Matthew is now a 2022 high school graduate!  He will share a few of his favorite memories over these past 4 years, which absolutely FLEW by us, as well as discuss his plans for the next 4 years and beyond.

But the best part of this podcast is listening to Matthew share his uncovered talent and passion for playing guitar.  He'll discuss how it all began, and in just a few short months how far he's come!  

Hope you enjoy what Matthew does for us today!  Enjoy!!

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One of the most common questions I am asked as a firearms instructor is, “What gun would you recommend for self-defense?” As all instructors should, I go through the pros and cons of the different actions, makes and models so that the student can make an informed decision. There is no one-size-fits-all defensive firearm.

The natural follow-up question should be, “What type of holster should I wear?” Unfortunately, that follow-up question is seldom asked. However, there are as many holster options as there are handguns. I now ask that follow-up when I am asked the first question. After discussing the pros and cons of handgun choices, I ask the student or new shooter, “How to you plan on carrying your self-defense gun?” The answer is always the same, “I am not sure,” or “I have not really given it much thought.” Decisions on the right gun and holster type should go hand-in-hand.

Holsters range from OWBs, IWBs, Small-of-the-Back, Pocket, Shoulder, Belly Bands, and Sports Bras for ladies - which type is best for you and once you decide, how often do you practice drawing your concealed firearm from that holster?

Sign up for an NRA CCW (Concealed Carry Workshop) class to learn these techniques for safely and properly drawing from concealment, and working on your accuracy and marksmanship on the range.

No matter which holster you decide to use, always do your research and try a variety of options to see which best suits your comfort level, as well as your physical comfort.  If there were one type of holster that was better than any other on the market today – there would not be such a diverse selection to choose from, and everyone would be using the same kind. 

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If you ask anyone who meets Heidi, to describe her without fail they would say that she is the busiest person they know.  Heidi started her career 24 years ago with Texas Parks and Wildlife as the Training Specialist who is responsible for the state’s Hunter Education Program across Southeast Texas.  She was soon given the additional honor of statewide coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program.  

When she is not working for the State of Texas, she is an avid supporter of the Nation Rifle Association (NRA).  Heidi is a lifetime member of the NRA and is a Training Counselor.  She conducts basic and instructor firearms training classes in rifle, shotgun, pistol, and defense and protection in and out of the home.  She also teaches the Texas License to Carry (LTC) Course.  Heid has served on the NRA Youth Programs Committee and currently serves on the NRA Ladies Pistol Project Team.  She is a contributing author, submitting articles to NRA Women, NRA Family, and NRA Hunter’s Leadership Forum.  

For all her hard work, she is recognized and is the proud recipient of the 2022 Golden Bullseye Award for NRA Women: "Woman of the Year."  

Heidi began her business *North American Outdoors* in 2013 and continues to promote the outdoors through hunting, trapping, firearms safety, and education.  She and her husband have published 7 books to date, all focused around introducing kids and parents to firearms and hunting, how to raise a “wild” child, and keeping safe when recreating where wildlife predators roam.  She also has a weekly podcast called “North American Outdoors.” 

Heidi is very active in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).  Three of her sons are Eagle Scouts with the fourth one working hard to soon achieve the honor of his brothers.  She is an Assistant Scoutmaster with a Troop.  She started her own BSA Venturing Crew that concentrates on hunting and marksmanship skills: Venture Hunting Crew .30-06.  

If that was not enough, Heidi is also married with four sons! Heidi and her husband John continually teach the outdoor traditions of hunting, trapping, camping, and the shooting sports to their four boys.  Heidi has always believed that when you train the mom, you involve the entire family!

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The Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) is now out of committee in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.  Within the next few weeks, this critical legislation will be scheduled for a full vote in both the House and Senate.

So what are the benefits if RAWA passes?

$1.4 billion annually to help recover over 12,000 species in need of protection, without the creation of new taxes;

Creation of more than 100,000 jobs annually in habitat and wildlife management, wildlife research, and education; 

Restoration of grasslands, prairies, forests, rivers, bays, and estuaries;

and since every state and U.S. territory has created State Wildlife Action Plans that detail efforts needed to conserve at-risk species, the passing of RAWA would help them control invasive species, conservation efforts on private lands, wildlife research and monitoring efforts, on-the-ground habitat restoration and conservation, wildlife education and enrichment programs and outreach, and funds to law enforcement to protect at-risk wildlife species.  

RAWA would empower wildlife professionals to hold the nation's wildlife in the public trust for generations to come by providing state and tribal agencies with the flexibility to conserve populations in an effective and cost-effective manner.

Vote YES for RAWA!  Our future generations will thank us!

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What does it mean to be a Fair Chase Hunter?  How do YOU define the word "Ethics?" 

According to Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management, Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching, even when doing the wrong thing is legal."  

In this episode we will discuss ethics, fair chase, and discussing how hunting is not a right but a privilege.  A privilege we must continue to work at year after year, defend and fight for in the most conservation-minded and wildlife-centered way possible.  It is all about doing the right thing and keeping our image and attitude in check - around not only other hunters but non-hunters as well.  They are the ones who VOTE - and we must keep hunting in the most positive and ethical light by showing them our hunting ethics and good behaviors.

Because hunting is too important to be lost over misconceptions and a poor public image due to the unethical behavior of a few.

Over 100 years have passed since sportsmen first adopted a new approach to hunting called “fair chase” that changed hunting forever.  We have changed.  Technology has changed.  Our society has changed.  What was once a predominately rural society that hunted and understood the benefits of hunting is now predominantly an urban one, where fewer people have any real contact with the land and its wildlife.  We also live in a democracy where the voice of the majority rules.  Today, the majority of people that do not hunt or understanding hunting, thankfully still do not oppose hunting.  This too, can and is changing. If the hunting traditions we cherish, and our systems of wildlife conservation and management that depend on hunting are to remain, what we do now and the image we project will either positively or negatively affect this future.

North American sportsmen were the original conservationists and are credited with the most successful wildlife recovery and conservation system in the history of mankind.  Public stewardship works because those closest to our natural resources have taken responsibility for these resources...Boone and Crockett Club

Enjoy!

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Have you ever been so consumed with your day-to-day schedule and world of crazy that you lose sight of what is most important?  Taking care of YOU and finding that inner peace!

Sometimes you are put in the right place, at the right time, in front of the right people, to give you exactly what you need - and you didn't even realize you needed it, or soon will need it!

This is exactly what happened to me.  I met some of the most wonderful individuals who traveled a long way to come through one of my training classes two years ago.  After a day of fun and fellowship, they invited me to come to their facility one day in the future to train more of their staff as NRA Shotgun Instructors.  Of course I agreed and looked forward to reconnecting with them again one day.

Recently we were back in touch and I traveled to their facility:  Frontier Camp in East Texas.  They put me in a wonderful cabin in the most peaceful environment.  It was exactly what I needed during a stressful time with my work, travels, and crazy busy schedule keeping up with the boys.  Sitting on the back porch listening to the birds and critters, and looking up at night to see the stars was just the therapy I needed!

Thanks to the camaraderie of the good people who train within the firearms community, I was connected with these fine gentlemen who brought me to their turf, and gave me some inner peace - a well-deserved break and reset of "crazy" - if only for a short few days.  Enjoy!   

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In this week's episode Luke will tell us all about his fun trip to the range!  Dad even recorded Luke doing a presentation and teaching about safe firearm handling and the importance of keeping ammunition separate until ready to use it.  

Luke talks about and demonstrates how to safely load, fire, and unload pistols and revolvers.  Once he emptied the magazine and shot all rounds from the pistol and emptied the cylinder of the revolver he was shooting, he and Dad walked downrange to his target.  Dad was proud to see what a great shot Luke is!  Luke had a very tight grouping on both the pistol and revolver targets!  

He did such a great job teaching all about firearm safety, that he's thinking about starting his own YouTube channel called "Cool Hand Luke" - so keep your eyes open for the next up and coming star!

Enjoy!!

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Welcome to Adulting Matthew!

In this episode Matthew will share with us some of the "new" experiences Matthew has encountered now that he's a 'teenage adult' at age 18!

Matthew will share some of his youth days in Boy Scouts, and how things have changed a bit now that he has "aged out" of Scouting at 18, and now gets to hang out with the adults and serve more as a mentor and guide to the younger boys.  He'll share some of his hilarious stories from a recent campout to the Louisiana swamps!

He'll also share some of his experiences working at Bailey's House of Gun and serving as a Range Safety Officer, helping new shooters and working with experienced ones, and keeping everyone safe on the ranges.  He's grown in his maturity, confidence and knowledge in this environment working weekly around firearms and marksmen and hunters.

It's never too early to teach them all about firearm safety and the proper use, handling and storage of them.

Enjoy!

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Turkey hunters continue hunting when the vast majority of sportsmen and women have put their rifles, shotguns and bows away.  To turkey hunters, the season is far from over.  Spring not only brings one additional hunting opportunity, but some turkey hunters also plan multiple spring hunts for the various subspecies of turkey.  There are almost as many subspecies as there are ways to cook your bird!

There are five North American subspecies and one Central American subspecies of turkey.  The North American turkey species consist of the Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriam’s, Gould’s and Osceola.  The Central American species is the Ocellated turkey.  Each one of these birds have their own unique qualities, traits and hunting challenges.

So, what type of turkey would you like to have on your springtime menu?  There are four species of turkeys that are within easy reach of most hunters in the United States.  But be aware—hunting turkey does have consequences.  It only takes one hunt to become addicted!  I have never met anyone, after their first time calling up a turkey, that did not become an avid turkey hunter.

Enjoy!

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Whether you have your License to Carry (LTC), or are exercising your "constitutional carry" or "permitless carry" of your firearm - it is your responsibility and up to you to know the laws and regulations surrounding the carrying of a firearm on or about your person.

Not only is it imperative to know where you can or cannot carry - you also need to take the time to plan your day before you ever step foot outside your home, if you plan to carry your firearm.  If there are stops along your way, know if carrying a firearm (concealed or open) is legal.  Depending on whether you have your permit or not, for example, will determine if you can drive onto the property and parking lot area of a school (to drop off or pick up your child).  Know if you will be breaking a law.

What about walking into a business - what do all of those firearm signs mean?  
30.06?
30.07?
51%

Have you practiced visualizing and getting yourself into the right mindset if you have a firearm on or about your person?  Are you keeping your head on a swivel and knowing your surroundings at all times, avoiding risky areas and leaving if something just does not feel right to you.  

By mentally rehearsing what you will do in different potential situations will help you be better prepared if something ever should happen and you find yourself in a situation.  Most people do not practice visualization, and find themselves in a situation before they ever have time to back out.  

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