Conservation Unfiltered

In today's episode, Marcus Gray from Audubon International joins us to discuss how this non-profit found a creative way to increase butterfly habitat. Marcus is a wildlife biologist and the program manager for the Monarchs in the Rough Program. This program brings butterfly habitat to golf courses as a way to help Monarch Butterflies in their natural flyway as well as diversify the landscape without interfering with day to day operations.

To learn more about Audubon International, visit their site: https://auduboninternational.org/

For a detailed look at the Monarchs in the Rough program and where it has been implemented, go here: https://monarchsintherough.org/

Be sure to follow Audubon International on twitter, facebook, and instagram!

In today's episode, we discuss the opposing views to PA Senate Bill 147; the Sunday Hunting bill. Jason interviews Joe Neville, Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association. During the interview, Joe details the main purpose of the KTA, the issues Pennsylvania hikers have with the removal of the prohibition on Sunday hunting in PA, how hunters can help make hikers feel more comfortable sharing the woods, and much more.

You can learn more and join the Keystone Trails Association at KTA-hike.org.

In today's episode, Jason and Talan talk to Pennsylvania Senator Dan Laughlin about PA Senate Bill 147...the Sunday Hunting Bill.

Senator Laughlin is a Republican representing PA Senate District 49 which encompasses Erie, PA and part of Erie County. He is the Chair of the Game & Fisheries committee and was one of the leaders in introducing SB 147. Along with Pennsylvania Senator Jim Brewster (D), they worked together to introduce a bill that would make lawful the hunting for fur bearers or game on 14 Sundays, as the Pennsylvania Game Commission deemed appropriate. Since the introduction of the bill, it faced opposition and has been amended to include harsher trespass language and reduced approval to 3 Sundays in a calendar year. Since amendment, it has been approved by the State Senate and will be debated and voted in the State House as early as September.

Join us as Senator Laughlin takes us through the details of the bill, why he feels it was an important bill to introduce, how it will help ALL Pennsylvanians, and what the next step for the bill.

You can connect with Senator Laughlin at senatorlaughlin.com.

BONUS FULL INTERVIEW with biologist Jeannine Fleegle.

Jeannine Fleegle has worked with white-tailed deer in 3 states for almost 20 years.  She joined the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer & Elk Section in December of 2004.

Fleegle earned her bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of New England and her master's degree in fisheries and wildlife science from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Game Commission, Fleegle was as a natural resource specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, coordinating and managing the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance program.

As part of the Deer & Elk Section, Fleegle is responsible for public outreach and communications producing numerous Game News articles, blog posts, brochures, and other outreach materials; maintaining the agency Ask the Deer Biologist account; and presenting on a variety of topics related to white-tailed deer.  Her other duties include urban deer management; coordinating CWD sample collection of hunter harvested deer; and contributing to the development of annual deer population assessments and antlerless allocation recommendations. 

Fleegle is a certified wildlife biologist through The Wildlife Society and has been awarded a Special Recognition Award for Teamwork from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

To follow along with the work of the Whitetail Deer Study, read their blog  OR follow them on twitter: @WTDresearch

In this episode, Jason interviews biologist Jeannine Fleegle.

Jeannine Fleegle has worked with white-tailed deer in 3 states for almost 20 years.  She joined the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer & Elk Section in December of 2004.

Fleegle earned her bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of New England and her master's degree in fisheries and wildlife science from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Game Commission, Fleegle was as a natural resource specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, coordinating and managing the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance program.

As part of the Deer & Elk Section, Fleegle is responsible for public outreach and communications producing numerous Game News articles, blog posts, brochures, and other outreach materials; maintaining the agency Ask the Deer Biologist account; and presenting on a variety of topics related to white-tailed deer.  Her other duties include urban deer management; coordinating CWD sample collection of hunter harvested deer; and contributing to the development of annual deer population assessments and antlerless allocation recommendations. 

Fleegle is a certified wildlife biologist through The Wildlife Society and has been awarded a Special Recognition Award for Teamwork from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

To follow along with the work of the Whitetail Deer Study, read their blog  OR follow them on twitter: @WTDresearch

Father’s Day Special!!!

In this episode, Jason hosts some special guest to celebrate Father's Day. Joining Jason are his father, Jeff Crighton, and his grandfather, Jim Bowman. Together, the three of them discuss how they started hunting, their love for the outdoors, some disagreements on the politics of hunting, and how important time in the woods is for all of them. They share how hunting has changed during their lifetime and give each other thanks for being a part in each other's outdoor lives.

Happy Father's Day to all the outdoor dads!!!