On The Wing Podcast

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.

The word “gamey” gets thrown around whenever wild game tastes different from what we know. But what does the word “gamey” actually mean? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks takes a hard look at the word and makes the case that it does more harm than good.Wild game carries the imprint of where and how an animal lived. Age, diet, physical activity, season, stress, habitat, and processing can all influence flavor, meaning a bobwhite quail from one landscape can taste remarkably different from a scaled quail, pheasant, duck, deer, or other wild animal harvested somewhere else. Calling all of it “gamey” flattens those differences into one vague label.Sparks also explores why wild game cooking doesn't need to be complicated. From simply grilled quail to the broader tradition of eating animals harvested in the field, the goal isn't to disguise wild flavor. It's to understand and appreciate it.For hunters, anglers, and anyone who puts wild food on the table, there's a bigger lesson here: the flavor of wild game is part of the hunting experience. Learning to cook it well, recognize its differences, and respect what the animal provides can make the connection between field and table even stronger.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Show notes • The winner of the Pheasants Forever + Irish Setter Wingshooters is announced.

A bird dog endures shipwrecks, captivity, starvation and war to become a legendary symbol of courage.Judy of Sussex was no ordinary bird dog. Born in Shanghai in 1936, the liver-and-white pointer became the mascot of a British gunboat before serving alongside its crew through some of the darkest years of World War II.After surviving the sinking of two ships, Judy endured years of captivity alongside British POWs in Japanese prison camps. She found fresh water for stranded sailors, hunted game, survived a crocodile attack, helped prisoners maintain morale and repeatedly escaped attempts to kill her.Her story offers a remarkable look at the bond between working dogs and the people who depend on them, while showing just how much courage and instinct a bird dog can possess under unimaginable conditions. Judy eventually received the Dickin Medal, Britain's highest military honor for animals, and remains the only dog officially registered as a prisoner of war.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.Sound effects and sound design for "Judy" provided by:Editing and sound design by Trout Stream Studios[BG] Combat.wav by Audionautics -- https://freesound.org/s/136260/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Warzone by LogicMoon -- https://freesound.org/s/715831/ -- License: Attribution 4.0WAR_MACHINEGUN_SHOOTING_005.wav by deleted_user_3544904 -- https://freesound.org/s/234619/ -- License: Attribution 3.0War sounds by Dragout -- https://freesound.org/s/150305/ -- License: Creative Commons 0LightMachineGun1.wav by SuperPhat -- https://freesound.org/s/417688/ -- License: Creative Commons 0yucatan jungle.mp3 by folkart films -- https://freesound.org/s/122767/ -- License: Attribution 3.0R28-41-Hammer Metal Stakes or Nails.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/487086/ -- License: Creative Commons 0G54-30-Waves Heard from Ship's Hold.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/438849/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Hopeful Cinematic Emotional Orchestra Background Music by EvanBoyerman -- https://freesound.org/s/753968/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Emotional Uplifting Soundtrack - For Her by MusicByMisterbates -- https://freesound.org/s/596510/ -- License: Creative Commons 0On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Wild quail, rugged country, and a six-species pursuit turned one couple’s hunts into lifelong adventures.Jamie and Jesse Durham never set out to become dedicated quail hunters. Their journey started with a question on a first date and grew into a goal to hunt all six species of quail in the United States. Along the way, they discovered what makes chasing wild birds so addictive: learning habitat, following good dogs, exploring unfamiliar country, and earning every bird.The Durhams share lessons from hunting bobwhite quail on Florida public land, including how prescribed fire, longleaf pine, palmetto cover, and timing can shape a successful hunt. They also recount trips across the West for Gambel’s, Mearns’, scaled, valley, and mountain quail, from the rugged terrain of New Mexico and Texas to Hells Canyon.Their story offers plenty for upland hunters to take away, from choosing quail habitat and working young bird dogs to handling the unique challenges of Florida hunting, including heat, snakes, alligators, and post-hurricane conditions. Most importantly, their experience shows how hunting can become something shared, from discovering new landscapes together to preparing wild quail for the table and eventually introducing the next generation to the field.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

What actually happens inside a bird dog’s brain when it locks onto a pheasant, quail, or grouse? Dr. Annie Valuska, a Purina pet behaviorist with more than 20 years of experience in animal behavior research, helps unpack the science behind the dogs we depend on in the field.The conversation explores how dogs learn through classical conditioning, operant conditioning, social learning, and problem-solving, and what those mechanisms mean for practical bird dog training. You’ll learn why positive reinforcement can accelerate learning, how environmental experiences shape behavior, and why the breed may play a much smaller role in your dog’s temperament and hunting ability than you think.The discussion gets especially interesting when Annie explains the incredible sensory world of a dog. Bird dogs can detect layers of scent that humans simply cannot perceive. Could an experienced pheasant dog actually distinguish a rooster from a hen? The science has not answered that question yet, but host Bob St.Pierre has got a theory sure to generate debate!The conversation also covers canine intelligence, communication, the powerful bond between hunters and their dogs, and how to approach a dog’s final days with compassion and objectivity.Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.