On The Wing Podcast

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EP. 353: Cookies for Conservation and the Future of Public Land Hunting Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

A 13-year-old bird dog trainer is funding public access one cookie at a time.

At National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, most conversations revolve around bird dogs, habitat, and the next great upland hunt. This one goes further. Brooke Bartels, a young dog handler deeply involved in North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), is turning homemade cookies into real dollars for wildlife habitat and public hunting access.

Raised in a family devoted to Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, and versatile hunting dogs, Brooke trains Epagneul Bretons, runs NAVHDA tests, and understands firsthand the value of quality bird dog breeding standards. But her impact stretches beyond the training field. Through Cookies for Conservation, she has raised thousands of dollars to support PF & QF’s Public Access To Habitat (PATH) Program, helping expand access for upland bird hunters.

This conversation explores more than baking. It dives into youth involvement in conservation, the importance of habitat restoration, ethical dog breeding backed by performance testing, and why public access to pheasant and quail hunting matters for the future of the outdoors. You will hear how community, volunteerism, and hands-on habitat work shape the next generation of hunters and anglers.

If you care about upland bird hunting, public land access, versatile hunting dogs, and leaving wildlife habitat better than you found it, this one hits home.

Show notes

Check out Cookies for Conservation on Instagram at @cookiesforconservation.
Learn more about North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association on the NAVHDA website at www.navhda.org.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 352: Iowa’s Upland Comeback: Pheasants, Quail, and Habitat Truths Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Iowa’s upland birds are rebounding, but habitat still determines their future.

The 100th pheasant season in Iowa delivered the kind of optimism hunters haven’t felt in two decades. Roadside counts climbed. Rooster harvest is projected to be the strongest in 20 years. Northern bobwhite numbers in the southern tier surged, with quail harvest potentially doubling from recent seasons. Even Hungarian partridge populations showed signs of growth.

But strong bird numbers don’t happen by accident.

This conversation dives deep into the real drivers behind pheasant and quail populations in the Hawkeye State. From winter survival and brood habitat to hunting pressure and predator dynamics, the takeaway is simple: habitat is the lever that matters most. Period.

Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how farming practices, CRP enrollment, seasonal weather patterns, and habitat opportunities shape the state of upland bird hunting. The lesson is practical and actionable: if you care about rooster flushes and covey rises, you care about grass.

Show notes

Find a Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever near you at https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events
Connect with a PF & QF Farm Bill Biologist about improving your land for wildlife.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 351: Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2026 Preview Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic returns to the Minneapolis Convention Center with a packed weekend of upland celebrations. Turnpike Troubadours headline the Concert for Conservation, with Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles opening the show on Thursday night. For bird hunters, hearing “The Bird Hunters” played live before a weekend dedicated to upland hunting, bird dogs, and grassland conservation is about as good as it gets.

The show floor opens on Friday following the annual Bird Dog Parade, where more than 100 hunting dogs representing almost four dozen breeds will highlight the event’s kickoff. From flushers to retrievers to pointers, it is a celebration of the dogs that define bird hunting. More than 350 exhibitors will fill the hall with shotguns, upland hunting vests, technical hunting apparel, dog training gear, wildlife habitat seed, conservation equipment, and public lands resources. New upland gear releases, emerging upland brands, and hands-on habitat education

share space with veteran outfitters and bird dog breeders.

There will also be seminars across multiple stages covering habitat management, grassland restoration, public land access, bird dog training, and practical hunting tactics. Saturday features the Life Member Breakfast with NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, as well as the evening’s National Banquet with longtime outdoor columnist and PF founder Dennis Anderson. Anderson will share his personal story behind one of conservation’s most influential grassroots movements.

This is more than a trade show. It is a reunion of bird hunters, wildlife habitat conservationists, and landowners committed to protecting and growing upland habitat across America.

Show notes

Learn more about National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic presented by Federal Ammunition at www.PheasantFest.org.
Check out all the stage lineups by going to our Highlights & Events page.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 350: Quail Forever Joins SEWE to Celebrate Quail Culture in Charleston Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Each February, Charleston, South Carolina becomes the center of Southern sporting culture, and this conversation explains why the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) has earned that reputation. From quail hunting traditions to world-class sporting art and bird dogs on every corner, SEWE is where upland culture, quail habitat conservation, and delicious food collide. This year, SEWE takes place from February 13-15, 2026.

Listeners will hear about the attractions within Quail Forever’s “Quail Classic” at SEWE’s Brittlebank Park, why downtown galleries matter just as much as gear booths, and how hunters, bird dog lovers, conservationists, and families all find their place across multiple venues taking over the entire city of Charleston.

There’s a practical side as well. The conversation digs into QF’s quail habitat efforts and how organizations like Quail Forever connect landowners with biologists for real, on the ground results. You’ll learn why SEWE matters for the future of quail hunting in the Southeast, and how QF’s raffles, volunteers, and local chapters turn culture into conservation.

Savory dishes round out the picture. Lowcountry boils, fresh oysters, shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and whole hog barbecues are as much a part of the weekend as bird dogs and shotguns. And if you’ve ever wondered why Boykin Spaniels seem to outnumber people in Charleston during SEWE, there’s an answer for that too.

This is an insider’s look at a weekend that blends hunting heritage, modern conservation, and Southern hospitality into something bigger than an event.

Show notes

Read QF Editor Ryan’s Sparks “The South’s Upland Showcase” about Quail Forever’s Quail Classic attractions at SEWE.
Get your raffle tickets for a Polaris Ranger 570 with proceeds supporting Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat mission.
Get your tickets for Quail Forever’s SEWE VIP Social hosted by SC Quail Forever at Groovers Listening Bar in Charleston on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
Learn more about SEWE at www.SEWE.com.
Special THANK YOU to Quail Forever’s SEWE partners at
onX Hunt
Bird Buggy
Alabama Black Belt Adventures
Purina Pro Plan
Discover Thomasville Georgia
Southwind Plantation
John Kohler Associates
Kolpin Outdoors
Polaris
Irish Setter
TurtleBox
Orvis
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 349: Rooster Road Trip Recap is Bird Hunting Reality Check Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

When roosters vanish and quail cooperate, the road trip still teaches hard-earned upland lessons.

Sixteen years into Rooster Road Trip, Kansas delivered a reminder every upland hunter eventually learns. You can do your homework, study maps, trust your instincts, and still come up empty on roosters. This recap pulls back the curtain on our late-season bird hunt where plans shifted, expectations were reset, and bobwhite coveys became the story worth telling.

The conversation digs into the realities of public land bird hunting, from e-scouting WIHA parcels to boots-on-the-ground habitat evaluation that only happens after miles walked behind bird dogs. The crew reflects on adapting when pheasants refused to cooperate, what it means to “think like a covey,” and why flexibility often separates productive days from long ones in the uplands.

Listeners will hear honest takes on late-season upland strategies, bird behavior in pressured landscapes, and the role habitat work plays in shaping bird numbers over time. There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at filming hunts when weather, gear failures, and limited camera operators force creative problem-solving in the field.

Beyond the birds, the episode captures the camaraderie that keeps hunters coming back. Shared miles, small mishaps, hard laughs, and meaningful moments underscore why these trips matter. Success isn’t always measured in limits filled, but in lessons learned, dogs worked, and ground covered together.

And, there’s a big announcement about the future of Rooster Road Trip at the end.

Show notes

Check out all of our Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org.
Participate in our first-ever Rooster Road Trip Raffle for your chance to take home the gear utilized by this year’s hunters.
Use the code EARLYBIRD at www.SoundGear.com before February 19th for 30% off a SoundGear Phantom order.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 348: Rooster Road Trip Finishes with Hot Quail Action Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Kansas has a reputation in upland circles, and for good reason. Wide-open spaces, rolling grasslands, and the promise of bobwhite coveys and cackling roosters tucked into classic bird country. On this year’s Rooster Road Trip, that promise got tested repeatedly.

Mika Rezac, PF & QF’s regional representative from Kansas, joins the crew with her pack of outstanding Labs and English setter. In fact, she brings her secret weapon along, Spade the “LabraDwarf.” Through hearty laughter, Rezac talks about the state’s bird populations, upcoming conservation legislation, and how she helps PF & QF chapter volunteers maximize their relevancy. From woody encroachment and grassland loss, our final day’s hunt turns into a boots-on-the-ground lesson in why wild bird populations are in need of the upland community’s help.

This episode digs into what Kansas’ upland country really looks like in 2025, how management decisions ripple across landscapes, and why hunters have a responsibility to understand habitat—not just hunt it. This year’s Rooster Road Trip didn’t go as planned, but it delivered exactly what it was supposed to: perspective.

Show notes

Check out all of our Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org.
Participate in our first-ever Rooster Road Trip Raffle for your chance to take home the gear utilized by this year’s hunters.
Follow @spade_the_labradwarf on Instagram.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 347: Rooster Road Trip Connects Hunting, Habitat, and Public Access Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Rooster Road Trip continues with a stop at one of our Build a Wildlife Area projects where we opened up a land-locked parcel to create more than 1,000 acres of public access. Kansas doesn’t always get the credit it deserves for quail, but when habitat is high-quality and access is open, it can flat-out deliver. In this episode, the Rooster Road Trip crew rolls into northeast Kansas to dig into what makes public ground actually work for bird hunters.

Joined by Marcus Sanders, PF & QF Farm Bill Biologist out of Manhattan, Kansas, the conversation goes well beyond limits and bird counts. The guys talk prescribed fire, habitat restoration, and why programs like PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area are some of the most important tools hunters have to protect access long-term. There’s plenty of hunting talk mixed in with conversations about dog work, honest misses, and the kind of laughs that only come from road-tripping.

From walking the Blue Valley Wildlife Area to breaking down how private land conservation dollars turn into public hunting opportunity, this episode connects the dots between boots on the ground and policy that actually benefits wildlife. If you care about quail, public access, and keeping places to hunt for the next generation, this one hits home.

Show notes

Check out all of our Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org.
Participate in our first-ever Rooster Road Trip Raffle for your chance to take home the gear utilized by this year’s hunters.
Find a PF or QF biologist in your area for expert advice about conservation programs to improve your land for pheasants and quail.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 346: Rooster Road Trip Rolls Through Kansas WIHA Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Some days test your legs, dogs, patience, and purpose, but they also teach the deepest lessons.

Rooster Road Trip rolls through Kansas with a hard-earned reminder: not every day in bird country goes as planned. In this episode, the crew dives into the realities of public land pheasant and quail hunting, long miles, tough habitat conditions, and the discipline required to keep scouting when the habitat isn’t there and the birds aren’t cooperating.

From navigating Kansas WIHA parcels to reading drought-stressed grasslands, listeners will hear practical lessons on evaluating upland habitat, knowing when to walk away, and why time behind the windshield can matter more than time behind the shotgun. The conversation blends boots-on-the-ground hunting strategy with honest reflections on habitat variability and the difference good grass makes for bobwhite quail and ringneck pheasants.

The episode also explores the emotional side of bird hunting: honoring great bird dogs, appreciating fleeting moments on point, and understanding how conservation work—like fighting cedar encroachment and restoring grasslands—directly impacts the hunts we care about. You’ll come away with sharper public land scouting instincts, a deeper respect for habitat management, and renewed motivation to keep chasing wild birds even on the grind-it-out days.

This is an insider look at upland hunting as it really happens, equal parts frustration, persistence, conservation, and reward.

Show notes

Check out all of our Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org.
Check out our first-ever Rooster Road Trip Raffle for your chance to take home the gear utilized by this year’s hunters.
Learn more about the “Green Glacier” and it’s negative impact on habitat and bird hunting by listening to On the Wing episode #310.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 345: Action-Packed Public Lands Quail Hunt Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Wild bobwhite quail, public lands, and bird dogs collide in Kansas as our 16th installment of Rooster Road Trip takes flight.

You’ll hear how the Rooster Road Trip ethos focused on hunting public land for five days with whatever conditions Mother Nature delivers has stayed consistent over the years, even as habitat challenges evolve. The group breaks down current habitat and public land conditions in Kansas, with a focus on the importance of shrubs, bare ground, and prescribed fire for bobwhite quail. There’s practical insight here for anyone planning a DIY upland hunt, especially bird hunters looking to extend their season when northern states are locked in winter snow.

The episode also highlights the human side of the organization and of bird hunters: resilience, grief, joy, and the grounding power of walking America’s grasslands behind good bird dogs with friends. From exploding coveys and “popcorn flushes” to dog work in dense cover, listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of late-season bird hunting strategies and why public land still matters. This is an insider conversation: honest, reflective, and rooted in the realities of modern upland hunting.

Show notes

Check out all of our Rooster Road Trip content at www.RoosterRoadTrip.org.
Check out our first-ever Rooster Road Trip Raffle for your chance to take home the gear utilized by this year’s hunters.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

EP. 344: Grouse Camp Comes Alive: Inside Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic’s Upland Gathering Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

A first-of-its-kind “Grouse Camp” brings the prairies, forests, bird dogs, and upland community together under one roof. National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic has long been the premier gathering for the upland community, but 2026 raises the bar. In this episode, we preview the debut of Grouse Camp, a brand-new, immersive experience built for serious upland hunters who care as much about habitat as they do about bird dogs and autumn covers.

Leaders from the North American Grouse Partnership, Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, and Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society break down what Grouse Camp really is: a collaborative hub where prairie grouse and forest grouse share the spotlight. Listeners will hear how this camp-style lounge blends upland hunting culture with real conversations about habitat management, public lands, conservation policy, wild game cooking, and the future of grouse populations across North America.

The discussion goes beyond the show floor. You’ll learn why prairie grouse are drawing new hunters West, how Instagram and public land access are reshaping upland travel, and why grouse species are powerful indicators of healthy grasslands and forests. The episode also explores what successful conservation actually looks like—measured not just in acres restored, but in bird populations and cherished experiences.

Woven throughout are personal stories: favorite covers, unforgettable flushes, bird dogs on point, and the places that define why upland hunting matters. Whether you chase ruffed grouse in aspen cuts, prairie chickens on the plains, pheasants in the prairies, or quail in the piney woods, this conversation pulls the entire upland world together.

Show notes

Learn more about PF & QF’s first-ever Grouse Camp taking place at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2026 coming up on February 20-22, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

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