When I got wind that Texas Parks and Wildlife was considering cancelling the long standing spring snow goose conservation season (you know, the one where you take the plug out of your shotgun and there’s no daily bag limit) I was immediately intrigued. WHY? The conservation order has been in place since the mid 1980s. Is it no longer an effective way to help control snow goose numbers? Texas Parks and Wildlife Waterfowl Program Lead Kevin Kraai makes his return to the show this week. He...

Silencer Central’s Brandon Maddox makes his return this week. We discuss the upcoming November election and what that means for the gun industry. We also get into the latest product launches (like the Speed K pictured in this post) and the expected lifespan of a suppressor. Other highlights from our discussion include: * how to add new suppressors to an existing trust * benefits of suppressors for women and youth shooters * the recent hiccup with the ATF * A more positive experience...

When the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973 it was widely supported by hunters, conservationists and animal lovers alike. However, somewhere along the way it’s mission was abandoned. Animals no longer needing protections stay on the list in perpetuity. When biologists deem a species recovered and recommend removing them, the antis sue to try to get them relisted. Rinse and repeat. On this episode I’m joined by our old friend and Safari Club International’s Executive VP of Government...

You might have seen the viral video of the trapper releasing a caught coyote. Why would a trapper release a successful catch? On this week’s show I’m joined by the duo responsible for the seemingly strange action. Tony Van Asten and Dylan Hazen explain the curious action and what they hoped to accomplish by sharing the video of the release. We also discuss a bunch of other interesting stuff with the die hard bow hunters and passionate trappers. Highlights include: * Proving that...

When it comes to wild turkeys, few outdoorsmen know more about the birds than Dr. Mike Chamberlain. “The Wild Turkey Doc” makes his return to the show this week with spring turkey seasons opening up all over the Lower 48. We discuss a myriad of turkey related topics with Dr. Chamberlain. Highlights include: * Do state wildlife agencies really set the start of spring seasons to begin after the peak of breeding season? And if so, why? * Is one turkey species really dumber than another, or...

Brant MacDuff has an interesting story. The Brooklyn, NY native and self described animal lover who’s always wrestled with eating meat. The economic environmentalist/taxidermy historian and now author joins me on this week’s show. We talk about the mental gymnastics of wanting to be a vegetarian but always coming back to eating what humans are supposed to eat – MEAT! So in his process, he became a butcher’s apprentice to better understand the cuts of meat he was feasting on. The next step in...

When I moved to Pnuma in 2021, it felt like home. A Texas based company that offers top quality hunting apparel? One that doesn’t look over my shoulder and supports me when I touch the taboo topics other hunting podcasts or influencers (I hate that term but it seems to be what folks call us these days) don’t want to discuss. Like who I’m voting for, or the fact that the 2A is absolute, or that boys are boys and girls are girls- you know the stuff the Western guys want no part of. Yeah, I can...

When I first saw the video of thousands upon thousands of snow geese frozen solid on a lake, I was initially shocked. Then I immediately wondered, what happened? It turns out the video I saw is actually one of many like it, and this is occurring somewhat frequently in the Dakotas. Free lance waterfowl content creator, videographer and hunter Sean Weaver joins us this week to find out the answer. He has seen it first hand and witnessed sick snow geese on the side of the road and even falling...

Hunting Ethics are deeply personal. What some of us deem as kosher or even necessary, others throw shade at. On this week’s show I sit down with Outdoor Life contributor Nick Fasciano. After reading his feature on a recent Idaho mule deer hunt, I knew I wanted to visit with him about how he handled the situation. Imagine stalking a mature mule deer, deep in Idaho’s snow covered back country, and when you finally get within 150 yards the buck suddenly disappears. You can’t believe your eyes,...

Ducks Unlimited Senior Waterfowl Scientist Mike Brasher makes his return on this installment of Campfire Conversations. We take an in depth look at the 2023-2024 Waterfowl season. What was the general consensus from duck hunters? Where certain regions still lights out? I try to pin Mike down on why mallards (specifically) don’t appear to be making it to the Southern part of the Central Flyway like they once did. We also discuss snow geese population trends and a whole lot more.  

When people release exotic pets into an environment there are often severe repercussions. If a population is established, the native species always lose. Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Senior Scientist for Aquatic Invasive Species Monica McGarrity joins the show this week to discuss non native armored catfish taking up residence in various fresh water systems in the Lone Star State. Commonly referred to as ‘plecostomus’, the South American natives are a popular aquarium fish....

Dan Gates has been running ragged of late, making public appearance after appearance, podcast after podcast, commission meeting after commission meeting as the head of CRWM (Coloradans For Responsible Wildlife Management).  Dan never thought Colorado would become the anti hunting movement’s playground, but it has and so this is his life now. We both agree that the current push to ban mountain lion and bobcat hunting via a ballot initiative this November is the single most important issue...

The range of outcomes when an arrow or a bullets hits a deer is as varied as the day is long. If you’ve ever made a marginal shot on a deer, you might have called or thought about reaching out to someone with a good blood tracking dog. But what if there’s no blood? What if there’s bone? What if you see the arrow sticking out of the deer, what can that tell you about the shot?  Veteran hunter and blood tracking dog specialist Ricky Loftis joins us in studio this week to discuss how to read...

  I met Sam Mackey in Nashville at the SCI show. We hit it off and ended up smoking a couple cigars afterwards. The natural conversation flow was an easy one, it consisted of hunting, hunting and more hunting. So when Sam said he’d like to come on the podcast, I knew the we’d have a good discussion. Some of the things we hit on in this visit include: * His time serving as a Navy Seal * The weaponry he chose to carry * Do special ops guys get bored if they aren’t regularly engaging the...

Rachel Carrie is well put together. She is passionate about her love of hunting and shooting and articulates that reality thoughtfully and eloquently. When I met Rachel at the recent SCI Convention in Nashville, I immediately knew I wanted to visit with her to better understand hunting culture and tradition in the United Kingdom. The Yorkshire, England native is well known in shotgunning circles, as well as in the kitchen, having released her cook book “Game and Gatherings- The Cook Book” in...

Mixing great pointing dogs with a bird of prey on an upland hunt seems like an odd technique. However, it’s one that Tyler Sladen has mastered. The veteran falconer and pointing dog enthusiast uses his dogs to point/flush coveys before releasing his Goshawk to actually catch the quail. Tyler joins the show this week to discuss his unique style of upland hunting. What is the Goshawk’s success rate on a covey rise? How do the dogs and hawk interact? Can you correct a bird of prey when it makes...

As we’ve documented on previous episodes, Colorado is attempting to ban ALL mountain lion hunting by ballot initiative this November. The antis have reverted to the same playbook they used to pass wolf reintroduction – let the uneducated and emotionally swayed public decide the fate of sustainable use hunting and conservation. The recipe is one for a ecological disaster. So, when I heard that Colorado just did away with it’s spring mountain lion season (as well as the use of electronic calls)...

Jake Schumann and Micah Cano have been best friend since kindergarten. I’ve known Micah for a couple years as he manages the gym I go to. We often share trail camera images and talk about the big bucks we hope to run into. However, when he showed my a photo of a giant Collin County bruiser I was blown away. Then I got the text asking if I knew any good blood tracking dogs in North Texas as Jake had just put an arrow in the massive deer. There was no happy ending on that late October day as...

Henry just turned 11 and if you ask him how long he’s been hunting with his old man, he’d tell you “my entire life”.  Which is true considering there are photos of him and Belle in a dove patch where he’s sitting in a stroller with a fan on him and a bottle of milk in his hand, not even a year old. That being said, he doesn’t much care for joining dad on the show but it’s amazing what bribe can do. So he begrudgingly jumped on to discuss our recent trip to South Texas and my friend Chisum...

13 year old Marshall Colvin has been hunting with his dad Trey from the time he was a toddler. He’s taken numerous deer, turkey, predators and other species in that time. He’s now old enough to be dropped off at the blind on his own. That’s exactly the scenario he found himself in this past November when he was bow hunting for javelina. After making a lethal shot on a mature boar javelina, Marshall got out of the blind to track down the animal. Unfortunately, the javelina was still alive and...

Blood Origins founder Robbie Kroger makes his return this week. Few folks are as well versed on the global conservation initiative and sustainable use as Robbie. We discuss the latest attacks and attempts to undermine sustainable use from Colorado to Botswana. We also reflect on our very first discussion years ago. Highlights from today’s talk include: * Robbie locates his grandfather’s buffalo gun a half a world away * Subsequent plans to hunt buffalo with said gun in the same region his...

Gabriella Hoffman is someone I respect highly and I’m always thrilled to have her join the show. Few folks are more in tune with potential legislative issues that could affect hunters and gun owners than ‘Gabby’. The reporter, podcast host, writer and spokeswoman  and I get into some interesting topics today. Some of the highlights include: * Gabby takes her dad on his first deer hunt * Suppressor Tax Stamp funds – where they currently go and where they could benefit hunters if new bill...

Perhaps no technological advancement has changed the game more than mapping applications over the past decade. From providing valuable property line/landowner data to now being able to predict peak rut dates by region for whitetail deer. Not to mention all the features that allow you to mark everything from bedding areas to blinds, feeders, wallows, rubs and everything else under the sun right there on your cell phone. HuntStand’s Josh Dahlke joins me on this episode and we discuss the...

I truly believe the biggest issue facing American hunters in 2024 will be the Colorado ballot initiative to ban all mountain lion hunting. The animal rights activists earned a major victory in Colorado in 2020 when they won the ballot initiative to reintroduce wolves. This situation is eerily similar as they try to tug at the emotional heart strings of non hunters. The verbiage they’ve tried to use includes the term “trophy killing” and paints the picture that mountain lion harvest isn’t...