#344 | Weather, Puppies, and the Reality of a "Rough" Grouse Year with Fritz Heller

In this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson is joined by Fritz Heller, a dedicated upland hunter, to discuss the 2025 hunting season, dogs, grouse hunting, and much more. Fritz shares insights into the challenges of the season, including heat waves and the impact on bird numbers, as well as his experience training new puppies. The conversation also gets into Fritz's plans for the future, including his search for a camper for hunting trips and his thoughts on managing bird populations and hunting conditions.



Fritz Heller is an upland bird hunter, dog trainer, and dedicated outdoorsman from Michigan. He has been actively involved in training dogs and hunting for many years, sharing his knowledge of the sport with others. Fritz is passionate about the welfare of wildlife, managing habitats, and improving bird populations, and has a wealth of experience hunting grouse, pheasants, and other upland species.


Expect to Learn



The impact of weather conditions on the 2025 hunting season




Heat waves and their effects on bird numbers, especially in the early season




The importance of habitat regeneration and the role of different species, like blackberries, in grouse hunting




How puppy training can vary by breed, and how Fritz is raising his new Labrador and Cocker Spaniel puppies




Fritz's thoughts on taxidermy and the importance of commemorating hunting memories




The search for a camper and how Fritz is researching the best setup for his future hunting tripsEpisode Breakdown with Timestamps:






[00:00:00] - Introduction




[00:10:57] - 37 Degrees and Snow depth




[00:19:57] - Fritz’s Week Trip this Year




[00:36:13] - Different Color Phase




[00:43:23] - Discussing the puppy’s first season




[00:51:37] - Pippa: A Hunting Dog and the difference from a Lab




[01:01:40] - Puppy walks




[01:13:04] - Ruffed Grouse Drumming in Spring




[01:17:28] - Camper, Truck and Rig




[01:20:52] - Closing and upcoming plans for the next hunting season






Follow the guest, Fritz:



How to Hunt Ruffed Grouse with a Flushing Dog: https://projectupland.com/grouse-species/ruffed-grouse/how-to-hunt-ruffed-grouse-with-a-flushing-dog/  






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




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