Elevate the Hunt

Gary is one of those old timers we all hope to be someday:  retire early, move to the land of your boyhood dreams, and spend the rest of your life hunting and fishing.   Born in raised on a farm in central Michigan, he completed his degree in Fisheries and joined the Army.  In 1962 he married his sweetheart and spent 52 years with her and his two boys.  His work as a fisheries biologist took around Michigan, including 18 years at the manger of the state's best trout stream, the AuSable River.  In Gary's words, "If I had it to do all over again, I would have come to know the Lord a lot earlier and been a better husband and father. Everything else I would leave the same." 

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Life after 80 years of hunting and fishing.
• Remembering your first buck.
• The really important things in life. 
• Hustling even when life is tough. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Rick Brazell is the founder and president of the First Hunt Foundation.  After 36 1/2 years of working for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist, natural resource staff officer and a line officer managing millions of acres, he wanted to find a way to share his love of hunting and help others learn.   He has a passion for hunting and helping others discover the life changing benefits of becoming a hunter.  The First Hunt Foundation provides training and insurance for mentors as well as serves as a portal nationwide for new hunters looking for guidance.

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Why hunting needs mentors now.
• The Anti-R3 Movement.
• The Five Stages of a Sportsman.
• The high retention rate of mentored hunters.
• Lowering barriers to hunting while still "earning" it. 

Chasing Rabbits

• Become a mentor.

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Sue Tidwell is a multi-award-winning author whose thirst to explore wild places took her to the Tanzanian bush where she was infected with an extreme case of African fever, a condition that grips a person’s heart like a vice and never lets go. Tidwell, in her debut title Cries of the Savanna, is determined to light that fire in the heart of her readers as well. 

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Sue's evolution of thought from doubter to a staunch supporter of well-managed hunting
• Human and wildlife conflict in Africa
• Poaching's different targets in Africa
• How hunting protects habitat
• The deficiency of photo-journalism to support wildlife
• The myth of non-consumptive tourism

Chasing Rabbits

• Purchase a copy of Sue's book on her website. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Chad Bishop is Director of the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana.  He is responsible for a wide array of functions tied to running the wildlife program, with an emphasis on faculty and student support and program outreach and development.  Prior to University of Montana, Chad spent nearly 16 years working for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, initially as an ungulate researcher and later as an administrator.  He received a B.S. degree from Montana State University in Biology with a Fish and Wildlife emphasis (1995), M.S. from University of Idaho in Wildlife Resources (1998), and Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Wildlife Biology (2007).

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Great American Outdoors Act
• Recovering America's Wildlife Act's failure to pass.
• Incoming widllife managers who don't hunt.
• Major challenges coming up. 
• Rise of non-consumptive users and social/emotional based decisions.
• Why hunter mentorship is vital to hunting's future. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Janelle Hansen  is not a hunter.   She doesn't have an aspirations to become one, either.  Yet she is like 90% of America who approve of hunting as long as it is regulated and the animals' death serve a purpose.   Growing up in Washington, she moved to Montana and works in early education.  Conversations like this one give a glimpse into mind vital demographic, their questions, and concerns surrounding hunting.  It is easy for us as sportsmen to remain close to the tribe, but in doing so we miss oppurtunities to share our experiences and remain relevant in society.  Our hope is that this episode will help you understand the questions that non-hunters have and began to think through your answers.

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• What's for dinner?
• Rapid fire questions on hunting.
• How do you view guns and hunting?
• Surprise that hunters fund wildlife management.
• What do you think of how hunters are portrayed in culture?

 Chasing Rabbits:

• How to Talk About Hunting by Mark Duda

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Catherine Semcer has worked with the Sierra Club and federal land management agencies to reduce climate, ecological, and regulatory risks to their operations.  After leaving the Sierra Club, she was part of the executive team of an NGO that provides training, advisory, and assistance services to anti-poaching units in Africa.  Now as a research fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center in Bozeman, Montana and the African Wildlife Economy Institute at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, she serves on the advisory board of the Game Rangers Association of Africa.  Catherine is an expert with the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, and the Chair-Elect of the International Wildlife Management Working Group of The Wildlife Society.  She is currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom where her research focuses on the contributions of the private sector to conservation in Africa.

Topics Discussed: 

• The African Model of Wildlife Conservation.
• BioDiversity Credits and investing in conservation.
• “Conservation is the business that enables all other businesses.”
• Giving non-consumptive users a seat at the table.
• The value of hunting  to conservation beyond funding.
• Ivory and Horn Trade.
• Weaponization of “Trophy Hunting”
• Informed and Involved on African Wildlife Conservation.

 Chasing Rabbits:

• Property and Environment Research Center
• Catherine's Articles 
• Cries of Savannah by Sue Tidwell
• How to Talk About Hunting with Mark Duda

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Alex Valdivia  was born in Cuba just west of the capital city of Havana.   He grew up watching fisherman bring in the daily catch and then would forage around his home for dinner.  After his family won visas to the US, he arrived in Florida at 15.  He quickly found that cooking would be his passion.  This led him to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Miami from 2006 to 2008 and the world of being a private chef.  He also has a passion working with animals as a renowned professional dog and dolphin trainer. With his culinary specialty of wild game, Mediterranean and Spanish style dishes, Alejandro looks forward to the journey ahead becoming the chef he’s always wanted to be, with his buddy and four-legged companion Mako by his side.

 Topics Discussed:

• Growing up in Cuba and foraging and hunting.
• Discovering good cooking.
• Finding and prepping spruce grouse in Montana.
• Biggest mistakes cooking wild game.
• Introducing people to wild game.

Chasing Rabbits:

• Forloh Clothing and Gear

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Montana State Representative Marilyn Marler and Montana Outfitter's and Guide's Association Executive Director Mac Minard discuss how differing political views find common ground on wildlife issues while attending the National Association of Sportsmen Caucuses Convention in Bozeman, Montana.  There is no shortage of tribalism in our world today and wildlife issues are not an exception.  Often the choice is for combative stances instead of cooperative and collaborative approaches.  Listening to this conversation today you’ll hear that regardless of your political affiliation, our passion for wild things and outdoor pursuits can unite us all.   

Topics Discussed:

• What is the Sportsmen's Caucus?
• What hunting means to Montana's Economy.
• How do you find common ground with divergent views?
• Informed and Involved Sportsmen.
• Best Practices for communicating with policy makers.
• Future of wildlife management and legislation in Montana.

Chasing Rabbits:

• Montana Outfitters and Guides Association
• Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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JD Tanner is the Director of Education and Training for Leave No Trace. As a member of the Center’s Education Team, JD manages the long-term, strategic organizational education and training initiatives. With over 20 years of experience as an outdoor educator and administrator, JD brings a perspective from over 17 years in higher education, as well as previous experience as a Traveling Trainer. JD has a BS in Outdoor and Therapeutic Recreation from Southeast Missouri State University, a MS Ed in Recreation Resource Administration from Southern Illinois University and is currently a Doctoral Student in Education at Southern Illinois University.

Topics Discussed:

• How big of an issue is human presence left afield.
• Why hunters should care about where they leave carcasses and gut piles.
• The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.
• Loving our resources to death.
• Steps to minimize your impact.

Chasing Rabbits:

• Leave No Trace
• Hunting Ethics in LNT
  
  

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

Support the show

Justin Iverson is a third generation rancher on a legacy ranch in the Potomac Valley of Montana.  In his time he has seen what happens when ranches don't plan for succession and success.  He often speaks to sportsmen groups and stock grower association meetings about finding ways to cooperate. 

Topics Discussed:

• Working on a legacy ranch in Montana
• Rancher stereotypes.
• The best way to get access to hunt.
• Ways sportsmen get themselves kicked off property.  
• How conservation easements have helped keep lands open.
• Reaching around grizzlies and the ESA.
• The localvore movement and raising beef.

Chasing Rabbits:

• Western Landowner’s Alliance
• Montana Stock Grower’s Association

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

Support the show