On The Wing Podcast

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.

Pheasants have a knack for surviving whatever the prairie throws at them, and this year's forecast offers plenty of reasons to lace up the boots. From Montana and the Dakotas to Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota, the outlook varies by region, but the bigger story is encouraging: quality upland habitat produces birds.The crew breaks down the state-by-state pheasant hunting forecast, highlighting where hunters can expect the best opportunities and where conditions may require a little more work. Montana and North Dakota offer classic mixed-bag potential for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge, while South Dakota continues to stand out for both bird numbers and access. Nebraska and Kansas offer opportunities for hunters interested in adding bobwhite quail to their mixed bag, and Minnesota's strong hatch could make it an overlooked destination for public land pheasant hunting.Beyond the forecast, the conversation digs into what actually matters once you hit the field. Expect practical pheasant hunting tips on finding birds in dry conditions, hunting cattails and other overlooked cover early in the season, using OnX to mark productive ground, and preparing bird dogs for changing temperatures.Most importantly, the discussion puts the season in perspective: success isn't always measured by limits. It's about good dogs, wild places, friends, family, habitat, and making the most of the days you have.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesRead the full 2026 state-by-state Pheasant Hunting Forecast presented by Garmin. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Public land doesn’t have to start with thousands of acres. Sometimes it starts with one property, one partnership, and one group of volunteers willing to keep building.PF & QF’s Casey Sill joins On the Wing to talk about “Brick by Brick,” a new film documenting the impact Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area program has had on communities across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. The conversation explores how permanently protected habitat can create more than pheasant hunting opportunities. It can improve water quality, strengthen local communities, support rural economies, and connect fragmented parcels into larger, more useful public land complexes for a wide array of wildlife species.Sill breaks down his first upland hunting experience in Iowa, the dramatic habitat transformation around the Spirit Lake area, and why Build a Wildlife properties demonstrate the value of building public access one parcel at a time. For hunters who grew up without public access, Sill explains how discovering public land fundamentally changed the way he spends time outdoors and shaped where he ultimately chose to build a life.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesThis year’s Build a Wildlife Area week is being sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund in partnership with our friends at The Flush. Learn more about PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area program.Check out PF & QF’s newest film, Brick by Brick presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Chief Upland, and SportDOG Brand.On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Country music singer Drake White joins On the Wing for a candid conversation about music, hunting, bird dogs, and the long road back from a devastating stroke. White grew up hunting and fishing in Alabama, where quail, deer, rivers, dogs, and the outdoors shaped how he understood the world and eventually influenced his music.At the height of his career, White suffered a hemorrhagic stroke onstage in Roanoke after doctors discovered an arteriovenous malformation in his brain. The aftermath left him paralyzed on his left side and facing a recovery that would fundamentally change his life. Then a trail camera captured a giant Tennessee whitetail buck behind his house.That deer became a fixation, and hunting became a source of purpose during one of the darkest periods of his recovery. White shares how pursuing that deer helped reignite his competitive spirit, engage his brain, and reconnect him with the outdoors. He also discusses the making of a documentary detailing the role of hunting in his recovery, his relationship with fellow country music artist Riley Green, duck hunting, dove hunting, bird dogs, and why he believes the hunt can be about far more than what ends up in your vest.The conversation is ultimately about resilience, purpose, faith, and finding a reason to keep moving when everything changes.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notesWatch “Ladder to the Sky: A Hunt’s the Healing Story” by Realtree and Drake White. Listen to Drake White and catch him on tour at www.DrakeWhite.com.On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.