SCI: First For Hunters Podcast

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently introduced a black bear management plan and proposed hunting regulations for the state. SCI Foundation sponsored MDC's Phase 1 black bear research project starting in 2010, along with partners at Mississippi State University. Funding from SCIF's Hunter Legacy Fund endowment supported research into determining the initial population estimates of black bears and that ultimately resulted in the current black bear management plan.

Chris Comer, Director of Conservation for SCIF and Joe Goergen, Conservation Program Manager, visit with Laura Conlee, Furbearer Biologist, Resource Scientist for MDC about the state of black bears in Missouri and the proposed management plan.

Show notes:
To review the Missouri Black Bear proposed management plan for 2020-2030, visit mdc.mo.gov/bears

To support professional hunters and outfitters negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, Safari Club International (SCI) is launching the Share the Impact Outfitter Benefit, a multi-day online charity event that runs from August 1-22.

The program will include an online auction of donated items and unique experiences, with 100% of the net proceeds going directly to industry relief through outfitter associations. These associations can provide direct assistance to guides and outfitters, making the most of fundraising contributions for those negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

To donate, link to the auction or purchase Share The Impact gear, please visit safariclub.org/sharetheimpact

British Columbia guide outfitter Darren DeLuca, a 30-year veteran of the outfitting industry, is committed to protecting our hunting heritage using the tools of free enterprise and capitalism. “Hunters spend thousands of dollars every year traveling to Western Canada to hunt,” DeLuca says. “The Wild LP allows them to convert their hunting budget into investments in the outfitting industry.”

The Wild LP redirects your hunting expenditures into equity ownership of premier hunting concessions in Western Canada. It allows you to recover your investment by going on hunting adventures, and it underpins the long-term security of hunting by financially supporting the outfitting industry.

Protecting our hunting heritage requires new and innovative solutions. The Wild Conservation Investment Limited Partnership was created to build and strengthen the bond between hunters and the outfitting industry.

Learn more at wildlp.com

Get a box in the SCI-Sportsman's Box Sweepstakes
https://www.getsportsmansbox.com/sci-sweepstakes

Jake DeBow is the Region 1 Wildlife Biologist for New Hampshire Fish and Game where he partners with forestland owners and foresters in the North Country to incorporate wildlife habitat considerations into forest management decisions – a service that Fish and Game has been providing since the 1940s.

Jake's graduate thesis project at the University of Vermont was funded in part by Safari Club International Foundation and focused on moose mortality and recruitment in the state. Jake discusses the project and more with Tag Soup host Chip Hunnicutt, Dr. Chris Comer, Director of Conservation for SCIF and Brett Stayton, DC Communications Manager for SCI.

Show links:
Vermont research study: https://safariclub.org/scif-funded-research-helps-shape-vermont-moose-hunting-regulations/
Sportsman's Box https://www.getsportsmansbox.com/sci-sweepstakes

Ben Cassidy, SCI Director of Government Affairs, joins host Chip Hunnicutt to review this week's highly successful "SCI Virtual Advocacy Week", a digital spin on the traditional Washington D.C. fly-in and annual Lobby Day.

SCI-Sportsman's Box "Get A Box" Sweepstakes - https://www.getsportsmansbox.com/sci-sweepstakes

SCI and Sportsman’s Box are teaming up to bring you awesome gear plus a shot at a 4-day pass to the 2021 SCI Convention in Las Vegas and a chance at a new RETAY 12ga shotgun! Buy a box for $100 that includes gear valued up to $600 and you’re entered to win the shotgun. One shotgun will be drawn for every 100 boxes sold. Five boxes will have a golden ticket good for a 4-day convention pass!

Sportsman’s Box is the leading subscription gift box for folks who love hunting and their gear partners are name brands you know and love. Every purchase supports SCI!

This week Adam Whitehead, CEO and co-founder of Sportsman's Box, Adam Tury, Business Development for Sportsman's Box, Lauren Hill, Business Development Manager for SCI join host Chip Hunnicutt to ask the ultimate questions: what's in the box?

Find out for yourself and get a box at https://www.getsportsmansbox.com/sci-sweepstakes

Tony Martins is an outdoors photojournalist, Professional Outdoors Media Association and National Shooting Sports Foundation media member, business consultant and small business owner, Labrador retriever breeder and conservationist. Tony's feature articles have appeared in dozens of magazines over the past 24 years including Sports Afield, Successful Hunter, Predator Xtreme, Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, White Mountain Outdoors and Universal Hunter, where he served as Field Editor, as well as online in blogs for 1800GunsAndAmmo.com, 1800Gear.com, and the Raging Mullet Hunt & Fish Club. He has hunted the world and is a remarkable storyteller.

After 24 years of applying, Tony drew a bison tag for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and completed that hunt just a few weeks ago. It's so fresh he has not yet put the adventure to paper and this is his first retelling of the hunt.

Support SCI with Sportsman's Box - https://www.getsportsmansbox.com/sci-sweepstakes
Book your hotel now for the 2021 SCI Convention in Las Vegas - https://showsci.org/hotels/
Join, Upgrade or Renew with SCI and be entered to win awesome gear - https://www.safariclub.org/monthlysweepstakes

This week Philip Glass visits with host Chip Hunnicutt about starring in the 2018 documentary, "TROPHY". The film follows Glass, a lifelong hunter and a Texas-based sheep breeder, in his pursuit of The Big Five alongside the story of an outfitter and a private rhino breeder as they each deliver their unique sides of the story of hunting. The film is available to view on Netflix.

Earlier this year SCI announced a new partnership with outdoor television host and world class musician, Nick Hoffman. Tag Soup host Chip Hunnicutt caught up with Nick at the SCI Convention to talk hunt shopping and playing fiddle with Charlie Daniels.

As the host of the award-winning television series Nick’s Wild Ride on the Outdoor Channel, Hoffman travels the world in pursuit of hunting adventures. His show encapsulates so much more than just hunting, emphasizing both the culinary aspects of wild game preparation and the cultural importance of hunting to the places he travels. SCI will be a primary sponsor for season five of the show. The show won the “Best Conservation” award at the 2018 Outdoor Sportsman Awards and has been awarded or nominated for numerous other accolades. 

In addition to being a highly skilled hunter, Hoffman is a talented musician and his TV show regularly includes clips of him sawing on a fiddle. He co-founded The Farm, a 3-piece band that has produced multiple top 40 radio hits.  Prior to striking out on his own, Hoffman has shared the stage with some of musics biggest names including Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, George Jones, and many more.  At the recent 48th Annual SCI Convention in Reno, Hoffman made a special appearance onstage with The Charlie Daniels Band.   Hoffman has a brand new solo album due to be released this summer.

Hoffman has been an SCI Life Member since 2017 and his name appears in the SCI Record Book as well, with a mountain lion harvested in Montana checking in at #16 all time, and #10 with a handgun. In December of 2019 he completed the Spanish Ibex Grand Slam.

We caught up with J. Alain Smith of Rugged Expeditions for a few minutes on the floor of the SCI Convention to talk about his show and international hunting. If you're getting cabin fever due to the coronavirus home quarantine, check out his show on YouTube or Amazon Prime where J. Alain takes you around the world for exciting adventures and big laughs! Find him online at jalainsmith.com.