The Flush Podcast - Stories from the field

HANK HUNT #5 & YOU’RE INVITED! Scott Fransen joins the show to announce the 5th annual “Hank Hunt.” Scott gives the details of the hunt at @Brownslodge_huntingranch and shares why this year he’s inviting hunters who sign up to bring a child or parent.  Scott & Travis discuss how this hunt has impacted hunters that participate, how the hunt supports PF & QF’s habitat mission, and how hunters can sign up. Scott also shares about his experience trying to breed his bird dog Millie, and Travis talks about making the most of a trip with his boys to the BWCA after a truck crashed into them and totaled out their gear. https://www.brownshuntingranch.com/ - 605-765-9150   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb) Compeer Home (compeerhome.com) Federal Premium Ammunition (federalpremium.com/) Hunt North Dakota (helloND.com/) Lucky Duck Premium Decoys (luckyduck.com/) & Samaritan Tire (samaritantire.com/)

Scott Rall from Nobles County Pheasants Forever in southwest Minnesota joins the show to celebrate the acquisition of Pheasant Run #50.  Scott explains how his chapter has been able to purchase thousands of acres of farmland and convert it into public hunting land.  Scott and Travis also talk about drinking water and water quality in his county, public relations with farmers, small efforts lead to big results, bleeding conservation, Adopt-A-WMA, Dinner in the Wild, perfect pheasant nesting conditions in his county, huge brood sightings, and so much more. @habitatchampion   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb) Compeer Home (compeerhome.com) Federal Premium Ammunition (federalpremium.com/) Hunt North Dakota (helloND.com/) Lucky Duck Premium Decoys (luckyduck.com/) & Samaritan Tire (samaritantire.com/)

Josh Tatman is a dedicated upland bird hunter, angler, storyteller, adventure seeker, and, most importantly, he’s a father.  Josh and Travis share stories about raising future hunters and anglers while trying to also help others learn “how to introduce kids to hunting.”  We break down Josh’s recent article on the topic and discuss when and how to set kids up for success, slowing down, introducing guns, setting goals, teaching & leading, seeing a hunt through a kids eyes, when to let them go and grow, learning from wildlife and wild places, celebrating moments, leaving kids wanting more, one-on-one hunts vs group hunts, gun safety, cleaning and cooking birds with kids, having fun, and a whole lot more. @Josh_Tatman   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Ron Leathers is the Chief Conservation Officer at Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever.  On this episode, we discuss in depth pheasant biology with Ron from mating season to laying eggs, when pheasants will re-nest, and when they won’t.  We talk about the average life span of a pheasant, the percentage of chicks that hatch, and the ones that don’t.  Ron explains why the number one predator during the nesting season is a farm mower, when temperatures and rain can kill chicks.  We talk about pheasant food, evading predators, expanding pheasant range, why planting pheasants does not work, creating the right habitat, dirty food plots, and a whole lot more. Plus, we answer listener questions about your favorite upland birds. @pheasants_forever & @quail_forever   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Joe Lesmeister shares stories from a life spent in pursuit of upland birds.  The conversation breaks down his upland bird hunting journal and discusses trends from hunts across the upper Midwest for the past 20+ years, moments that stand out, hunting from a “man van”, forgetting his dog at home, getting stuck in the mud, hunting nostalgic plastic, documenting daily adventures on social media, going back in time to make different choices, staying fit for hunting season, and a whole lot more… @upland_xpress   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://alnk.to/74wKReb) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

We are giving away a GAIM Virtual Shooting Simulator!  Phillip Jones from GAIM joins the show to discuss their virtual reality hunting and shooting simulator.  The conversation begins with Phillip’s journey beginning as a hunter in the U.K, serving in the Royal Navy, moving to America & working in the firearm industry, falling in love with bird dogs and bird hunting, launching GAIM, how the system works for hunters, shooters & firearm safety training.  We fire up the GAIM and shoot through multiple scenarios during the show before explaining our giveaway.  @GAIM_USA   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Jacob Perry operates Superior Upland in the U.P of Michigan.  Jacob shares his journey in the outfitting business, hunting for ruffed grouse & woodcock behind his Gordon Setters.  We discuss Michigan’s strong bird numbers, ideal spring hatch conditions, summer dog training, leaving a teaching career to operate his business full-time, making the most of our time, sharing wild experiences, and so much more. Plus, Travis begins the show by sharing a list of Father’s Day gift ideas that are sure to please the bird hunters in your life. @superior_upland   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Travis Frank reads a letter from a listener and then discusses the recent news about public land sales in Nevada & Utah before asking the obvious question, what can we do about it?   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Bailey Petersen is a wildlife biologist for the Minnesota DNR and a passionate upland bird hunter.  Bailey explains what’s happening right now with the North Shore wild fires in Minnesota, then we discuss current work projects in our forests that include her ruffed grouse drumming counts, woodcock banding projects, grouse and woodcock numbers heading into the hatch, weather factors that can help or hurt the hatch, timely & untimely rains, habitat projects, wood ticks, spruce grouse, ruffed grouse behavior, planting trees, logging, woodcock migration behavior, DNR upland journal, and so much more …@baileyo1   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

Nicolas Lirio & Kent Boucher from Hoksey Native Seeds are in studio to discuss their unique view of prairie farm life, growing seeds for habitat, most commonly asked grass and pollinator questions, quality of life, simple pollinator projects, hands on habitat, going back in time, our footprint on this earth, making healthy choices, being difference makers, using chemicals on our landscape, a lack of suffering, and so much more …@theprairiefarm   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

In Part 3 of our bird dog training course with Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells and George Lyall, we discuss in the field bird dog field training.  The step-by-step conversation begins with transitioning “The Method” course work into field work, transitioning the point of contact from a command lead to E-collar, using a flank collar to apply breaks and whoa training steadiness.  We also discuss finding the right fields and situations to run dogs, training on wild birds vs pen-raised birds and which ones can help and hurt your progress, encouraging chase, building prey drive, repetitions, and having patience to see the process play out …@haycreekkennel @jwellskennels   Presented by: Walton’s (waltons.com/) OnX Maps (onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (hokseynativeseeds.com) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)

In Part 2 of our bird dog training course with Sonny Piekarz, Jordan Wells and George Lyall, we discuss bird dog foundation & obedience training.  We begin at the kennel and work dogs through an obstacle course to help them overcome challenges and gain confidence in themselves and their owners. We discuss how to properly use a lead, developing a point of contact, introducing the E-collar & verbal commands, recall, and running the dog off leash for the first time. @haycreekkennel @jwellskennels   Presented by: Walton’s (https://www.waltons.com/) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) Aluma Trailers (https://www.alumaklm.com) Hoksey Native Seeds (https://hokseynativeseeds.com) Marsh Wear Clothing (https://www.marshwearclothing.com/) GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator (https://www.gaim.com/) Aberdeen (HuntFishSD.com) & Compeer Home (compeerhome.com)