The Ugly Dog Podcast

Tom Reed joins the show this week to share his journey into bird hunting, the importance of public lands, and the deep connection between hunting, conservation, and personal fulfillment. He dives into his history as a seasoned outdoor writer and hunter, emphasizing the value of preserving our natural resources. We also discuss the art of writing about bird hunting, the importance of authenticity, and practical tips for aspiring writers. 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.

In this episode, Jordan shares his journey from a young hunter in Iowa to a top-tier dog trainer and field trial competitor. We explore dog training principles, the importance of understanding dog behavior, and how to develop a strong, cooperative relationship with your hunting dogs. In addition to his history, Jordan also dives into how to develop a dog's mental framework for better performance in hunting and field trials. 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.

In this episode, Grayson Guyer shares insights on dog training, breed variation, and building strong relationships with hunting dogs. Discover practical tips for selecting, training, and understanding your dog to enhance your hunting experience. He also shares his insights on the importance of structure and patience in dog training and the role of conservation in hunting culture. The discussion also explores practical training tips, gear recommendations, and the value of wild bird experiences. 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.

Brooks and Skyler from Cackle Clothing Company share their journey from bird hunting enthusiasts to apparel entrepreneurs. They discuss starting a business, designing fun hunting gear, leveraging social media, and preparing for the hunting season. Check out their stuff at Cackle Clothing Company . 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.

Reid Bryant shares his journey from childhood in Massachusetts to becoming a passionate outdoor enthusiast and bird hunter. We explore the influence of childhood experiences, the evolution of outdoor interests, and the emotional journey of caring for aging bird dogs. In this episode, Reid dives into becoming a writer and outdoor enthusiast. We explore the art of storytelling, the challenges of outdoor writing, and the importance of authentic voice in the hunting and fishing community. 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.

In this episode, veterinarian Melody Ward shares expert insights on managing heat stroke in dogs, emergency veterinary care, and best practices for keeping your bird dogs safe during hot weather and hunting season. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nate Akey from onX Hunt joins the show this week to discuss his path into bird hunting and dog training, his NAVHDA Invitational run, hunting season so far, and so much more. Nate is an avid photographer who has leveraged his skill set with his degree to build a career in the hunting industry. We dive into all sorts of topics and this is the perfect episode to listen to on the long drive to camp! 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.

Mitch Skatter joins the show this week to share more about his journey starting Upland Path , a new YouTube Channel aimed at sharing helpful tips and tricks for upland bird hunters. He also dives into how he got into bird hunting, what he's learning from his first dog, and why mentorship and giving back is so important to him. 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.

Marc Musselman and Jonny Serrano join the show this week to talk about Alclair Outdoors and the importance of high quality hearing protection. If you do any kind of dog training or bird hunting hearing loss is an under-discussed issue. Medical research is starting to highlight the impact hearing loss has on community and brain health as one ages and it's not looking good. Marc has a goal to make going afield with hearing protection no different than going with a good pair of boots and a trusted shotgun and this episode dives into why Alclair Outdoors is the company to trust with your hearing protection needs. 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.

Roy Ames joins the show again this week to share a bit about our recent trip to Montana, the sometimes frustrating learning curve of puppies, and take a look into the first year of NAVHDA's Gun Dog Test. Announced this January at the NAVHDA Annual Meeting, the Gun Dog Test is a revision of the Utility Prep Test with the goal of increasing member participation while still providing a benchmark test for a serviceable companion gun dog. Roy breaks down this new opportunity for NAVHDA members to get involved at a more advanced level and both he and Mike share their insight from judging this test in it's first year. If you're looking to take your next step from the Natural Ability test, give this a listen and consider running the Gun Dog Test this coming training and testing season. If you do, reach out and let Mike know about your experience! 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.