New Grouse Hunters Share Experience - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:050) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark talks with Tekoa Cochran, Hassanen Mohamed and Chance York about their first grouse hunt. All three are new hunters and they share their experience in being part of a mentored hunting camp in northern Minnesota. The organizations of Modern Carnivore, Minority Outdoor Alliance, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Minnesota Land...

Darkhouse Spearing with Author Jay Leitch - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:049) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark visits Jay Leitch at his home in northwest Minnesota. Jay is the author of the only book written on darkhouse spearing through the ice. It's title "Darkhouse Spearing Across North America" and was last printed in 2001. Jay is the former Dean of the College of Business at North Dakota State University (NDSU). He has a Masters in Natural Resource Management...

Chronic Wasting Disease - New Diagnostics from Priogen - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:047) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark talks with Dr. Peter Larsen and Marc Schwabenlander from the startup diagnostics company Priogen. The company is on the cutting edge of diagnostics and testing for prions. Prions are the misshapen proteins that are the foundation of what's called Chronic Wasting Disease. This disease affects many deer each year and it's 100% lethal to the deer...

Cecka and Lachelle's First Turkey Hunt - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:047) This episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast is brought to you by Drift West. In today's episode Mark heads to McCall Idaho with two friends who are new hunters. Cecka Parks is the founder of Minneapolis Meat Collective and Lachelle Cunningham is a chef and entrepreneur who wears many hats. They were invited by Ed Anderson to the No Business Lodge in McCall Idaho for a turkey hunt. After the hunt they...

Pheasant Fest - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:046) This episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, was done jointly with Rob Drieslein who is the Publisher of Outdoor News. Rob and Mark sit down with Land Tawney who is the President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers as well as Katie McKalip who is the VP of Communications for the same organization. They caught up at Pheasant Fest 2023 which is an annual gathering put on by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. The conversation...

Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:045) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark is joined by Rue Mapp who is the founder of Outdoor Afro. Rue has a forthcoming book titled Nature Swagger. You can find it on Amazon, or anywhere that books are sold. The Outdoor Afro mission states that they "...celebrate(s) and inspire(s) Black connections and leadership in nature". Since she was a young girl Rue has loved being in the outdoors. Her father had a...

Game Fair 2022 - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:044) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark Norquist is joined by Rob Drieslein at Game Fair 2022. If you're not familiar with this annual hunting-centric festival you should check it out. Rob and Mark talk local Minnesota politics, conservation, hunting and more. They're joined on stage at different times by Mark Holston and Aaron Hebeisen. Holston is the former Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources in...

Self-Reliance - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:043) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark sits down with author Clint Emerson. Clint is the author of a book titled The Rugged Life. It's also referred to as "the modern guide to self-reliance". We often talk about the different reasons that people are drawn to an outdoor lifestyle, and today's conversation with Clint is all about self-reliance. Clint is a retired Navy Seal. He's been in tight spots where you can only...

For the Love of Rough Fish - Modern Carnivore Podcast - (EP:042) In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark talks with Tyler Winter (@buffalo_catcher). Tyler advocates for a more equal footing of rough fish in the system of naming and rules by state agencies. More goes into the designation of "sport fish" than one would think. There is history, cultural bias and more that may have influenced how some fish species get their designation. It's an informative conversation with...

Foraging for Food - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:041) On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark talks with Orion from Forage Colorado.  Not only does Orion Aon have one of the most unique (and cool) names, but he has a peculiar obsession with all things foraging. Orion created Forage Colorado as an outlet to talk about his love of mushrooms, wild greens, berries and more. It's now become a blog, classes and forays into wild spaces for food. Listen in to Mark's...

Is Hunting Still Relevant? - Hal Herring and Tony Jones - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:040) On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark is joined by Hal Herring and Tony Jones.  They are all gathered the Outdoor Writers Association of America Conference.  We have been waiting a long time for this conversation with two of the more interesting people in the hunting world.  Hal Herring is an outdoor writer and the host of the BHA Podcast and Blast.  Tony Jones is the host of...

Ed Arnett - All About Conservation - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:039) On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark is joined by Ed Arnett.  He is an avid hunter and angler based out of Colorado.  He has been working in wildlife management for several decades.  Previously, he was the chief scientist for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.  Recently, he has had a change in profession. His current position is the CEO of the The Wildlife Society.  This...

The Sober Hunter - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:038) Jonathan Norman is The Sober Hunter. Jon lives in the state of Washington and at a young age he learned that he was adopted from biological parents who had problems with substance abuse. Fast forward in his life to 22 years old and taking his first drink. This started him down the path to nearly a decade of booze, blackouts and drunken fights. One night he drank too much, got belligerent and picked a fight with a family member in...

Minority Outdoor Alliance - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:037) This episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast was recorded at Pheasant Fest 2022 with Durrell Smith and Kris Rockwell of the Minority Outdoor Alliance (MOA) and Colby Kerber from Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever.  Durrell and his wife Ashley created MOA following the killing of George Floyd in 2020 as a way to help those who are under-represented in the outdoors. The goal is to get more people outdoors and experience the...

Darkhouse Spearing in Minnesota - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:036) This episode of the Modern Carnivore podcast takes place after a very fun, yet very cold darkhouse spearing trip.  A large cast joins Mark on this episode.  Firstly, we have Katie Burgert.  Katie is the host of the Fish Untamed Podcast and a first timer to spearing.  Next, is Alex Gorman.  Alex is the president of the University of Minnesota Club Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.  Thirdly, we have John...

North American Non-Lead Partnership - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:035) On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark talks with three representatives from the North American Non-Lead Partnership. This partnership is a formation of more than 40 entities across the country.  They're a hunter-focused organization that is working to preserve the North American wildlife and hunting heritage.  They educate hunters about lead vs. non-lead ammunition in firearms.  The three...

Jeb Taylor Knives - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:034) A knife is the one universal tool that you need in the field and woods, or on the water. Whether you're hunting, fishing or foraging the knife in an indispensable tool. Jeb Taylor has been in love with knives his entire life. He fondly remembers his first knife as a kid which was Swiss Army style that his parents gave him. As a young man in the U.S. Army he was stationed in the Philippines and became fascinated with blacksmiths...

Artemis Outdoors - Modern Carnivore Podcast (EP:033) On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, we throw it back to a conversation from a couple years ago. Mark sits down with Jessi Johnson and Chelsea Cassens. Jessi Johnson is the founder of Artemis Outdoors.  This organization, as Jessi describes it during the podcast, was "born of the need to see women's voices more actively represented in conservation with a hunting and fishing angle".  The key topics this group tries to focus...

Ryan Busse - Author of Gunfight In this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark sits down with Ryan Busse. Ryan is the author of the forthcoming book Gunfight - My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America*. Ryan Busse is a former sales and marketing executive at one of the most respected firearms manufacturers in the country. In this memoir he shares his perspectives and personal stories about how the gun industry has changed over the years. While Modern Carnivore has...

The MacGillis Brothers On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, we have a story of the MacGillis brothers.  Their names are Pierre, Alex, and Jim MacGillis.  None of them grew up hunting, yet all found their own way to it eventually.  This podcast has their unique experiences of learning to hunt.  All three were brought to hunting for different reasons and at different times.  However, they all have stayed with it and have no plans on stopping. During this conversation with...

On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark sits down for six separate interviews.  These interviews take place in the Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Angler's booth at Game Fair 2021. First off we have Lee Kjos from Boss Shotshells, Jason Kelvie with USA Clay Target League, Mercedes Akinseye from the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Andy Shoemaker with the Minnesota Trapper's Association, Cory Loeffler, owner and creator of DRC Calls, and last but not least, Keng Yang who is...

Northstar Bison - Ethical Bison Farming On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark chats with Sean Graese.  Sean lives in New Mexico where he is an avid elk hunter.  However, this conversation has a little bit different topic.  Sean is a Wisconsin native where his family owns a 100% grass fed bison farm.  This journey started when his mother (a dietician) and his father (a power lifter) were trying to find the best, nutrient dense, red meat.  Thus, Northstar Bison was...

Hunters in Conservation On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast we talk about conservation.  Joining Mark are guest Kyle Daly and Dan Born.  Kyle is a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Dan is an archeologist and environmental analyst formerly for the U.S. Forest Service.  They have both worked in wildlife studies for many years.  Therefore they have great knowledge of the natural world and how hunters play a part in it.   Kyle Daly Dan...

On this week's episode Mark has a conversation with Torey Vayer and Lincoln Larson.  These two are researchers with the North Carolina State University's College of Natural Resources.  In contrast with many of the guest on this podcast, Torey and Lincoln are not hunters.  However, I think this makes what they have to say even more important.  They recently released their research involving thousands of students across the country.  Their research, in a nutshell, involved two main questions:...