Episode 129 Hunter from Tri State Retrievers on Arkansas duck hunting and dog training

Kyle and Travis sit down with Hunter from Tri State Retrievers to catch up on his move from Ohio to Arkansas, his work as a guide, and how he keeps dog training small, personal, and effective. They also dig into the realities of Arkansas duck hunting, from flooded rice fields and hospitality-driven guide services to why the hunting culture down south is so different from the Great Lakes.In this episode, Hunter shares what changed after leaving Ohio, how guiding and dog training fit together, and why transparency matters when you’re trusting someone with your dog for months at a time. The conversation also covers waterfowl heritage, pressure on bird habitat, safety in the blind, and what owners should look for in a trainer.Key topicsHunter explains how Tri State Retrievers started in Ohio with Dustin, then shifted to Arkansas after he moved south and began building a kennel there.He breaks down why he keeps dog training small, usually around six client dogs, because guiding takes up much of the fall and winter.The crew talks about how competitive dog training is in Arkansas, where word of mouth and Facebook still do a lot of the heavy lifting.Hunter compares Great Lakes waterfowl hunting with Arkansas hunting, pointing out that the Great Lakes region is often underestimated.They get into the difference between hunting heritage in Arkansas versus Ohio, especially around flooded timber, rice fields, and big-water or field hunting.Hunter explains why Arkansas hunting feels different now than in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, saying the region has changed rather than simply “died off.”He discusses private clubs, unharvested crops, and how large tracts of held birds can affect where ducks and geese land and feed.The group covers the all-inclusive side of guiding at Bust a Duck Guide Service, including lodging, meals, safety briefings, and making the day comfortable even if the birds don’t cooperate.Hunter walks through his dog training timeline, from puppy programs at 8 weeks old to started gun dogs and longer programs for hunt tests and finished retrievers.He explains what owners should look for in a trainer: transparency, kennel size, daily attention, facility quality, and regular communication.The conversation closes on why hunting dogs are more successful when they get real hunting experience, not just yard drills or test-only work.