#328 | Favorite Ways to Train Your Bird Dog with Mark Payton

Birdshot Podcast

Nick Larson

Sports, Wilderness, Hobbies, Nature, Science, Leisure

4.6 • 936 Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2025

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson is joined by Mark Payton, a renowned bird dog trainer, author, and YouTube content creator. Mark shares his extensive experience in training bird dogs, emphasizing the importance of patience, timing, and consistency. He discusses key training methods like the Fun Whoa and Chase Method, and offers practical tips for those starting out with their first pointing dog. Mark also dives into the significance of pigeons in training, gun introductions, and how to teach steady points through gradual steps. Mark Payton is a skilled bird dog trainer based in the southern Indiana area. He has trained many dogs using both traditional and modern methods. In addition to his training, Mark is the author of Favorite Ways to Train Your Bird Dog (2009), a highly regarded book that provides concise, practical advice for handling and training bird dogs. Mark also runs a popular YouTube channel, where he shares training techniques and tips with fellow bird dog enthusiasts. Expect to Learn The importance of introducing dogs to birds early on, and how to use pigeons and launchers effectively. How to get your dog to point naturally by simulating real bird hunting situations. Practical tips on gun introductions and teaching dogs to remain steady for flushes. The benefits of a structured yet flexible approach to dog training. The difference between developing a dog versus training them with enforcement. Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00:00] - Introduction [00:03:51] - Why do Dogs Point? [00:17:52] - Backing in 10 Minutes [00:28:08] - Steady Points for Dog training and Nick’s Dogs [00:44:17] - Curiosity About the Whoa Stuff [00:51:40] - Insightful Tips in the Book [00:58:01] - Trouble Shooting, Pigeon Launcher and Untrained Dogs [01:06:02] - How Mark Flushes the Pigeon and Usage of Check Cord [01:15:37] - Favorite Bird to Hunt [01:20:10] - Get in Touch and one-on-one personal sessions Follow Guest Mark: YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Payton1221 Email: [email protected] Favorite Ways to Train your Bird Dog: https://amzn.to/3UN4RXn Follow 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/birdshotUse 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 OnX Hunt.
0:42.5	Use the promo code BSP20 to save 20% on your next subscription.
0:47.3	Download the Hunt app today and know where you stand with OnX Hunt.
0:52.9	Honestly, I don't know anybody who's doing it like I do, and basically, I just really bombard
0:58.1	the dog with birds.
0:59.4	I just go out with a bag full of pigeons, and I just have the dog running loose.
1:02.9	Talk me about launchers, how you use them, and really, like, the timing, sort of being
1:07.9	liberal with flushing the bird.
1:09.7	That's the mistake that I see a lot of
1:11.5	trainers make. Are there drawbacks or pitfalls that the beginner or amateur handler would need to
1:18.1	watch out for? You just got to put the work in. It doesn't take a lot of time, but you kind of have to
1:22.2	be consistent. When I work with a bunch of dogs, if you're smart, you do learn from your mistakes.
1:26.7	And I made a bunch of mistakes. 2010, I started working dogs for the public. Yeah, I just enjoyed it. What would you tell the person that is kind of like, yeah, I could have pigeons, but I'm not sure. I don't really know what's involved in. I don't know how to build a coop. What would you tell that person? What I like about pigeons is it... Hey, everyone.
1:51.6	Nick Larson here, host of the Birdshot podcast, the show where we go beyond the flush
1:56.0	to explore the full upland hunting experience with guests from all across the uplands.
2:01.0	From shotguns, the bird dogs, dogs to habitat and conservation and the traditions that connect all of us
2:06.3	to a life of field.
2:08.0	The Birdshop podcast is presented by Onyx Hunt and supported by folks just like you via
2:12.8	our Patreon community.
	...

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