On The Wing Podcast

Latest Episodes:

EP. 313: Falling in Love with a Career in Conservation . . . and Bobwhite Quail Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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.

EP. 312: Straight Shooting for Hunters with Will Primos and Anthony Matarese Jr. Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

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.

EP. 311: Training a Pointing Dog after Owning a Retriever Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

EP. 310: Saving America’s Remaining Grasslands by Fighting the Green Glacier Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St. Pierre sits down with Dr. Dirac Twidwell, a professor and research scientist from the University of Nebraska, to talk about his hunting roots and life’s mission to save America’s last remaining grasslands. Dr. Twidwell explains the concept of the “Green Glacier” of woody vegetation taking over the Great Plains, and why prescribed fire is the most important tool for grassland habitat conservation. He also reports that woody encroachment is now equal to land conversion for agricultural production as the top two factors in habitat loss across the country. Episode Highlights: • Dr. Twidwell explains how his bird hunting trips had been moving west to keep ahead of the “Green Glacier” of woody encroachment into grasslands to find better upland gamebird populations before he even knew of the Green Glacier concept’s existence. • The guys discuss Dr. Twidwell’s bird hunting roots and how his work to save America’s grasslands through science is akin to keeping a promise “to his 8-year-old self.” • Dr. Twidwell also reports The Sandhills of Nebraska as the single most intact grassland remaining on the entire planet. • Learn more about Dr. Twidwell’s work on the Working Lands for Wildlife website or read his paper at the Society for Conservation Biology. 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.

EP. 309: National Board of Directors Roundtable Discussion Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St. Pierre leads a discussion with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National Board members Ashley Langen, Keith Schopp, and Owen Stockdale. The conversation covers their career paths, interest in hunting, commitment to the wildlife habitat mission, and their vision for the organization's future. Episode Highlights: • Langen recalls her father initiating the Montgomery County (IL) Chapter of Pheasants Forever, participating in the National Youth Leadership Council of the organization, and working in precision agriculture in Illinois, Texas, and Hawaii. She also talks about living in Hawaii with three growing seasons and an abundance of pheasants. • Schopp discusses his experience as a newspaper reporter and his 34 years in communications at Purina. He also shares perspective on owning two Labradors and two German shorthaired pointers, including effective hunting strategies with them. • Stockdale talks about his career at McKinsey & Company, joining PF & QF as a strategic planning advisor, and his father's poignant message about not waiting, shared shortly before his passing. 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.

EP. 308: From Bird Dogs to Social Media: Roundtable Discussion with Conservation Partner CEOs Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Join host Bob St.Pierre as he visits with CEOs Patrick Berry (Backcountry Hunters & Anglers), Ted Koch (North American Grouse Partnership), and Ed Arnett (The Wildlife Society) for an engaging roundtable discussion. Discover their favorite bird dogs, delve into Aldo Leopold’s timeless quotes, and explore the intersection of conservation and personal passions. Episode Highlights: • BHA’s Berry explains his affinity for English Springer spaniels and how the breed’s personality matches his own. Berry also offers an interesting perspective on social media through the lens of a famous Leopold quote about hunting. • Koch recounts the North American Grouse Partnership’s roots in falconry, then he and St.Pierre riff on the “magic” that exists in training a pointing dog and raptor to work together as a hunting team. • Arnett talks about Aldo Leopold’s role in The Wildlife Society’s creation and how so much of Leopold’s writing is still used today by wildlife professors in universities across the country training biologists in non-profits and agencies. 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.

EP. 307: Indiana on the Rise Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Kent Adams, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Conservation Delivery for the Northeast, John Kinney, PF & QF’s Indiana State Coordinator, and Will Hinshaw, PF & QF’s Indiana Regional Representative about the organization’s growth in the “Hoosier State.” The group talks about the organization’s public and private land habitat efforts in the state and public hunting access programs. Episode Highlights: • Adams explains the challenges PF & QF faces in eastern states compared to states West of the Mississippi River. • Kinney talks about PF & QF’s Build a Wildlife Area land acquisitions to add permanent public properties in Indiana with a highlight of the organization’s addition to the Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area. • Hinshaw reports a 30% increase in PF & QF members in Indiana and explains the way chapters work on habitat and access across the state. 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.

EP. 306: Scaling Up Our Efforts to Expand Public Access Across the Country Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St.Pierre was joined last weekend at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City by PF & QF’s Permanent Habitat Programs Manager John Laux and onX Hunt’s Marketing Manager Ben Brettingen for a conversation focused on public access for hunters. And thanks to a significant multi-year financial commitment from onX Hunt, PF & QF has announced the organization’s Public Access To Habitat (PATH) program is now expanding to a national scale. Episode Highlights: • Laux recounts the origin story of PATH connected to the Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition and its rapid expansion across South Dakota with now more than 25,000 acres of PATH enrolled in the state over the first two years. • Laux also discusses the program’s explosion into Nebraska with 44,000 acres enrolled within a target area of Keith, Deuel, Garden, Arthur, Lincoln and Cheyenne counties in just one year. • Brettingen provides first-hand testimony of hunting PATH acres in South Dakota and Nebraska over the last two seasons, then discusses onX Hunt’s commitment to helping create public hunting access through partnerships. 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.

EP. 305: Dogs, Shotguns, and Gear at Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic Coming Up in Kansas City Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Shannon Hoheisel, Luc Ramthun, and Jake Hanson to preview National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic coming to Kansas City on March 6-9. The group shares stories of favorite moments from past events and provides a rundown of the weekend’s attractions and exhibitors. Episode Highlights: • Ramthun provides an overview of the quail-oriented attractions celebrating Quail Forever’s 20th anniversary as part of this year’s event. • Hoheisel and Ramthun talk about some of the businesses making their debut among the 400 exhibitors on the Kansas City show floor. • Hanson teases an exciting announcement about the organization’s Public Access To Habitat (PATH) program taking place at 11am on Saturday, March 8th on the Public Lands Stage of the event. • Hoheisel provides an overview of the organization’s efforts to beef up the event’s attractions on Sunday. Those highlights include free admission for kids as part of Family Day, a quail dog toy giveaway for the first 500 attendees, a Women on the Wing Brunch, and a MeatEater Meet & Greet in the SCHEELS booth on Sunday morning starting at 9:30am. 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.

EP. 304: The Longest of Longtails and a 100-Quail Covey Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom Carpenter and Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks to recap their hunting seasons and preview the upcoming spring issues for each PF & QF publication. During the discussion, the guys share their favorite moments, misses, gear, and more. Episode Highlights: • Carpenter tells the story of bagging a South Dakota rooster with a 27 5/8” tail feather, the longest of his life. • Sparks recaps his first desert quail hunt, which included a running group of 100 scaled quail. • While St.Pierre remains focused on talking about the upland hunting season that was, Carp & Sparks share their excitement for the coming spring turkey season. In fact, Carp closes the episode with some spontaneous shock-gobbling. 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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected