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 Nov 17, 2022
Duck Nuts and “The Grand Passage” with Chris Nicolai of Delta Waterfowl
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Chris Nicolai is a certified “duck nut,” but he’s also a waterfowl scientist with a PhD and leads the waterfowl research program with Delta Waterfowl. For this episode, Aaron and Bill to talk duck and goose hunting just as a major front is hitting North America and sending a huge wave of waterfowl south. In addition to waterfowl hunting and this year’s migration, we talk about the current state of waterfowl, the confusion surrounding pintails and the future of the birds Chris loves.
Links:
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/longevity/longevity_main.cfm (Record ages of wild ducks and geese)
https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/ (Keep up with bird migrations in real time)
Show notes:
3:19 – Bill introduces Chris from Delta Waterfowl.
4:15 – Chris shares what he has been doing outside recently. #DuckHunting
8:58 – Chris chats about heat records and how it changed flight patterns of geese and ducks.
10:36 – Chris was born is Missouri and tells us about his background and how he got into duck hunting.
16:31 – Waterfowl migration is amazing to see.
17:45 - Summary of the status of ducks and geese right now.
23:10 – Studying nest site fidelity. #DuckBiology
27:50 – Storms, snow on the ground and duck production. What scenario are we looking at right now?
33:39 - Chris talks about pintail numbers.
39:17 - Chris talks about the conversation regarding climate change in the duck hunting world.
45:46 – “It all comes down to habitat, and a lot of those habitat decisions are made at the policy level.”
48:12 – Bill wants to go back to talking about pintails…
54:00 - Chris talks about reporting bands and how it breaks his heart that some folks don’t report them.
57:09 – What does the future hold and how do hunters and anglers play a role?
1:00:12 – Closing statements.
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
In the final episode of the CWD Chronicles, we bring back Matt Dunfee from the Wildlife Management Institute to put a bow on the series, help us affirm good information, throw away bad information, respond to listener questions, and look to the future of managing and living with CWD.
Links:
CWD Chronicles FULL SHOW ARCHIVE: https://www.nwf.org/Outdoors/Our-Work/CWD-Chronicles
Recent and Ongoing CWD Research and Management Projects: https://cwd-info.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CWD-RESEARCH-SUMMARIES-MASTER-6-29-21.pdf
CWD in North America: https://cwd-info.org/map-chronic-wasting-disease-in-north-america/
Carcass Importation Regulations: https://cwd-info.org/state-and-province-carcass-import-regulations/
CWD-Related Hunting Regulations: https://cwd-info.org/cwd-hunting-regulations-map/
Show notes:
5:14 – Aaron shares a little background on Matt for those who didn’t catch episode one.
6:34 – Quick overview of previous topics covered in the CWD Chronicles Episodes 1-5.
9:18 – Ashley shares a few other things that we hope to look at as we wrap up this series.
*A few take-aways from previous episodes: Get tested. Support intensive management actions when necessary. Don’t congregate animals.
11:53 – Within the past six months, we have four new states with CWD positive tests!
13:09 – Matt reflects on the broader picture which has been reinforced over this series.
“The first one is never the first one, we find this disease as we test more for it.”
17:00 – Aaron chips in that in this episode we are highlighting questions from our listeners.
19:05 – First listener question from John Matis in Loveland, CO.
John says: I’d like to know why all the deer aren’t dead? If chronic wasting disease is so contagious, and results in 100% fatalities, then why haven’t all the deer and elk died? Or is there genetic selection taking place, where the animals are developing immunity or resistance to the disease? Why not let natural selection take place?
21:57 – Can a fawn be born CWD positive? Ashley points out that younger populations have other implications beyond just total numbers.
24:50 – Second listener question from Gary Maerz in Westbury, NY.
Gary asks: Have state agencies considered a program that allows the issuance of additional tags if a hunter harvests a CWD positive deer, after verified by testing?
29:08 – Third listener question from Austin Moon in Cheyenne, WY.
Austin asks: Why is CWD more prevalent in deer than in other ungulates?
34:07 – Fourth listener question from Sarah Mueller in Pennsylvania.
Sarah says: We are just now on the edge of the CWD zone, should I get my deer tested? Can I eat the meat if it’s CWD positive? I’m nervous about using my good knives to butcher if I get prions that will never come off on them. Other states have lived with CWD for years but Pennsylvania is pretty new – how do I navigate this?
38:00 – Ashley asks about the potential of prions penetrating the handles of her knives.
39:00 – Aaron asks if we, as a sporting community, should just take on as a sporting community that everyone should get tested 100% of the time.
43:22 – Should we be testing pronghorn if they are harvested in a CWD hot zone given the fact that the disease has been documented to jump species?
“When nothing is sure, anything is possible.”
45:43 - Unpacking the logistics of universal testing. Meaning that every cervid out there is tested.
54:50 - What if every research project out there at any given point could take a tiny “punch” sample from their ears for surveillance and tracking disease distribution.
1:00:47 - How can the nonsporting public engage in the issues regarding CWD? Taking a look at the North American model of wildlife conservation.
1:05:50 - It seems like there’s not really an end point in sight. Matt discusses some simple things to consider regarding wildlife conservation, getting involved, hunting with CWD on the mind, etc.
“This is your heritage. Treat it as such.”
1:07:34 - Pointing to the future, looking at a crystal ball, where are we at in 20 years?
1:12:46 - How can we bridge the gap of being in it 100% or just putting the blinders on because folks are bored of dealing with CWD. “Rather than getting angry and just calling someone an idiot, let’s get curious and say where did you get that perspective… let me listen to yours so you will listen to mine. We know as humans that gets us a lot more ground than shame, gilt or ridicule.”
1:15:30 – Closing statements from Ashley and Aaron.
“If everyone would listen to this podcast series, I think we would get where we need to go. This is definitely a long form conversation and I think at the end of this if folks do take the time to listen to the whole thing, they can come to a good solid perspective on not just CWD but a lot of other things.”
-Matt Dunfee, the Wildlife Management Institute
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.
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.