The Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast

Reid welcomes Mike Neiduski of Ugly Dog Hunting back to the podcast, this time to chat about his journey toward ownership of this online retail company. Mike talks about his path, his dogs, and his commitment to a lifestyle that revolves around upland pursuits.

Bob St. Pierre and Andrew Vavra of Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever join Reid to recap the 2024 Rooster Road Trip. This adventure took Bob, Andrew, and several other friends and partners of PF/QF on a journey across North Dakota hunting public lands for wild birds, with the goal of sharing thoughts on access, habitat, and the great conservation work of the Org. With Orvis as a product sponsor, Andrew and Bob discuss gear, what works, what doesn't, and what a hunter might consider when packing up to hit the prairies for roosters and sharptails.

Reid is joined by Tom Roster for an in-depth look at shotshell performance and lethality based on shot type, load, shot size, and overall ballistics. In a career that has spanned 50 years, Roster has become THE definitive resource on reloading and shotshell ballistics. His studies of non-toxic shot lethality in waterfowl have become the definitive resource on the matter, and have informed generations of waterfowl and upland hunters. Roster describes his career and his findings and also weighs in on the future of shotgunning in the US. He offers his contact for questions and communications at tomroster@charter.net

Greg Carpiniello joins the podcast again to dive into the contents of the Orvis gun racks, identifying 5 interesting guns currently for sale. Unsurprisingly, 5 guns became 7. Reid and Greg look at a few great Spanish offerings, contemporary and classic British guns, and a workhorse German O/U.

Montana native Trent Kleppen joins the podcast for a wonderful and far-ranging discussion of the bird hunter's journey, love of place, and a fascination with bird dogs. In search of wild bird and untamed country, Trent has bounced from northeast Montana to Oklahoma to South Texas. His story is reflective of his innate curiosity, consideration, and striking ability to articulate what captures the bird hunter's heart.

Reid welcomes World Sporting Clays Champion Anthony Matarese, Jr. and hunting icon Will Primos to the podcast to discuss the duo's new book Straight Shooting for Hunters. The trio discusses how clay target shooting can inform game shooting and help the upland and waterfowl hunter become more successful. Will and Anthony also discuss their unique accolades and backgrounds in the shooting space, Anthony as one of the most decorated Sporting Clays Shooters of all time, and Will as the founder of the storied hunting brand Primos.

Reid joins Doug Duren of Meateater fame and Dave Simonett, frontman of Trampled by Turtles, to discuss hunting, touring, and the creative process of writing prose and music. Dave and Doug both hail from the upper midwest, and reflect on the mystery behind all that goes into bird hunting over dogs. Moreover, they dig deep into how creative acts of storytelling inform music and writing, and perhaps how those days afield both fuel the process and provide a welcome break.

Reid welcomes Ryan Doughty, host of the Podcast "A Break in the Action". Ryan discusses his journey into podcasting, his love of double guns, and the unique opportunity he has taken to dive deep into his passions.

Reid digs into the often misunderstood process of traveling by air with Guns. He describes some best practices and protocols to consider to make the process less intimidating. Additionally, Reid shares some updates on the Orvis Guide to Upland Hunting which will be re-released in paperback this Fall!

Vermont's own Pat Berry returns to the Podcast, this time to discuss his role as new CEO of the non-profit Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. As a comparatively young non-profit, BHA has garnered great support from sportspeople in its efforts to fight for access, conservation, and sound land management. Pat describes the org and what it does structurally while highlighting some key initiatives. He and Reid also explore the future of hunting, angling, and public lands in the US.

Reid joins Levi Day, a conservation leadership program manager, to discuss career pathways for folks with an interest in conservation. Levi is an avid upland hunter and bird dog owner, as well as a lifelong educator. Levi manages Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's Journey to Conservation Careers (J2CC) program, a national, online initiative aimed at introducing high school students to careers in conservation. He and Reid discuss their individual career paths, and how young people can be best served in pursuing their passions in the workplace.

Reid is joined by Chad Hoover, owner of Hoover Outfitting. With deep family roots in Montana, Chad has built a career offering hunts for Sharptails and Huns in the remote prairie regions. The two discuss grassland habitat, Montana·s bird-hunting heritage, the recent increase in out-of-state hunting traffic, and a host of other topics. More about Chad and his business at https://hooveroutfitting.com/

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Gila Wilderness and the 75th of "A Sand County Almanac" Reid welcomes Curt Meine and Karl Malcolm, two conservationists, Leopold scholars, and all-around thoughtful people. The group discusses Leopold's life and Legacy, his self-identification as a hunter, and the cultural/political/social context through which he developed a "Land Ethic". Note that there were a few issues with sound quality that we did our best to correct. Learn more about Aldo Leopold at www.aldoleopold.org

Reid joins Lukas Leaf and Matthew Schultz of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters to discuss the unique resource that is Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This million-plus acre public land resource is ripe with opportunities for anglers and hunters who like big country, solitude, and roadless wilderness. Lukas and Matthew describe the area, and their org's efforts to protect the resource from environmental degradation while enhancing access and sporting opportunity. Learn more at https://sportsmenbwca.org.

Reid joins Orvis Gunroom Manager Greg Carpiniello to discuss what's new and exciting in the Orvis Gun Room. The duo sets out to highlight the Top 5 recent consignment guns to come through the Orvis Gun Room, but they wind up discussing a few extras. It's hard for two shotgun geeks to stay on task.

Reid is joined by Hannah Leonard, Program Director for the nonprofit Sporting Lead-Free. Headquartered in Wyoming, Sporting Lead-Free is self-described as an initiative of hunters and anglers dedicated to maintaining our sporting heritage, wildlife populations, ethics, and rights. Leveraging education as a vehicle for change, and steadfastly avoiding a push for regulation or legislation, the org encourages sportspeople to use lead alternatives in hunting and fishing environments. Hannah uses data and storytelling to discuss the impact of that change and the challenges to broader acceptance. She also explores resources and tactics that can help sportspeople make the shift without detracting from success in the field, or significant impact on the pocketbook.

, Reid and gunsmith Del Whitman lean into the finer points of shotgun cleaning and care. Del describes a comprehensive process by which shooters can care for their fine guns. He describes specific tips and techniques, products to use, and how to mitigate common problems by addressing your gun cleaning needs appropriately.

In the second installment of the Lulu Chronicles, Reid explores the progress of his English Springer, Lulu, reflecting on her summer's work with Deanna and Jim Keller of Wildwind Kennels. The group discusses Lulu's progress, troubleshoots some issues, and explores the finer points of bringing a flushing spaniel to the point of steadiness to wing, shoot, and fall.

Reid joins friends and collaborators Greg McReynolds and Tom Reed in a conversation about compiling the recent book Mouthful of Feathers - Upland in America, the genesis of the Mouthful of Feathers Blog, and the pursuit of unapologetic, sometimes offbeat, outdoor writing. Greg and Tom have long been sharing their perspectives on guns, dogs, and the upland life freshly and honestly, and this new print project is a vehicle to get more fresh voices out there in the space. The group explores the challenges and opportunities presented by such an endeavor.

Reid takes a moment to pull back the curtain and describe his work: his job at Orvis and what it entails, how it came to be, and what a fall looks like from his vantage point. This explanation hopefully provides context for the subject matter of the podcast and the resource he hopes it to be. In anticipation of a coming trip to Idaho's Flying B Ranch, he also shares a writing, "Discovering the Spirit", first published in Covey Rise Magazine.