12 December 2025
#342 | Winter Birds, Running Roosters & the Making of a Dog Handler with Isaiah Osborne
Birdshot Podcast
About
In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson sits down with Minnesota upland hunter Isaiah Osborne to talk pheasants, sharptails, German shorthaired pointers, and growing up hunting without a bird dog. Isaiah shares his journey from discovering wild birds with friends in high school, to serving in the Marine Corps, to learning bird dogs from professional trainers in Arizona. The conversation covers pheasant behavior, Gambel’s quail, tracking vs. true dogs, winter pheasant strategies, and building a reliable upland hunting truck setup.
Isaiah Osborne is a dedicated upland hunter from New Ulm, Minnesota. Raised in a large family with no dogs allowed, he eventually found his way into upland hunting, served in the Marine Corps, trained with Gordon’s Gun Dogs in Arizona, and now hunts behind two German shorthaired pointers across Minnesota and the Great Plains.
Expect to Learn
How Isaiah grew up pheasant hunting without dogs and how bird dogs changed everything
What he learned training quail dogs in Arizona with professional handlers
The difference between true dogs and tracking dogs in upland hunting
Why pheasants run early season and hold tight after snowfall
How Isaiah hunts Gambel’s quail, sharptail grouse, and Minnesota pheasants
Tips for public land hunting, dog handling, and winter bird behavior
Details of his truck, kennel, and gear setup for multi-dog upland hunting
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps
[00:00:00] - Introduction and winter conditions
[00:03:26] - Growing up in New Ulm and discovering pheasant hunting
[00:06:11] - Bird-hunting article and Isaiah’s background
[00:12:15] - Hunting Gambel’s quail with and without dogs
[00:15:52] - How many birds did they walk past without dogs
[00:18:05] - Tracking dogs vs. true dogs in pheasant country
[00:26:14] - Snow conditions and birds holding tight
[00:32:27] - Ideal pheasant hunting weather
[00:40:08] - Sharptail grouse hunting in North Dakota
[00:40:51] - Adjusting pheasant dogs to big running prairie birds
[00:44:56] - Isaiah’s bird dog training setup with pigeons
[00:52:13] - Truck setup: F-150, topper, Decked drawers, Ruff Land kennels
[01:02:24] - Favorite shotguns and 28-gauge pheasant loads
[01:03:15] - Closing thoughts and hunt-swap idea
Follow the Guest Isaiah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah_osborne10/
Follow the Host Nick:
Instagram: @birdshot.podcast
Website: www.birdshotpodcast.com
Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17EVUDJPwR2iJggzhLYil7
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birdshot-podcast/id1288308609
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@birdshot.podcast
SUPPORT | http://www.patreon.com/birdshot
Use Promo Code | BSP20 to save 20% on https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app
Use Promo Code | BS10 to save 10% on https://trulockchokes.com/
The Birdshot Podcast is Presented By: https://www.onxmaps.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Isaiah Osborne is a dedicated upland hunter from New Ulm, Minnesota. Raised in a large family with no dogs allowed, he eventually found his way into upland hunting, served in the Marine Corps, trained with Gordon’s Gun Dogs in Arizona, and now hunts behind two German shorthaired pointers across Minnesota and the Great Plains.
Expect to Learn
How Isaiah grew up pheasant hunting without dogs and how bird dogs changed everything
What he learned training quail dogs in Arizona with professional handlers
The difference between true dogs and tracking dogs in upland hunting
Why pheasants run early season and hold tight after snowfall
How Isaiah hunts Gambel’s quail, sharptail grouse, and Minnesota pheasants
Tips for public land hunting, dog handling, and winter bird behavior
Details of his truck, kennel, and gear setup for multi-dog upland hunting
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps
[00:00:00] - Introduction and winter conditions
[00:03:26] - Growing up in New Ulm and discovering pheasant hunting
[00:06:11] - Bird-hunting article and Isaiah’s background
[00:12:15] - Hunting Gambel’s quail with and without dogs
[00:15:52] - How many birds did they walk past without dogs
[00:18:05] - Tracking dogs vs. true dogs in pheasant country
[00:26:14] - Snow conditions and birds holding tight
[00:32:27] - Ideal pheasant hunting weather
[00:40:08] - Sharptail grouse hunting in North Dakota
[00:40:51] - Adjusting pheasant dogs to big running prairie birds
[00:44:56] - Isaiah’s bird dog training setup with pigeons
[00:52:13] - Truck setup: F-150, topper, Decked drawers, Ruff Land kennels
[01:02:24] - Favorite shotguns and 28-gauge pheasant loads
[01:03:15] - Closing thoughts and hunt-swap idea
Follow the Guest Isaiah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah_osborne10/
Follow the Host Nick:
Instagram: @birdshot.podcast
Website: www.birdshotpodcast.com
Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17EVUDJPwR2iJggzhLYil7
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birdshot-podcast/id1288308609
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@birdshot.podcast
SUPPORT | http://www.patreon.com/birdshot
Use Promo Code | BSP20 to save 20% on https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app
Use Promo Code | BS10 to save 10% on https://trulockchokes.com/
The Birdshot Podcast is Presented By: https://www.onxmaps.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices