10 Questions with the Voice of Upland Hunting: Bob St. Pierre
For more than two decades, Bob St. Pierre has been one of the most recognizable voices in upland hunting and conservation. As the longtime Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Bob has helped shape the story of upland habitat, hunting, bird dogs, and grassroots conservation for an entire generation of hunters. If you’ve listened to Fan Outdoors, followed PF/QF’s national campaigns, attended a National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, or read anything about the power of habitat, chances are Bob’s fingerprints are on it. He’s also a die-hard bird hunter, an advocate for public lands, a communicator who brings people into the mission with enthusiasm, humor, and authenticity. We caught up with Bob to talk about dogs, conservation, shotguns, the changing landscape of bird hunting, and how a kid from Michigan wound up helping lead one of the most respected conservation organizations in America.
You grew up in Michigan — how did that journey eventually lead you to Minnesota and a career with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever?
I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (da U.P., eh!) with an equal love for baseball and bird
hunting. Right out of college, I was fortunate to get an internship that turned into a full-time gig
with the Saint Paul Saints Professional Baseball Club. I spent seven seasons with the Saints
and learned a ton. However, when you work in minor league baseball, it’s a job that demands
your time throughout the year. Consequently, I rarely was able to fish, hunt, or enjoy my love for
the outdoors.
After the 2002 baseball season, I went on the hunt for a new job. While I considered jobs in
professional sports, I also looked for positions in other areas of personal passion. Enter
Pheasants Forever. Thanks to PF leaders Howard Vincent and Joe Duggan, I became the
organization’s first employee dedicated specifically to marketing and communications in 2003.
At one point you were a Brittany guy — what inspired the switch to German shorthaired pointers?
It’s a little known fact that German shorthairs are the marital compromise between a guy who
grew up with a Brittany and a wife who grew up with Labs. GSPs have been a great fit for us. I
get a pointing breed with strong retrieving skills and my wife gets a bit larger dog with minimal
fur on everything.
You arguably have one of the coolest jobs in the conservation world. What’s your favorite part of the work — and what’s the part people would be surprised to learn is not as glamorous?
Favorite: The best hour of the year takes place at 11am on the Friday before National Pheasant
Fest & Quail Classic opens up each year. That’s when the Bird Dog Parade happens, and I
have the distinction to serve as the event’s announcer
Not Glamourous: From the outside, I suspect folks believe I hunt all day or talk about
hunting on the radio or podcast. However, it’s a job like any other. I deal with
spreadsheets and budgets, as well as HR issues and crisis communications. I love it,
but it’s not Nerf world. We have an important mission and real people’s lives are
connected to the successes and failures of our organization.
You’ve been with PF / QF through tremendous growth. What moment or campaign are you most proud of in your career so far?
The creation of Quail Forever in 2005 is for sure one of the high points of my career. Our
expansion into the quail range, made our organization relevant across the country. We are the
voice of upland habitat and bird hunters.
From your vantage point, what has changed for the better in the upland hunting world over the past 20+ years?
Social media. I know. That answer surprises me too. It’s true though. Social media has brought
the upland community together in a way that didn’t exist outside of a local chapter banquet
before. Simply look at the push back to Congress’ attempt to sell off public lands last summer.
Social media was the tool that rally hunters, anglers, and outdoors enthusiasts to a successful
outcome.
And on the flip side — what has changed for the worse for pheasant and quail hunters, and what gives you hope moving forward?
Social media. Yeah, I did it. I put the same answer here. While social media has the power of
doing tremendous good (see above), it also has the power to highlight the worst of our
community for a naïve general public to make assumptions. Social media also is challenged to
tell the complex story of habitat conservation and hunting. Hunters have a deep connection to
their dogs, the land, and the wildlife they pursue. Having that come across on Instagram takes
tremendous finesse.
You hunt a lot of public land. What does public access mean to you personally, and why is it such a pillar of PF / QF’s mission?
I grew up in a blue collar family in a region rich with public lands. Those lands and those
memories made me rich in experience. I carry that same ethos as an adult. Public lands are part
of the fabric of America. I don’t want to live in Europe where only the rich are able to access
land and wildlife for hunting. I continue to devote my life to this principal of freedom.
What’s your go-to pheasant gun these days, and has that changed over the years?
I grew up with an Ithaca pump for everything. As an adult, I’ve gained a “sweet tooth” for over-
under shotguns. I own a Beretta 686, Browning Citori, Franchi Renaissance, and a Franchi
Instinct. I also picked up a side-by-side CZ sharptail a couple of years ago. For pheasants, I
typically grab the Beretta 686, since it’s a 12 gauge and I like the added power for roosters. For
ruffed grouse and woodcock, I love the little CZ sharptail 28 gauge. When it comes to prairie
grouse and quail, I reach for the Citori or one of the Franchi shotguns, because they are all 20
gauges.
You’ve met thousands of upland hunters across the country. What’s one common trait or story that sticks with you from those interactions?
Bird dogs. Flushers or pointers, big or small, shorthairs or wirehairs – bird dogs fuel the passion
for upland habitat conservation.
For someone hunting pheasants or quail for the first time this year, what single piece of advice would you give them?
Always follow the dog, something good will rise.
Thank you, Bob! And thanks for the work that you and the team at Pheasant Forever are doing to help ensure we’ll be chasing roosters in wild places today and for generations to come.
Editor’s Note: If you care about our wild places and upland game, consider joining Pheasants Forever. Your membership matters! Over 91% of your membership fees go directly towards habitat projects, public awareness, and education.
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