On The Wing Podcast

Opening day is more than a hunt. It is a tradition that connects generations, communities, and the bird dogs that make it unforgettable.South Dakota's pheasant opener brings hunters together for one of upland bird hunting's most celebrated traditions. In Wessington Springs, Bob St.Pierre joins longtime Pheasants Forever volunteer Darwin Weeldreyer for an opening morning block party that puts small-town hospitality, conservation, and hunting culture on full display.South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks senior pheasant biologist Alex Solem shares his outlook for the season, explaining how mild winters, nesting conditions, habitat management, CRP lands, and crop harvest influence pheasant populations and hunting success. He also breaks down where to find birds throughout the day, why weedy cover can be productive early in the season, and why December and January hunts deserve a spot on every upland hunter's calendar. For non-resident hunters planning a trip, his advice offers practical guidance on timing a South Dakota pheasant hunt.Wessington Springs Mayor Ryan Knipfer explains the importance of pheasant hunting to both the economy and the community. Then veterinarian Dr. Casey Duxbury turns the conversation to bird dog health, covering heat stress, hydration, barbed-wire injuries, grass seed awns, eye emergencies, and the preventive care hunters should handle before traveling. Her field-tested advice helps hunters recognize trouble early and keep their dogs working safely.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesThanks to Chief Upland, Irish Setter Boots, Purina Pro Plan, and RuffLand Performance Kennels for supporting our Opening Day – South Dakota video that will come out in autumn of 2027. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Award-winning wild game cook and food author Hank Shaw returns to On the Wing for an insider’s look at making the most of every bird, mushroom, and wild ingredient the outdoors provides. From pheasant and quail to ruffed grouse, woodcock, and wild turkey, Shaw shares practical cooking techniques that help hunters bring more flavor to the table without wasting a thing.Learn when to smoke upland birds, why sous vide can ruin tender cuts when used incorrectly, and how to keep lean pheasant and turkey breasts juicy. Shaw breaks down his favorite methods for grilling doves and quail, preparing pheasant thighs, making wild game sausage, and creating restaurant-worthy meals with simple ingredients. He also explains why shorter sous vide cooking times matter, when butter poaching makes sense, and how to turn a smoked pheasant carcass into an exceptional soup base.The conversation goes beyond the kitchen, exploring wild mushroom foraging, the best pairings for different upland birds, and the edible plants hiding in native prairie habitat. Discover why porcini, chanterelles, morels, and other wild mushrooms deserve a place alongside your harvest, plus how ingredients like rose hips can bring unexpected flavor to sharp-tailed grouse.Whether you're chasing roosters across the prairie, hunting ruffs in the grouse woods, or looking to become a better wild game cook, Shaw offers techniques and inspiration to make every harvest count.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesCheck out Hank Shaw’s full collection of books. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

The right weather conditions, quality habitat and hunting tactics can turn tough pheasants into more shooting opportunities.Pheasant hunting is never supposed to be easy. That challenge is what keeps hunters coming back. But the right tactics can tip the odds in your favor. Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter breaks down eight pheasant hunting equalizers that can help you find more birds and turn close calls into more roostery sags in your gamebag.Wind and moisture can dramatically change how pheasants behave and how well your bird dog works scent. Learn why 15 to 20 mph winds can be ideal, how wet conditions affect scent, and why the second day after rain may offer some of the best hunting of the season.The conversation also digs into habitat strategy, including standing corn, freshly harvested fields, diverse pollinator cover, cattails, and the overlooked pockets that can hold birds when traditional pheasant habitat comes up empty. You'll also hear why the “forenoon,” as Carp fashions late morning, can be a prime time to hunt; how December snow and cold concentrate pheasants; and why stealth may be the most important pheasant hunting equalizer of all.Finally, Carpenter makes the case for putting miles on your boots and your bird dog. Whether you're chasing roosters with a pointing dog or flushing dog, persistence, observation and adapting to the conditions can be the ultimate equalizers.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesRead PFJ Editor Tom Carpenter’s full Pheasant Hunting Equalizers story.On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Where should you chase quail in 2026? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks joins On the Wing to break down QF’s 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast species by species, revealing where habitat, rainfall, and bird numbers are lining up for a productive season.The conversation starts with bobwhite quail, including standout opportunities in Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Sparks explains why hunters should look beyond state lines and focus on interconnected habitat, precipitation, winter survival, and the positive benefits of prescribed fire.From there, the forecast moves to mountain quail in Washington, Oregon, and California, valley quail in California, Montezuma quail in Arizona and New Mexico, and Gambel's and scaled quail across the desert Southwest. You'll also get practical quail hunting tips for finding birds when conditions are tough, from identifying water sources and recent burns to locating productive habitat and asking landowners for access. Sparks shares a simple scouting strategy that can turn one permission request into thousands of acres of hunting ground.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesRead QF’s full 2026 state-by-state Quail Hunting Forecast presented by Duck Camp. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Colton Patterson built Broken Bow around the music, artwork, traditions, and values he inherited from his grandfather. At just 19, his work has grown into a social media following with more than one million people, along with collaborations with artists like the Turnpike Troubadours.That same appreciation for Americana and the outdoors made Patterson a natural fit to illustrate Wendell Berry's Mike, a story about a bird dog, quail hunting, family, memory, and the connection between people and the land. Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks explains why Berry's writing has remained so influential to him, and how the story's deeper themes connect directly to conservation and the hunting tradition.The conversation explores Patterson's creative process, his love of old country and bluegrass music, the influence of his grandparents, and why his deliberately timeless artwork resonates in a digital world. The discussion also digs into the idea of "membership," Berry's concept that we don't simply occupy a place but belong to a community of people, animals, land, traditions, and generations.For anyone who loves bird dogs, quail hunting, conservation, or the culture surrounding the outdoors, this is a conversation about much more than pulling the trigger. It's about why we return to the field and what we carry home with us.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesRead Wendell Berry’s story Mike as it appeared in Quail Forever Journal with Broken Bow’s illustrations. Check out Colton Patterson’s artwork at Broken Bow. Learn more about Wendell Berry and his writing in this terrific article from The New York Times following his passing in August.On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.