The Upland Social

Episode 59: Covey Kits with Geoffrey Greiner

Today's guest is Geoffrey Greiner, a retired punk rocker turned passionate bird hunter who made his way from Massachusetts to Arizona by way of Colorado. Although he didn't grow up in a hunting family, Geoffrey found his path into the uplands through his fascination with bird dogs, eventually becoming devoted to the Braque du Bourbonnais breed and chasing Gambel's, scaled, and Mearns quail across the Arizona desert. He's the founder of Covey Kits, a company dedicated to providing practical, field-tested canine first aid kits built by hunters for hunters. When he's not working as a swimming pool repair technician or guiding bird hunts with Stagecoach Pointers, Geoffrey serves as Habitat Chair for his local Quail Forever chapter, helping conserve the landscapes and wildlife that have become such an important part of his life. Today, we're talking bird dogs, desert quail, canine first aid, conservation, and the winding path that led him into the hunting world. Topics Covered: * Geoffrey's transition from punk rock to desert quail * His inspiration behind launching Covey Kits * Why he likes simplicity in first aid kits * Conservation work in Arizona * His unique bird dog breed of choice https://coveykits.com/ [https://coveykits.com/] Proud Sponsors: Gundog Central [https://gundogcentral.com/] Ballad of the Bird Dog [https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/]

Episode 58: Cackle Clothing Company

This week's guests are Brooks Maurer and Skyler Wenninger, two Minnesota educators, coaches, bird hunters, dog owners, and entrepreneurs who have turned a shared passion into a growing outdoor brand. Brooks grew up hunting behind retrievers across central Minnesota and now balances life as a PE teacher, coach, husband, father, and bird hunter in Luverne. Skyler, a former college baseball player and fellow educator, came into hunting from a different path but has become equally passionate about the upland lifestyle. As brothers-in-law married to sisters, the two teamed up to launch Cackle Clothing Company in 2024, blending their love of hunting, dogs, storytelling, and creative design into a unique brand. From raising pheasants and chukars for dog training to filming hunts and building a business together, they're creating a community centered around birds, dogs, and the outdoors. Topics Covered: * Hunting pheasants with Golden Retrievers * The inspiration behind Cackle Clothing Company * The company's first Pheasant Fest experience * Getting youth excited about the outdoors * Raising gamebirds for summer training Shop Cackle Clothing Company [https://www.cackleco.com/] Proud Sponsors: Gundog Central [https://gundogcentral.com/] Ballad of the Bird Dog [https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/]

Episode 57: Decades of Wingshooting Media with Scott Linden

Today’s guest is Scott Linden, one of the most recognizable voices in the world of wingshooting and bird dogs. Scott is the creator and host of Wingshooting USA, an award-winning outdoor television series, longtime outdoor writer, seminar speaker, and author of What the Dogs Taught Me. From teaching fly fishing and directing school bands to producing some of the outdoor industry’s most respected media, Scott has spent a lifetime helping people connect with the outdoors, bird dogs, and the sporting life. Topics Covered: * Scott's later journey into the uplands * How outdoor media has changed in many ways * The wins and challenges of highly accessible outdoor media * Scott's affinity for German Wirehaired Pointers * The connection of music and bird hunting Listen to Scott's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P9RqbZDokwazreisUL6Xg [https://open.spotify.com/show/3P9RqbZDokwazreisUL6Xg] Proud Sponsors: Gundog Central [https://gundogcentral.com/] Ballad of the Bird Dog [https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/]

Episode 56: Bird Hunting From Horseback with Matt Fruge

Matt Fruge is a cattle feedlot consulting veterinarian who’s built a life around both livestock and the landscapes they depend on. Raised in southwest Louisiana and now rooted in the West after nearly a decade in Nebraska, Matt balances a busy family life with a deep obsession for upland hunting. Whether it’s chasing prairie grouse on horseback across big country or traveling state to state in pursuit of bobwhites, blue quail, and dusky grouse, he’s all in on the experience. When he’s not working cattle or raising two young kids alongside his veterinarian wife, you’ll likely find him somewhere wide open, bird dog in front, chasing that next flush. Topics Covered: * Matt's Louisiana roots * The moment he realized he was a bird hunter * Following a dog while riding a horse for bird hunting * Prairie chickens and their history * How cattle are the modern-day bison Proud Sponsors: Gundog Central [https://gundogcentral.com/] Ballad of the Bird Dog [https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/]

Episode 55: Wingshooting In The Northeast with Chris Ingram

Chris Ingram is a Vermont-based storyteller and sportsman dedicated to capturing the authentic connections between people, place, and the outdoors. A communicator by trade—working across government, nonprofits, and media—Chris brings a thoughtful, boots-on-the-ground perspective to conservation and community. He’s deeply involved in organizations like the Ruffed Grouse Society and Delta Waterfowl, volunteers as a hunter education instructor, and spends his free time chasing game across New England, picking bluegrass mandolin, and training his young treeing feist. At his core, Chris is all about building bridges—through stories, mentorship, and time in the field. Topics Covered: * Chris' journey into the uplands * Hunting obscure birds like Wilson's Snipe * Vermont's vast outdoor resources * Storytelling with different mediums * The American Field Journal Subscribe to the AFJ https://journal.americanfield.com/subscribe/ [https://journal.americanfield.com/subscribe/] Proud Sponsors: Gundog Central [https://gundogcentral.com/] Ballad of the Bird Dog [https://www.balladofthebirddog.com/]