From the dove fields of South Texas to the wide-open prairies of the American West, Jeff Hotz has turned a lifelong passion for hunting into a way of life. Jeff grew up hunting deer, dove, and quail before finding his competitive side in sporting clays during college and again in his 40s. But it wasn’t until his 50s that bird dogs truly changed the game. What started with a Brittany and two-week hunting trips to Kansas eventually evolved into month-long adventures across the prairie. The addition of a Deutsch-Drahthaar gave him the horsepower to tackle even bigger country. Since stepping into semi-retirement as a tech entrepreneur in 2020, Jeff has taken his passion to another level. Today, he spends September through December chasing birds across nine prairie and western states, followed by January and February pursuing quail throughout the South. In this episode, we dive into Jeff’s hunting journey, the dogs that helped shape it, the lessons learned along the way, and what keeps him coming back to the prairie year after year. We also explore HuntIntel.info, a resource Jeff created to help hunters navigate season dates, regulations, bag limits, and licensing information across states. Follow Jeff and his adventures: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook & X: @jchotz Website: https://huntintel.info Visit https://www.drschoicesupplements.com to get the supplements your dog(s) need(s) to thrive. After you find the right supplements and add them to your cart, use promo code 'VS’ during checkout. Discount does not apply to items already on sale... Also, train hard and hunt easy in style and comfort, visit https://drahtco.com to learn more! Get the gear that works as good as you and your dog(s) at DRAHT CO. After you find the right gear and are ready to check out, use promo code ‘VSDRAHT’ during checkout. Finally, get more out of your well nourished Deutsch-Drahthaar(s) by visiting https://www.vomseymourkennel.com today! Long live the VDD & the people who sharpen the Deutsch-Drahthaars!

In this episode, Travis interviews the people who spend time with Joe at his kennel about their beginnings and experiences in the sport. Visit https://www.vdd-gna.org/ & https://www.vomseymourkennel.com/membership/ to learn more! Also, get your Drahthaar(s) on point by visiting https://www.drschoicesupplements.com and getting the supplements your dog(s) need(s) to thrive. After you find the right supplements and add them to your cart, use promo code 'VS’ during checkout. Discount does not apply to items already on sale... Hunting across the US? Visit https://huntintel.info/ for season dates, limits, and license costs that are all updated daily and sourced directly from State Game & Fish websites, eRegulations, and official published regulations. Huntintel is the one-stop shop to ensure you’re legal! Finally, train hard and hunt easy in style and comfort, visit https://drahtco.com to learn more! Get the gear that works as good as you and your dog(s) at DRAHT CO. After you find the right gear and are ready to check out, use promo code ‘VSDRAHT’ during checkout. Long live the VDD & the people who sharpen the Deutsch-Drahthaars! Get the book mentioned in this episode here: https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Road-Journey-American-Uplands/dp/0805030085/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LBI4VSM0A5AM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mq7LZAVQp-Z8WabFJEDxINP-apCUztgntYjLU7EllXK7HHEDhtq-5EbA3smRWInTPrREQmTqsq_Hr3YsPC03io0ilaUuU_Nkq9gOIacidRyXXQiSy3vRQ85ReShbYD8lkB-u9I6s10psqZN3fWjqgOM0jaYxIF9Smjd22dA85mfgM5rUjGt4PZxg_x0lMLYpTGluWeZeNvNnpEMIq3MSm6I_rjSwqIhyZRRQNkmquKs.ovnye_Js8mOppi99QUjFPcrsyKgG5ePQnmZtZiT6u7s&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+hunters+road&qid=1786316245&sprefix=the+hunters+road%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-1

Ben Brettingen serves as the Marketing Manager for onX Hunt and he’s a dedicated conservationist, serving on the Board of Directors for the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society, while actively supporting organizations like Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. His work reflects a deep commitment to making sure the hunting opportunities everyone enjoys today stay here for future generations. Ben is also a devoted husband and father of two.  In this episode, we talk with Ben about bird dogs, habitat management/conservation, the onX Hunt app, finding productive hunting ground, and where upland hunting is headed in the years to come. Check out https://www.onxmaps.com for mapping apps that make planning hunts easy and efficient so you're more likely to be successful and you can enjoy the experiences with confidence. Also, get your Drahthaar(s) on point by visiting https://www.drschoicesupplements.com and getting the supplements your dog(s) need(s) to thrive. After you find the right supplements and add them to your cart, use promo code 'VS’ during checkout. Discount does not apply to items already on sale... Get more out of your well nourished Deutsch-Drahthaar(s) by visiting https://www.vomseymourkennel.com today! Hunting across the US? Visit https://huntintel.info/ for season dates, limits, and license costs that are all updated daily and sourced directly from State Game & Fish websites, eRegulations, and official published regulations. Huntintel is the one-stop shop to ensure you’re legal! Finally, train hard and hunt easy in style and comfort, visit https://drahtco.com to learn more! Get the gear that works as good as you and your dog(s) at DRAHT CO. After you find the right gear and are ready to check out, use promo code ‘VSDRAHT’ during checkout. Long live the VDD & the people who sharpen the Deutsch-Drahthaars! 

In this episode, Travis interviews Joe to get answers on what it takes to succeed at training a versatile hunting dog through his kennel’s virtual program. You can get more out of your versatile hunting dog(s) by following the directives in this episode and by visiting https://www.vomseymourkennel.com today! Also, get your Drahthaar(s) on point by visiting https://www.drschoicesupplements.com and getting the supplements your dog(s) need(s) to thrive. After you find the right supplements and add them to your cart, use promo code 'VS’ during checkout. Discount does not apply to items already on sale... Hunting across the US? Visit https://huntintel.info/ for season dates, limits, and license costs that are all updated daily and sourced directly from State Game & Fish websites, eRegulations, and official published regulations. Huntintel is the one-stop shop to ensure you’re legal! Finally, train hard and hunt easy in style and comfort, visit https://drahtco.com to learn more! Get the gear that works as good as you and your dog(s) at DRAHT CO. After you find the right gear and are ready to check out, use promo code ‘VSDRAHT’ during checkout. Long live the VDD & the people who sharpen the Deutsch-Drahthaars! 

Clint talks with Joe & Travis about his early days bird-dogging and about drahtco.com - a virtual hub for bird-dog enthusiasts and those who are interested in developing their enthusiasm. Get your Drahthaar(s) on point by visiting https://www.drschoicesupplements.com and getting the supplements your dog(s) need(s) to thrive. After you find the right supplements and add them to your cart, use promo code 'VS’ during checkout. Discount does not apply to items already on sale... Finally, get more out of your well nourished Deutsch-Drahthaar(s) by visiting https://www.vomseymourkennel.com today! Long live the VDD & the people who sharpen the Deutsch-Drahthaars!