
The National Wildlife Federation has worked with hunters and anglers since 1936 to tackle the biggest natural resource challenges. The NWF Outdoors Podcast explores the most important conservation issues and the people who do the hard work to safeguard our fish, wildlife, lands, and waters. Hosted by Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy at NWF.
Episodes

Thursday Dec 15, 2022
A Little Help from our Friends
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
NWF Outdoors sends you off into 2023 with some help from our friends, listeners, and colleagues. They share their favorite outdoor memories from 2022 and some even share their favorite NWF Outdoors podcast episode. Enjoy these fun short stories from around the country and we’ll see you in 2023!
Show notes:
Show Notes:
1:30 - Leanne Chadwick shares her favorite turkey hunting experience of 2022.
3:35 – Jesse Deubel of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
4:15 – Jodee Dixon, Artemis ambassador based in Southeast Alaska.
7:12 – Andrew Black, NWF’s public lands field director.
8:56 – Morgan Harrell, Artemis ambassador based in South Carolina.
9:44 – Jason Baldes, NWF’s tribal buffalo program manager.
11:24 – Ashlee Smith, sportswomen based in Mississippi.
12:45 - Lew Carpenter, NWF director of conservation partnerships in the intermountain west.
16:19 – Alyssa Bowen, Artemis ambassador based in Oklahoma.
17:10 – Todd Waldron of the Rough Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society.
20:21 – David Willms, NWF’s senior director of western wildlife.
21:10 – Mike McTee of MPG Ranch based in Missoula, Montana.
23:00 – Matthew Waguespack, Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator for Vanishing Paradise.
25:18 – Alec Underwood, senior policy and development director for the Montana Wildlife Federation.
25:25 - Gary Marz, lifelong angler, BHA board member and podcast listener based in Long Island New York.
28:42 - Dan Ritz of the Idaho Wildlife Federation.
29:33 – Jason Dinsmore, Director of Conservation Partnerships for NWF’s Great Lakes Region.
32:33 – Mary Lynn of Light Em Up Kennels based in Eastern Tennessee.
33:19 – Closing statements.
Thanks for listening in 2022! We look forward to seeing you in 2023!!
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Friday Dec 02, 2022
2022 is a Wrap! What we learned and where we’re going.
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Show notes (and links):
0:52 – “We’ve learned so much! It’s been a journey!”
1:52 – Stories from recent outdoor pursuits.
4:33 – Gratitude for hosts, cohosts, and great guests in 2023.
6:00 – We tried a lot of new concepts including the CWD Chronicles and podcast recordings.
9:45 – Feedback, upcoming podcast survey and something to look forward to in 2023.
10:48 – Aaron takes it back to the first episode with both hosts… Greg Fitz from the Wild Steelhead Coalition. Discussing the plight of steelhead, salmon runs, issues regarding the Pacific Northwest and the abundance of fish historically. It’s up to anglers for so much of this stuff!
13:07 – Gary Mason! Gary announces live on the show that Bill Cooksey was going to be inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. Bill shares how heartfelt this honor was and how special it was for this announcement to be present while recording the podcast.
15:22 – Warren Coco! Ducks, overalls, and stories with this special person and conservationist.
18:01 -- Ron Rohrbaugh! Author, traditional bow craftsman and someone worth following on social media.
20:15 – Bob Budd! Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust and a favorite show for both hosts.
21:15 – Alex Harvey! A wonderful human who is involved in everything.
21:43 – Casey Stemler! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Senior Advisor for Western States.
23:25 – The CWD Chronicles! This special series really unpacked this issue and it’s a must listen if you haven’t tuned in already.
24:33 - Aaron Kindle and Ashley Chance share an update on the current CWD situation and pending legislation.
29:03 - Bill Cooksey adds his perspective on CWD after listening to the series. https://www.nwf.org/Outdoors/Our-Work/CWD-Chronicles
30:40 - Where’s Ronquest? Jimbo finally made it on the show and didn’t disappoint.
32:09 - Jake Latendresse may be the most well-known sportsmen you’ve never heard of.
34:58 – Senator Martin Heinrich came on the show and spoke about the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. https://www.nwfoutdoors.org/e/the-recovering-america-s-wildlife-act-with-lead-sponsor-senator-martin-heinrich/
36:50 – Salmon experts came on the show to cover topics from Bristol Bay to the Snake River and everywhere in-between threatened by transboundary mining.
39:53 – Duck podcasts! Bill chats about his waterfowl expert podcast guests Chris Nicolai and Dr. Mike Brasher.
41:46 - From podcasts recorded on location in a fishing boat off the coast of Sitka or touching base with our affiliate in Alaska to conservations with Steve Bowen, Crispin Powley, Chad Hoover, and Rue Mapp.
43:03 - The Return Act discussion with David Willms and Mike Butler.
45:17 – What’s coming next? Make sure to take our short survey between Dec 14-Jan 9 for a chance to win a Roll-Top Cylinder Soft Sided Cooler. We are really excited to share our new short-form series, “Afield”.
We are unplugging until February so please be sure to catch up on podcasts you have yet to enjoy.
We would be incredibly grateful if you could gift us with a rating and written review on whatever podcast platform you listen to.
Thanks for listening!!!

Friday Sep 23, 2022
Getting Uncomfortable with Chad Hoover
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Friday Sep 23, 2022
After tons of travel and scheduling conflicts, Aaron and Bill are together again and joined by the world’s biggest promoter of kayak fishing! Retired Naval officer, kayak fishing pioneer, author and television show host Chad Hoover has a lot of experience and a lot to say.
From what it was like being a young naval officer on September 11 to starting a tournament organization to getting people involved in hunting and fishing, Chad has always faced uncomfortable things. In fact, getting uncomfortable is now something of a mantra for his view on life.
Conservation and growing our sports aren’t always easy, but a willingness to face the discomfort is something we all need.
https://www.kayakbassfishing.com/
https://www.heliconia.ca/portfolio/chad-hoover-fishing/
Show notes:
3:47 – Bill shares a little background on Chad Hoover.
6:15 – The team shares what they have been doing outside recently. Chad shares his passion for overlanding and shares insight into the various regions of Lousiana.
21:24 - Chad shares what it was like to be serving in the military during 9/11.
30:36 – Chad shares how 9/11 changed his civilian career and the way in which he trains and prepares for fishing.
33:53 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen!
35:26 – Chad highlights how he got into kayak bass fishing.
51:52 - Chad talks about catch-photo-release and his T.V. shows.
1:02:53 - Chad chats about embracing the hard things in life.
1:25:30 – Closing take home words.

Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Continuing with our newfound love of "from the field" podcasts, we take this one to Florida. Podcast co-host Bill Cooksey attended ICAST (a big fishing industry tradeshow) in July and had the opportunity to sit down with Geoff Mullins from the Everglades Foundation and Captain Chris Wittman from Captains for Clean water to talk about the myriad habitat problems in the Everglades and South Florida and what hunters and anglers can do to help. The region is full of iconic hunting and fishing locations such as Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay, and waterfowl hunters come from around the country to hunt mottled ducks, black-bellied whistling ducks and fulvous ducks. When most people think about Everglades issues, they think pythons and algae closing down beaches, but there’s a whole lot more at stake.
Episode links:
https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/
https://captainsforcleanwater.org/
https://www.vanishingparadise.org/restoration-solutions/projects?state=florida
Show Notes:
1:05-Intro to ICAST.
3:22-What have we been doing lately?
5:15-Geoff explains what Everglades restoration means.
6:47-Chris explains restoration from his point of view as a sportsman.
8:50-What is Captains for Clean Water?
11:35-Geoff, where do sportsmen fit in this puzzle?
13:50-Bill offers his take on the issues.
15:55-Chris talks duck hunting and the impact of declining habitat and restoration.
18:05-Geoff, what is the most critical component at this moment?
21:35-How is the state involved financially with restoration?
23:35-Chris discusses the changes he’s witnessed to some bucket list Florida destinations.
29:35-What do the next ten years look like?
31:35-Who are the stakeholders?
38:05-Why is this a national issue?
39:55-What should Florida sportsmen be doing?
42:55-What have we missed?
47:15-Words of wisdom from Geoff, Chris and Bill

Friday Jul 29, 2022
Good News for Duck Hunters with Dr. Mike Brasher of Ducks Unlimited
Friday Jul 29, 2022
Friday Jul 29, 2022
It’s late July, and much of the country is in the midst of a heat wave, but Aaron and Bill are back talking ducks with Dr. Mike Brasher from Ducks Unlimited. Waterfowl are both a vocation and advocation for Mike as he’s spent his career studying and his free time hunting them. For the last two years, COVID protocols in Canada have prevented the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from conducting the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (known to duck hunters as the BPOP and May Pond Count). This survey is used to set future seasons. The 2022 flights have wrapped up, and Mike is here to help us understand what the initial reports could mean to duck hunters all over the country. And for the first time in several years, there’s some positive news!
Links:
https://www.ducks.org/media/du-podcast
And here’s a photo page from the folks who actually count the ducks:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pilotbiologist/albums/with/72157706996280821
Show notes:
3:40 – Bill introduces Mike and provides a little insight into his background and what we are going to cover in the show regarding ducks and how ducks are counted.
5:25 – Mike introduces himself with a little more detail.
7:19 – Mike, Bill and Aaron share what they have been doing outside recently.
13:40 – Jumping right into B-POP (Breeding Population Survey) but first, let’s clarify that we are not talking about K-POP.
14:21 – What is B-POP and why should duck hunters understand it?
19:13 – Laying out the mechanics of how big the count is, where do they fly and how are we doing with the trajectory of current population counts.
24:27 – Discussing the word “census” and why this count isn’t a census.
28:23 – What are the results?!
35:05 – Why have biologists been concerned, drought in the western U.S. and how are the numbers doing down south?
41:27 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for even more great content.
42:20 -- Because the count hasn’t happened for a few years, what was the approach this year?
46:39 -- Discussing the scientific approach to climate issues as they relate to duck populations, trajectory, warming trends and droughts.
53:33 -- Discussing the significance of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and recently introduced North American Grasslands Act. How does this legislation relate to natural infrastructure, habitat restoration and resilience.
1:00:23 -- With fresh water and fresh habitat, what does that mean for the productivity of waterfowl? Also, a few reflections on the current count numbers and what that might mean for the upcoming duck hunting season.
1:07:33 – Mike shares some closing statements.
1:10:24 – Ducks Unlimited U.S. and Ducks Unlimited Canada are teaming up soon to do a livestream!
1:12:53 – Bill shares some closing statements.
1:13:18 – Please speak up on behalf of shutting down the Return Act, the swift passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and the North American Grasslands Act. Get engaged, stay engaged and look for folks like Mike for guidance.