vs. true dogs, winter pheasant strategies, and building a reliable upland hunting truck setup.

Isaiah Osborne is a dedicated upland hunter from New Ulm, Minnesota. Raised in a...

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson sits down with Minnesota upland hunter Isaiah Osborne to talk pheasants, sharptails, German shorthaired pointers, and growing up hunting without a bird dog. Isaiah shares his journey from discovering wild birds with friends in high school, to serving in the Marine Corps, to learning bird dogs from professional trainers in Arizona. The conversation covers pheasant behavior, Gambel’s quail, tracking vs. true dogs, winter pheasant strategies, and building a reliable upland hunting truck setup.

Isaiah Osborne is a dedicated upland hunter from New Ulm, Minnesota. Raised in a...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson welcomes back Ted Koch, for an important conversation on prairie grouse conservation, grassland loss, ranching, and the future of upland habitat across North America. Ted also shares unforgettable elk-hunting stories, ruffed grouse parallels, and urgent insights into habitat fragmentation and the decline of gamebird populations.

Ted Koch is a retired endangered species biologist and CEO of the North American Grouse Partnership. With decades of experience in western wildlife conservation, Ted works directly with ranchers, agencies, and conservation partners to protect prairie grouse species, including sharp-tailed grouse, greater...

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson welcomes back Ted Koch, for an important conversation on prairie grouse conservation, grassland loss, ranching, and the future of upland habitat across North America. Ted also shares unforgettable elk-hunting stories, ruffed grouse parallels, and urgent insights into habitat fragmentation and the decline of gamebird populations.

Ted Koch is a retired endangered species biologist and CEO of the North American Grouse Partnership. With decades of experience in western wildlife conservation, Ted works directly with ranchers, agencies, and conservation partners to protect prairie grouse species, including sharp-tailed grouse, greater...