The eXtreme Upland Podcast

Bret's passion for upland hunting is exemplified with the love and devotion he shows to his well-known English Setters. As a fierce competitor in shoot-to-retrieve competitions, and in the manner with which he gives back to the upland hunting community, upland hunting conservation, and his passion to mentor the youth of today, Bret is truly an upland hunting icon. His latest upland effort, A Millionaire's Dream, is a wonderful, fictitious upland novel sure to inspire.

A Millionaire's Dream can be purchased below:

Folks, our podcast episode today with Dr. Arleigh Reynolds is our best to date! Dr. Reynolds melds his passion for endurance sports and his love for veterinary medicine; the result being a 30-year career that has led him to become a world-renowned expert in the field and a three-time world Musher's champion. Arleigh has raced sled dogs competitively for over thirty years and he also oversaw the construction of the veterinary medicine program at UAF (University of Alaska Fairbanks). For our hunting dog purposes today, Dr. Reynolds will discuss with us the myriads of issues we face as serious upland hunters and field-trialing adventurers. We also have a special guest, Talmage Smedley. Talmage is a professional dog trainer and upland all-age field-trial champion who will be joining us for today's episode.

Check out more on Dr. Arleigh Reynolds and his full collection of works and accomplishments here:

The Golden Retriever is the upland hunting versatile jewel. Also serving as America's most popular family breed, the Golden Retriever's genetic hunting purpose has been compromised. Jed Packer from Windmill Farms Goldens, stands fast as a gatekeeper to the most outstanding versatile hunting dog that the Golden Retriever's Northern American DNA has to offer. This podcast will take you on a deep dive into the phenomenal work that Packer and his crew accomplished to keep furthering the purposed genetics of this amazing breed.  

For more information on what you heard today, check out these links:

Dr. Kolste is a renowned veterinarian serving Northern Utah. He has taken a significant amount of time researching the best methods and practices regarding a potential rattlesnakes bite that upland hunters may experience. Do you know what to do if your dog gets hit by a rattlesnake? This is a must-listen for any upland hunting dog breed owner.

For more information on what you heard today, check out the following links:

Extreme Upland continues it “Upland Heroes” series films highlighting the life work of Gary Rockey Riddle, national champion field trialer, renowned trainer, and one of the great breeders of English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels in North America.

Form the earliest of remembrances, Rockey’s life embodied upland hunting and a love for Springer Spaniels. Rockey is sought far and wide and for his training expertise and unique skill developing dogs and readying them to win at the various national field trials. Despite his day to day work being focused to professionally training hunting dogs, Rockey maintains a love for being afield with his amazing dogs hunting right out of his back yard along the Northern Mountains of Utah, along the Idaho border. He has engrained his legacy within his son Joshua, and his grandchildren who follow him both afield and as consummate English Springer Spaniel trainers/hunters in their own right.

To view Rockey’s debut film with eXtreme Upland, follow this link:

Talmage Smedley represents all that is good in the upland world. A national champion reigning horse competitor and one of the top acknowledged upland bird dog trainers of our day. Smedley is a treasure trove of upland bird dog craftsmanship. His unique ability to communicate to his dogs a “gain mindset” promotes an extraordinary extreme style hunting experience. Thirty years of careful purposeful breeding has produced English Setters equal to the task. Join us as we explore an extreme upland hunting experience with this amazing upland hero and discover how to make your dog's dreams come true!

For more info on Talmage and T's Doghouse, visit:

The Godfather of Braque Francais! Meet this amazing, rare, phenomenal upland hunting breed, explore their history, and judge whether this formidable versatile upland hunting dog is for you. Brad Boisen makes our Upland Heroes list with his decades of tenacious and unrelenting effort establishing the Braque Francais hunting breed here in North America. Despite several setbacks, Brad forged forward and has become the ambassador of all things Braque. Brad Boisen also runs the Grand Ciel Lodge, promoting some of the finest upland hunting in the Dakotas. Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to the Godfather of the Braque Francais, here only on The eXtreme Upland podcast!

For more info on Brad and his lodge, check out:

We’re going to be meeting around the campfire this week with The Purists: Tom Loy and Randy Schertz!

These are today's version of true Wild-West upland hunting Texas Rangers. You will be captivated as we explore a wide open country hunting style of western upland birds that is foreign to most sportsmen. In this episode we talk about Hungarian Partridges, Sharptails, and Chukars and finding them in places like Hells Canyon and Never-Ending Valley. Tom and Randy have cultivated their own strain of Gordon Setters that range way out in front 300-1000 yards like cavalry scouts scouring the range in search of their quarries. Hear how they cover 10-15 miles a day in search of elusive Huns or runaway Chukars and why it's exhilarating to do so. This is an opportunity to hear from decades of experience hunting the wild wild west behind talented pointing breeds in concert with their hunter, using the latest technologies. We call these Wild West Upland Heroes "The Purists", and it won't take you long to see why. So grab a chair and sit with us by the fire as we listen to this exceptional podcast from The Purists themselves!

For more information on these Texas Rangers, check out their social media: 

We've got a special podcast for you today as we bring to you an interview with the current Breed Warden of the VDD-GNA (or Verein Deutsch Drahthaar Group of North America), Mike Schell! Mike has been heavily involved with Drahthaars since the 80's. Today we're talking Drahthaar and everything you could possibly want to know about this world-class, versatile, hunting-dog breed. If you've ever considered owning one of these magnificent animals, you'll want to give today's show a listen. 

For more information on Mike Schell and the VDD-GNA, visit their official website: 

Andy Taylor is a professional upland hunting guide and dog trainer currently based out of Rush, Colorado. He has spent over 15 years in the field professionally working in the upland world and has spent just as much time training/boarding  just about every upland breed of dog there is. Although Andy's professional dogs of choice are German Shorthaired Pointers and English Pointers, he maintains a broad spectrum of hunting breed experience. Listen in today to find out the raw truth of upland puppy training, what tools he brings with him to every upland field, and how we can all find a dog that fits our preferred range and style of hunting. According to Andy, "Every dog has it's day." 

For additional content on Andy Taylor, make sure you check out his social media:

Stephen Faust is the real deal when it comes to all things upland. He has spent his whole life around bird dogs and grew up around English Setters and Beagles before he finally landed on the phenomenal Gordon Setter. Currently, Stephen is a guide for Pine Ridge Grouse Camp in Minnesota doing the thing he loves the most, hunting grouse and woodcock with his Gordon Setters in some of the most beautiful, wooded parts of our country. Listen in today to hear from a true upland expert on the best ways to teach your puppy a great recall ability, hear his thoughts on the best ways to preserve upland bird habitat, and -arguably the most important- find out his famous recipe for grouse cacciatore!

Camille Rice is an avid, professional, upland hunter and Weimaraner breeder based out of Leroy, Michigan. She maintains a true love for all things upland! Growing up around Weimaraners, she quickly developed an innate understanding of the breed. Weimaraners and upland hunting have played a major role in her life since childhood. She breeds Weimaraners that have phenomenal hunting ability right out of the gate, and she is furthering the breeds hunting lines. She also holds 77 titles and "brags" over the course of her career. Camille has done it all from deer to waterfowl to all upland species- she is truly an upland hunting expert. We are so excited to hear how she determines which dogs are going to be better suited for grouse vs. pheasant vs. woodcock, etc. She speaks to the questions, "Why Weims?".

Matt Eder is a true Upland Hero of today. With over 20 years of experience in hunting dog training and breeding, Matt spends his days hunting upland birds from Great Lakes areas, all the way through grouse hunting in the Dakotas and ends his season hunting quail down in Texas. He also runs his own dog boarding camp in Minnesota and participates in field trials/field trial training. Listen now to hear what this expert and true upland enthusiast has to say about the best bird dog training techniques as well as his tips on how to pick the best pup of the litter.

If you'd like to visit Matt's site or see pictures of the stories he's told today visit: