The Flush Podcast - Stories from the field

Bird Hunting Mailbag

Travis Frank dives into our Flush emails and social media pages to answer listener questions and cover a variety of bird hunting topics.  Topics range from shotguns, ammunition, hunting solo, hunting without a dog, training young bird dogs, finding a training system that works for you and your dog, building a foundation with your bird dog, planning hunts, mentoring hunters, finding a hunting mentor, mixed dog breeds, the seasons hunters go through, running multiple dogs on a hunt, and so much more.Presented by Aluma (https://www.alumaklm.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Walton’s (https://www.waltonsinc.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Mixing Business with Bird Hunting

Brett Walton is President & CEO of Walton’s Inc.  He’s also a big-time bird hunter.  Brett & Travis talk about Kansas quail & pheasant hunting today vs 40 years ago, which parts of Kansas hold the most quail, where did the roosters go, “Hunt Thursdays,” when everything clicks for a bird dog, balancing work, family & hunting life, launching a small business in the meat processing world, an update on meat processing shortages due to Covid, hearing loss caused by shotguns, and apologizing for careless mistakes in the field. Presented by Aluma (https://www.alumaklm.com/,) Walton’s (https://www.waltonsinc.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Quail Explosions

Tyler Webster from the Birds, Booze & Buds Podcast joins the show to help Travis break down a week in Arizona’s quail country. Travis and Tyler chat from the tailgate in the mountains after a hunt for Mearns, Gambel’s & Scaled quail.  They discuss their hunt for Arizona’s Upland Slam, the appeal of Mearns quail, outsmarting running quail, big explosions of birds, dogs reaching their pinnacle, a bucket list hunt turns into the hunt of a lifetime, tips to take quail, preparing for disasters in the field, hunting out of cell coverage, a close call with a rattlesnake, and the drive to succeed.  Plus, Tyler shares about another dream season hunting upland birds across the country for more than 130 days this year. Presented by Aluma (https://www.alumaklm.com/,) Walton’s (https://www.waltonsinc.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Live with our Listeners

We take bird hunting stories from the field to a whole new level on this special episode of The Flush podcast.  Our podcast listeners from around the country join us to relive their greatest and worst hunting moments from this season.  Stories include saving a bird dog that got hit by a car, nearly drowning in a swamp trying to retrieve a pheasant, hunting chukar with a flushing Labrador, becoming a south Dakota pheasant hunting guide for a day, the ups and downs learning how to become a dog trainer, getting sprayed by a skunk, sharing first flushes with your kids, family & friends, learning how to bird hunt without a dog, family dogs becoming rock star hunters, the ones that got away, and so much more! Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Hank’s Hunt

Scott Fransen just returned from hosting a special “Hank Hunt” at Brown’s Hunting Lodge in central South Dakota. Scott explains why he chose to host this hunt and the idea to invite Flush followers. John Peasley was a guest on this hunt, and helps us relive the best moments from a world-class hunt chasing wild and wily late-season roosters in South Dakota. Will Scott host a second “Hank Hunt” in the future? You’ll find out. Plus, we share a few Christmas gift ideas for the bird hunters in your life. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Dakota Dream Hunts

Hunter Schwind joins the show along with Renee Tomala & Emily Spolyar from Pheasants Forever during a 3-day upland bird hunting road trip in western North Dakota.  We explain how and why Hunter bid on PF’s dream hunt two years in a row, hunting wild birds from South Dakota to North Dakota, meeting generous landowners with a passion for conservation, epic bird flushes, hits & misses, nicknames & family time.  Renee and Emily explain the work they do on the ground in North Dakota and provide late-season advice for the rest of this season. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

First Time Flushers

Tony Jones “The Reverend Hunter” and Brandon Morton join the show to talk about bird hunts gone right & wrong.  We break down a failed pheasant hunt, hunting in water, running roosters on public lands, making adjustments in the field, helping others learn to hunt, accepting defeat, first-timers experience the rush of the flush, hunting behind flushers vs pointers, getting back to the basics, and the sweet rewards from success. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/) & Nutri Souce (https://nutrisourcepetfoods.com/)

Upland Road Trips & Hunting Lessons

Bob St. Pierre from Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever joins the show to discuss his mid-season review and look ahead to late-season hunting. Bob & Travis talk about lessons learned in the field, hunting public lands, finding new properties, hunting on weekends, how to outsmart wily roosters, where do ruffed grouse go when it snows, running roosters, falling through ice, drought updates, habitat success stories, quail numbers, losing a bird dog, and so much more. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) & OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/)

Iowa, South Dakota & Minnesota Pheasants

Tim Brown “The Bearded Uplander” lives in western Iowa. Tim joins Travis on the first two legs of a 3-state pheasant hunting road trip. Tim and Travis talk about Iowa’s rooster rebound, hunting public lands, missing roosters, late hatches, South Dakota pheasants vs Iowa pheasants, predator bounties, asking for permission, making the most of a season, blaming misses on bent sights, and so much more. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) & OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/)

That Dog Will Hunt

Scott Fransen joins the show to discuss back to back successful upland bird hunts in North Dakota.  Scott and Travis also talk about hunting with young bird dogs, watching the light switch turn on, celebrating special moments in the field, and making the most of seasons that never last long enough. Presented by North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Chief Upland (https://chiefupland.com/,) Federal Ammunition (https://www.federalpremium.com/,) & OnX Maps (https://www.onxmaps.com/)