Path to the Uplands Stage hosts inspiration and information for new and old hunters alike
By Ashley Chance, Hunting Heritage Programs Manager for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Get ready for an action-packed weekend filled with valuable insights, expert advice and unforgettable experiences on the Path to the Uplands Stage at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, March 7-9 in Kansas City.
The goal of this seminar stage is to inspire upland hunters at every step of their journey into the uplands. This year, we’re featuring an amazing lineup of speakers with expertise in upland bird hunting, conservation, bird dog training and cooking wild game.
If you want to become an upland hunter, or want to get better at it, this is the place for you. Featured talks and speaker highlights include:
Jump to Stage Schedule
Danielle Prewett: Everything You Need to Know About Cooking Wild Game Birds
Occurs: Friday at 5PM / Saturday at 2:30PM
Danielle is the author of Wild + Whole and a content creator for MeatEater. She is a leading voice in the wild food community and an avid upland hunter. On stage, Danielle will share everything you need to know about cooking your bounty of wild gamebirds.
Douglas Spale: Finding Mentorship in the Uplands
Occurs: Saturday at 3:30PM / Sunday at 12:30PM
Douglas is an attorney and a national board member for PF & QF. He lives in Kansas City with his wife, son, and three dogs. Each year Douglas enjoys traveling across the country in search of new adventures and landscapes, chasing upland birds and waterfowl with his Labrador and English Setter. His talk will center on the impact mentoring a new hunter can have.
Dr. Clair Maples: A Woman's Guide to Self-Sufficiency in the Field
Occurs: Friday at 4:30PM / Saturday at 1:30PM
Dr. Clair Maples, an Oklahoma-based veterinarian and owner of Paradigm Sporting Dog, has a passion for upland hunting and her three German shorthairs. She’ll share her unique path to the uplands which includes overcoming adversity, starting a business and more. Don’t miss!
Christy Langston: Upland Photography & Learning to Navigate Public Land Bird Hunting
Occurs: Friday at 3PM / Saturday at 10:30AM
Christy is a wife, mom chasing two feral girls on their farm in Southwest Missouri, and kennel owner. Her photography journey began in 2009 with duck hunts over her husband’s Lab, and evolved into a deep love for gundogs, public land, and a lifelong pursuit of capturing moments through her lens. Christy will give two talks: one on her experience as an independent public land bird hunter, and one on photographing your hunt!
Bill White: Midwest Quail Hunting Culture – Do We Need a Change?
Occurs: Saturday at 11:30AM / Sunday at 11:30AM
Bill retired as Chief of the Community and Private Land Conservation Branch of the Missouri Department of Conservation, but still keeps his toe dipped in the grassland, quail and pollinator arenas. He has never met a honey locust or cedar he didn’t want to remove to turn that space into quail habitat. Tune in for his talk on quail hunting culture, and decide for yourself if we’re headed in the right direction.
Ben Brettingen: E-Scouting for Public Land Quail
Occurs: Saturday at 4PM / Sunday at 11AM
Hailing from Minnesota, Ben chases upland birds from the grouse woods of the Great Lakes to points across the country as the Wingshooting Manager for onX Hunt. Through his travels and extensive use of the onX app, he has developed multiple sound strategies to help hunters find success behind their dogs, for many different species. His talk will highlight how to use onX Hunt to maximize quail hunting opportunities.
The speakers above are just a sampling of what the Path to the Uplands Stage will offer this year. Join us to gain valuable insights from these experts and improve your upland skills and knowledge!
Seminar Schedule
2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic:
Path to the Uplands Stage
| Time |
Topic |
Speaker(s) |
| Friday |
2:00 |
Exploring Conservation as a Career |
Panel on Conservation Career Pathways |
| 2:30 |
Hunting Bobwhite by Reading Habitat |
Will Robinson, PF & QF MO Farm Bill Biologist III |
| 3:00 |
Learning To Navigate Public Land Bird Hunting |
Christy Langston, Spring River Kennel |
| 3:30 |
Conservation Advocacy For Everyone |
Suzanne Anglewicz, PF & QF Government Affairs Manager |
| 4:00 |
Capturing The Hunt - Upland Photography |
Christy Langston, Spring River Kennel |
| 4:30 |
A Woman’s Guide to Self-Sufficiency in the Field |
Dr. Clair Maples, Paradigm Sporting Dog |
| 5:00 |
Everything You Need To Know About Cooking With Wild Game Birds |
Danielle Prewett, MeatEater |
| Saturday |
10:00 |
Falconry 101 |
Kate Ahnstrom, Virginia Shooting Sports |
| 10:30 |
Learning to Navigate Public Land Bird Hunting |
Christy Langston, Spring River Kennel |
| 11:00 |
Starting A Women on the Wing Chapter |
Katy Hulsey, PF & QF Women on the Wing |
| 11:30 |
Midwest Quail Hunting Culture: Do We Need a Change? |
Bill White, Conservation Consultant, Retired MDC |
| 12:00 |
Bird Dog, Family Dog |
Tom Carpenter, PF Editor |
| 12:30 |
Ideal Puppy Training Timeline |
Tina Dokken, Tina Dokken Unleashed |
| 1:00 |
Capturing the Hunt - Upland Photography |
Christy Langston, Spring River Kennel |
| 1:30 |
A Woman’s Guide to Self-Sufficiency in the Field |
Dr. Clair Maples, Paradigm Sporting Dog |
| 2:00 |
Hunting Bobwhite by Reading Habitat |
Will Robinson, PF & QF MO Farm Bill Biologist III |
| 2:30 |
Everything You Need To Know About Cooking With Wild Game Birds |
Danielle Prewett, MeatEater |
| 3:30 |
Finding Mentorship in the Uplands |
Douglas E. Spale, PF & QF National Board of Directors |
| 4:00 |
E-scouting for Public Land Quail |
Ben Brettingen, onX Hunt |
| Sunday |
10:00 |
Exploring Conservation as a Career |
Panel on Conservation Career Pathways |
| 10:30 |
Starting A Women on the Wing Chapter |
Katy Hulsey, PF & QF Women on the Wing |
| 11:00 |
E-scouting for Public Land Quail |
Ben Brettingen, onX Hunt |
| 11:30 |
Midwest Quail Hunting Culture: Do We Need a Change? |
Bill White, Conservation Consultant, Retired MDC |
| 12:00 |
Bird Dog, Family Dog |
Tom Carpenter, PF Editor |
| 12:30 |
Finding Mentorship in the Uplands |
Douglas E. Spale, PF & QF National Board of Directors |
| 1:00 |
Conservation Advocacy For Everyone |
Suzanne Anglewicz, PF & QF Government Affairs Manager |
| 1:30 |
Bird Dog First Aid |
Dr. Clair Maples, Paradigm Sporting Dog |
| 2:00 |
Hunting Bobwhite by Reading Habitat |
Josh Marshall, PF & QF Senior Farm Bill Biologist |
The 2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO on March 7-9. Passes and more information can be found at: PheasantFest.org.