The National Wildlife Federation has worked with hunters and anglers since 1936 to tackle the biggest natural resource challenges. The NWF Outdoors Podcast explores the most important conservation issues and the people who do the hard work to safeguard our fish, wildlife, lands, and waters. Hosted by Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy at NWF.
Episodes
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Continuing with our newfound love of "from the field" podcasts, we take this one to Florida. Podcast co-host Bill Cooksey attended ICAST (a big fishing industry tradeshow) in July and had the opportunity to sit down with Geoff Mullins from the Everglades Foundation and Captain Chris Wittman from Captains for Clean water to talk about the myriad habitat problems in the Everglades and South Florida and what hunters and anglers can do to help. The region is full of iconic hunting and fishing locations such as Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay, and waterfowl hunters come from around the country to hunt mottled ducks, black-bellied whistling ducks and fulvous ducks. When most people think about Everglades issues, they think pythons and algae closing down beaches, but there’s a whole lot more at stake.
Episode links:
https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/
https://captainsforcleanwater.org/
https://www.vanishingparadise.org/restoration-solutions/projects?state=florida
Show Notes:
1:05-Intro to ICAST.
3:22-What have we been doing lately?
5:15-Geoff explains what Everglades restoration means.
6:47-Chris explains restoration from his point of view as a sportsman.
8:50-What is Captains for Clean Water?
11:35-Geoff, where do sportsmen fit in this puzzle?
13:50-Bill offers his take on the issues.
15:55-Chris talks duck hunting and the impact of declining habitat and restoration.
18:05-Geoff, what is the most critical component at this moment?
21:35-How is the state involved financially with restoration?
23:35-Chris discusses the changes he’s witnessed to some bucket list Florida destinations.
29:35-What do the next ten years look like?
31:35-Who are the stakeholders?
38:05-Why is this a national issue?
39:55-What should Florida sportsmen be doing?
42:55-What have we missed?
47:15-Words of wisdom from Geoff, Chris and Bill
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Join us for this fun pilot episode of our new “From the Field” podcast series we are beginning to explore. For the past week, our sporting team has been traveling around Southeast Alaska recording interviews with hunters and anglers regarding the endless opportunities and abundance of the region. During this episode, Aaron and Mandela sit on the edge of the Tongas National Forest with Artemis ambassador, Jodee Dixon, and the Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), Meredith Trainor. We discuss their friendship and connection through hunting, mentorship and Yoga. We learn about the important conservation work SEACC does and the Artemis outreach programs Jodee offers. We also talk about the ways in which their background in mountaineering and whitewater kayaking parallel hunting and fishing.
Enjoy this abbreviated podcast pilot episode and let us know what you think. Did you like hearing podcasts recorded in the field? Would you like them to be shorter or longer? What questions would you like to ask our guests?
Links:
Show notes:
0:26 – Aaron sets the scene, introduces the guests and the stand-in cohost for this episode.
3:00 – Jodee talks about her passion for seeking and sharing knowledge. How she met Meredith and the transition to teaching Meredith how to hunt.
5:10 – Jodee talks about the different species she and her husband hunt in SE Alaska including Dahl sheep, elk, black bear and Sitka blacktail deer.
7:00 – Meredith talks about how she met Jodee and grew an interest in hunting after being a vegetarian for most of her life.
10:30 – Jodee shares how she got introduced to hunting and the story behind her first big game hunt for Dahl sheep.
14:00 – Jodee is currently teaching Meredith how to hunt. They both chat about how Artemis helped strengthen their connection and the opportunity to bring women together to share wild game and embrace a curiosity of hunting.
18:49 – Jodee and Meredith share how their experiences in whitewater kayaking, Yoga and mountaineering parallel how they approach hunting and fishing. Jodee reflects on single point focus and “forced meditation”.
23:19 – Meredith shares the conservation work she and her team at the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) focus on. One part of their work is focused on climate action, citizen science and the importance of sharing observations of a changing landscape due to climate change.
27:53 – Alaska is front and center when it comes to a warming climate. Meredith discusses how an increase in 3-6 degrees effects wildlife in Southeast Alaska.
29:40 – Jodee shares her observations and concerns regarding hunting, fishing and climate change in Southeast Alaska.
31:56 – Jodee highlights some of the Artemis outreach opportunities she offers in the region.
32:55 – Closing statements.
Friday Jul 29, 2022
Good News for Duck Hunters with Dr. Mike Brasher of Ducks Unlimited
Friday Jul 29, 2022
Friday Jul 29, 2022
It’s late July, and much of the country is in the midst of a heat wave, but Aaron and Bill are back talking ducks with Dr. Mike Brasher from Ducks Unlimited. Waterfowl are both a vocation and advocation for Mike as he’s spent his career studying and his free time hunting them. For the last two years, COVID protocols in Canada have prevented the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from conducting the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (known to duck hunters as the BPOP and May Pond Count). This survey is used to set future seasons. The 2022 flights have wrapped up, and Mike is here to help us understand what the initial reports could mean to duck hunters all over the country. And for the first time in several years, there’s some positive news!
Links:
https://www.ducks.org/media/du-podcast
And here’s a photo page from the folks who actually count the ducks:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pilotbiologist/albums/with/72157706996280821
Show notes:
3:40 – Bill introduces Mike and provides a little insight into his background and what we are going to cover in the show regarding ducks and how ducks are counted.
5:25 – Mike introduces himself with a little more detail.
7:19 – Mike, Bill and Aaron share what they have been doing outside recently.
13:40 – Jumping right into B-POP (Breeding Population Survey) but first, let’s clarify that we are not talking about K-POP.
14:21 – What is B-POP and why should duck hunters understand it?
19:13 – Laying out the mechanics of how big the count is, where do they fly and how are we doing with the trajectory of current population counts.
24:27 – Discussing the word “census” and why this count isn’t a census.
28:23 – What are the results?!
35:05 – Why have biologists been concerned, drought in the western U.S. and how are the numbers doing down south?
41:27 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for even more great content.
42:20 -- Because the count hasn’t happened for a few years, what was the approach this year?
46:39 -- Discussing the scientific approach to climate issues as they relate to duck populations, trajectory, warming trends and droughts.
53:33 -- Discussing the significance of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and recently introduced North American Grasslands Act. How does this legislation relate to natural infrastructure, habitat restoration and resilience.
1:00:23 -- With fresh water and fresh habitat, what does that mean for the productivity of waterfowl? Also, a few reflections on the current count numbers and what that might mean for the upcoming duck hunting season.
1:07:33 – Mike shares some closing statements.
1:10:24 – Ducks Unlimited U.S. and Ducks Unlimited Canada are teaming up soon to do a livestream!
1:12:53 – Bill shares some closing statements.
1:13:18 – Please speak up on behalf of shutting down the Return Act, the swift passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and the North American Grasslands Act. Get engaged, stay engaged and look for folks like Mike for guidance.
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Aaron and Bill sit down with the 2021 Orvis Conservationists of the Year, owner of Alaska Sportsmen’s Lodge, and renowned Bristol Bay conservationist Brian Kraft. Brian has spent nearly 20 years working to stop the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay from ever becoming a reality. The EPA recently announced another comment period regarding prohibiting discharge of dredge or fill materials. If the latest effort is successful, the Pebble Mine would again be halted. We talk to Brian about how he got into the lodge operating and fishing guide service, the incredible fishing and wildlife resources of Bristol Bay including 30” rainbow trout, how he first learned of the proposed mine, and his work to keep the mine away from the area that produces nearly half of all the planet’s salmon. And last, we pivot to permanent protection and how we can end the threats of large-scale mining in Bristol Bay once and for all.
Links:
EPA link to comment portal
https://www.epa.gov/bristolbay/public-comments-and-hearings-2022-proposed-determination
EPA link describing comment process
Video of Brain and his family talking about the values in Bristol Bay
https://www.fishasl.com/hold-the-line-bristol-bay-alaska/
Video announcing Brian as Orvis Conservationist of the Year
Conservation Organization Resources on Bristol Bay and the Pebble Mine
https://www.savebristolbay.org/
https://stoppebbleminenow.org/
Brian’s lodge website
Show notes:
3:58 – A little background on Brian.
5:35 – Brian, Aaron and Bill share what they have been doing outside recently.
9:20 - Brian provides a brief overview of the scale and scope of Bristol Bay and the surrounding area… The “breadbasket of fisheries” the bounty there is mindboggling! 47% of the world’s salmon comes from here!
16:50 - Brian talks about how he got into running fishing lodges in Bristol Bay without any prior experience.
25:55 - Brian takes us through a day on the water with his clients in Alaska… they’re catching 22-26” rainbow trout on the fly!
30:38 - What is the average size range of the rainbow trout up there?
32:53 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen. For more great content, be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
34:45 - Brain shares a little background on how we got to where we are at now regarding the threat of the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay. This has been a team battle!
56:29 – How do we get permanent protection? Where would the relief money come from that would be used for the Federal Government to purchase land that is now part of the state of Alaska? What are other options including land swaps, etc.
59:19 - What should folks be telling the EPA right now and how can we help with the permanent solution? “This is the wrong place for this type of development. Salmon runs are irreplaceable and provide food for the world. Let’s not replace one resource with another.”
1:04:07 – Parting words from Brian, Bill and Aaron.
“I didn’t inherit this land and these fisheries from my ancestors. I’m borrowing it from my children. It’s my responsibility to make sure that it’s in better shape for them to use and enjoy. We need to do the right thing. There are right places to do things like this and wrong places – and this is definitely the wrong place.” –Brian Kraft.
Friday May 13, 2022
Friday May 13, 2022
Aaron and Bill revisit salmon conservation in the northwest in advance of nationwide day of action asking for immediate action and the removal of the four Snake River dams. We sit down with Brian Brooks, the executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Aaron Lieberman, the executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association. We talk salmon conservation broadly, the history of salmon issues in the Northwest and how we got to this point, the recent processes to address the issues surrounding dam removal and salmon recovery, how the Snake River system dams are different from dams in places like Tennessee, and how the sporting community can engage to save this iconic species from extinction.
Links:
- General Links
- Congressman Simpson’s leading page on the CBI: https://simpson.house.gov/salmon/
- Inslee Murray Study site (including comment links): https://www.lsrdoptions.org
- White House Press release (3/18/22) re: Dams/Fish/Tribes: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2022/03/28/columbia-river-basin-fisheries-working-together-to-develop-a-path-forward/
- Idaho Wildlife Federation links:
- https://idahowildlife.org/
- https://idahowildlife.org/news/salmonsteelhead-campaign-enters-new-stage-of-momentum
- https://idahowildlife.org/news/nw-energy-coalition-lower-snake-river-dams-can-be-removed
- https://idahowildlife.org/news/bpa-funded-study-states-salmonsteelhead-recovery-only-likely-if-dams-breached
- Donate to IWF: https://secure.everyaction.com/7bVn-yO2r0SFdf7WGFzk6A2
- IOGA Links:
- IOGA’s Action Page: https://ioga.org/the-columbia-basin-initiative/
- Alternatively, here’s a link directly to the Out of Idaho action form: https://actnow.io/EdVJdCS
- Link to Donate in Support of IOGA’s advocacy for Idaho Salmon & Steelhead: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SY9ZJ352VZMYE
- Link to sign up for IOGA’s newsletter to stay in the loop on the work: Subscribe
- IOGA’s Action Page: https://ioga.org/the-columbia-basin-initiative/
Show notes:
3:55 – A little background on both guests.
5:14 – What have these gentlemen been doing outdoors recently? Gobble gobble…
10:54 – Jumping into why we are here – SALMON!!
11:33 – Brian Brooks shares a salmon adventure story.
14:03 – Aaron shares a salmon story that he enjoys sharing with his clients on the river.
15:46 – After a long intro, we get down to the big questions:
WHY ARE WE HERE? HOW BAD IS IT? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?
19:28 - What these dams do. Where they are at. How they constrict fish movements. An overview of the multiple factors which are affecting these fish runs.
25:35 - The journey back to Idaho… salmon become tanks!
27:27 – Well, why the Snake River dams?
30:15 – Aaron shares how the low salmon returns affect his lifestyle as a fly fishing and rafting guide.
36:01 – Brian highlights the importance of the Chinook Salmon season for the small town of Riggins, Idaho.
37:51 – Aaron H. brings up somethings to consider regarding outdoor recreation and the connection between the economy in Idaho and the U.S.
41:25 - Picking apart what removing the dams would entail.
42:47 – What is the difference between removing dams in places like Tennessee versus removing the four lower Snake River dams?
47:34 – “This should be a no brainer…”
49:30 – “Both the heartening thing and also the deeply frustrating thing about this particular issue is we can do at least the primary thing we need to do in order to restore salmon and steelhead; and we can do so without negatively impacting the people who are most dependent on the current system.”
51:12 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen. Please be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more great content!
53:07 – Unpacking the details regarding the Simpson plan, the solution and five things the sporting community and others can do to work together and get this done.
56:22 – The three realities in Simpson’s plan.
57:47 - The investments and assurances that are necessary in order to seed all three components of the plan.
1:01:37 – Top level components that still need to be addressed.
1:03:15 – How would they remove the dams? $1.5 billion to breach all four dams.
1:04:45 - What can people do to help? If you’re in the northwest, REACH OUT TO YOUR SENATORS.
“At the end of the day, it’s a taxpayer issue…”
This process
1:09:46 - Figuring out how to replace the benefits of the dams.
1:12:24 - At the end of the day we are going to have to deal with this issue as a nation. It will have to be an act of Congress. We are at the first few steps of leaving part A in this plan.
1:17:45 - We want legislation, right?
1:19:19 - We should dream big. “This could be the biggest restoration project in human history, we can forestall the extinction of a key stone species.”
1:21:23 - Getting these dams down is just the start, we will still have more work to do. This is an ongoing project.
1:23:10 - Closing statements.
“This could be the biggest restoration project in human history, we can forestall the extinction of a key stone species.”