In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, we sit down with Bill Kehoe—President of Badger State HRC—to dive deep into the world of hunting retriever clubs, gun dog training, and the community behind it all.

Bill shares his journey from getting his first Labrador Retriever to helping build one of Wisconsin’s HRC clubs, along with lessons learned from decades of training, hunting, and competing with retrievers. We break down how HRC (Hunting Retriever Club) organizations work, why joining a training group can dramatically improve your dog, and how these clubs create lifelong friendships, hunting opportunities, and better hunters.

We also cover:

The benefits of group dog training vs. going solo
How HRC hunt tests work (Started, Seasoned, Finished)
Building a retriever to the Hunting Retriever Champion level
The role of mentorship, land access, and shared equipment
Real-world hunting applications of training
The challenges of running an HRC club and organizing events

Plus, Bill shares stories from his military career, hunting experiences across North America, and insights into raising and training successful gun dogs.

Check out the following links for even more content:

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More Than Hunt Tests: The Real Value of HRC Clubs | Bill Kehoe