#327 | Bird Dogs, Shotgun Fit & Better Shooting: Field-Proven Advice from Del Whitman

Birdshot Podcast

Nick Larson

Sports, Wilderness, Hobbies, Nature, Science, Leisure

4.6 • 936 Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2025

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson is joined by Del Whitman, an expert in gun fittings, upland hunting, and training bird dogs. Del shares his experiences working with hunters on gun fittings, his journey with various breeds of bird dogs, and his insights into how training and foundational work are crucial for both dogs and shotguns. They discuss gun maintenance, dog training techniques, and how Del’s approach to both works seamlessly with his professional work and in his hunting adventures. Del Whitman is a master gunsmith, renowned gun fitter, and dedicated upland hunter with decades of hands-on experience. Through his custom-fitting process and deep knowledge of stock design and function, Del has helped hundreds of wingshooters improve their accuracy and comfort in the field. Whether it’s restoring vintage doubles, refining stock dimensions, or offering practical shooting instruction, Del brings a craftsman’s eye and a hunter’s intuition to every aspect of his work. 📍August Gun Fittings at Pine Ridge Grouse Camp Del Whitman will be offering shotgun fittings at Pine Ridge Grouse Camp in Minnesota from August 25th–27th. This is a great opportunity to get your gun dialed in before the season. To check availability or reserve your spot, contact Del directly: 📧 [email protected] 📞 231-632-0845 Expect to Learn The importance of gun fitting for hunters and how it can impact shooting accuracy. Insights on how to properly care for and maintain a shotgun to ensure longevity and reliability. How training techniques like the Hunt Smith Method improve bird dog performance and steadiness. The benefits of using pigeons and launchers for dog training and how they enhance the learning process. The essential role of a good foundation in dog training and how to avoid making common mistakes. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps [00:00:00] - Introduction [00:02:38] - Gun Fitting and the Importance of Proper Stock Fit [00:05:28] - Gun Fitting at Pineridge Grouse Camp [00:17:44] - Dog Training: Lessons and Methods from the Field [00:26:33] - Del keeping Pigeons for years [00:32:30] - Hunt Smith Seminar [00:42:41] - Difference between Oil and Wax [00:51:17] - Leather butt and Recoil Pad [01:05:47] - The Three D’s: Density, Distribution, and Diameter [01:14:08] - Favorite Upland Gun [01:17:13] - Conclusion Follow the Guest Del: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upland_gunsmith/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitmangunsmithing Email: [email protected] Howard’s Feed-N-Wax: https://www.amazon.com/howards-feed-wax/s?k=howard%E2%80%99s+feed+and+wax Follow Host Nick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xnicklarsonx/ Website: www.birdshotpodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdshot.podcast/?hl=en 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

Transcript

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0:00.0	One of my favorite things about hunting sharp-tailed grouse is hunting the topography. And one of the best ways I have found to do that more effectively and efficiently is with Onyx Hunt's 3D map view. The next time you're scouting from your living room, the roadside, or when you're in the field hunting it, fire up the Onyx Hunt app and turn on the 3D map view to get an up close and in detail look at the topography of any piece of property.
0:22.8	Whether it's a gentle, rolling piece of terrain or a truly elevated and mountainous landscape,
0:27.4	you can use the exaggeration slider to fine-tune your view and highlight the topographical features you're looking for.
0:33.5	From benches to bowls to draws and drainagees, get a clear picture and develop a strategy for you and your bird dog to work the terrain and hunt the topography with on X hunt
0:42.4	Use the promo code BSP20 to save 20% on your next subscription
0:47.0	Download the hunt app today and know where you stand with on X hunt
0:52.8	When it comes to shotguns, it seems every upland bird hunter has a slightly different vision
0:57.4	of what their ideal wing shooting shotgun is, which is exactly the kind of thinking we welcome
1:01.9	and encourage at Upland Gun Company.
1:04.1	Every Upland-G company gun is handcrafted and finished by RFM in Italy.
1:08.7	With quality components and expert craftsmanship, your Upland-Gun Company shotgun is built to your standard, both functionally and aesthetically. From choosing the barrel length, grip style, trigger setup, engraving options, and even selecting the piece of wood used on your shotgun, you truly are limited only by your imagination. And with included custom stock dimensions, you can be sure your Upland
1:27.7	Gun Company shotgun will shoot just as well as it looks and feels. Head over to Uplandguncom
1:32.0	and try out our web and 3D gun builders to begin crafting your ideal Upland shotgun today.
1:38.0	There are some things you should always check, like the hygiene rating on your local takeaway,
1:46.3	the setting on your razor, and whether the party actually is fancy dress.
1:49.5	The other thing you should check is your Experian credit report, especially if you're looking
1:54.2	to borrow money.
1:55.6	It lets you understand what lenders see so you can increase your chances of getting the best deals.
2:03.8	It's dead easy to check it and completely free.
2:07.9	See it in seconds. Download the Experian app today.
2:10.8	You'd be shocked at the stuff that I pulled out of guns.
2:15.0	You know, pine needles and fur and fronds and feathers and, you know, all sorts of stuff.
	...

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