AZ Quail Today Podcast
Welcome to AZ Quail Today, your go-to podcast for everything quail hunting in Arizona. From expert insights on local habitats to interviews with passionate hunters, join us as we dive into the world of quail hunting in Arizona.
Episodes
61 episodes
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 start...
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 simp...
Episode #58 Handle The Handler for Better Bird Dogs: Conversation with Guy Sr. at Mollicone Kennels
We talk with Guy Molicone Sr. about why the handler is often the biggest variable in bird dog training and how small changes in language and timing create huge gains. We also get honest about e-collars, rule sets at home, and what great dogs ca...
Episode #57 Train The Bird Dog Mind: A Conversation w/ Guy Mollicone Sr.
We sit down with Pro bird dog trainer Guy Sr. of Mollicone Kennels to unpack what makes a reliable quail dog in Arizona and why handler habits matter as much as the dog’s talent. We talk predator psychology, offseason training that fits real li...
Episode #56 Bird Dog Boot Camp: Conversation with Nate Istrate
We catch up with Nate Istrate and get real about what changes when you send a bird dog to a serious trainer. We trade stories from the field and lay out a simple rule that makes every new hunter and dog handler better: only give commands you ca...
Episode #55 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels | Part 2 of 2
We stay in the field with Guy Molicone Jr. and get honest about what bird dogs need most at each stage, from prey drive to steadiness and safe gun work. We trade stories and practical drills that help a dog love birds, learn control, and keep e...
Episode #54 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels Part 1 of 2
We sit down with Guy Molicone Jr after a dog training clinic and break down what actually happened with a mix of dogs, skill levels, and real-world distractions. We dig into why foundation work matters, how to communicate clearly, and how to ke...
Episode #53 Interview with Guy Mollicone Jr | Bird Dog Basics That Actually Works
We sit down with pro dog trainer Guy Molicone Jr. to talk about what actually builds a reliable bird dog for Arizona quail hunting. We get honest about why rushing gun intro and bird exposure creates long-term problems and how a better relation...
Episode #52: Hike Strong, Hunt Better. Special Interview with Leslie Rice
We argue that hiking is the strongest lever a quail hunter can pull in the off season, then invite Leslie to share why desert miles build health, confidence and joy. We cover training basics, smart sun, scouting on foot and bucket-list routes i...
Episode #51 Desert Creek Deep Dive
We walk through a practical guide to Desert Creek Sportsman near Phoenix, from safe upland fields to rotating duck ponds, and why it’s ideal for dog work, mentoring, and building reliable hunts. We share personal plans, training insights, and c...
Episode #50 Ten Off-Season Habits For Better Bird Dogs
We lay out ten practical off-season moves to build safer, steadier, hunt-ready dogs while scouting smarter across Arizona. From e-bikes and live-bird reps to rattlesnake avoidance and mentorship work, we share the plan, the partners, and why it...
Episode #49 Winter Rain Update + Early Quail Pairing
We trace how a record-wet fall and a wetter-leaning winter pushed Gambel’s quail into early pairing, reshaped covey behavior, and set the stage for stronger brood success. Field stories, rainfall data, and practical takeaways connect rain patte...
Episode #48 Good Hunter, Bad Hunter
We draw a bright line between good hunters and bad ones, then test our own choices against it. Laws, fair chase, safety, respect for land, and field etiquette become the true measure, not just how well we shoot.• defining character over...
Episode #47 Arizona Quail Season Recap
We trace a season defined by a record-wet fall and a record-warm January, and how that mix changed quail behavior, calling, and our tactics in the field. From flow-state shooting to pairing biology and clutch sizes, we share wins, setbacks, and...
Episode #46 Field Notes From A Warm Arizona Quail Hunt
We walk through a late-season Arizona quail hunt that starts rough in open creosote and ends with a hard-earned double, with honest lessons on heat, dogs, gear, and calling. Warm, dry winter patterns, small coveys, and rattlesnake risk reshaped...
Episode #45 Field Lessons: Surprises, Successes, and Slip‑Ups in Quail Country
In this episode, Ryan unpacks one of his recent hunts and shares a number of surprising things he’s seeing out in the field. He talks through moments that went right, moments that went wrong, and the lessons learned along the way. Don’t miss th...
Episode #44 Top 10 Mistakes for the Quail Hunter - Part 2
In Part 2, we finish the list with five more mistakes that cost birds after the covey rises: rushing the shot, failing to come in low‑ready, forgetting to reload, moving too fast through birdy cover, and letting dogs bump birds out of range.&nb...
Episode #43 Top 10 Mistakes for the Quail Hunter - Part 1
This two‑part series breaks down the top 10 mistakes quail hunters make in the field and how to fix them with practical, real‑world tactics. Drawing from Arizona desert experience, dog work, and faith‑shaped stewardship, each episod...
Episode #43 Border Quail, Public Lands, and Pointers with Ray Trejo
This episode dives into the rugged borderlands of New Mexico with upland hunter, educator, and conservation advocate Ray Trejo of Branded Horse Shoe LLC. We talk Montezuma (Mearn’s) quail and what makes them so unique, running big co...
Episode #42 Special Edition – New Year Ten Tips to “Hunt ’Em Up” – Chasing Gambel’s Quail in Arizona
In this Special New Year edition of the AZ Quail Today Podcast, we’re kicking off the season with one of our most practical and timely episodes yet—10 proven tips to help you “Hunt ’Em Up” while chasing Gambel’s quail in Arizona.Ryan Ric...
Episode #41 Hunting Is a Family Tradition with Ryan and Sam
Hunting Is a Family TraditionStories, laughs, and lessons passed down in the backcountry🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this episode of the AZ Quail Today Podcast, Ryan sits down with his son, Sam, for a rela...
Episode #40 Ryan's First Podcast at the Home AZ Quail Studio: Rough Cut and Random
Podcast DescriptionIn this episode, we dive into a rough-cut, free-flowing conversation covering everything from dog supplements and dog training, to social media, our partners, and some fun hunts an...
Episode #39: Nate's Farewell
Nate and Ryan Discuss transition, updates, quail season, trucks and more.
Episode #38 Faith, Family, and the Hunt: The Scott McGill Story
In this episode, Ryan sits down with Scott McGill—business owner, entrepreneur, hunter, dog handler, mentor, and devoted father. Scott shares his journey into quail hunting in Arizona, the lessons learned from dog training, and how his passion ...
Episode #37 The Outdoor Explorer: Jason's Trail Cam Journeys in Arizona
In this crazy cool episode, Nate and Ryan sit down with the legendary Jason "Trail Cam" Miller, a true icon of the Arizona outdoors. Join us as we delve into Jason’s unparalleled expertise in capturing wildlife on trail cameras, unveiling timel...