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
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
How Hunters are Impacted by CWD and Actions They can Take.
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Ashley and Aaron talk with Kip Adams about how hunting traditions can impact chronic wasting disease. Kip is the Chief Conservation Officer for the National Deer Association and very well-versed in both the science and culture of deer hunting. He lends a unique and optimistic perspective on what sportswomen and men can do to in their backyards and at a state level to slow the spread.
Links:
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Resource Center - A comprehensive guide from NDA (deerassociation.com)
https://www.deerassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CWD-BMPs-Revised-2022.pdf
Show notes:
2:54 – Introduction of Kip Adams.
3:50 - The short and sweet of the National Deer Association, “The Guardians of the Deer” who are they and what do they do?
5:18 - It’s important to serve both sides of the coin, both hunters and deer.
6:23 - Kips professional opinion regarding CWD. “The biggest thing impacting the future of deer herds right now.”
7:54 - Words of wisdom for folks who hunt and live in states who have yet to test positive. “Do everything possible to keep it out.”
9:03 - What are the most important steps we can take to stop the spread of CWD?
10:43 – NDA’s specific approach in the fight against the spread of CWD.
12:47 - If only 4% of the population purchases a hunting license, how do we activate the other 96%?
15:50 - Bringing the hunter knowledge of the landscape to other conservation issues.
17:32 - The cost of testing, staff time to collect samples, outreach, etc. is a hidden cost that we don’t talk about a lot. It costs an average of $250,000 bill when they discover CWD in a state!
19:28 - How to inform hunters tactfully as to how they might want to change their behaviors in order to stop the spread. Changing our routine is hard but we have to do it in order to stop the spread of CWD.
23:02 - Deer hunting has changed a lot over the past two hundred years. There’s room for new traditions to be made, it’s not impossible to change.
25:14 - What should we be doing regarding traditions such as feed stations, salt licks and other forms of baiting deer.
27:50 - Should we have a widespread ban on feeding and other forms of baiting deer?
30:02 - Reflecting on the concept that we should be all hands on deck in fighting to prevent the spread.
Finding balance with sporting traditions and age structures when it comes to older bucks. “Older bucks are twice as likely to have CWD.”
38:56 - Targeted removals and how various hunters might process this concept depending on their background and experience regarding CWD.
41:53 - NDA’s thoughts on captive cervids and interstate travel of cervids. “We should stop all movement of live animals.”
44:37 - What are the road blocks to making this happen.
47:10 - What can average Joe/Jane do regarding CWD?
48:48 - What is the single biggest thing that NDA has done to prevent CWD?
50:58 - What’s the one thing that should have been done different and what can we learn from this.
52:17 - There are a lot of resources out there where you can learn more about CWD. Be sure to educate yourself and get engaged. Kip is a firm believer that we are going to beat this.
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Bill and Aaron BS’n, where is Ronquest?
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Bill and Aaron wax poetic on a few subjects after a few failures to get the famous Jim Ronquest connected (we’ll get him back soon). We talk end of duck season, getting outside, preview the Ronquest episode, and point to some current events in conservation.
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Back to the Earth with Ron Rohrbaugh
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Aaron and Bill sit down with renowned archery author and traditional bow craftsman, Ron Rohrbaugh. We discuss conservation, archery, getting young people outdoors and his two recent books, A Traditional Bowhunter’s Path and Echo: Living Wild with the Orions. Ron also reads an excerpt from Echo, discusses the visceral and intimate act of hunting at very close range, and tells some great hunting stories.
https://yourlifecyclegear.comLifeCycle Gear
https://www.amazon.com/Ron-Rohrbaugh-Jr./e/B01KI3U7NI?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
https://www.facebook.com/RonRohrbaughAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/lifecyclegear/
Show notes:
:05 – Bill and Aaron provide overview and intro to the episode.
5:33 - What Ron has been up to outside lately. Have you heard of “Black Powder Season”?
10:00 - Ron discusses this statement: “Without hunters, there would be no wild places.”
12:45 - How Ron got into conservation and writing.
15:00 - Thoughts on mentorship and how to find one if you don’t have one yet! Also, the importance of getting parents and guardians hooked as well.
18:40 - Ron sets the stage for his book, the characters, and the inspiration.
22:10 - Ron reads an excerpt from his book. The character, Echo, comes upon the scene of a group of coyotes who have taken down a deer. Echo needs food…
26:19 – Ron reflects on how his real life experiences inspire and inform his writing.
28:41 - Ron discusses that moment when the animal dies and you start harvesting.
29:54 - The traditional bow hunter’s path. Ron discusses his process in going deep into the world of archery.
What’s going through Ron’s head when he is crafting his hand made bows. Life Cycle Gear
36:38 - Does the wood working skills required in bow making benefit hunting as a whole?
38:36 - Who is the audience of his book? Bow hunters? Conservationists? New people?
41:16 - Ron discusses is career with birds, forest management and what birding has taught him about hunting.
44:00 – Quick message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen!
45:11 - The ivory billed woodpecker and Ron’s involvement in Cornell University’s search.
49:03 - Ron’s advice on parenting, mentoring and guiding kids when it comes to the outdoors.
52:04 - What’s the first thing kids outta know when they are considering hunting?
55:19 - Ron shares two of his favorite whitetail stories.
1:02:51 - Ron shares his closing thoughts. Be sure to check the links above to see Ron’s books!
Friday Nov 12, 2021
Problematic Paylakes with Aaron Wheatley and Greg Schwipps
Friday Nov 12, 2021
Friday Nov 12, 2021
In our latest episode, we sit down with two Midwestern fisherman and catfish advocates. They have grown increasingly concerned with "paylakes" in their region. We discuss what paylakes are, how they operate, and how they are decimating the public resource of catfish by largely unregulated and unethical means. We detail the situation, what it's meant for average anglers, fishing tournaments, invasive species spread, management, and for the rivers of the Midwest that grow very large catfish. Last we touch on how you can learn more, and get involved in helping to better manage the resource and getting a fair shake for regional anglers.
Links:
Lots of info about paylakes: www.exposingpaylakes.com
Indiana Catfish Conservation Association
https://www.facebook.com/IndianaCatfishConservationAssociation
Home site of the catfish tournament Aaron Wheatley started:
https://www.monstersontheohio.com/
National Wildlife Federation's work on invasive carp in the Midwest
https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats/Invasive-Species/Asian-Carp
Show notes:
1:00 - intro to episode
2:08 - intro to guests
4:45 - Greg's recent small mouth fishing trips
6:10 - what is a paylake
9:05 - the situation in Kentucky
13:15 - monetizing a natural resource through paylakes
15:30 - methods of take and "netting"
19:45 - what did it look like for average anglers leading up to this situation
22:05 - the Monsters on the Ohio catfish tournament - how this paylakes situation has degraded the tournament experience and local tourism
26:45 - catfish are being exploited all over the Midwest
32:45 - one thousand people in the crowd at the Monsters on the Ohio tournament
34:57 - a message from the Artemis sportswomen podcast
35:30 - the scope of the problem
40:12 - problems with transporting live fish
43:00 - how the current paylakes situation exacerbates invasive species issues
46:45 - we know large catfish are feeding on invasive carp
48:15 - what do we need to do about this
51:00 - pushing for no transportation of live fish in KY
55:00 - the need to change limits, take methods, and size thresholds
1:00:20 - the need for cooperative interstate regulations
1:03:20 - checking out the "exposing paylakes" website
1:08:15 - fighting this fight for the next generations
1:08:30 - listening to the side of those who operate paylakes
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Delivering on Conservation by Leveraging Technology
Friday Oct 29, 2021
Friday Oct 29, 2021
In this episode Aaron sits down with Samantha Pedder, VP of Marketing for Terra Technology Group, and Steve Bergmann, Administrator for the Administrative Services Division of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. We discuss the modernization of issuing hunting and fishing licenses and outdoor user permits, the efficiencies gained by going paperless, and how agencies are collecting data to optimize user experiences. We talk about how Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is leading the way and how their use of technology has helped them provide a better experience for hunters and anglers for things like steelhead catch limits, wildfire hunting unit closers, and understanding the needs of specific demographics. Steve and Sam also illuminate how we’ll be better able to monitor things like CWD and to implement programs like the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act using technology. We also cover the latest efforts on the federal level to better help outdoor users use technology in the field and gain addition access to public lands such as the SOAR Act and the MAPLand Act.
Links:
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: https://myodfw.com/
Terra Technology Group: www.terratg.com
S.O.A.R. Act – Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3670/text?r=6&s=1
MAPLand Act - Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act or the MAPLand Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/904?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22s904%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1
Paperless Permit Tag System Example in Arizona -https://www.azgfd.com/commission-proposes-rulemaking-to-establish-a-paperless-permit-tag-system/
Digital License Example in Pennsylvania - https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/game-commission-details.aspx?newsid=502
Show Notes:
Who is Samantha Pedder and Steve Bergmann?
What have they been doing outside recently? Let's start with Samantha!
Broad overview of the business of conservation, technology and delivering licenses.
8:10 - Oregon is doing it well! What changed within the system at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife? The transition to being paperless.
12:25 - What are people doing around the country? Are most people going paperless with their licenses/tags? This new world of mobile app hunting licenses...
15:00 - For someone who hunts around the country, are they going to have to download multiple apps for each state or are we moving towards a nationwide paperless system. The connection between conservation and utilizing technology in order to conserve wildlife.
21:20 - What are we doing with this data? How are agencies taking input in order to improve the technology and optimize this service?
24:50 - The approach of going paperless is going to make it easier for hunters and anglers to get out and enjoy. What are the basic questions that people have in terms of technology in order to make this process easier?
28:25 - What is the reluctance for hunters and anglers to make the move to go paperless? Talking about embracing various approaches to change.
32:40 - How are agencies analyzing the data and utilizing adaptive management?
36:05 - Message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen.
36:55- Using some of this new information to address area closures, such as ice storms and wild fires.
38:55 - Unpacking the prevention of a fee increase through the savings of going paper free.
40:33 - What is it that has to happen for more states to embrace technology?
45:20 - How does Recovering America's Wildlife Act come into play? The process of empowering conservation agencies to do their jobs better!
50:03 - What is the SOAR Act?
54:00 - What is the take home message for embracing technology in conservation?
At the end of the day, in times of CWD and climate change, embracing new technology is going to be at the betterment of conservation.