On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by John Brunjes, the Migratory Bird Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as an avid white water rafter and wildlife photographer. John gives us a great rundown of how data is used to make wildlife conservation decisions, as well as some advice on how to get that perfect shot!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by Laura Burford and Zack Couch, the state wildlife action plan coordinator and wildlife diversity program coordinator for the state of Kentucky, respectfully. Laura and Zack are the experts when it comes to the state wildlife action plan (SWAP), which is a very comprehensive document that is beneficial to both conservation organizations and individuals alike, as well as (and most importantly) the wildlife in the state of Kentucky... Give it a listen and find out why SWAP matters, how it benefits wildlife, and how it can potentially benefit you!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by the director of KDFWR's wildlife division, Ben Robinson. Ben is an expert on all things wildlife, and we certainly bounce around from topic to topic a bit, but in general we cover what the wildlife division does, public lands, public land acquisitions, and conservation funding. Enjoy, and good luck this fall!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by Jay Herrala, who's a fisheries biologist with the "Stream Investigations" unit here in the commonwealth. Jay travels the entire state to identify access locations, and to do species assessments... Essentially there's no better person to talk stream fishing with in the state! Here we get a rundown of his job duties, the goals of the stream investigation team, and Jay's "can't miss" fishing opportunities in each of the states 7 fisheries districts!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by KDFWR Boating Safety Officer Marcus Bowling, and we're "taking a dive" into the numbers... At this point in 2023 there have been 23 drowning deaths on Kentucky's waterways. Why is that, and what can boaters/kayakers do to make their outings both more enjoyable and safer? Marcus is here to explain it all to us, Additionally, we're planning some fishing trips and talking about opportunities... Enjoy!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we are joined by wildlife artist Rick Hill, who also happens to be an avid outdoorsman. We talk about the old days and the late Ron Rhody, Kentucky Afield's first host. Additionally, Rick and Chase tell the stories of their turkey hunts and discuss tactics for the remaining 3 days of the season. Rick also dives into being a wildlife artist, and Lee gives his Derby picks... Enjoy!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, a day ahead of the 2023 Spring Turkey Season, we're joined by wild turkey biologist Elizabeth Johnson! She was nice enough to shed some light on wild turkey conservation efforts, current research, and habitat management for us, in addition to being a good sport and just talking hunting... Additionally, Lee caught his saugeye after years of trying, so we had to hit on that too!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by Stephanie and Matt, two experts from the KDFWR Ichthyology branch, and they're here to educate us on all things sturgeon! Not long ago we actually went fishing together, and were lucky enough to catch one of these prehistoric beauties while we were at it. Lake sturgeon once thrived in Kentucky, but from the 1950's to 2007 the state was void of them... That all changed when Matt and Stephanie came on board and started working (alongside plenty of others) to restore this impressive species. Here we find out how they're doing, what the hope is, and pretty much everything that you could hope to know about this species... Enjoy!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by Assistant Director of Fisheries, Jeff Ross! First and foremost there have been some recent regulation changes that anglers need to be aware of, but in addition to that we're having fun talking fisheries management, fishing techniques, and a number of other late winter/early spring fishing topics... Enjoy!

On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we are joined by the host of Kentucky Afield Television, Chad Miles! Chad has a ton of experience in all areas of the outdoors... From hunting and fishing to wildlife management and education, he's got something to add no matter where the conversation goes, and here we're talking about a little bit of everything. Enjoy!