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 Apr 01, 2022
Friday Apr 01, 2022
After a month of tech issues and time conflicts, Aaron and Bill finally get together with Jim Ronquest of RNTV. Jimbo outlines his 21/22 duck season experiences from both home and on the road filming the show before moving to the timely topic of turkeys. After decades of population growth, many regions are experiencing declines, and we learn how Turkeys for Tomorrow is trying to find out why. It’s a lot to unpack, and then Jimbo drops a bomb on us!
Links:
https://turkeysfortomorrow.org/
https://www.drakewaterfowl.com/
https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Outdoors/NWF_GameSpeciesAnalysis_Report_Final
Show notes:
4:18 – Aaron, Bill and Jim discuss what they’ve been doing outside lately.
8:00 – Talking the beginning of turkey season!
10:30 -- Jim talks about his upbringing and early years as a sportsman. “It was raining pitch forks and tater babies…”
17:14 -- Jim rounds up duck season.
21:27 – Shout out to Jim’s show, “RN T.V.” on the Sportsman Channel. Other than Ducks Unlimited, it is the longest running dedicated waterfowl show on outdoor T.V.
23:13 – Bill reflects on the first year he went turkey hunting with Jim almost twenty years ago.
25:40 – Jim discusses Turkeys for Tomorrow: Promoting America's hunting traditions, conservation, and education through the timeless collaboration of hunters and wildlife professionals to ensure we all have TURKEYS FOR TOMORROW.
38:15 -- What are the known turkey conservation issues? #HabitatLoss
41:57 – Aaron shares some critical stats regarding the loss of turkey habitat in a few states.
44:14 – Jim talks about how much he enjoys the transition from duck season to turkey season.
44:58 – Quick break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen!
46:42 -- Jim talks about a research project he would like to have done regarding the use of chicken litter and fertilizer on pastures potentially causing disease.
50:07 – Jim reflects on hunters’ response to Turkeys For Tomorrow.
53:52 – “If you’re able, we need more than to just buy a license. That’s the bare minimum for conservation… “ If you don’t have money, perhaps you have time to volunteer.
54:50 – Jim highlights the unique model for wildlife management in North America.
55:30 – How long has Jim been on RN T.V.?
56:55 – JIM SHARES SOME BIG NEWS!!
1:00:17 – Jim talks about hunting with some of the Bass Elite guys during duck season. “I fish so I can go duck hunting…”
1:02:50 – Keep an eye out for Jim’s upcoming Climate Chronicle short film by making sure you’re following NWF Outdoors on social media!
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
The Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act with Representative Ron Kind
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
In this episode Aaron and Ashley talk with Representative Ron Kind of Wisconsin. Representative Kind discusses how he came to understand the weight of CWD and eventually become a champion for it in Washington D.C. We cover what the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act is, it’s current status, how it could impact states’ ability to manage the disease, and the boost it would give to researchers’ efforts to develop new science and tools like a live test for CWD!
Links:
Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
Show notes:
4:33 – Rep. Ron Kind talks about his background as a bow hunter growing up in Wisconsin, his family farm where they hunt whitetail and pheasant, how he got into politics and how he got involved with Chronic Wasting Disease.
6:58 – Rep. Kind talks about 2002 when CWD was first detected in Wisconsin.
10:15 -- Rep. Kind is asked whether or not he has ever harvested a deer which has tested positive for CWD.
12:31 -- Discussing the fact that CWD will be handled at the state level and the CWD Research and Management Act will provide funding directly to states and Tribal management agencies.
14:15 – Rep. Kind shares some of the frustrations he has experienced as a hunter trying to test the deer he has harvested. He gives an overview of the CWD Research and Management Act and the end goal.
16:04 -- How is this bill different than previous attempts at trying to control the disease?
18:10 -- What is Rep. Ron Kind telling other Senators and collogues who need to get moving on this Bill right now?
20:24 -- Rep. Kind brings us back to the moment when he realized CWD was a major problem.
23:55 -- What are the lessons that other states can learn from Wisconsin? “Don’t be afraid of testing, just because you’re not testing doesn’t mean it is not there.”
25:13 -- What will be entailed in the review of the herd certification standards which are currently in place?
27:13 -- Discussion regarding the potential and importance of a live test for CWD.
28:35 -- How do we smooth out the dips in the funding cycle for this Bill? It would be great if it was eradicated within six years but we need to be realistic as we look forward on the next iteration of this bill and (maybe) an eventual permanent authorization on this.
30:38 -- What does the average hunter needs to think about and what actions should they be taking to stay engaged and keep this movement.
33:07 -- Rep. Kind discusses the decline of hunters and fewer youth being involved with hunting and fishing. He highlights that this is another issue we need to address as hunters and anglers are some of the most powerful conservationists out there.
35:13 – Update as of 03/23/2022 regarding the CWD Research and Management Act.
Be sure to get engaged by following NWF Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter—where you can access action alerts and timely updates regarding CWD and many other hunting and angling conservation issues we are working on. Thanks!
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Aaron and Bill have an interesting chat with Casey Stemler, the lead for Secretarial Order 3362. S.O. 3362 was issued during the Trump Administration but continues to this day. It is aimed and conserving and resourcing big game migration corridors. It has already helped infused millions of dollars into migration areas and connectivity projects. We discuss how and why the order came to be, it’s latest status, why no sheep and moose, and other lessons learned on the conservation of migration corridors.
Links:
https://westernmigrations.net/
https://wildlifemigration.utah.gov/
https://migrationinitiative.org/
Show notes:
3:00 - Aaron shares a little of Casey’s background and recent work regarding wildlife corridors.
5:00 – What the crew has been doing outside recently.
6:54 – Sika deer!
9:52 – Latest news on SO 3362 (Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors).
13:34 – What exactly is wildlife migration and connectivity work? Why does it matter? Plus, some good stories regarding the amazing stuff they have learned doing this work.
20:46 – The focus of state agencies collaring animals, miniature vs. large skill migration routes, technology and what this focus reveals to us about what these critters do and what they need.
25:22 – 3362 is focused on deer, elk and pronghorn.
27:26 – We know that pronghorn don’t like fences; will they also avoid railroad tracks?
30:50 – This work benefits more species than just deer, elk and pronghorn.
35:06 – The infrastructure bill and how much it will benefit habitat connectivity.
37:13 – Short break for message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Also, for more great content, be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
38:53 -- Casey brings folks up to speed on 3362 regarding habitat conservation, due diligence, and the introduction of bighorn sheep, moose and migratory birds as species to consider.
45:16 – Habitat work regarding ducks and duck hunting.
48:07 -- Corporation with private land owners within 3362.
50:55 -- Do large chunks of area (i.e. 5,000 acres) present new problems compared to working with smaller ones?
52:00 -- Discussing other developments that are happening parallel to this which is helping move it along.
55:39 – The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act.
58:17 – Discussing the diverse habitat projects on the border between Colorado and New Mexico and NWF rock star, Jeremy Romero.
1:00:06 – The Southern Ute Tribe is very engaged in these conservation efforts including building an overpass.
1:01:51 -- Suggestions for people on how to keep up with these issues on a local level. Skip the social media and go back to the good stuff by supporting your local newspaper and gatherings in your community!
1:04:41 -- Closing thoughts from Casey, “We have to take the initiative.”
“With privilege comes obligation. We've got this amazing natural resource, this wildlife... especially as sportsmen and women, we get to go enjoy it and bring it home and feed our our families… Go take care of it.” –Aaron Kindle.
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Aaron and Ashley talk interstate borders, barriers to management, and the financial and emotional toll that CWD can take on state wildlife agencies. Kelly speaks poignantly on the issue of chronic wasting disease and offers a unique perspective informed by her background as a wildlife veterinarian and manager of an entire state wildlife section. We even ask her about the “E” word!
Links:
MN DNR CWD Response Plan
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwd/cwd-response-plan.html
AFWA CWD Best Management Practices
Show notes:
2:51 – Introduction on Dr. Kelly Straka, Wildlife Section Manager for Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
4:10 – Kelly talks about her career path to working with CWD.
7:10 – Kelly frames the issue with CWD from the perspective of state agencies. “CWD might be the most pressing issue facing cervid populations across the country right now.”
10:40 - The barriers to effective management of CWD.
17:11 - How hunters can help or hinder efforts to manage CWD.
23:29 - The Federal – State intersection of CWD. The regulatory and jurisdiction issues that have a bearing on how we deal with CWD.
33:15 - Minnesota’s approach and how it got us to where we are today.
39:07 - Minnesota’s response plan, management applications in different zones and various strategies.
43:10 – The “E” word!
48:21 - If we cannot eradicate CWD, how do we live with it in the future?
52:57 - The challenges around CWD surveillance and how hard it is to detect the disease when it is present in low numbers.
58:13 - What do the agencies wish the public knew about CWD management?
1:00:44 - What is one thing that could have been done differently?
1:03:33 - Closing statements. Stay engaged, stay aware, stay involved.
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Thanks for listening!
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
A Deeply Rooted Land Legacy with Alex Harvey of Legacy Land Management
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Aaron and Bill sit down with forester, sportsman, and conservationist Alex Harvey to discuss a life rooted to the outdoors, hunting, and land management and restoration. We cover Alex’s family roots and hunting traditions while he helps us understand and unpack several historical and social contexts regarding Southern African American sporting traditions, barriers to land management and ownership, and how the tide is changing for the better. We tell hunting stories, share laughs, and ponder all the great ways hunting and the outdoors unite all people.
Links: https://www.legacylandmanagement.org/ ; https://www.huntersofcolor.org/ ; https://www.instagram.com/legacylandmgmt/ ; https://www.facebook.com/LegacyLM
Show notes:
4:54 – Introduction of Alex Harvey.
5:15 – What has Alex, Aaron and Bill been doing outside recently?
9:48 - Alex’s personal background. Where he grew up in Mississippi, cattle farming and growing up in the country #RabbitHunting
18:55 - Alex shares the story of his grandparents and reflects on his connections with ancestors and being on the right path.
24:05 - Highlighting Holt Collier, the hunter who influenced Theodore Roosevelt during a private bear hunt in 1902.
27:00 - Alex shares how he got to where he is today and then highlights his professional work as of right now.
34:01 - Alex shares some of the unique challenges for African American land owners in the South.
37:03 – Has Alex seen an improvement?
39:44 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen!
41:02 – Thoughts on forestry restoration, management and what it’s like to think about forests 24/7.
44:38 - Alex’s introduction to Hunters of Color and how he became a board member.
53:12 - Alex shares his experiences as an African American man in the field.
59:13 – What is going on in Alex’s region? Much of it is involved with improving habitat and access for hunters and anglers.
1:00:35 – Closing statements.