Episode #60 Summer Travels and Bird Dog Game Plan

Episode#63 Your Boots Will Carry You Nearly 70,000 Miles

We slow down and take boots seriously, from the surprising number of miles your feet cover in a lifetime to the deep history packed into everyday footwear. We trace how function shaped iconic designs, then land on real-world boot picks that hold up for quail hunting, work, and life.  • why hunting boots are not “just gear” when you’ll walk 67,000 to 70,000 miles in a lifetime  • how everyday walking miles plus hunting miles add up faster than most hunters expect  • the 5,500-year-old Armenian leather boot and what its wear marks prove  • how Mongolian stirrup heels help explain modern cowboy boot design  • the Duke of Wellington’s redesign and how rubber wellies helped prevent trench foot  • what we like and don’t like about Justin, Danner, Ariat, Kenetrek, and Cody James boots  • our personal comfort picks for serious quail hunting versus daily wear  Help further our work. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquilltoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside.  Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #62 How To Paddleboard With Your Dog Safely In Arizona Waters

We take our bird dogs paddleboarding and turn wipeouts, splashes, and river chaos into smart off-season training for Arizona hunters. We share what actually works to build fitness, confidence in water, and steadier obedience while keeping dogs safe in the heat.  • why paddleboarding is legit exercise for high-energy bird dogs  • how regular water time can build swimming confidence over time  • training “lay down” and “stay” on the board to create calm  • starting in calm water and keeping early sessions short and positive  • using an e-collar as reinforcement when it matters  • essential gear like a dog life jacket with a handle, dry bags, river shoes, and sunscreen  • lunch and tie-down tips for keeping food and gear usable on the water  • Arizona spots like Salt River, Canyon Lake, Bartlett, Pleasant, Saguaro, and Roosevelt  • planning shuttles and keys for river floats like Coon Bluff to Granite Reef  • lessons learned on parking, Tonto Passes, and crowded weekends  • safety reminders on holiday enforcement, sober driving, and heat risks for dogs  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside.  Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #61 Valley Fever + Pop Quiz For Bird Dog Owner: Nate Istrate

We sit down with Nate Istrate to talk through a real valley fever scare in a hunting dog and what finally brought the symptoms under control. We share what to watch for in your bird dog, what the common tests can miss, and how to think about treatment without panic spending. • Sam’s head tremors and the path to a valley fever diagnosis  • How dogs get valley fever from desert dust and why it is not contagious  • Where valley fever shows up in the body including lungs, bones, and brain  • Prednisone as a short term inflammation tool versus antifungals that treat the fungus  • Fluconazole basics, treatment timelines, and what “low titer” can still mean  • Why a negative blood test may not fully rule it out and when to retest  • Practical risk reduction for Arizona hunting dogs during dusty conditions  • Vet experience and pricing notes including West Valley Animal Hospital in Peoria  • Reading your dog’s behavior, energy, and tail wagging as a health signal  If you like what you hear, make sure you share it with a friend, rate it, do whatever you can to knock up our algorithms and get get the word out there to help fulfill that purpose uh to educate and encourage the next generation of quail hunters in Arizona. To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #60 Summer Travels and Bird Dog Game Plan

We lay out a simple off-season plan for keeping our bird dogs conditioned through the Arizona heat while staying safe and consistent. We also share an update on Arizona quail season dates and why summer effort is where fall success really starts.  • quick update on Arizona quail season dates for Gambel’s, scaled and Mearns  • river and lake swimming for low-impact conditioning and confidence  • using higher elevation in Northern Arizona to beat the heat  • training options through clubs and self-planted birds for controlled sessions  • early morning Valley workouts with a focus on safety and consistency  • why short, smart sessions beat long risky ones  • dog camp value for obedience, bird work and becoming a better handler  • summer travel, scouting and keeping bird hunting about more than birds  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquelltoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside.  Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #59 How A Young Couple Builds A Life Of Hunting, Adventures And Clean Meat

We sit down with Sam and Annie to talk about how a young couple blends love, faith, and hunting into a future family life built on adventure. We swap stories from quail hunts and deer blinds, dig into clean meat and nutrition, and end with simple encouragement for anyone curious about getting started.  • Annie’s background, how she gets into elk and deer hunting without growing up around it  • First quail hunt impressions, dogs working and the speed of upland shooting  • How hunting fits into marriage and future family culture  • Picking the right dog for hunting and home life, plus managing allergies  • Why quail eggs and wild game matter for clean eating and high-protein nutrition  • The Arkansas deer hunt story, including Sam scoping himself  • Why processing and skinning feels satisfying and how it connects to respect for food  • Practical encouragement for new hunters to try it before committing  As always, visit us over at azquailtoday.com.  To help further our work, please consider making a tax deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside!  Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday