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 Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
For this episode we sit down with the President and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Howard Vincent. We talk pheasant and quail season outlooks and the issues the birds are facing, then we move on to several conservation topics including the upcoming Farm bill and the Conservation Reserve Program – what it does, it’s benefits and why it’s so important for conservation. We also cover the recently formed grasslands sporting coalition and their hopes and dreams for restoring America’s grasslands. We touch on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, climate change impacts on wildlife, and why it’s so critical average sportsmen and women engage in conservation.
Links: https://www.quailforever.org/; https://www.pheasantsforever.org/ ; https://www.actfrograsslands.org
Show notes:
1:05 - Howard Vincent introduction.
3:00 - What has Howard been doing outside recently?
5:05 - General outlook on on this year. How are the pheasants and quail doing overall?
7:54 - What is the state of pheasants and quail? What is the conservation outlook?
13:14 - The Farm Bill 101 and CRP. What they do, what they are designed to do and why we need them.
15:40 - What does a typical CRP acre look like?
20:40 - Precision agriculture.
23:20 - Unpacking the new Farm Bill.
39:50 - A message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen.
42:10 - The Grasslands Act. What it is and what it's designed to do.
47:34 - How an average Joe/Jane get engaged in the Grasslands Act?
70% of grasslands are gone. The time to act is NOW.
54:27 - Recovering America's Wildlife Act and its importance for the sporting community.
1:02:45 - Closing statement from Howard Vincent. Get fired up! Your voice makes a difference!
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Aaron heads to Georgia for a chat with Mike Worley, Executive Director of the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF). They explore GWF’s groundbreaking work to bring the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters into an innovative, adaptive, and effective space that better adapts to changing demographics and the needs of younger and more diverse potential hunters. Topics include GWF and partner’s “Field to Fork” program, GWF’s “Academics Afield” program and their efforts to serve historically black colleges and universities. They also provide a little background into the history of Georgia Wildlife Federation and the big conservation issues in GA.
Be sure to visit Georgia Wildlife Federation's official website: https://gwf.org
Show notes:
3:33 - What has Mike Worley been doing outside lately?
4:25 - When does duck season get rolling?
6:20 - 13' long alligators that weigh 900 lbs...
8:17 - The Georgia Wildlife Federation is a conservation powerhouse.
10:57 - What is Mike dealing with that has the most immediate need?
14:34 - Georgia Wildlife Federation upcoming events and opportunities to learn.
17:00 - Break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen.
19:52 - Why Georgia Wildlife Federation puts outreach and advocacy first.
33:51 - How does GWF mechanically put outreach and advocacy opportunities together.
40:50 - Do the participants show up in other spaces?
50:04 - What is one of the coolest things you've seen when talking to the newer hunting community? Different reasons people choose to hunt.
54:55 - Georgia Wildlife Federation likes to try new things and succeed! You have to be willing to try things differently, especially with R3.
57:08 - Closing statement... "Takes somebody hunting and enjoy it!"
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
In the 3rd episode of Vanishing Seasons, we head to Alaska and the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge to hear from Tia Shoemaker. Tia is a three plus decades resident of the only inholding in the refuge and a renowned hunting and fishing guide. She has seen numerous impacts from climate change right out her front door. We cover lack of snow, hot fish, bloody paws, and a changing way of life in the Alaskan Wilderness.
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Aaron sits down with Jimmy Flatt, co-founder of Hunters of Color (HOC). We discuss how HOC came to be, barriers facing entry to hunting for people of color, how HOC plans to make an impact, Jimmy's favorite types of hunting, and hunting with a 7'1", 300 lb man.
https://www.facebook.com/huntersofcolor
https://www.instagram.com/huntersofcolor/
Show notes:
2:00 - Intro to Jimmy Flatt, Founder - Hunters of Color
4:20 – Jimmy’s background and the origins of Hunters of Color
8:54 – When Jimmy’s girlfriend and co-founder of HOC kickstarted the organization’s development
13:00 – mission and goals on Hunters of Color
21:15 – what HOC aims to do in the conservation space
24:45 – what do people need to understand about the issue HOC is tackling
29:42 – It all starts with the love for humanity and understanding where people come from
34:04 – The HOC mentor program
38:11 – Jimmy’s favorite types of hunting
43:16 – lucky in the West to have lots of access and public lands, access issues for new hunters and people of color
45:46 – dream scenario for Hunters of Color
51:00 – a first time turkey hunt with a 7’ tall, 300 pound person
54:12 – where to find HOC and how to get engaged
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Montana Outfitter Tags and MeatEater Musings with Ryan "Cal" Callaghan
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Aaron sits down with Cal from the MeatEater crew to talk about a recent bill in the Montana legislature that would allocate as much as 60% of non-resident big game tags to outfitters. We also talk about Cal's latest hunts, his job at the MeatEater, and his podcast "Cal's Week in Review".
Cal's podcast:
https://www.themeateater.com/listen/cals-week-in-review
The MeatEater site:
For more information about SB 143 and conservation in Montana head to Montana Wildlife Federation's site here and their Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/MontanaWildlife/posts/10157622249191643
Show notes:
2:28 – Ryan’s recent waterfowl hunt in the Sacramento River Valley
6:05 – Aaron thinking spring fishing and helping his son pick out his first bow
7:47 – Senate Bill 143 in MT, what it does, why it's in the news
11:00 – How the bill would impact nonresident hunters
12:30 – A study that says all types of outfitting accounts for 10% of MT’s recreational income
13:50 – Outfitted recreators spend five times more the DIY folks but it’s only one study
15:50 – Tag guarantees for landowners
16:44- Many private landowners are great partners
17:25 – what do these issues mean for the average hunters
21:20 - Over 10% of checked deer in the Ruby Valley tested positive for CWD
22:00 – MT Ballot Imitative 161
28:55 – Incentivizing folks who already have access to tags for use on open market
30:53 - VRBO style hunts
33:57 – Similarities to Montana bill in New Mexico
37:05 - How to stay respectful, outfitters love the land too
40:41 – What happens next for SB 143
43:40 – The world’s most beautiful shoveler
44:45 – What Ryan does at MeatEater
51:19 – How does MeatEater determine conservation priorities
53:40 – Ryan asks what’s going on at NWF
59:59 – Cal a big appreciator of the National Wildlife Federation