On The Wing Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Schmidt to attempt answering the difficult question, “Will there be a new Farm Bill in 2025?” The trio also discuss the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and what the absence of a new Farm Bill means for the crown jewel of voluntary conservation programs. Episode Highlights: • Wiegard provides a recap of recent efforts in Congress to sell public land as part of the budget reconciliation process, and how PF & QF supporters and the broad outdoors community successfully helped push back on that effort earlier this summer. • Schmidt provides an overview of the conservation victories within the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” including an increase of funding for Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), as well as the integration of remaining IRA funding into the Farm Bill conservation baseline. • Schmidt also details the new “CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act” introduced by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Tina Smith (D-MN). This proposed legislation includes many of PF & QF priorities for improving CRP, making the program more attractive to landowners and beneficial for wildlife. On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a conversation about bird dogs with musician, hunter, and Pheasants Forever member Reese Glover. After the unexpected death of St.Pierre’s German shorthaired pointer, “Esky,” he wrote the blog, “The Story of a Bird Dog Going Out on Top.” Upon reading that blog, Glover sent St.Pierre his song, “Ballad of the Bird Dog,” which tells the story of a bird dog’s final hunt at eleven years old. This episode brings laughter, tears, and a lifetime of memories. Episode Highlights: • Glover discusses his songwriting process and how it involves daily walks behind his own German shorthaired pointer, Bridger. • Sparks recounts the story of Tippet, his English pointer who also died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this year. Within that conversation, Sparks explains the beautiful reasoning behind Tippet’s name and how the pup connected him to birds and Quail Forever. • For more information about Reese Glover’s music and live performance opportunities, follow him on Instagram @reesealexanderglover

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF’s Director of Communications Jared Wiklund and Development Officer Jake Hanson to announce the organization’s new Public Access To Habitat (PATH) program. PATH opens to South Dakota landowners for enrollment on September 1st and to hunters for public hunting access later this autumn. Ben Brettingen, onXHunt’s Regional Manager, also jumps into the conversation to deliver the program’s first $250,000 contribution, in partnership with South Dakota Tourism, which will result in the PATH program’s first 10,000 acres of open access. Episode Highlights: · The group has gathered in northern Wisconsin to run their bird dogs together before setting up the podcasting gear and camp chairs for a conversation about bird dogs, upland hunting, and public access. · Wiklund explains how the creation of the Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition in 2013 was the precursor for this new statewide PATH program launching in South Dakota this autumn. · Hanson reminisces about predicting the future during episode 143 of On The Wing podcast while on the 2021 Rooster Road Trip, then directs landowners interested in learning more about PATH to connect with a PF Farm Bill Biologist in South Dakota. Special thanks to onXHunt and South Dakota Tourism for kicking off our new PATH program with the effort’s first contribution. Use the code PFQF at onxhunt.com for 20% off.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Ben Fleischacker, SCHEELS product development & sourcing expert AND a Pheasants Forever volunteer, along with PF & QF’s Erica Divan and Andy Fondrick for a conversation about the new line of PF & QF upland apparel and gear. The trio of avid bird hunters and bird dog owners talk about their philosophical approach to building the store’s assortment for the upcoming year. Episode Highlights: · Each individual talks about their favorite new apparel items in this year’s line that includes products from Simms, Orvis, and the SCHEELS Outfitters line. · The group also discusses the tagline “Purchase with a Purpose” and how SCHEELS has contributed to three new wildlife areas creating upland habitat and public access. Check out all the new Pheasants Forever items at PFStore.org and Quail Forever items at QFStore.org.

Host Bob St.Pierre welcomes Tim Springer, professional dog trainer and owner of Dynamic Retrievers, for a conversation about understanding a dog’s mental state. Joining the conversation are PF & QF’s membership marketing manager Emy Marier and public relations specialist Casey Sill who’ve both been training their young black Labrador retrievers with Springer this summer. Following a quick training session, St. Pierre and his guests break down the ins-and-outs of DIY retriever training, from blind retrieves and marking, to basic obedience in the house — all centered around the importance of understanding your dog’s mental perspective. Episode Highlights: · Marier talks about how Springer’s background in behavioral science resonated with her as she embarks on training her second bird dog, a one-year-old Lab named Lou. · Sill explains how his four-year-old Lab, Bruly, recently came up short on a hunt test and Springer walks through the training steps to help Bruly succeed the next time. Learn more about Tim’s training methods at www.DynamicRetrievers.com

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Conservation Education Programs Colby Kerber and Hunting Heritage Program Manager Ashley Chance to talk about the organization’s brand new and FREE online educational video series. The How to Hunt Upland Birds online course features the stories of five hunters chasing a wide array of upland bird species in five different geographic regions. Videos include a mix of compelling personal narrative films and short how-to videos. Check out the video series trailer at www.howtohuntuplandbirds.org Thanks to our partners making this project a reality: • Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program • Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Backcountry Hunters & Anglers • Becoming an Outdoors Woman • Midwest Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies • Minority Outdoor Alliance • North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association • Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society • Modern Carnivore

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Chief Conservation Officer and biologist Ron Leathers to discuss the basics of pheasant and quail nesting season, while debunking some common myths. The guys also chat about what this year’s spring and summer conditions could mean for upland birds as state natural resource agencies head into August roadside counting. Episode Highlights: • Leathers explains the differences in what happens when a hen pheasant loses a NEST to factors such as predation, weather or haying versus what happens when a hen pheasant loses a BROOD that was successfully hatched. Then, Leathers runs through the similarities and differences in the quail nesting and reproduction biology. • Leathers closes the conversation emphasizing the need for more grassland habitat. In fact, he explains America’s Great Plains are the fastest disappearing ecosystem on the planet and our continent’s version of the rain forest.

Host Bob St.Pierre visits with Luc Ramthun, PF & QF’s senior corporate partnerships account executive, about the journey he’s been on with his first bird dog. The guys talk about Ramthun’s breed selection of a large Münsterländer, picking a puppy out of a litter, and training his pup for the upcoming hunting season. Episode Highlights: • Ramthun, a diehard fly angler, equates training his own bird dog to catching trout on a fly he has tied himself and explains how the Upland Institute, an online video-based training series, has been particularly helpful in training his bird dog independently. • St.Pierre also shares the stories of each of his first four bird dogs’ wild roosters and the serendipitous connection between them all.

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF & QF’s Director of Sustainability Brent Rudolph for a conversation with Peter Byck, a filmmaker and professor at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability. The discussion focuses upon Byck’s new four-part documentary, “Roots So Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There).” The film’s trailer articulates its premise as “a big ole research project about farmers and scientists who are figuring out if the way cattle are being grazed can actually help solve climate change. In the process of looking for common ground between farming and science, the common ground is the dirt right beneath their feet.” SPOILER ALERT: Bobwhite quail play a surprising starring role throughout the documentary. Episode Highlights: • The film chronicles ten neighbors in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky who are managing their cattle operations through two distinctly different methods of grazing over a ten-year period. A team of scientists measure the differences these two grazing methods have on soil, water, insects, birds, biodiversity, climate resiliency, and carbon sequestration. • Two members of the famous country music band, Alabama, participate in the documentary as cattle ranchers and bobwhite quail lovers. Check out the trailer for “Roots So Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There)” at www.CarbonCowboys.org