The Ugly Dog Podcast

Latest Episodes:

80. Nate Kennedy - Falling in Love With Grouse Dogs, Conservation, and Keeping the Family Log Book Going Jul 09, 2026

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Nate Kennedy shares his journey from a deer hunter to a passionate bird dog owner and conservation advocate. He gives insights on habitat diversity, the impact of bird dogs, and the vibrant community supporting upland hunting. In this episode, Nate dives into his lifelong passion for writing and hunting, exploring how these passions intertwine and influence his life. We delve into the importance of patience with bird dogs and the significance of reflection through writing among many other topics. Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

79. Ford Van Fossan - Quail on the Eastern Shore to Chasing Chukar and Taking WingWorks Vests to the Next Generation Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Ford Van Fossan shares his journey from the eastern shore to owner of Wingworks, a classic upland hunting vest brand. We explore the history of the brand, the importance of durable gear, and the future of upland hunting apparel. In this episode, Ford shares insights on the importance of durable, American-made hunting gear, conservation efforts in the West, and the future of WingWorks vests. We took a deep dive into the intersection of business, conservation, and outdoor lifestyle. There is lots to take in from this journey and more to come from WingWorks in the coming year. Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

78. Chris Midgette - Boykin Spaniels, Wirehaired Vizslas, and Beyond Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Chris Midgette shares his journey from waterfowl hunting to upland, exploring the unique traits of Boykin spaniels and his decision to add a wirehaired vizsla into the mix. Chris shares his journey from novice dog trainer to a passionate upland writer, discussing hunting trips, dog training, and the evolving landscape of outdoor content creation. We also cover the importance of patience, storytelling, and the impact of community in the hunting world.
This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

77. Des Stormont - A Look Back at the NAVHDA Invitational and a Changing Perspective on What's Important. Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Des Stormont is BACK on the Ugly Dog Podcast! She and Mike look back on their NAVHDA Invitational training season and test date, discuss how training and hunting priorities change over time, and look ahead to what's on the calendar for training, judging, and testing in 2026.

If you missed Des' first appearance, check it out here: Episode 2

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

76. Andrew Vavra - The Journey From Intern to VP of Marketing, Waterfowl to Upland, and Now A Proud Member of Team Wirehair Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Vavra sits down with Mike this week to share how an "I need a job" internship led him to a career in marketing and communications with Pheasants Forever. And, along the way Andrew transitioned from a waterfowler to an upland hunter, raised a lab in the city, then brought home a French Brittany, and now a German Wirehair. Andrew shares candidly about loving the dog you have and appreciating every moment afield, even if it doesn't go according to plan. There is lots to learn in this episode. Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

75. Q&A - Spring Training, Thoughts on Expanding Field Trials and Hunt Tests, and Lessons Learn Along the Way Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

As is tradition, every 25 episodes Mike solicits questions from listeners, social media followers, etc. In this episode he sits down to answer questions about transitioning from hunting to training, why he doesn't believe tests and trials should set up specific categories for dog breeds, and a handful of insightful and deep questions from lessons learn along the way.

Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

74. JP Knutson - A Journey Into Bird Dogs, Guiding, and Learning to Shoot With a Fused Arm Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

JP Knutson joins the show this week to share his journey into bird dogs and upland hunting, what he learned jumping into guiding early in his bird hunting career, and how he's adapting to shooting after a train accident left one of his arms fused.

JP has had quite the journey and the uplands keep him coming back for more. Enjoy!

Get in on the new Ugly Dog Hunting Co merch pre-order: Hoodie Pre-Order

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

73. Mitch Skatter - Looking Back on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026 Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Mitch Skatter joins the show this week to recap his 2025 pheasant season, chat about Pheasant Fest 2026, and take a deep dive on his Garmin dog GPS questions.

Check out Mitch's YouTube Channel, Upland Path for more of his tips and tricks for bird hunting: https://www.youtube.com/@UplandPath

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

72. Grouse Camp Q&A - The Guys At Camp Answer Listener Questions Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

If you're looking to learn more about grouse and woodcock hunting from a bunch of seasoned vets who also relish giving each other a hard time, this episode is for you. Mike sat down with he crew of friends and fellow die-hard ruffed grouse and woodcock hunters to take on listener questions. Questions range from cover type, how they structure feeding schedule, how to be a better shot, and tips for taking your first trips to the northwoods. There is a ton to be learned from this episode. Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

71. Bode Springer - College Level Questions on Upland Hunting and Ruffed Grouse Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Bode Springer joins the show this week to grill Mike for an upcoming college homework assignment. He is a student at UMD and studying environmental sustainability. Bode recently got his first bird dog, a springer, an apt choice given his last name and shares about his bird hunting journey thus far in addition to his thought-provoking questions.

This episode is brought to you by Ugly Dog Hunting Co. Shop now at UglyDogHunting.com

Music used under Creative Commons -Two Step Daisy Duke by Mr. Smith is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.

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