My Dog Hunts - Upland Birds artwork

My Dog Hunts - Upland Birds

38 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago -

Where-to, how-to and when-to bird hunting advice on pheasant, partridge, ruffed grouse, sharptails, prairie chickens and quail, Host Randy Shepard has bird hunted from Oregon to Wisconsin to New Mexico and Arizona. He's taken 15 different combination limits and four different double limits of upland birds across the mid-west. He's never hired a guide, leased land, hunted as a guest or engaged in a swap hunt, while in pursuit of dual limits. All self-made, self-planned hunts, on public (and a little bit of private) land.  

My Dog Hunts, isn’t your typical upland bird hunting podcast. You won’t find 20, or even one minute of advertising in my episodes. I’m not trying to convince you that if you buy this gun and that ammunition you’ll become a better shot. That if your dog comes from this line and travels in that crate, he’ll be a better hunter. And if you “Friend” me, you’ll be hunting all these wonderful covers and shooting birds in numbers you’ve only dreamed of. Nope, that ain’t My Dog Hunts. 

My goal in presenting the My Dog Hunts podcast, is to encourage each of you to hunt - more birds - in more states – more often. And to buy more hunting licenses! I believe that the most important investment that each of us can make for the future of bird hunting, is in the purchase of multiple, bird hunting licenses. Lots and lots of licenses.
Hopefully, my stories will convince you to do just that. After listening to my successes, you’ll realize that taking a daily bag limit of birds, even as a non-resident, can be a realistic goal for you. 

I’m as close to a trophy hunter as an upland bird hunter can be. I’ve been pursuing combination and double limits of upland birds for more than 40 years. My hunts have never been about amassing large numbers of birds in a season. I believe that season numbers are more a reflection of time, access and money. Enablers that I’ve never had in abundance. 

In the beginning, my interest in taking dual limits was a private matter. Dual limits have never been a recognized activity, and there’s no one out there keeping score. In fact, I don’t even have pictures of many of the dual limits I’ve taken. Those hunts were always between myself and my dogs.

Then my intent changed. I continued in protest of the commercialization of upland bird hunting. All of the attempts to convince recreational hunters, that they have to spend thousands of dollars on gear, guns, dogs and access, to be successful. My stories will convince you that you don’t need to buy expensive crap to be successful. Dollars don’t make you a better hunter. Planning and practice are what it takes to be successful.

You’ll find that I adhere to very strict rules in pursuing dual limits. All of my bird hunts are self-made, self-planned hunts on public and a little bit of private land. Every trip and hunt that I share is available to any of you willing to travel and walk the miles I have.  

Give My Dog Hunts a listen, and start planning for your best bird season ever.

Wilderness Sports upland bird hunting springer spaniels labrador retriever ruffed grouse pheasant chukar quail
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Episodes

Iowa Pheasants

February 27, 2024 22:00 - 51 minutes - 32.7 MB

Several 2023 pheasant hunts in Iowa. Chaos and Maybe both got limits. Lots of birds! We even shot a few sharptails in Montana. 

Pheasnt & Sharptails South Dakota 2023

January 30, 2024 18:00 - 47 minutes - 31.2 MB

Seven days hunting pheasants and sharptails in South Dakota with Maybe and Chaos. The dogs were too clownish to compliment, but with my expectations, they did just fine. We even took a couple of combo limits of grouse and pheasants.  I threw in a short story about a ruffed grouse hunting mishap that I hope won't cause you to question my sanity. 

Idaho 2023 Huns & Sharp Tails

November 08, 2023 16:00 - 45 minutes - 22 MB

Chaos & Maybe Exploring Idaho for next trip from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  Took a couple of newbies on sharp tail hunts (lots of birds!) and looked for better partridge hills than I've hunted in the past. Both dogs earned Story Bands for 1st Idaho Sharptail and 1st Daily Bag Limit of Idaho Sharptails.  Spent most of this fall in South Dakota for pheasants and sharptails (Maybe earned 4 new Story Bands) and Iowa for pheasants (Maybe earned two more new Story Bands). South Dakota was very ...

Critter's Double Limit of Pheasants, N&S Dakotas

May 06, 2023 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MB

I can't say too much good about "Critter". She hunted the tail end of the southern Minnesota/Iowa ruffed grouse years, the best Kansas and Nebraska pheasant years, and a half dozen Dakota years.  This hunt was a seat of my pants exploration into northern South Dakota. I was looking for a new area for pheasants and sharptails, and we found it. The strange thing is, in the following days, I found an even better area that I've spoken of in several other episodes. If you like pheasants and shar...

Miss Bodet and Pheasants - Iowa, Minnesota & South Dakota

April 23, 2023 16:00 - 36 minutes - 25.5 MB

Miss Bodet, took 3-roosters in Iowa & 2 in Minnesota in the same day on public land. Then on another trip I knocked on doors in South Dakota and shot limits of pheasants for 6 days, without paying a fee.  Bo was only a couple years old on these hunts.  

RUFFED GROUSE & PHEASANTS - Minnesota Combination Limit

April 10, 2023 01:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MB

Yeah, I was a whole lot younger back then, and those two pups were pretty special dogs.  Critter & Woogs as pups, hunting ruffed grouse in southeast Minnesota and pheasants in southcentral Minnesota. This was the first time that I tried to take this combination limit, instead of just hoping it would happen.  There were several days over those years, that I took the 5-bird limit of ruffs, but only got one pheasant, while grouse hunting.  I finally accepted that if I was ever going to take th...

"Hell-Hole Roosters" - Kansas & Nebraska Double Limit of Pheasants

April 09, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MB

I was fortunate to have hunted Kansas and Nebraska when both states had a lot of pheasants. At that time, and for decades to come, I believed this hunt was the epitome of pheasant hunting. I only surpassed this day one time, on a hunt most of you have listened to in an earlier episode.  Back in 1981, with two young dogs, Critter, a female, liver & white springer, and Woogie a female yellow lab, we took the four rooster limit in Kansas and the three rooster limit in Nebraska, seven roosters,...

Prairie Chicken & Turkey Combo

March 25, 2023 19:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MB

Follow along on a dogless prairie chicken hunt in Nebraska. This was early in a 5 day prairie chicken hunt in Nebraska and South Dakota. It was my first attempt at a combo of 3 chickens and a fall turkey.  The previous "Double Limit of Prairie Chickens" episode, was two days after this hunt. If these two episodes don't convince you to get after prairie chickens, I feel bad for your dogs.     

Valley Quail in Idaho & Poor Season 2021

March 19, 2023 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MB

Had a solid few days hunting quail in Idaho with Chaos and Maybe. I tell you about my 2021 season and maybe you'll understand why I didn't have much to talk about.  

Idaho/Oregon Bird Hunting

February 27, 2023 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MB

Mostly chukar hunting with Chaos and my new pup Mayhem.

Coyote Calling III

August 21, 2021 00:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MB

This episode has the best coyote calling advice anyone could give. The two most important factors for setting up your best opportunity for a successful shot. Stopping a coyote exactly where you want him and how to select the best stand location. These two practices will greatly increase your odds of killing the coyotes that respond to your calls.  And of course lots of personal anecdotes that illustrate how I learned this advice.    

Coyote Calling II

July 23, 2021 19:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MB

More calling how-to and gear suggestions.  There's some important information here mixed in with hunt stories. I could have saved a lot of money and shot a lot more coyotes if I knew this stuff 30 years ago!  I have two more coyote calling episodes in the works. I'll discuss stand locations, how to read coyote behavior,  when to stop calling, how to know where the coyote wants to stop before he knows, how to setup for the shot, and much more!     

Coyote Calling

July 16, 2021 00:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MB

I've been calling coyotes for more than 30 years from Arizona to Montana and love coyote calling only second to upland bird hunting. If you've ever thought about calling coyotes or are looking for new information, you'll want to give this a listen!   This is the first of a series of coyote calling talks  to fill in the dead space before upland bird seasons open.  

Coyote Calling

July 16, 2021 00:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MB

I've been calling coyotes for more than 30 years from Arizona to Montana and love coyote calling only second to upland bird hunting. If you've ever thought about calling coyotes or are looking for new information, you'll want to give this a listen!   This is the first of a series of coyote calling talks  to fill in the dead space before upland bird seasons open.  

Last Chance Pheasants & Grouse

December 23, 2020 16:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MB

Unexpected late season pheasant and sharptail "fun" hunt in South Dakota. Me and Chaos hoping to average 2 birds a day on a 4 day mid-December public land hunt. We just hunted a few hours each day and still averaged 3 birds.  10 roosters and 2 grouse.   

December Pheasants & Sharptails

December 12, 2020 00:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MB

Hunting pheasants and sharptails in the tall grass of western South Dakota. Chaos and I take the combo limit of Sharps & Phez on two of five days and still have a day for North Dakota. 

Pheasants IA, NE SD & Sharptails too!

November 10, 2020 22:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

A buddy and I hunt opening day in Iowa, I finish the day hunting Nebraska. Then we head to South Dakota for 5 days of pheasants and sharptails. Lots of birds!

2020 Combo Limit Pheasants & Sharptails

October 24, 2020 01:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MB

Chaos and I just returned from a four day pheasant and grouse hunt in South Dakota and we took the 6 bird combo the first two days of our hunt! Give this episode a listen to get your dander up for a hunt of your own.

Combination Limit Huns & Sharptails

October 05, 2020 22:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

A little talk about last week's sharptail hunt in the Dakotas and a re-live of a sharptail & Hun combination limit I took over two pups. 

Pheasants, Sharptails & Turkey

September 17, 2020 20:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MB

Follow along with me and Critter, as we take a triple limit of 3-pheasants, 3-sharptails and a fall turkey in South Dakota. 

Quail Birds

September 09, 2020 22:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MB

Bobwhite quail from Oklahoma to Nebraska, Blue quail in New Mexico, and Valley Quail in Idaho, Oregon & Nevada. And a short story about Gambel's and Mearn's in Arizona. Mostly limits over Labs with a little Springer work as well. 

Reservoir Roosters

August 22, 2020 01:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MB

I can't believe I'm doing this. I got no sense! Now I'm going to find out of state plates at every one of my rooster hidey holes. Bo's turning over in her grave and Chaos is whining, "Don't do it dummy!".  How I shot more than 50 roosters off the same public area in Nebraska in one season, with no competition from another hunter! Then I'll tell you my secret for limiting out on public marsh roosters before freeze up. Be ready to get your knickers wet!  (I wish I knew someone who'd tell me a...

Prairie Birds, Pheasants & Wilson's Snipe

August 15, 2020 04:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MB

I talk three different combination limits on this podcast, all including Wilson's Snipe. I know you're thinking "who cares about snipe!". All I can say is if you think dove shooting is fun you need to head to a marsh in October and hustle after some snipe. They'll teach you what shooting is all about! And they eat pretty good too.

LISTENER APPRECIATION - FREE STORY BANDS!

August 06, 2020 01:00 - 2 minutes - 1.74 MB

In thanks to my current podcast listeners, I'll be giving away 10 free pairs of My Dog Hunts Story Bands, to current listeners AND the potential of another free pair of Story Bands to those same winners! Enter by August 30, 2020! 

Regulating the Take and Pre-season Pheasant Scouting Advice

August 03, 2020 16:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MB

The real intent of states establishing daily bag and possession limits. Why you should explore outside the "best" areas as defined by game commissions. And if you're a non-resident pheasant hunter traveling to the Dakotas, Kansas or Nebraska, why you should be early season prairie grouse hunting. 

Midwestern Pheasant Hunting

July 22, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MB

I recount pheasant hunts from Kansas to North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. I've hunted pheasants from 1970 thru today, taking dual limits of pheasants all the way through the 2019 season. All self-made, self-planned hunts on public (and a little bit a private) land. Every dual limit hunt that I talk, is or was available to any of you without owning land, paying a fee, a guide or engaging in a swap hunt. My message is just go!     

Getting On - How to Gain FREE Access to Private Land Hunting

July 02, 2020 16:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

If you're not knocking on doors, you're missing out on most of the best upland bird hunting opportunities in the country. As good as public lands are, they don't compare to the acreage and underhunted habitat that you can gain access to for FREE, with just a short conversation! I'll share everything that I've learned in more than 50 years of knocking on doors from Wisconsin to Oregon and North Dakota to New Mexico. And you won't hear the same tired advice that most writers recommend. I'll t...

Double Limit of Prairie Chickens - 3 in Nebraska & 3 in South Dakota in the Same Day!

June 25, 2020 18:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

In addition to recounting the day I took a double limit of prairie chickens while hunting dogless in Nebraska and South Dakota, I'll share "how to" advice on hunting these birds with and without a bird dog. If I can shoot six prairie chickens in one day, while hunting virgin private and public land, without a dog, just think what my experience will do for you and your dog!

Combination Limit - Pheasants & Prairie Chickens in Nebraska

June 09, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MB

Ride along with me and 8 mo. old Bo, on her first pheasant hunt. Nebraska public land treated us well as always! I don't know what a guy can say about taking a combination limit of 3-pheasants and 3-prairie chickens over an 8 mo. old Lab pup on her first pheasant hunt. Of course, she benefited from my 25 years experience hunting public land in the Nebraska Sandhills, but still, this was her second dual limit in just three days of hunting!   

Pheasants - North Dakota - South Dakota - Minnesota

May 16, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 67.6 MB

With my current lab Bo at 7 months old, we take a double limit of pheasants in North Dakota & Minnesota. The next day we take a triple limit of pheasants in North Dakota, South Dakota & Minnesota and finish with a double limit of pheasants in North Dakota and South Dakota on day three!  Spur of the moment, seat of my pants scouting trip, turns into the best bird hunt of my life!

Combination Limit - Sharptails & Pheasants South Dakota

May 07, 2020 01:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

This was my first of many combination limits of sharptails & pheasants. I sprinkled in some opinion on guns and chokes. Why I attempt dual limits and hopefully a little inspiration for you to attempt a few of your own. 

Combination Limit - Sharptails & Pheasants South Dakota

May 07, 2020 01:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

This was my first of many combination limits of sharptails & pheasants. I sprinkled in some opinion on guns and chokes. Why I attempt dual limits and hopefully a little inspiration for you to attempt a few of your own. 

S1 E3 Double Limit Sharptail Grouse

May 05, 2020 01:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MB

Hunting sharptail grouse in the sandhills of Nebraska and southern South Dakota.   

Double Limit Sharptail Grouse

May 05, 2020 01:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MB

Hunting sharptail grouse in the sandhills of Nebraska and southern South Dakota.   

Ruffed Grouse & Fall Turkey

March 27, 2020 13:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MB

Set aside a few minutes to listen to a couple of stories on hunting ruffed grouse and fall turkey in Iowa. One hunt I call my gunny sack day with my first dog, Pitch and another hunting dogless. You'll find a few opinions sprinkled in on the relationship of turkey and ruffed grouse and northwoods grouse hunting compared to grouse hunting south of I90. Watch for upcoming episodes on sharptail grouse hunting in Nebraska and South Dakota, then sharptails & pheasants in South Dakota and ruffed g...

S1 E2 Ruffed Grouse & Fall Turkey

March 27, 2020 13:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MB

Set aside a few minutes to listen to a couple of stories on hunting ruffed grouse and fall turkey in Iowa. One hunt I call my gunny sack day with my first dog, Pitch and another hunting dogless. You'll find a few opinions sprinkled in on the relationship of turkey and ruffed grouse and northwoods grouse hunting compared to grouse hunting south of I90. Watch for upcoming episodes on sharptail grouse hunting in Nebraska and South Dakota, then sharptails & pheasants in South Dakota and ruffed g...

Ruffed Grouse Hunting in Minnesota and Iowa

March 26, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB

Learn how to hunt hill country ruffed grouse across northeast Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. I'll recount double limits of 5-ruffed grouse in Minnesota and 3-ruffs in Iowa in the same day. Once while hunting with a Lab and another hunt while dogless.    

S1 E1 Ruffed Grouse Hunting in Minnesota and Iowa

March 26, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB

Learn how to hunt hill country ruffed grouse across northeast Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. I'll recount double limits of 5-ruffed grouse in Minnesota and 3-ruffs in Iowa in the same day. Once while hunting with a Lab and another hunt while dogless.