On The Wing Podcast

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by The Flush’s Travis Frank, Western Wingshooter Podcast’s Tyler Webster, and Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter for a discussion focused on prairie grouse. The conversation covers late summer dog training during the “catch & release” season, habitat, dog work, hunting, and cooking approaches to sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie chickens, and sage grouse. Episode Highlights: • Webster talks about his love for September grouse hunting and teases our brand new two-part Montana Grouse film released in collaboration with onX Hunt. • Carpenter, the most veteran of the prairie grouse hunters, tells listeners exactly how he finds sharp-tailed grouse in a sea of grass. He also previews PF & QF’s upcoming Prairie Grouse Primer presented by Sportsman’s Guide, which will be released on August 19, 2025. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre talks with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever leaders Al Eiden, Ron Leathers, and Andrew Vavra about habitat improvement efforts in eleven western states. They also discuss hunting opportunities for 26 upland bird species found in these regions. Episode Highlights: • Eiden and Leathers discuss PF & QF’s habitat work along the Bear River, which spans Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho and is the Great Salt Lake's largest tributary. These habitat efforts benefit upland birds and improve the Great Salt Lake’s water quality and quantity. • The group also discusses the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project in Idaho. PF & QF leads this 617,000-acre project, which happens to be the largest single contiguous habitat effort currently underway in the U.S. • Throughout the conversation covering eleven Western states, the guys talk about hunting terrain and tactics for chukar, valley quail, blue grouse, Mearns’ quail, Gambel’s quail, and a variety of other species with a focus on Midwestern bird hunters with wanderlust to explore the West. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre speaks with Dave Trauba of Minnesota DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife about how the agency conducts August roadside counts and uses the data. Trauba also discusses the “Pheasant Action Plan” and efforts to solicity hunter feedback on possibly extending the season into January and adjusting the 9am start time. Episode Highlights: • Trauba tells some fascinating stories from early in his career as a black bear ecology researcher on the Apostle Island National Lakeshore. • Trauba also stresses the critical importance of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to the state’s pheasant populations. • The guys discuss the differences in spring ruffed grouse drumming counts compared to pheasant August roadside counts. • Check out Minnesota’s Pheasant Action Plan to learn more about the state’s short-term and long-term conservation goals. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a conversation with Jason Passalacqua, owner of Passalacqua Winery, and Jessica Boone, Passalacqua’s winemaker. This episode celebrates a new collaboration between Quail Forever and Passalacqua introducing a Quail Forever Pinot Noir and a Quail Forever Fiano. A portion of the sale from each of these wines will go to QF’s wildlife habitat conservation mission. Episode Highlights: • Jason Passalacqua tells of his journey growing up as a hunter moving to Silicon Valley followed by his return home to purchase the winery that bears his name. He also explains why Quail Forever’s conservation mission is so personally important. • Jessica Boone explains the art and science of winemaking, as well as how she approaches the creation of wines to pair with wild game meats. • Each guest also talks about their favorite wild game meal and the wine they’d pair to go with it. • Learn more about the Passalacqua + Quail Forever collaboration at www.Passalacquawinery.com/quail-forever On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra and Praedictix meteorologist Todd Nelson. The conversation covers the intersection between weather, upland habitat, pheasants, and quail. Vavra kicks off the discussion with an overview of his experiences with bird dogs, including the recent adoption of a started German wirehaired pointer named Merle. The episode also reviews the three-year process undertaken by PF & QF to update the organization’s brand identity and logos. Episode Highlights: • Vavra reflects on his experiences with puppies compared to started bird dogs. • The trio discuss PF & QF’s new content collaboration with Praedictix looking at both forensic meteorology and weather forecasts to provide the organization’s social media audiences with insight into weather conditions and their impact on America’s six species of quail, as well as ringneck pheasants. Have a look at our June reports for pheasants and for quail. • Check out the story behind our new look at PheasantsForever.org/Brand or QuailForever.org/Brand. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Communications Jared Wiklund for a conversation with Travis Frank previewing the 2025 season of The Flush TV on Outdoor Channel. The discussion covers a wide array of upland bird hunting adventures spanning Ontario to Oklahoma and Indiana to Wyoming. The guys chat about pheasants, bobwhites, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, as well as bird dogs. Episode Highlights: • After a hunt with his entire family that included a massive flock of migrating snow geese and a North Dakota moose, Travis Frank explains how “Family Time” emerged as the theme for this year’s season of The Flush. • The new season of The Flush includes 13 new episodes and runs through December 2025. Past episodes of The Flush are available at TheFlush.TV. The Flush’s 2025 AIRTIMES on Outdoor Channel (ALL TIMES EASTERN) MONDAYS @ 2:30 PM TUESDAYS @ 12:30 PM THURSDAYS @ 8:30 AM SATURDAYS @ 12:30 PM SUNDAYS @ 6:30 AM On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre chats with Federal Ammunition’s Vice President of Marketing Jason Nash and Director of Community Relations Jon Zinnel about the innovative new Prairie Storm Bismuth Blend shotgun loads available in 12 and 20-gauge this summer. WATCH Federal’s video about the new load. There’s also some fun banter about the NFC North, Bon Iver, and moose vs. elk for dinner. Episode Highlights: • Nash explains that Federal, CCI, HEVI-Shot, Remington, Speer, and now Fiocchi are all part of The Kinetic Group of ammunition brands. • Zinnel highlights Federal Ammunition’s role as the largest contributor to Pittman-Robertson funding through the excise tax on firearms and ammunition, while also serving as a major corporate partner of non-profit conservation organizations, including Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. • Nash talks about Federal Ammunition’s ground-breaking move in 1961 to make all 20-gauge shells yellow to help promote safety and prevent confusion with 12-gauge shells. The guys also discuss some of the reasons behind the other colored shells. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by The Nature Conservancy’s Kelsey Molloy, Wyoming Migration Initiative’s Andrew Jakes, Pheasants Forever’s Casey Sill and PF’s Montana State Coordinator Hunter VanDonsel for a discussion regarding the Montana Grassland Initiative. The dialogue spans the objectives for the initiative, emphasizing its advantages for Montana’s diverse wildlife species as well as the farming and ranching community. Episode Highlights: • VanDonsel kicks off the conversation with a poignant narrative about walking across a Montana grassland while carrying his newborn daughter against his chest. This experience inspired VanDonsel to conceive the Montana Grassland Initiative and solidify his career aspirations. • Molloy and Jakes explain the significance of Montana’s sagebrush habitat for sage grouse and pronghorn, particularly during their migration periods. • Jakes further discusses the distinct nature of pronghorns in North America, noting that their closest relative is Africa’s giraffe. “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a conversation about bird dogs with musician, hunter, and Pheasants Forever member Reese Glover. After the unexpected death of St.Pierre’s German shorthaired pointer, “Esky,” he wrote the blog, “The Story of a Bird Dog Going Out on Top.” Upon reading that blog, Glover sent St.Pierre his song, “Ballad of the Bird Dog,” which tells the story of a bird dog’s final hunt at eleven years old. This episode brings laughter, tears, and a lifetime of memories. Episode Highlights: • Glover discusses his songwriting process and how it involves daily walks behind his own German shorthaired pointer, Bridger. • Sparks recounts the story of Tippet, his English pointer who also died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this year. Within that conversation, Sparks explains the beautiful reasoning behind Tippet’s name and how the pup connected him to birds and Quail Forever. • For more information about Reese Glover’s music and live performance opportunities, follow him on Instagram @reesealexanderglover

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Government Affairs Andrew Schmidt to discuss the current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup and its relevance for bird hunters. There are currently 1.8 million acres available for CRP enrollment this fiscal year with a signup underway right now through June 6th. Schmidt also discusses new proposals aimed at improving CRP and increasing funding for walk-in access programs. Episode Highlights: • Schmidt examines how bird populations have correlated with CRP acreage since the program began in 1985 and emphasizes the role of CRP acres in increasing public access through state walk-in programs. • The discussion covers a range of benefits provided by CRP, including contributions to rural economies via wildlife habitat, enhancement of water resources and soil health, and risk mitigation for farmers and ranchers. • Schmidt outlines the distinctions between general CRP, continuous CRP, CREP, and other signups, and explains how the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) increases public access for bird hunters.

Host Bob St.Pierre moderates a discussion with Quail Forever’s Louisiana State Coordinator Jackson Martini, Arkansas State Coordinator Ryan Parker, and landowner Andrew Wiesmann about improving bobwhite quail habitat in the Southeastern United States. The conversation covers how USDA Farm Bill programs can be used to burn or thin trees, decrease the basal area, and open up the forest canopy to promote grasslands beneficial to bobwhites. Episode Highlights: • Martini talks about the Arkansas-Louisiana Conservation Delivery Network and how that coalition is working together to implement the Open Pine Regional Conservation Partnership Program. • Wiesman explains his love of wirehaired pointing griffons and waterfowl hunting with those dogs in Louisiana’s bayous. Bob then asks about the threat level for duck hunting with bird dogs where alligators live.

Host Bob St.Pierre talks with PF & QF’s Marissa Jensen and Andy Fondrick, along with volunteers Mike Gruenke and Jeff Ennis from Washington's Spokane Inland Empire Chapter of Pheasants Forever. They discuss winning last year's $7,500 Hands-On Habitat grand prize from onX Hunt and how it motivated their chapter to undertake an even larger habitat project in Washington’s scablands this spring. Episode Highlights: • Gruenke shares how they attracted more volunteers by focusing on projects in which volunteers could participate in on-the-ground habitat work. • Jensen outlines the month-long Hands-On Habitat efforts and onX Hunt’s 2025 incentives for volunteer projects. Learn more about Hands-On Habitat at www.PheasantsForever.org/handsonhabitat

Host Bob St.Pierre visits with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Olivia Lappin and Levi Day to talk about the organization’s new “Journey to Conservation Careers” film featuring Lappin. Day kicks off the discussion with an overview of the organization’s Journey to Conservation Careers program, while also explaining the inspiration behind the film. From there, Lappin recounts her education, internships, and career path leading up to putting her degree to work for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever as the organization’s Integrated Habitat Management Rights of Way & Energy Coordinating Wildlife Biologist. Episode Highlights: • Lappin talks about her anti-hunting roots, which grew into an interest about where her food actually comes from and has burgeoned into a love of hunting. • Lappin and Day also talk about the Texas A & M Natural Resources Job Board and how valuable a tool it is for people interested in finding career opportunities in the conservation field. • Check out Lappin’s adventures on Instagram at @olappin1 and check out the Journey to Conservation Careers film.

Host Bob St.Pierre sits down with Will Primos and Anthony Matarese Jr. to talk about Straight Shooting for Hunters, a new book about wingshooting they co-authored. Matarese Jr. is the most decorated sporting clays shooter in U.S. history, while Primos was an original innovator in the game-call industry and a world-renowned hunter. Episode Highlights: • Primos kicks off the conversation with an update on the collection of Purdey shotguns he’s donated to be auctioned off for conservation efforts. Learn more about the collection and upcoming auction at www.TheTruthAboutConservation.org. • Matarese Jr. talks through the critical importance of mounting your gun properly and moving your feet, hands, and head in sync with a bird as it flushes to match its speed. • Matarese Jr. also explains why hunters need to SLOW DOWN and that the most common mistake hunters make is shooting too quickly, fearing birds are getting out of range. onX Hunt is a proud supporter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and they want to thank everyone who gives back to the birds we all love to hunt and the places they call home. Click this link to get a free month of onX Hunt and then use code PFQF to get 20% off, and a portion will go back to supporting Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.

Host Bob St.Pierre talks with professional bird dog trainer Justin King and Purina vet Dr. RuthAnn Lobos about her new pup. Dr. Lobos, an adult-onset bird hunter with a Labrador for the last decade, has added a wirehaired pointing griffon named Journey to her family. Journey has been trained by King at Dokken’s Oak Ridge Kennels in recent months. Episode Highlights: • Dr. Lobos talks about the family decision to get a wirehaired pointing griffon, the breed’s attributes, and how the entire family has been involved in Journey’s training process. • King talks about a variety of tools he uses in the dog training process, including a check chord, e-collar, pigeon launcher . . . and even snow fence. Thanks to SportDOG BRAND for being a supporting partner for this bird dog focused episode of On the Wing podcast.