May 2, 2025 • 64 mins
Hosts Brody Henderson, Cory Calkins, and Corinne Schneider recap Cory and Corinne's TX aoudad hunt, chat with Froylan Hernandez of Texas Parks and Wildlife about bighorn sheep in the region, get letters from the turkey woods frontline, order from the MeatEater Menu, and talk with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks' Scott Thompson about aerial big game surveys.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Smell us now, Lady, Welcome to Meet Eater Trivia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to Meet Eater Radio Live. It's eleven am Mountain
Time on Thursday, May first, and we're live for Meat
Eater HQ and Bozeman, Montana. I'm your host, Brody Henderson,
and I'm here today with Corey Calkins and Crin Schneider,
who is busy checking her stocks just recently. We'll talk
more about that later maybe if we have time. On
(00:47):
today's show, we're going to talk about our Dad sheep
with Corey Krin and a special guest from Texas Parks
and Wildlife. We're also going to get a field report
from some of our favorite turkey hunting gurus. After that,
we'll share some wild game meals we've made recently, and
we're gonna wrap it up by speaking to a Montana
Regional Wildlife manager about aerial big game surveys and a
(01:12):
bighorn sheep hunting closure here in Montana. That's gonna that'll
be pretty interesting. It's also kind of a bummer, but
hopefully we'll get some good news out of it too.
Before we get in the show, I want to send
out another request all of our dedicated diehard fans to
submit a photo of their fed up old truck for
(01:35):
our twenty twenty six calendar. We're still looking for images
of unique hunting trucks, and for the folks who are
watching today's episode on YouTube, Phil just put up an
example a kind of hunting rig we're looking for. We're
getting a lot of good ones, we're getting some not
so good ones, and we're getting some bad ones. But
(01:57):
this is this is like a prime exam ample of
what we're looking for.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
That's right, and Brady, this is what we're not looking for.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That is what we're not looking for.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I understand.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, there's just like some confusion on the left up
part of it.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah, that's effed up, all right.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Also the formatting is wrong. See I thought about it.
I thought about fixing it, but then I decided that's part.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of the Yeah, we don't need pictures of wrecked trucks
and ditches, So uh, send us something like that first picture.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
And uh, what was that classic looking red truck with
a dead with a big old.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Gobbler, a couple of big spotlights on the front.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, I mean that's a that's a hunting rick.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Yeah, you're not sneaking up on any elk in that thing?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Is that a fresh killer? Do you think the guy
drives that hunting rig with the bird on.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
The front all the time fresh kill? I think yeah, probably,
but I wouldn't doubt there's been a deer on that
hood well.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
As a matter of fact, that gentleman sent us picture
of that same truck with another good picture some bucksworthy.
Oh yeah, man, we're gonna have to We're gonna have
to take a look at all of them. But here's
the deal. Send us a picture of your truck to
Fucked Up Old Trucks at the mediater dot com, and
(03:13):
over the next few weeks, we're gonna kind of get
a collection of I don't know, fifty to one hundred
of the best pictures we get. We're gonna put those
on the website, and then you can go vote for
the rigs that actually make the calendar, so you you'll
have a hand in deciding which pictures get in the calendar.
The people who get their rigs in the calendar are
(03:36):
gonna get a sweet prize package two hundred and fifty
dollars Mediater store gift card that's good across all all
the mediatter brands. You're gonna get a free BHA membership
and BHA is gonna throw in some additional swag. The
calendar is gonna come out in a few months, like
late summer, early fall. And here's why you gotta buy it,
(03:58):
because we're donating two dollars from the sale of each
copy of the calendar to BHA to help them keep
fighting all these attack never ending attacks on our public lands.
So it's all it's going to a good cause. You
put that thing up in your garage and you feel
good about yourself, so send us your pictures. We need
(04:18):
more folks moving on. You guys, Krinn and Corey a
little jealous. You just went to go to the like
West Texas Desert Mountains to hunt for our dad, So
I want you to give us a rundown of that hunt,
(04:39):
and then we're gonna be joined by a guest from
Texas Parks and Wildlife to talk about some of the
problems that these non native sheep are causing for native wildlife.
But first, just just give us a rundown of your hunt.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah, let's see, Krinn, her significant other, Matt, and myself
were invited down to West Texas by doctor Phil Loretzki,
who's been on the Meteor podcast and this show more
than once. The Duck DNA Turkey DNA guy good friend
of ours. He invited us down to hunt odd ad
(05:12):
on the Indio Research Indio Mountain Research Station, which is
right on the border of Mexico, right on the Rio
Grande in the trans Pacos region of West Texas. There. Yeah,
we hunted two full days. Gratefully it wasn't as hot
as it normally is in early April down there. We
got really lucky and never saw tempts over seventy degrees.
(05:35):
I don't believe the first day we killed two ewes,
which was kind of our primary goal down there, was
to do what we can to minimize the odd ad
population on that ranch by taking a few ewes females.
There's Curris my boyfriend Matt with a beautiful ew right
(05:57):
at last light. That was pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
That's some cool looking country man.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
It was. It was way more rugged than I expected.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Did you get any a step on, any rattlers or
get any cactus spines in your ass?
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Definitely some cactus in the bus.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Was it ste or I forgot who it's like? Who
said something about like the down there, like the thorns
having thorns, you can't you couldn't grab hold of anything.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Everything wants to bite you, stingya.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It's all spot in stock.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
Yeah, yeah, all spot in stock. We drove around a
little bit inevitably to find the sheep. We had to
put a lot of miles boots on the ground and
uh yeah, we killed those two ewes on day one
and then day two, Karinn, Phil and I went out
and glassed up this group of twenty three odd ad
on this the high it was actually the highest point
on the ranch, forty thousand acre ranch, and we were
(06:44):
able to stalk in. Took a couple hours to stalk
into four hundred yards and I was able to put
down this beautiful ram and Karin actually harvested a nice
sub adult ram as well. But in front of us
is the recently euro mounted you.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
There was a lot of fun to euromount. Actually you
got to pop these horns off, uh, and then you
can boil the skull bleached it kind of glistened up
the horns and then glued him back on beautiful mount.
Thank you. Yeah, but the the you meat is delicious,
very blown away by the texture and the flavor of
the meat. The rams a little tougher, but got about
(07:27):
one hundred pounds of meat off the ram.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, they're burly animals, they really are.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
He probably before we field dressed and weighed about three
hundred pounds, so he wasn't easy to roll around. We
did make some there's a photo up of us making
I think that was the ribs off of my ew
over the fire as we packed up camp made some
great last Steve here he'd be.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Tearing you up about how you're saying you oh you
oo ooh you you you?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
What did I say?
Speaker 7 (08:03):
You?
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Phil?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Who me?
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You?
Speaker 6 (08:06):
Audio?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Classic?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
So you guys had a good time we did.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
It was a hell of an experience.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
And tough hunting. Tough hunting for sure, tough.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
To meaning tough physically.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Tough, tough for yeah, maybe toughest for me. But yeah,
the it's it's really punishing territory, I mean, and those
those animals are robust to be able to live out
there striving. They eat forage, cactus. Maybe there's a little
bit water, a little bit of water here and there,
but yeah, they're it's tough tough to hunt them.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well, that's a great segue into our first interview. Our
first guest is Texas Parks and Wildlife Desert Big Horn
Sheet program leader Freulin Hernandez Brolin. We got you on
the line.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Yep, no, thank you for having me on the show.
Glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
So Freudlan, these oudad are you'll also hear them called
barbary sheep there. They're native to northern and western Africa.
But yeah, in decades past they've been cut loose in
places like New Mexico and Texas to provide additional hunting opportunities.
(09:22):
Can you give us like a brief history of the
out ad population in West Texas and then we'll get
into why there's such a big problem for desert big
horn sheep.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Yep, yep no, So again, thank you for having me. Uh.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
You know, ironically the text Sparks and Wildlife brought him
in back in the mad thirty fifties. They brought him in,
as you say, as an additional game species, and there
was also some private reintroductions and I know they were
up in the in the final Luto Canyon of the
Panhandle of Texas and then some in the in the
in West Texas. And at that time, I don't think
(10:00):
anybody envisioned that they would do as well as they've done.
And so now they occur in all the mountains in
West Texas, they occur up in a Poolutle Canyon, and
again in a Panhandle and also in Central Texas. And
they've done really, really well just in the in the
trespakers of Texas. We estimate that there's probably twenty to
twenty five thousand odd that in those West Texas mountains.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So there's twenty five thousand of those suckers out there.
What's your best guess on like a historic high population
of like how many big horns used to occupy the
mountains of West Texas?
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (10:40):
Well, And so back in the eighteen eighties there were
estimates of hunting a fifteen hundred, twenty five hundred, not
up there even three thousand, and up until recently, about
five six years ago, we had hit that historic kai again.
We were seeing fifteen hundred animals, fifteen hundred big horns
in the West Texas mountain. In twenty nineteen, we've got
(11:02):
a first disease event and we are now, uh, we've
lost over fifty percent of the herd now we've got
about six hundred to seven hundred of big horns in
the state, when just five years ago we were up
to again the eighteen eighty levels.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
And and that disease event that that's pneumonia.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
I'm guessing correct, that's the No, We've had three independent
disease events since twenty nineteen, and that's the Michael plasma
of pneumonia or the mov that causes pneumonia.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Are so are the ourdad transmitting that to the big
horns or the ourdad just out competing them for resources?
Like what kind of problems are the ourdad actually causing
for the native desert big horns in Texas.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
It's a it's a combination of those two things and others.
Speaker 6 (11:56):
But those two things and so the add that do
carry that in.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
We've done research in pen conditions, pen setting and the
odd that are able to transmit that bacteria to the
desert big horns.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
We have not definitively proved that in a wild setting.
Speaker 8 (12:16):
We've tested thirteen different mountain ranges in West Texas, and
in all thirteen mountain ranges we have found that all
that carry that bacteria and in some cases up to
sixty percent of the animals that we've sampled carry that bacteria.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
So it's a it's a.
Speaker 8 (12:33):
Huge problem from a disease standpoint.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
The competition.
Speaker 8 (12:38):
They completely outcompete the big horns, not just through because
of numbers, but also they're just a bigger, hardier animal.
They hoard the big horn ewes and and push off
the big horn rams and so ad that rams create
their own big horn hairm type of deals.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
So they're socially disruptive. I mean, it's it's it's just
you name it. You know. They just outcompete, the outcompete
the big horns.
Speaker 8 (13:06):
And that's just from a competition standpoint. In the numbers
that they occur, they just devastate the habitat. There are
places that the countryside has almost peeled to the ground
and that's simply just a density result of the high
densities that they're they carry in yep.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So this is like a problem that's not necessarily unique
to Texas, but Texas is I think something like ninety
eight percent private land, and the area where these our
dad are living is also almost exclusively private land. And
you've got a lot of landowners that are charging folks
(13:47):
to go hunt for our dads. So my question is like,
can a hunting really have an impact and is it
a challenge with getting landowners on board to really knock
back those out aut numbers through hunting.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
Well?
Speaker 8 (14:04):
And so, uh, you got two things going on there.
One is the hunting aspect of it, and uh, it's
supplemental income for for landowners. But just from a sheer
number perspective, a density perspective, hunting alone is not going
(14:24):
to reduce the numbers down the levels that aren't detrimental
to the habitat or that they don't compete with our
native unculates and and and so when you have twenty
to thirty thousand big horns out on the landscape and
only a few hundred big horns, I mean it, it's
a well, it's just it's just a huge, huge challenge
(14:49):
for us for us to overcome.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
I will say that the mindset is changing.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
Landowner mindset is changing, and they are recognizing that the
odd dead not only uh have negative impacts on our
big horns, but but also on on mule deer.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
And we're looking at that.
Speaker 8 (15:07):
Yeah, so we've got research looking looking into that. And
so you got you know, the odd ad out competing
the big horns. They're also uh you know, wreaking havoc
on muleier populations and the habitat, and so landowners are
are are finally realizing that, uh, too many out of
that on the landscape are detrimental. So we don't want
(15:28):
we Texas Parks and Wailave would like to see all
of that gone, but realistically that's not a that's not
a realistic goal. And so we're working with landowners to
lessen those densities adreakys those densities, the levels that that
aren't detrimental to our native ungulates or the habitat.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
What what's that kind of work look like?
Speaker 9 (15:47):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
I mean, like, do you see a potential of ourdad,
you know, getting knocked back to the point where there's
a healthy desert big horn population again? And like what
kind of human human intervention does that involve.
Speaker 8 (16:06):
It's gonna it's gonna require partnerships. I mean that there's
no two ways about it. It's gonna require partnerships with
parks and Wildlife, with landowners, with NGOs, with the hunting community.
Speaker 6 (16:17):
Uh to be able to address that.
Speaker 8 (16:19):
You know that that monumental challenge, and it's not gonna
happen overnight. And and it's again, it's gonna require everyone
getting on that same ship and saying, Okay, we've got
to do something. Uh, we've got to decrease the population
all that populations, uh dramatically for for there to be changed.
And and again I'm pretty optimistic. I like to consider
(16:40):
myself an optimistic person. Uh, but I do realize I'm
also a realist, and I do realize that it's not
gonna happen overnight. And so we got our work cut
out for us. And when I say we, I'm not
just talking Texas parks and wildlife. I'm talking landowners, NGOs,
a hunting community.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
You know, just everybody's gonna.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
Have to get on board to be able to to
move in a in a positive direction.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Great, So can you crystal ball a future for desert
big Horns and say twenty years like even like if
you're being super optimistic, like you, you like like what
you would like to see eventually happen now?
Speaker 8 (17:20):
And so my goal uh, and I'm charged with with
that responsibility. But my goal, professional and personal goal is
is to see the West Texas Mountains, all of the
West Texas Mountains that are considered uh historical big horn
range for them to be occupied by big horns, and
so can we do that?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Yeah, absolutely we can.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
We can do that, but again, as I mentioned, we're
all gonna have to you know, kind of roll up
our sleeves and get the work. We just did a
capture and translocation from our only clean soares in the state, and.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
That's Elephant Mountain.
Speaker 8 (17:54):
Whilefe bataging area, we captured seventy seven big horns. We
took them over, translocated them to the Franklin Mountains which
are situated within El Paso. And and you know, we
hope that that population there does well, it takes hold,
it becomes you know, sustainable on its own, and then
it grows and we're able to do capturing and translocations
(18:16):
off of their two other mountain ranges. So uh, you know,
again I'm optimistic that we're able to do that, but
we need to address all that densities first.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Gotcha you mentioned some n g O s Uh, what
are some menos people can throw a little cash towards
to help out.
Speaker 8 (18:35):
You know, two of our greatest partners are the Texas
Bayhorn Society and the Wildsheet Foundation. You know, we've we've
you know, they've been with us through thick and thin.
They've supported us, you know, financially as well as logistically.
So those two organizations are you know, have been at
the forefront with us, you know, trying to trying to attack.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
These these issues.
Speaker 8 (18:58):
But then you also have you know, in fact that
was at a conference just last week and talking to
some folks from uh Grand Slam Club, Ovist. We got
the Texas Wileff Association, Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club,
any conservation organization. Uh, they lend a hand. But our
two greatest partners is the Texas Big Horn Society in
(19:18):
the Wallsheet Foundation.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Great. Okay, last question, Freulan, how did get a bad
raps table fair? What's your what's your favorite way to
eat those things?
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Man?
Speaker 8 (19:29):
I love them, I love them and and they and
they do they do get a bad rap. And I
think they get a bad rap because most of the
animals that are harvested are are tough old rams and
so as you might suspect it's it's it's probably not
as tasty as as a lamber or you.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
And so Corey was mentioning that, uh, you know, I heard.
Speaker 8 (19:49):
That he he harvested a couple of years and they
were a great taste to Manna.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
I love them. I grew up on gold. I love
it to me. It tastes very similar to goat.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
You know you got you can do it and be
yeah you can, uh you know, do some steaks, you
name it. I've done some sausage that processed my own
meat and so I've done some odd that sausage and
that's the best eating sausage that I've had so far.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
So now they're good eating out. I would like for
people to try them a little more.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
Maybe change that perspective or change that uh, change that attitude.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Yeah, for sure, I want to come down there and
have you cook for you.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna hit you up for some
recipes after you jump off the line.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
Absolutely, yeah, from down I'll yeah, you know, y'all come down.
I'll definitely burn some meat for y'all.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Well, great froul and thanks for checking in with us
and and and learning us up on this. It was
it was real interesting talking to you.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Yeah, man, drive safe now, you bet. Thank y'all again,
appreciate what y'all do. H your interest in getting the
story out. Man, it's it's awesome. Y'all do great work.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Great thanks man, have a good day, you think likewise.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Gosh, that's really interesting. I didn't realize that the odd
ad rams gather big horn females.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah, I think he Yeah, I mean I think he
was more saying they like push like push him out,
but they're real aggressive.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
Well, I guess there is evidence that the will gather harems.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And then the big horn rams just can't get to them, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Yeah, gotta wonder if yeah, out competing just stuff in
their blood to be kind of bullies and they think
they're all bad ass the bullet hits them.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, Will you guys make me want to go down
there and hunt them?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Now?
Speaker 2 (21:34):
It's pretty fun, but I'm a turkey hunter this time
of year. And uh, next up, we've got some regional
turkey hunting reports. Oh it's music to my ear. Wow,
it's my favorite favorite two sounds.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
In the world. Well, he's goblin.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
We got uh, We're gonna check in with Giannie, Brent
and Doug and get a report from those guys.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
First, All right, turkey report from southern Colorado Giannis putell
Us and Steven ronello. As you can see, we've got
a couple of dead birds. We actually had three in
the last three days. But the turkey hunting has been tough.
We found him on the roost. They've gobbled good on
the roost. Once they hit the ground, they've been silent.
(22:26):
We killed two of the latest birds we've ever killed.
The one fellaw that was here for the TRCP hunt
killed a bird at about seven thirty seven forty and
I killed a bird almost by at eight o'clock last night. Now, Steve,
anything to add to that.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
No, it's been tough.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
They're they're glued to the hens. You know, guys will
be like, oh, they're all hand up, but glued to
the hens. The turkeys we've killed, I mean to be
honest with We've had to bushwhack our turks.
Speaker 6 (22:57):
We've had to like hunt them like spot in stock
turkey hunting.
Speaker 7 (23:02):
After a lot of calling attempts, a lot of calling attempts.
Speaker 9 (23:08):
I'm hunting at one of my most favorite places with
some of my most favorite people. It's Missouri turkey season
week two. Yesterday, first day that I got here, it
rained all day. It was cold and miserable, and my
hunt was cold. And miserable. But I was turkey hunting,
and that beach work any day. No goblin from the roost,
(23:31):
no goblin from the ground. They didn't even see a
goblin where I was hunting.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
This morning, a new day, a new hunt.
Speaker 9 (23:40):
No goblin from the roost, just a little bit of wind, cloudy.
You would think they had been goblin, but is luck
would have it, you didn't. So it was discouraging, to
say the least. But if you stick with it long enough,
if you're going to be a turkey.
Speaker 6 (23:53):
Hunter and you're committed to being a good one.
Speaker 9 (23:55):
You gotta stay with it as long as you can.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Sometimes he is a virtue.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
It's goblin time in Missouri.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
Well we're hearing the report from stan what's that? What
did you hear down there? You morning after?
Speaker 6 (24:18):
Wow? How about before? I heard a couple of them?
Speaker 10 (24:24):
Huh? Well, so fight it down is the report from
southwest Wisconsin. I still think that if you're out hunting
turkeys in this area, the best thing you can do
is find a spot where they're likely to be wanting
to move, and be patient and stay there. We certainly
employ that strategy at the first part of the season.
(24:47):
Really sitting in blinds or finding a location and finding
a good tree to lean up against and stay on,
but keep the running and gun into a minimum minimum.
We've done really well with that strategy. We're seven for seven.
Keifer is the first one so far. It hasn't got one,
but this was just the first day of it. It's
April thirtieth, the first day of season, seeing Wisconsin, and
(25:12):
that is the report from here. Be patient and stay
after him.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah, nice, thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Man. I don't know about Johannis and Steve. Maybe they're
not good at Collin turkeys. Everyone else is getting them.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Yeah, it was interesting while they're flaying some breasts on
the tail. Yeah, but they had to earn him. It
sounded like it looked like it was hot down there.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yep, yep. I've been out a couple times here in
Montana season open to fifteenth. I killed one opening day
like classic, you know, gobbling on the roost, gobbling a
little on the ground, and then worked on him for
an hour and killed him. And then went out last
week and got a couple with my boys. So it's
(25:52):
like it's been good here in Montana. It's I mean,
it's always the thing where they gobble like crazy on
the roost and slowed down for a while, And it
seems like an hour after they hit the ground, the
hens leave them and the goblin picks up.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
So like it's it's.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Been good here. That's that's really all I can say.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Yeah, it sounds like there's been a lot of success
around the office. Yeah, yeah, opening day especially.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
And man, I think it's like any other kind of hunting,
Like someone's hunting one spot, it's like, Eh, they're not
gobbling here, And like you talk to someone who's hunting
ten miles away or twenty miles away, and they're like, God,
they're gobbling like crazy. They came running in. So like
regionals is a regional reports good? But I like, I
think it's like real important to like know what's going
(26:41):
on on a like micro level local level too.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
We went turkey hunting. I this is only a second
time I've ever gone. We saw four different hens, came
real close, but no.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Gobbles, no goblins, gobbles. You haven't been out you're you've
just been out there.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Yeah. I like to kill a bear before I go
turkey hunting, which should have one down in twenty four hours.
How to buddy miss one last Friday. It's a long shot, though,
make sure your dope's accurate.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
There you go, there's a good.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Tip, hot tip.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
All right, Phil, What do we got on the listener
feedback here?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Oh yeah, just a reminder let's get some questions in
for the hosts, especially if they're specific to any of
the hosts. Prody Krin Corey. We had this question last week,
but it's a whole different crew this week, and it's
a popular question I've noticed, But the dubster is asking
for those favorite turkey recipes other than standard frying. I'm guessing,
(27:39):
like you know, I hear about nuggets all the time,
and schnitzel that was the popular.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
That's all.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
It's like, six is different versions of frying turkeys. They're
all good. Something I like to do, that's like my
whole family loves is just slow cook braise those thighs
and drums and wings. Like it's a pain in the
ass to cut turkey wings off of those birds, but
(28:05):
it's worth it. Like you get two wings off of
a gobbler and there's like a significant chunk of meat
off of those wings. So you throw all that stuff
in some stock raise it for however, long. It takes
five six hours. Then you then you pull all that
stuff off the bone and just make tacos out of it.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What's a flavor profile that you're normally doing that?
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I mean flavors, Yeah, citrus and cumin, a lot of that.
And you can fry that stuff that that that pulled
meat and get a little crisp on it.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
That sounds yeah. Go to the meat eater website and
look for Danielle Pruetz tequila turkey tacos. That's my favorite
way to eat those legs.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
M This one is something I know nothing about, but
Jeremy asks. He says, I've been I've recently been hunting
pigs in close cords with a lever three fifty seven
as anyone else had success with hunting with a pistol
caliber rifle. Cheers from either Australia or Austin or Austria,
(29:10):
We don't know. He cut off the word there.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
But you know, I've never never done it. I don't
see why it wouldn't work great if you were shooting
them up close.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Yeah, never tried that.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Thank God, we don't have pigs up here yet yet.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Brandon asks Brodie what was more fun competing on Meat
Eater Roast or judging on the show.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Obviously, it's like it's just way more relaxing judging, But
it was fun cooking too. I don't know. I liked
him both. You know, you got Steve and Jesse were
a little harsh with their judging. I got thick skin.
(29:51):
I liked him both. I'd like another crack at the
cooking though.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Yeah, this is gonna be a Brodie specific question, I'm sure,
but Nick asks what advice does the crew have for
someone trying to get their first turkey in Pennsylvania? Definitely
three years zero turkeys, he says.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
I would I don't know, Like Pennsylvania is a big
ass state with a lot of different kind of country.
You could be hunting turkeys on a twenty acre chunk
of private or you could be hunting thousands of acres
of state forest. So like, I don't know, man, if
(30:27):
I was hunting in the middle of the state where
there's a lot of public land, I would kind of
look at it like elk hunting out west and just
like hike into some stuff that's just not getting hunted.
But I don't know if that's that's nixt situation here.
If there's turkeys around and you're hunting a small chunk
of private, take Doug's advice and just like, find a
(30:50):
good spot where there's turkeys passing through and just sit
there as long as you can and just call now
and then, and eventually something good's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Cool, let's see here. Jacob asks, Hey, Corey, I was
going turkey hunting this weekend and I might see a bear.
I was going to carry my slug barrel too. I'm
using a twenty gage. Do you think if I keep
it under one hundred yards, I'm assuming I could kill
a bear.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Man, I'd get even closer than that. It's a long
shot with a slug fifty yards.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Yeah, just the idea of having to, like, oh there's
a bear, change barrels and then all it's like that.
I'm not telling him not to do it, but he's
making life awful difficult.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
Yeah. I've done that before. I've carried shotguns around and
a bow on my back because tis the season for
both turkey and bears to be on the docket for hunting.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
But if you were hunting a spot where you could
run bears with hounds, Yeah, there you go. That slug
gun work just fine.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Shoot him out a tree, yeah yeah, yeah, I get tight. Man,
that's a one hundred yards would be tough unless you're
that confident. But I'd say get right in there and
shoot him in the forehead.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
McKenna is asking you, guys, what caliber you used for
your on your odd ad hunt.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
I had a three hundred wind mag very trustworthy caliber
I've used since I was twelve.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
I brought my six', five which would have been, fine
but THEN i Used corey's rifle just because of the whole.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
Situation, yeah it was All we were set up on
this rock pile surrounded by cactus and just found like
the one little body shaped size that didn't have, cactus
AND i shot mine and the odd. Ad most of
the Odd ad went off the, cliff but a couple
stayed there And kringe jumped up onto my gun that
the dope was dialed and, everything and.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Got rifle that sig cross the saw. Tooth, yep you
run a suppressor on. It, yep got The so the
recoil didn't bother you with that suppressor, On.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
No not at. All normally recall coil doesn't bother me
too much for for any kind of bigger Guns i've
shot suppressed or. Not that normally doesn't bother me. Much
but a six' five would have been fine, for that
and probably a couple of other calibers would have been.
FOR that i probably would have shot up used my
three h eight too on. That hunt that would have worked.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
For sure, all right we'll do one more here for,
this segment and we'll move it. Along here this is the, Big.
Question karinn but this is, For. You karin what is
your most memorable? MOMENT outdoors i think we can narrow
that down to the last six years, or so since you, working,
HERE well.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I would honestly have to say bits of this recent odd.
AD hunt i think because it was, so so so challenging,
for me traumatizing now.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
It was it was just.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Really tough at ONE point i was probably close to.
Being dehydrated the the heights and the incline were pretty terrifying,
for me so. Definitely memorable there was a POINT where i, was,
like SO so i guess weekend buy it. ALL that, i,
(34:01):
Said like i'm very grateful for, the Experience but i'd
never do. It again and obviously that's not that's not
true Now that i've come. Through it but but that
hunt was was probably up there and then probably my second,
solo Meal. Deer hunt it was just very uh gratifying
(34:21):
to take something on my own that that's always a
little bit of a of a boost to know that
you could be successful out there on. Your own.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
That's huge and there.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
You?
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Go cool is?
Speaker 8 (34:35):
That?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
It phil we've got more, coming in, but yeah, we
can we. Can tackle there's gonna be another segment at
the end of, the show so don't stop submitting questions
and we might tackle a few that people have. Already
asked so, all right it's.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Time For Meat.
Speaker 11 (34:48):
Eater menu in, that said.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
What that's a?
Speaker 2 (35:07):
New, one, yeah excellent excellent job again.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
NEXT week i mean THAT'S when i was editing that,
THIS morning i was just laughing at how that's probably
my most. Dumb one it's. So stupid.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Those notes made.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Me cry, oh good, All right metior menu is when
our hosts uh cook up a wild wild food dish
and we're gonna share those dishes wish with you and
show you, a picture and then we're gonna do something
a little different. This time we're gonna we're gonna let
the listeners decide who made the best, best meal which
(35:45):
is only based on. A picture, of course you know
you can't, taste it but you know the eyes are
important when you're eating.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Eating foods don't nobody be licking? Their, Computer well.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
I'M glad i didn't end. UP cooking I thought i
may have had time.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
To do why THAT'S what i wanted.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
TO see i just had, a busy.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Busy, week well tell people what you were going.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
To, Do okay so this, past fall a bunch of
us uh with meat eater experiences Fished. In louisiana and
there were we when we were, Cleaning fish STEVE and
i cleaned up some some, fish head AND so i
(36:29):
was going to look into you're, Talking, about well. There's
two so we actually have we have it in our
in our in. Our freezer here we have some ginormous.
TUNEA head i want one. Of those but we we
also cleaned up the heads of of the red fish and.
Some OTHERS so i think there were red fish HEADS
that i brought HOME that i was thinking of doing
(36:50):
some kind of grill.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Or stew there's a surprising amount of meat when you
started digging around and like certain kinds.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
Of fish and the cheeks and, the collar and then
there's ACTUALLY like i, don't know what do you, call it,
FOREHEAD meat.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Nothing else you can make a big batch at. Seafood, stock.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
Yeah and, you know for some people looking at a,
fish head it does not conjure up like that REAL
like i want to. Eat, you yeah, you KNOW but
i mean people people cook hold. THE head i mean,
For me, FOR ME i i associate looking at like
fish head soup with you get in. My BELLY but
(37:39):
i did not make THAT because i didn't. Have time
and instead we are going to show some photos From
the canada goose stir FRY that i made on A
Recent Meat eater. Roasts episode so This Was yannie's canada Goose.
FROM arkansas i believe this is the FIRST time i
(38:01):
had ever. Cooked goose i've never, hunted goose and this,
IS probably i, don't know the Third time i've, eaten
goose so not that much experience with. The bird, and
uh it was a really. Beautiful breast and stir fry
IS something, I mean I guess i didn't really get,
creativity points but sturfries IS something i whip up. At
(38:23):
home it's, pretty easy AND so i, used soy a
little bit of OYSTER sauce i think was in. The
kitchenfries do it.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Perfect for roast because you can just kind of throw it.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Together exactly you can throw any sortied sauce or, sauce
combination uh for. A sturfry so how it. Turned out
so one of the judges was my Dear Friend, linda
huang who Is a, chinese Chef and YANNI thought i
was making a stir fry, TO like i, don't know
(39:02):
make it easy. For MYSELF but i told him it
was actually going to be more Difficult because linda's standards
would be. Very high so she was she. WAS surprised
i was, surprised myself but she was surprised that it
turned out that it turned out as. IT did i
just tried to not overcook.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
The meat THAT'S what i was.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
Ask challenge it, was tender and SHE had I don't
i think that was the first time She's eating canada
goose and she said if she, didn't know she she
would have thought it was, Like, beef.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
Yeah nice what's your garnish? On, that oh.
Speaker 4 (39:32):
There's some scallions and, sesame seeds and then the vegetables
were it was yellow pepper and. Some, mushroom yeah it.
Speaker 5 (39:41):
Looks delicious tough to beat, That.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
One, corey oh.
Speaker 5 (39:47):
Let's see well, Wait here, I'M sorry.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
I couldn't remember how many. Pictures coincidentwave.
Speaker 11 (39:56):
This is here.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
We go, oh, yeah man that looks good, Right now
i've made a Black bear california crunch rap supreme black?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Bear burger is?
Speaker 8 (40:06):
That?
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Like what kind?
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Of?
Speaker 5 (40:07):
LIKE so i took a black bear shoulder roast and
braised it, for gosh nine hours. Or so kind of forgot, about,
it honestly but that was probably for.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
The best the nice blaze on.
Speaker 5 (40:19):
That, bear yeah from A bear i harvested. Last spring
they call that a. Chevron, chevron yeah it looks like
a wearing a. Good thing he had that going for
him because his back was rubbed off. REALLY bad i
got That late may and he had already rubbed too.
Many trees, but yeah big, old bear fifteen year old
black bear, meats delicious every single morsel. Of it but
(40:41):
this was the last chunk. OF it I figured i
might as well eat IT before i kill another one.
This SPRING but i tried To Copy taco Bells Crunch
wrap supreme and It's the California crunch RAP because i
threw some avocado.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
In, there yeah explain the layering you got going.
Speaker 5 (40:57):
On there, let's see it's bear a crispy, corn, tortilla,
cheese avocados and some hot sauce and then you just
wrap it up all pretty kind of like. A quesadilla
but there's two flour tortillas all pressed and heated and
warmed and melted. And gooey AND then i got a
little not homemade salsa to go with, it there Ripping Off.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Taco bell you don't need. Homemade, salsa oh it was
pretty easy To Outdo. Taco, bell, yeah great.
Speaker 6 (41:29):
All right.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
The old. Fried turkey we were talking about fried turkey
just a minute ago that there is a fried. Turkey
SANDWICH so i just you take a lobe or half
of a turkey breast and slice that against the grain
and get your cutlets and then just pound those. Things
OUT then i like to soak them in buttermilk for a,
(41:52):
little while and then, it's uh you throw like one
layer of the, breading on get them in a. Dry
breading then you dip them in an egg egg milk
wash and then get another layer of that breading. On
THERE and i did these in my. Deep frier you
can do them in a in a cast, iron pan,
you know with whatever half an inch of grease in.
(42:12):
THE bottom i did these in the. Deep, friar honestly
this is how in my family we eat most of
our turkey breast meat because my boys. Love it it
actually stretches it out more than making just a big batch,
of nuggets like we always have leftovers for extra sandwiches
(42:33):
from one. One lobe, very simple and it's just like
a solid meal that my. KIDS love i love. It
too and that's. A buffalo i think It's Like frank's
buffalo wing sauce.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
On there, All right i'm gonna put a pole up
in the live chat. Right now who had the best
meat eat or? Menu dish Was it Krins, Stir, Fry
canada Goose, Stir Fry Corey's black California crunt Rap Or
Brodie's Fried. Turkey sandwich and.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
We're just gonna come back to.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
That later how about after the interview with our, next
guests we'll check.
Speaker 5 (43:10):
IN there i don't know if anyone's paying attention or
they're all Talking to spencer in.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
The, chat, Yes yeah spencer is always lurking, in, THERE
man i don't.
Speaker 5 (43:17):
Like.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
It okay our next Guest Is, Montana fish Wildlife And
park Region Six Wildlife Manager. Scott, thompson scott, YOU there
i am Mayor got welcome to, the show and thanks
for chatting with. Us, today yeah.
Speaker 7 (43:38):
You bet thanks for, The.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Invite scott can you tell us about your ROLE with
fwp conducting aerial big game surveys In? Northeast, montana.
Speaker 6 (43:49):
Yeah you.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
BET so i am the regional wildlife Manager for. Region.
Six uh that area is a huge northeast Corner of
montana For About north dakota over to The Sweet grass
hills about halfway over to. The front so my ROLE
is i have the privilege of leading a team of.
(44:11):
Wildlife biologists they get to do most of the fun
work in the field in the backseat of the supercub.
Counting critters in my, PREVIOUS life i did a lot
of that for about FOURTEEN years i was an area biologist. As, well,
so yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:29):
And you guys do those aerial big game surveys like
late winter? Early spring is that typically the time you're
out there. Doing, that.
Speaker 7 (44:38):
Yeah, it varies but that is right for most of
our big game species except, for antelope which are spring or,
excuse me summer surveys where we're trying to get an
idea of fawn production and so we can react to
changes in the population for the upcoming fall.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Away Gotcha, uh so when when these biologists are going
out in, the plane uh to do to? Do account
are they focused On one they're they're like each flight
has the goal of doing a survey for one species
or are they kind of gathering into all the information
(45:20):
they can or what's kind of the process most?
Speaker 7 (45:25):
Of them most of the surveys are designed to collect
data on. One species so, for instance some of the
pictures here are during winter, elk surveys And The missouri
river breaks of course at high elevation in. Those photos
but uh so the primary target and, Is elk but
(45:47):
biologists do record what we would, call incidentals sightings or
observations of, meal deer, you know other. Species encountered uh the,
elk survey we do also a bighorn cheap survey at the,
same time so that is a dual.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Purpose survey, But gotcha and what's the actual? Counting process,
look like like is are they sitting up there with
a clicker, or like how are they doing the? Actual
counting are these are these guys just good enough they
can like look at that photo right there and, be,
like man that's like thirty.
Speaker 3 (46:24):
Right, THERE.
Speaker 7 (46:28):
Yeah i challenge you to count elk once they get
past about thirty to fifty in. A. Bunch. Yeah it
so there's a couple couple things that the biologists. Will
do so, you know the idea is to get the
(46:48):
animals on a side profile that that helps us not
only count how, many animals but then they're. Also classifying
they're looking for how many calves are in, the bunch
how many bulls or bucks or in. The bunch so
oftentimes it's finding a group of animals and. Circling them
(47:09):
if they're in a super cub, for example if they're in,
a helicopter you're kind of moving with, the herd but
both trying to count and trying, to classify and so
it's a bit of. A process you might spend, you
know five ten minutes with a group until you really
get a sense of what's in. The group sometimes photography.
Speaker 2 (47:33):
CAN help i was going to ask you if that plays,
a role like you come back later and count from
pictures that.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
You're, taking, yeah, yeah yeah it's hard to get the
classification data from. A photo sometimes, you can but the
photo really helps. Verify that, you know it's, a snapshot
you can. Count it when you have almost four hundred
elk in a group and you're trying to count that
and they're, all moving that's.
Speaker 5 (48:00):
Pretty.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Difficult gotcha so one of the main other than getting
the lowdown on how these, surveys works the main reason
we wanted to talk to you Today IS montana fwp
was recently forced to close hunting for bighorn Sheep in
district six twenty two after a really drastic decline in
(48:26):
cheap numbers in that unit in. Recent years how many
sheep were in, that unit say ten, Years.
Speaker 3 (48:35):
Ago.
Speaker 7 (48:39):
Yeah so sheep numbers in that district have ranged between
one hundred and fifty and three hundred animals that we
observe on. The survey our population objective is about two,
hundred animals so obviously it kind of varies through.
Speaker 4 (49:01):
The.
Speaker 7 (49:01):
Years yep so ten years ago we had over three
interren animals and.
Speaker 2 (49:04):
Gotchaulation things but things were looking good, back then maybe
too many in.
Speaker 7 (49:10):
That, unit, yeah yeah that really signaled to us to
be a bit, more aggressive especially with you harvest and
provide a lot of either sex or ram harvest at,
the time and so we were, pretty aggressive allowing quite
a few hunters access to hunting there and trying to
bring it back to about two, hundred cheap which we
did for a period of about five or.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
Six years and so how many when you went out
there to do your survey. This spring i'm sure you
guys that were already aware that there was a decline,
going on but this spring when you did your, aerial
survey how many sheep did you guys see in. That, unit.
Speaker 7 (49:49):
Yeah we were prepared for, a reduction but probably not
what we saw and that was.
Speaker 3 (49:55):
Five wow.
Speaker 7 (49:56):
Five rams no hunters us fall had kind of had
some trouble, finding cheap so we knew something was.
Speaker 2 (50:04):
Going on and what is? Going on what's the main
driver for the decline in? That, unit.
Speaker 7 (50:13):
Well it is, Disease related uh. You know we we
were able to get some samples from both hunter harvested
sheep last fall an additional sample. This spring pneumonia is
a driver here visible pneumonia in the lungs of several
animals in some recent lab work from. Those samples, you
(50:39):
know there's a number of bacterias and pathogens in, the
herd and we've known that, for years but this is
the first time. We've detected one of the key ones
is michael plasma, ova pneumonia so we did detect that
in the herd for the. First time, so yeah it's
it's a. Complex thing there's a lot of a lot
(51:01):
of bugs that can affect sheep and. Respiratory health and
it looks like you hit them hard in six two.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
And and so the habitat there is in good shape,
like that that's not playing a role at. All, here yeah.
Speaker 7 (51:17):
Habitet's good, you know we see the ups and downs
with drought of rights a couple of years of dry
conditions and we see lamb production suppressed during those times
and then they. Bounce back, but yep so no overlying
habitat issues that.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
We see So Like i've i've spent a little bit
of time up in that part of, the STATE and
i know there's, sheep nearby you know where these sheep
kind of dropped off. To nothing is there a concern
about the sheep and units that are adjacent to six,
(51:52):
twenty two where these these sheep at a really. Tough, time.
Speaker 7 (51:58):
Yeah. It, Did this this die off did cause us
to do just a quick check on those, neighboring herds
and it looks like we're not seeing the same thing. Happen,
there thankfully we have a pretty. Good separation there's about
forty to fifty miles between, those populations so we can
(52:23):
expect to have minimal interchange between those populations, of sheep
but it. Can happen rams do go wandering, at times
but at this point we don't have any major concerns for.
Those populations.
Speaker 2 (52:39):
Is there any hope for recovery in six? Twenty two
will those well we'll sheep from those adjacent units maybe,
fill in or will you guys maybe get active and
putting sheep back? In there are you just gonna like
kind of see. What, HAPPENS.
Speaker 7 (52:58):
Yeah a common question and. GOOD question i would say
there's a lot of decision points between.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
Here, and yeah what's The early.
Speaker 7 (53:07):
We're probably on about step two of ten and where
do we go with? This HERD and i think at
this point we really need to know more about, you
know where did work you know them ov it appears
to be a, new strain and so learning more about
what does?
Speaker 3 (53:26):
That mean.
Speaker 7 (53:29):
And then there are a few individuals and we've learned
of a few other individual sheep that hunters and recreationists
have seen. Out there so now there's a handful of,
sheep left so it would be good to know what
is what is their status before we take any. Additional.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
Steps, gotcha well thanks a lot for talking. TO us
i know this is not necessarily the happiest discussion, to
have but it's important for people to know what's going on.
OUT there, i mean you're talking about like a pretty pretty,
well known pretty well regarded area for. Sheep hunting it's
(54:08):
a place people, you know dream about drawing a big.
Horn tag so hopefully the future's got got some bright
spots in it for those sheep.
Speaker 7 (54:16):
Up, there, yeah YEAH and i hope. So too, and,
yeah well we'll certainly be working hard to see if
we can't recover that, that heard it's still, good habitat
and you know we have we have a lot of
support to. Do.
Speaker 2 (54:32):
That, Great, great Well, thanks scott it's been good talking,
to YOU and i hope you have a, Great Day,
Thanks scott thank.
Speaker 7 (54:38):
You guys, All, right.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Phil who made the best food in?
Speaker 3 (54:44):
THIS room i would love to let, you know let's end.
This poll in third place with sixteen percent of, the
vote It Was krins steer A.
Speaker 2 (54:52):
Fry, yeah correct that got.
Speaker 5 (54:54):
My vote that.
Speaker 3 (54:55):
Look good and now in second place with thirty percent of,
the vote It was brody sand which making with fifty
two percent of. THE vote i feel like that's.
Speaker 4 (55:09):
The Yeah taco bell. Bear point that's the way to.
Speaker 5 (55:13):
EVERYBODY'S heart a little Two Am.
Speaker 2 (55:15):
TACO bell i, GUESS man i.
Speaker 5 (55:17):
Guess, rough well, thanks everybody just as good as.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
It looked we got any other feedback to check? In With, philm,
well yeah.
Speaker 3 (55:25):
If you want to want to answer a few, more,
Questions yeah i'm going to answer this one for ban
unless current has some uh specific examples From The meat,
eater PODCAST but i can't think. Of any but there
might be some black bear. Hunt Recap so, ben asks
is there a podcast of voted to diy over the
counter black bear Hunts, in Montana like Degrees, of difficulty.
(55:45):
ET cetera i would direct you to The wonderful Cutting the,
distance podcast which is hosted by our Good, Friend jason Phelps.
And dirk, but yeah you can go through that. Whole
catalog i'm not sure if he has a specific black
Bear in, montana ONE but i can all guarantee if
you go even further Back When remy warren was, the
host you'd probably be able to find some stuff there.
(56:06):
As well because that's. The, podcast well you're going to
find some very, specific instances specific situations and how to cut.
The distance it's kind of the whole thing in. That
Podcast so i'll check.
Speaker 5 (56:17):
That, out agreeed go back into the archives on. That
one remy has multiple podcasts just related, to that Maybe not,
montana Specific but western. BEAR hunting.
Speaker 3 (56:27):
A lot of Questions. For krin this one's from this One's.
From andreas they all have a. Similar theme how why
she started working at a company Like meat eater with minimal?
Speaker 4 (56:37):
Hunting experiences putting me on. The spot i'll make. This
short my background is in journalism and. NEWS production i
Moved to montana seven some, years ago came Upon, meat
(56:57):
EATER and i guess the background parlayed INTO what i,
Do now but the subject matter was, did not and
the culinary aspect of meteor was always appealing. TO me
i grew up eating all, the Things as i've stated throughout,
(57:18):
the Years and i've loved the outdoors and just was
was open to open to what meat eater was. Was
doing and and.
Speaker 2 (57:31):
You'd probably never Have you have you even shot? A gun? I?
Speaker 4 (57:35):
Had, yeah yeah, my dad. My dad my dad's hobby,
is firearms so so indoor range Stuff, wasn't yeah but long,
distance rifle all of that was new.
Speaker 2 (57:45):
To Me.
Speaker 4 (57:47):
Uh, AND yeah i WAS just i was just open.
To It and i've loved every bit. Of it i've learned.
So much i'm so grateful to all of my colleagues for.
The mentorship i'm GRATEFUL that i have full FREE and
i get to get outside and do this for. A living, so.
Speaker 2 (58:04):
Yeah seven, years later you're just a stone cold Killer,
in yeah.
Speaker 3 (58:08):
FOR sure i think that's one of our most viewed
look clips. On YouTube is you shooting the Hog?
Speaker 4 (58:14):
In? Texas yeah, oh, GOSH oh i get all.
Speaker 3 (58:19):
Over again and this Is also i'll, say too that's
a Credit to Steve finding Kreng because steve actively looks
was looking for people and still does look for people
that are outside the kind of usual, hunting bubble like
who are people that are just killers at. Their jobs
who who are outside of this. Whole industry so. Good,
point yeah let's. See here, Devin, asks Hey Is dan
(58:46):
flores Is The american west an extension of the mediater
podcasters or is it going to be an upcoming? Book
release looks? Really, good uh, FIRST question i would say
it's it's neither an extension of the podcast or an upcoming.
Book release it's going to be on its. Own feed
so if you haven't checked, it out the trailer is.
Up now Historian Author, dan Flores Who tot Steves Do
(59:06):
tot randall At the University, of montana has a brand.
New podcast it's all About The, american west but not
sort Of like Cowboys And. Monument valley it's it's, going,
deep deep further into into. Deep, time first first people's
history of the, land itself the animals that have been
there and will be there and. Are there it's gonna.
(59:27):
Be great we've we've recorded a bunch, of episodes getting
cracking on them now in the first episode Launches, on
tuesday the Sixth Of.
Speaker 4 (59:34):
Main tuesday so everybody. Please, subscribe yeah.
Speaker 3 (59:38):
Big thing it's on its. Own feed it's on its.
Own feed so you're going to have to do some
very minor googling or clicking of links in. Podcast descriptions
we Should just. I'll link i'll make a link in
the description of. This, show yeah media to radio a,
lot today a link to The New Dan Floores American.
Speaker 4 (59:54):
West feed and there will also be accompanying video episodes
on right here on.
Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
The, YouTube, Yeah, Yeah yeah we've got some visuals that
go along with with the, Show too so check it
out on YouTube. As well and it's not going to
be an upcoming, book RELEASE but i will direct You
To dan floores's whole bibliography that that's not the. Right,
way yeah especially his his, last book which Was. Wh,
catalog yeah. It's catalog check. It out very super super,
(01:00:22):
nice guy. Incredibly smart it's gonna be a. Good show
samantha asks Or, says phil don't skip everyone's questions. For
you mogor asked question for. The team when you're in
an area with the game species that requires a lot,
of glassing what do you use? Against mosquitoes the big.
Mosquito question you guys have any go To, Tips man,
(01:00:44):
Go ahead Cory.
Speaker 5 (01:00:45):
A man last couple springs have been, pretty brutal bear
glass and glass and for bears and trying to swap
mosquitos at the. Same time i'm usually prepping my clothes
with some permethron, for tics but it also works well.
For mosquitoes it kind of works. For mosquitos they still will.
GET you i don't have a, great tip just keep
(01:01:06):
swatting them or. MOVE around, i mean.
Speaker 2 (01:01:08):
Like in, the fall it's just like in this part of,
the country it's just not. A PROBLEM but i have Hunted,
in alaska like tail end of summer, early fall where
mosquitos and these little things called white sox teeny little
biting flies and and really like a headnet and gloves
(01:01:32):
is like like you can put all the deet on
in the world in that situation and they're they're still
going to get. To you, BUT yeah, I mean i
know it's not practical for glassing to have a, headnet
ON but i mean other than permethne and deep there's
not a whole lot you.
Speaker 5 (01:01:49):
Can, do yeah wear clothes down, works well even if it's.
Speaker 2 (01:01:52):
Hot out you can wear, is uh as long as
you're like glass and far off and it's not going
to disturb, The critters like build a fire.
Speaker 5 (01:02:01):
There you go smoke. Him out woke.
Speaker 2 (01:02:02):
Him, out yeah that's a, good point hope for. A.
Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
Breeze cool. Good, QUESTION well I guess, i will just
because so many people are Asking if, i'm going uh
turkey hunting at all this. This year nick says we'll
fill tea engineer be hunting turkeys. This season he's. PRETTY serious,
I have. I have i have no plans CURRENTLY because
i always feel weird asking people to to take to take.
(01:02:25):
Me hunting but do you KNOW what i would love,
To do and because he's not in, THE room i
don't feel weird. About it and because he's also never
shot a turkey yet as FAR as, I know i'd
love to go Out with randall because because we are
we are both. Turkey virgins there's a video, right, there
boy go follow you. Two Around, so randall if, you're
listening this is my weird passive way of asking you
to take take me out.
Speaker 6 (01:02:47):
Better.
Speaker 5 (01:02:47):
LISTENING cool i thought.
Speaker 3 (01:02:50):
That was a pretty, good. Show, guys yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:02:52):
Super interesting before, we, GO though i got a little.
LITTLE announcement i want to let people know that the
paper back edition of our Number One New york, times
bestseller our Kids Book, Catch crayfish Count the stars is
coming out in Paperback on may, twenty seven so it's
(01:03:13):
just in Time For father's day and summer vacation for.
The kids and if you're not familiar with, the book
it's it's a book that's full of dozens of activities
that are going to get your kids off screens and
get them outside and doing cool stuff out in the.
Speaker 3 (01:03:27):
Natural world if you.
Speaker 2 (01:03:30):
Bought, the, hardcover great we. Appreciate it buy the, paperback
too because your kid's priority destroyed. The hardcover if you
haven't bought, the hardcover then get the. Paperback now it's
a really. Cool book it's got a bunch of great illustrations,
in it and my kids. LOVE it i don't know
if your kids have gotten into, it yet if they're
old enough yet, Or, not corey but it's just it's a.
(01:03:52):
Great book and you can Get on amazon and pre
order that thing now so it'll be at your door
of the day it.
Speaker 5 (01:03:58):
Comes, out, yeah, man winter my kid opened up the
book and the first thing he saw was how to
build a fish tank in? Your house ye stocking, a
yeah and, uh yeah we did not go find some.
Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Little, perch well now is the time to.
Speaker 5 (01:04:12):
Do that, right. Now right that was a. Winter, project,
yep yep that.
Speaker 2 (01:04:16):
Was fun, so yeah that's it for, today's. Show folks
good luck to everyone that's headed out turkey hunting or
bear hunting, this weekend and we'll see you.
Speaker 3 (01:04:25):
Next.
Speaker 2 (01:04:25):
Week, audios thanks
Smell us now, Lady, Welcome to Meet Eater Trivia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to Meet Eater Radio Live. It's eleven am Mountain
Time on Thursday, May first, and we're live for Meat
Eater HQ and Bozeman, Montana. I'm your host, Brody Henderson,
and I'm here today with Corey Calkins and Crin Schneider,
who is busy checking her stocks just recently. We'll talk
more about that later maybe if we have time. On
(00:47):
today's show, we're going to talk about our Dad sheep
with Corey Krin and a special guest from Texas Parks
and Wildlife. We're also going to get a field report
from some of our favorite turkey hunting gurus. After that,
we'll share some wild game meals we've made recently, and
we're gonna wrap it up by speaking to a Montana
Regional Wildlife manager about aerial big game surveys and a
(01:12):
bighorn sheep hunting closure here in Montana. That's gonna that'll
be pretty interesting. It's also kind of a bummer, but
hopefully we'll get some good news out of it too.
Before we get in the show, I want to send
out another request all of our dedicated diehard fans to
submit a photo of their fed up old truck for
(01:35):
our twenty twenty six calendar. We're still looking for images
of unique hunting trucks, and for the folks who are
watching today's episode on YouTube, Phil just put up an
example a kind of hunting rig we're looking for. We're
getting a lot of good ones, we're getting some not
so good ones, and we're getting some bad ones. But
(01:57):
this is this is like a prime exam ample of
what we're looking for.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
That's right, and Brady, this is what we're not looking for.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
That is what we're not looking for.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
I understand.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, there's just like some confusion on the left up
part of it.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Yeah, that's effed up, all right.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Also the formatting is wrong. See I thought about it.
I thought about fixing it, but then I decided that's part.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Of the Yeah, we don't need pictures of wrecked trucks
and ditches, So uh, send us something like that first picture.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
And uh, what was that classic looking red truck with
a dead with a big old.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
Gobbler, a couple of big spotlights on the front.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, I mean that's a that's a hunting rick.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Yeah, you're not sneaking up on any elk in that thing?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Is that a fresh killer? Do you think the guy
drives that hunting rig with the bird on.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
The front all the time fresh kill? I think yeah, probably,
but I wouldn't doubt there's been a deer on that
hood well.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
As a matter of fact, that gentleman sent us picture
of that same truck with another good picture some bucksworthy.
Oh yeah, man, we're gonna have to We're gonna have
to take a look at all of them. But here's
the deal. Send us a picture of your truck to
Fucked Up Old Trucks at the mediater dot com, and
(03:13):
over the next few weeks, we're gonna kind of get
a collection of I don't know, fifty to one hundred
of the best pictures we get. We're gonna put those
on the website, and then you can go vote for
the rigs that actually make the calendar, so you you'll
have a hand in deciding which pictures get in the calendar.
The people who get their rigs in the calendar are
(03:36):
gonna get a sweet prize package two hundred and fifty
dollars Mediater store gift card that's good across all all
the mediatter brands. You're gonna get a free BHA membership
and BHA is gonna throw in some additional swag. The
calendar is gonna come out in a few months, like
late summer, early fall. And here's why you gotta buy it,
(03:58):
because we're donating two dollars from the sale of each
copy of the calendar to BHA to help them keep
fighting all these attack never ending attacks on our public lands.
So it's all it's going to a good cause. You
put that thing up in your garage and you feel
good about yourself, so send us your pictures. We need
(04:18):
more folks moving on. You guys, Krinn and Corey a
little jealous. You just went to go to the like
West Texas Desert Mountains to hunt for our dad, So
I want you to give us a rundown of that hunt,
(04:39):
and then we're gonna be joined by a guest from
Texas Parks and Wildlife to talk about some of the
problems that these non native sheep are causing for native wildlife.
But first, just just give us a rundown of your hunt.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Yeah, let's see, Krinn, her significant other, Matt, and myself
were invited down to West Texas by doctor Phil Loretzki,
who's been on the Meteor podcast and this show more
than once. The Duck DNA Turkey DNA guy good friend
of ours. He invited us down to hunt odd ad
(05:12):
on the Indio Research Indio Mountain Research Station, which is
right on the border of Mexico, right on the Rio
Grande in the trans Pacos region of West Texas. There. Yeah,
we hunted two full days. Gratefully it wasn't as hot
as it normally is in early April down there. We
got really lucky and never saw tempts over seventy degrees.
(05:35):
I don't believe the first day we killed two ewes,
which was kind of our primary goal down there, was
to do what we can to minimize the odd ad
population on that ranch by taking a few ewes females.
There's Curris my boyfriend Matt with a beautiful ew right
(05:57):
at last light. That was pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
That's some cool looking country man.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
It was. It was way more rugged than I expected.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Did you get any a step on, any rattlers or
get any cactus spines in your ass?
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Definitely some cactus in the bus.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Was it ste or I forgot who it's like? Who
said something about like the down there, like the thorns
having thorns, you can't you couldn't grab hold of anything.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Everything wants to bite you, stingya.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It's all spot in stock.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
Yeah, yeah, all spot in stock. We drove around a
little bit inevitably to find the sheep. We had to
put a lot of miles boots on the ground and
uh yeah, we killed those two ewes on day one
and then day two, Karinn, Phil and I went out
and glassed up this group of twenty three odd ad
on this the high it was actually the highest point
on the ranch, forty thousand acre ranch, and we were
(06:44):
able to stalk in. Took a couple hours to stalk
into four hundred yards and I was able to put
down this beautiful ram and Karin actually harvested a nice
sub adult ram as well. But in front of us
is the recently euro mounted you.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
There was a lot of fun to euromount. Actually you
got to pop these horns off, uh, and then you
can boil the skull bleached it kind of glistened up
the horns and then glued him back on beautiful mount.
Thank you. Yeah, but the the you meat is delicious,
very blown away by the texture and the flavor of
the meat. The rams a little tougher, but got about
(07:27):
one hundred pounds of meat off the ram.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, they're burly animals, they really are.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
He probably before we field dressed and weighed about three
hundred pounds, so he wasn't easy to roll around. We
did make some there's a photo up of us making
I think that was the ribs off of my ew
over the fire as we packed up camp made some
great last Steve here he'd be.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Tearing you up about how you're saying you oh you
oo ooh you you you?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
What did I say?
Speaker 7 (08:03):
You?
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Phil?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Who me?
Speaker 7 (08:05):
You?
Speaker 6 (08:06):
Audio?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Classic?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
So you guys had a good time we did.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
It was a hell of an experience.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
And tough hunting. Tough hunting for sure, tough.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
To meaning tough physically.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Tough, tough for yeah, maybe toughest for me. But yeah,
the it's it's really punishing territory, I mean, and those
those animals are robust to be able to live out
there striving. They eat forage, cactus. Maybe there's a little
bit water, a little bit of water here and there,
but yeah, they're it's tough tough to hunt them.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Well, that's a great segue into our first interview. Our
first guest is Texas Parks and Wildlife Desert Big Horn
Sheet program leader Freulin Hernandez Brolin. We got you on
the line.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Yep, no, thank you for having me on the show.
Glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
So Freudlan, these oudad are you'll also hear them called
barbary sheep there. They're native to northern and western Africa.
But yeah, in decades past they've been cut loose in
places like New Mexico and Texas to provide additional hunting opportunities.
(09:22):
Can you give us like a brief history of the
out ad population in West Texas and then we'll get
into why there's such a big problem for desert big
horn sheep.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Yep, yep no, So again, thank you for having me. Uh.
Speaker 8 (09:37):
You know, ironically the text Sparks and Wildlife brought him
in back in the mad thirty fifties. They brought him in,
as you say, as an additional game species, and there
was also some private reintroductions and I know they were
up in the in the final Luto Canyon of the
Panhandle of Texas and then some in the in the
in West Texas. And at that time, I don't think
(10:00):
anybody envisioned that they would do as well as they've done.
And so now they occur in all the mountains in
West Texas, they occur up in a Poolutle Canyon, and
again in a Panhandle and also in Central Texas. And
they've done really, really well just in the in the
trespakers of Texas. We estimate that there's probably twenty to
twenty five thousand odd that in those West Texas mountains.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So there's twenty five thousand of those suckers out there.
What's your best guess on like a historic high population
of like how many big horns used to occupy the
mountains of West Texas?
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yep.
Speaker 8 (10:40):
Well, And so back in the eighteen eighties there were
estimates of hunting a fifteen hundred, twenty five hundred, not
up there even three thousand, and up until recently, about
five six years ago, we had hit that historic kai again.
We were seeing fifteen hundred animals, fifteen hundred big horns
in the West Texas mountain. In twenty nineteen, we've got
(11:02):
a first disease event and we are now, uh, we've
lost over fifty percent of the herd now we've got
about six hundred to seven hundred of big horns in
the state, when just five years ago we were up
to again the eighteen eighty levels.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
And and that disease event that that's pneumonia.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
I'm guessing correct, that's the No, We've had three independent
disease events since twenty nineteen, and that's the Michael plasma
of pneumonia or the mov that causes pneumonia.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Are so are the ourdad transmitting that to the big
horns or the ourdad just out competing them for resources?
Like what kind of problems are the ourdad actually causing
for the native desert big horns in Texas.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
It's a it's a combination of those two things and others.
Speaker 6 (11:56):
But those two things and so the add that do
carry that in.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
We've done research in pen conditions, pen setting and the
odd that are able to transmit that bacteria to the
desert big horns.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
We have not definitively proved that in a wild setting.
Speaker 8 (12:16):
We've tested thirteen different mountain ranges in West Texas, and
in all thirteen mountain ranges we have found that all
that carry that bacteria and in some cases up to
sixty percent of the animals that we've sampled carry that bacteria.
Speaker 6 (12:32):
So it's a it's a.
Speaker 8 (12:33):
Huge problem from a disease standpoint.
Speaker 6 (12:36):
The competition.
Speaker 8 (12:38):
They completely outcompete the big horns, not just through because
of numbers, but also they're just a bigger, hardier animal.
They hoard the big horn ewes and and push off
the big horn rams and so ad that rams create
their own big horn hairm type of deals.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
So they're socially disruptive. I mean, it's it's it's just
you name it. You know. They just outcompete, the outcompete
the big horns.
Speaker 8 (13:06):
And that's just from a competition standpoint. In the numbers
that they occur, they just devastate the habitat. There are
places that the countryside has almost peeled to the ground
and that's simply just a density result of the high
densities that they're they carry in yep.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So this is like a problem that's not necessarily unique
to Texas, but Texas is I think something like ninety
eight percent private land, and the area where these our
dad are living is also almost exclusively private land. And
you've got a lot of landowners that are charging folks
(13:47):
to go hunt for our dads. So my question is like,
can a hunting really have an impact and is it
a challenge with getting landowners on board to really knock
back those out aut numbers through hunting.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
Well?
Speaker 8 (14:04):
And so, uh, you got two things going on there.
One is the hunting aspect of it, and uh, it's
supplemental income for for landowners. But just from a sheer
number perspective, a density perspective, hunting alone is not going
(14:24):
to reduce the numbers down the levels that aren't detrimental
to the habitat or that they don't compete with our
native unculates and and and so when you have twenty
to thirty thousand big horns out on the landscape and
only a few hundred big horns, I mean it, it's
a well, it's just it's just a huge, huge challenge
(14:49):
for us for us to overcome.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
I will say that the mindset is changing.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
Landowner mindset is changing, and they are recognizing that the
odd dead not only uh have negative impacts on our
big horns, but but also on on mule deer.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
And we're looking at that.
Speaker 8 (15:07):
Yeah, so we've got research looking looking into that. And
so you got you know, the odd ad out competing
the big horns. They're also uh you know, wreaking havoc
on muleier populations and the habitat, and so landowners are
are are finally realizing that, uh, too many out of
that on the landscape are detrimental. So we don't want
(15:28):
we Texas Parks and Wailave would like to see all
of that gone, but realistically that's not a that's not
a realistic goal. And so we're working with landowners to
lessen those densities adreakys those densities, the levels that that
aren't detrimental to our native ungulates or the habitat.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
What what's that kind of work look like?
Speaker 9 (15:47):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (15:48):
I mean, like, do you see a potential of ourdad,
you know, getting knocked back to the point where there's
a healthy desert big horn population again? And like what
kind of human human intervention does that involve.
Speaker 8 (16:06):
It's gonna it's gonna require partnerships. I mean that there's
no two ways about it. It's gonna require partnerships with
parks and Wildlife, with landowners, with NGOs, with the hunting community.
Speaker 6 (16:17):
Uh to be able to address that.
Speaker 8 (16:19):
You know that that monumental challenge, and it's not gonna
happen overnight. And and it's again, it's gonna require everyone
getting on that same ship and saying, Okay, we've got
to do something. Uh, we've got to decrease the population
all that populations, uh dramatically for for there to be changed.
And and again I'm pretty optimistic. I like to consider
(16:40):
myself an optimistic person. Uh, but I do realize I'm
also a realist, and I do realize that it's not
gonna happen overnight. And so we got our work cut
out for us. And when I say we, I'm not
just talking Texas parks and wildlife. I'm talking landowners, NGOs,
a hunting community.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
You know, just everybody's gonna.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
Have to get on board to be able to to
move in a in a positive direction.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Great, So can you crystal ball a future for desert
big Horns and say twenty years like even like if
you're being super optimistic, like you, you like like what
you would like to see eventually happen now?
Speaker 8 (17:20):
And so my goal uh, and I'm charged with with
that responsibility. But my goal, professional and personal goal is
is to see the West Texas Mountains, all of the
West Texas Mountains that are considered uh historical big horn
range for them to be occupied by big horns, and
so can we do that?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Yeah, absolutely we can.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
We can do that, but again, as I mentioned, we're
all gonna have to you know, kind of roll up
our sleeves and get the work. We just did a
capture and translocation from our only clean soares in the state, and.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
That's Elephant Mountain.
Speaker 8 (17:54):
Whilefe bataging area, we captured seventy seven big horns. We
took them over, translocated them to the Franklin Mountains which
are situated within El Paso. And and you know, we
hope that that population there does well, it takes hold,
it becomes you know, sustainable on its own, and then
it grows and we're able to do capturing and translocations
(18:16):
off of their two other mountain ranges. So uh, you know,
again I'm optimistic that we're able to do that, but
we need to address all that densities first.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Gotcha you mentioned some n g O s Uh, what
are some menos people can throw a little cash towards
to help out.
Speaker 8 (18:35):
You know, two of our greatest partners are the Texas
Bayhorn Society and the Wildsheet Foundation. You know, we've we've
you know, they've been with us through thick and thin.
They've supported us, you know, financially as well as logistically.
So those two organizations are you know, have been at
the forefront with us, you know, trying to trying to attack.
Speaker 5 (18:56):
These these issues.
Speaker 8 (18:58):
But then you also have you know, in fact that
was at a conference just last week and talking to
some folks from uh Grand Slam Club, Ovist. We got
the Texas Wileff Association, Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club,
any conservation organization. Uh, they lend a hand. But our
two greatest partners is the Texas Big Horn Society in
(19:18):
the Wallsheet Foundation.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Great. Okay, last question, Freulan, how did get a bad
raps table fair? What's your what's your favorite way to
eat those things?
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Man?
Speaker 8 (19:29):
I love them, I love them and and they and
they do they do get a bad rap. And I
think they get a bad rap because most of the
animals that are harvested are are tough old rams and
so as you might suspect it's it's it's probably not
as tasty as as a lamber or you.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
And so Corey was mentioning that, uh, you know, I heard.
Speaker 8 (19:49):
That he he harvested a couple of years and they
were a great taste to Manna.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
I love them. I grew up on gold. I love
it to me. It tastes very similar to goat.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
You know you got you can do it and be
yeah you can, uh you know, do some steaks, you
name it. I've done some sausage that processed my own
meat and so I've done some odd that sausage and
that's the best eating sausage that I've had so far.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
So now they're good eating out. I would like for
people to try them a little more.
Speaker 8 (20:15):
Maybe change that perspective or change that uh, change that attitude.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Yeah, for sure, I want to come down there and
have you cook for you.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna hit you up for some
recipes after you jump off the line.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
Absolutely, yeah, from down I'll yeah, you know, y'all come down.
I'll definitely burn some meat for y'all.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Well, great froul and thanks for checking in with us
and and and learning us up on this. It was
it was real interesting talking to you.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Yeah, man, drive safe now, you bet. Thank y'all again,
appreciate what y'all do. H your interest in getting the
story out. Man, it's it's awesome. Y'all do great work.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Great thanks man, have a good day, you think likewise.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Gosh, that's really interesting. I didn't realize that the odd
ad rams gather big horn females.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah, I think he Yeah, I mean I think he
was more saying they like push like push him out,
but they're real aggressive.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
Well, I guess there is evidence that the will gather harems.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
And then the big horn rams just can't get to them, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Yeah, gotta wonder if yeah, out competing just stuff in
their blood to be kind of bullies and they think
they're all bad ass the bullet hits them.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, Will you guys make me want to go down
there and hunt them?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Now?
Speaker 2 (21:34):
It's pretty fun, but I'm a turkey hunter this time
of year. And uh, next up, we've got some regional
turkey hunting reports. Oh it's music to my ear. Wow,
it's my favorite favorite two sounds.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
In the world. Well, he's goblin.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
We got uh, We're gonna check in with Giannie, Brent
and Doug and get a report from those guys.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
First, All right, turkey report from southern Colorado Giannis putell
Us and Steven ronello. As you can see, we've got
a couple of dead birds. We actually had three in
the last three days. But the turkey hunting has been tough.
We found him on the roost. They've gobbled good on
the roost. Once they hit the ground, they've been silent.
(22:26):
We killed two of the latest birds we've ever killed.
The one fellaw that was here for the TRCP hunt
killed a bird at about seven thirty seven forty and
I killed a bird almost by at eight o'clock last night. Now, Steve,
anything to add to that.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
No, it's been tough.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
They're they're glued to the hens. You know, guys will
be like, oh, they're all hand up, but glued to
the hens. The turkeys we've killed, I mean to be
honest with We've had to bushwhack our turks.
Speaker 6 (22:57):
We've had to like hunt them like spot in stock
turkey hunting.
Speaker 7 (23:02):
After a lot of calling attempts, a lot of calling attempts.
Speaker 9 (23:08):
I'm hunting at one of my most favorite places with
some of my most favorite people. It's Missouri turkey season
week two. Yesterday, first day that I got here, it
rained all day. It was cold and miserable, and my
hunt was cold. And miserable. But I was turkey hunting,
and that beach work any day. No goblin from the roost,
(23:31):
no goblin from the ground. They didn't even see a
goblin where I was hunting.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
This morning, a new day, a new hunt.
Speaker 9 (23:40):
No goblin from the roost, just a little bit of wind, cloudy.
You would think they had been goblin, but is luck
would have it, you didn't. So it was discouraging, to
say the least. But if you stick with it long enough,
if you're going to be a turkey.
Speaker 6 (23:53):
Hunter and you're committed to being a good one.
Speaker 9 (23:55):
You gotta stay with it as long as you can.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Sometimes he is a virtue.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
It's goblin time in Missouri.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
Well we're hearing the report from stan what's that? What
did you hear down there? You morning after?
Speaker 6 (24:18):
Wow? How about before? I heard a couple of them?
Speaker 10 (24:24):
Huh? Well, so fight it down is the report from
southwest Wisconsin. I still think that if you're out hunting
turkeys in this area, the best thing you can do
is find a spot where they're likely to be wanting
to move, and be patient and stay there. We certainly
employ that strategy at the first part of the season.
(24:47):
Really sitting in blinds or finding a location and finding
a good tree to lean up against and stay on,
but keep the running and gun into a minimum minimum.
We've done really well with that strategy. We're seven for seven.
Keifer is the first one so far. It hasn't got one,
but this was just the first day of it. It's
April thirtieth, the first day of season, seeing Wisconsin, and
(25:12):
that is the report from here. Be patient and stay
after him.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah, nice, thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Man. I don't know about Johannis and Steve. Maybe they're
not good at Collin turkeys. Everyone else is getting them.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Yeah, it was interesting while they're flaying some breasts on
the tail. Yeah, but they had to earn him. It
sounded like it looked like it was hot down there.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Yep, yep. I've been out a couple times here in
Montana season open to fifteenth. I killed one opening day
like classic, you know, gobbling on the roost, gobbling a
little on the ground, and then worked on him for
an hour and killed him. And then went out last
week and got a couple with my boys. So it's
(25:52):
like it's been good here in Montana. It's I mean,
it's always the thing where they gobble like crazy on
the roost and slowed down for a while, And it
seems like an hour after they hit the ground, the
hens leave them and the goblin picks up.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
So like it's it's.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Been good here. That's that's really all I can say.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Yeah, it sounds like there's been a lot of success
around the office. Yeah, yeah, opening day especially.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
And man, I think it's like any other kind of hunting,
Like someone's hunting one spot, it's like, Eh, they're not
gobbling here, And like you talk to someone who's hunting
ten miles away or twenty miles away, and they're like, God,
they're gobbling like crazy. They came running in. So like
regionals is a regional reports good? But I like, I
think it's like real important to like know what's going
(26:41):
on on a like micro level local level too.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
We went turkey hunting. I this is only a second
time I've ever gone. We saw four different hens, came
real close, but no.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Gobbles, no goblins, gobbles. You haven't been out you're you've
just been out there.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Yeah. I like to kill a bear before I go
turkey hunting, which should have one down in twenty four hours.
How to buddy miss one last Friday. It's a long shot, though,
make sure your dope's accurate.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
There you go, there's a good.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Tip, hot tip.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
All right, Phil, What do we got on the listener
feedback here?
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Oh yeah, just a reminder let's get some questions in
for the hosts, especially if they're specific to any of
the hosts. Prody Krin Corey. We had this question last week,
but it's a whole different crew this week, and it's
a popular question I've noticed, But the dubster is asking
for those favorite turkey recipes other than standard frying. I'm guessing,
(27:39):
like you know, I hear about nuggets all the time,
and schnitzel that was the popular.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
That's all.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
It's like, six is different versions of frying turkeys. They're
all good. Something I like to do, that's like my
whole family loves is just slow cook braise those thighs
and drums and wings. Like it's a pain in the
ass to cut turkey wings off of those birds, but
(28:05):
it's worth it. Like you get two wings off of
a gobbler and there's like a significant chunk of meat
off of those wings. So you throw all that stuff
in some stock raise it for however, long. It takes
five six hours. Then you then you pull all that
stuff off the bone and just make tacos out of it.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What's a flavor profile that you're normally doing that?
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I mean flavors, Yeah, citrus and cumin, a lot of that.
And you can fry that stuff that that that pulled
meat and get a little crisp on it.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
That sounds yeah. Go to the meat eater website and
look for Danielle Pruetz tequila turkey tacos. That's my favorite
way to eat those legs.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
M This one is something I know nothing about, but
Jeremy asks. He says, I've been I've recently been hunting
pigs in close cords with a lever three fifty seven
as anyone else had success with hunting with a pistol
caliber rifle. Cheers from either Australia or Austin or Austria,
(29:10):
We don't know. He cut off the word there.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
But you know, I've never never done it. I don't
see why it wouldn't work great if you were shooting
them up close.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Yeah, never tried that.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Thank God, we don't have pigs up here yet yet.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Brandon asks Brodie what was more fun competing on Meat
Eater Roast or judging on the show.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Obviously, it's like it's just way more relaxing judging, But
it was fun cooking too. I don't know. I liked
him both. You know, you got Steve and Jesse were
a little harsh with their judging. I got thick skin.
(29:51):
I liked him both. I'd like another crack at the
cooking though.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Yeah, this is gonna be a Brodie specific question, I'm sure,
but Nick asks what advice does the crew have for
someone trying to get their first turkey in Pennsylvania? Definitely
three years zero turkeys, he says.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
I would I don't know, Like Pennsylvania is a big
ass state with a lot of different kind of country.
You could be hunting turkeys on a twenty acre chunk
of private or you could be hunting thousands of acres
of state forest. So like, I don't know, man, if
(30:27):
I was hunting in the middle of the state where
there's a lot of public land, I would kind of
look at it like elk hunting out west and just
like hike into some stuff that's just not getting hunted.
But I don't know if that's that's nixt situation here.
If there's turkeys around and you're hunting a small chunk
of private, take Doug's advice and just like, find a
(30:50):
good spot where there's turkeys passing through and just sit
there as long as you can and just call now
and then, and eventually something good's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Cool, let's see here. Jacob asks, Hey, Corey, I was
going turkey hunting this weekend and I might see a bear.
I was going to carry my slug barrel too. I'm
using a twenty gage. Do you think if I keep
it under one hundred yards, I'm assuming I could kill
a bear.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Man, I'd get even closer than that. It's a long
shot with a slug fifty yards.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
Yeah, just the idea of having to, like, oh there's
a bear, change barrels and then all it's like that.
I'm not telling him not to do it, but he's
making life awful difficult.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
Yeah. I've done that before. I've carried shotguns around and
a bow on my back because tis the season for
both turkey and bears to be on the docket for hunting.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
But if you were hunting a spot where you could
run bears with hounds, Yeah, there you go. That slug
gun work just fine.
Speaker 11 (31:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Shoot him out a tree, yeah yeah, yeah, I get tight. Man,
that's a one hundred yards would be tough unless you're
that confident. But I'd say get right in there and
shoot him in the forehead.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
McKenna is asking you, guys, what caliber you used for
your on your odd ad hunt.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
I had a three hundred wind mag very trustworthy caliber
I've used since I was twelve.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
I brought my six', five which would have been, fine
but THEN i Used corey's rifle just because of the whole.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
Situation, yeah it was All we were set up on
this rock pile surrounded by cactus and just found like
the one little body shaped size that didn't have, cactus
AND i shot mine and the odd. Ad most of
the Odd ad went off the, cliff but a couple
stayed there And kringe jumped up onto my gun that
the dope was dialed and, everything and.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Got rifle that sig cross the saw. Tooth, yep you
run a suppressor on. It, yep got The so the
recoil didn't bother you with that suppressor, On.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
No not at. All normally recall coil doesn't bother me
too much for for any kind of bigger Guns i've
shot suppressed or. Not that normally doesn't bother me. Much
but a six' five would have been fine, for that
and probably a couple of other calibers would have been.
FOR that i probably would have shot up used my
three h eight too on. That hunt that would have worked.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
For sure, all right we'll do one more here for,
this segment and we'll move it. Along here this is the, Big.
Question karinn but this is, For. You karin what is
your most memorable? MOMENT outdoors i think we can narrow
that down to the last six years, or so since you, working,
HERE well.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I would honestly have to say bits of this recent odd.
AD hunt i think because it was, so so so challenging,
for me traumatizing now.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
It was it was just.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
Really tough at ONE point i was probably close to.
Being dehydrated the the heights and the incline were pretty terrifying,
for me so. Definitely memorable there was a POINT where i, was,
like SO so i guess weekend buy it. ALL that, i,
(34:01):
Said like i'm very grateful for, the Experience but i'd
never do. It again and obviously that's not that's not
true Now that i've come. Through it but but that
hunt was was probably up there and then probably my second,
solo Meal. Deer hunt it was just very uh gratifying
(34:21):
to take something on my own that that's always a
little bit of a of a boost to know that
you could be successful out there on. Your own.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
That's huge and there.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
You?
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Go cool is?
Speaker 8 (34:35):
That?
Speaker 3 (34:36):
It phil we've got more, coming in, but yeah, we
can we. Can tackle there's gonna be another segment at
the end of, the show so don't stop submitting questions
and we might tackle a few that people have. Already
asked so, all right it's.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Time For Meat.
Speaker 11 (34:48):
Eater menu in, that said.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
What that's a?
Speaker 2 (35:07):
New, one, yeah excellent excellent job again.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
NEXT week i mean THAT'S when i was editing that,
THIS morning i was just laughing at how that's probably
my most. Dumb one it's. So stupid.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
Those notes made.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Me cry, oh good, All right metior menu is when
our hosts uh cook up a wild wild food dish
and we're gonna share those dishes wish with you and
show you, a picture and then we're gonna do something
a little different. This time we're gonna we're gonna let
the listeners decide who made the best, best meal which
(35:45):
is only based on. A picture, of course you know
you can't, taste it but you know the eyes are
important when you're eating.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Eating foods don't nobody be licking? Their, Computer well.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
I'M glad i didn't end. UP cooking I thought i
may have had time.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
To do why THAT'S what i wanted.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
TO see i just had, a busy.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Busy, week well tell people what you were going.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
To, Do okay so this, past fall a bunch of
us uh with meat eater experiences Fished. In louisiana and
there were we when we were, Cleaning fish STEVE and
i cleaned up some some, fish head AND so i
(36:29):
was going to look into you're, Talking, about well. There's
two so we actually have we have it in our
in our in. Our freezer here we have some ginormous.
TUNEA head i want one. Of those but we we
also cleaned up the heads of of the red fish and.
Some OTHERS so i think there were red fish HEADS
that i brought HOME that i was thinking of doing
(36:50):
some kind of grill.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Or stew there's a surprising amount of meat when you
started digging around and like certain kinds.
Speaker 4 (36:59):
Of fish and the cheeks and, the collar and then
there's ACTUALLY like i, don't know what do you, call it,
FOREHEAD meat.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Nothing else you can make a big batch at. Seafood, stock.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
Yeah and, you know for some people looking at a,
fish head it does not conjure up like that REAL
like i want to. Eat, you yeah, you KNOW but
i mean people people cook hold. THE head i mean,
For me, FOR ME i i associate looking at like
fish head soup with you get in. My BELLY but
(37:39):
i did not make THAT because i didn't. Have time
and instead we are going to show some photos From
the canada goose stir FRY that i made on A
Recent Meat eater. Roasts episode so This Was yannie's canada Goose.
FROM arkansas i believe this is the FIRST time i
(38:01):
had ever. Cooked goose i've never, hunted goose and this,
IS probably i, don't know the Third time i've, eaten
goose so not that much experience with. The bird, and
uh it was a really. Beautiful breast and stir fry
IS something, I mean I guess i didn't really get,
creativity points but sturfries IS something i whip up. At
(38:23):
home it's, pretty easy AND so i, used soy a
little bit of OYSTER sauce i think was in. The
kitchenfries do it.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Perfect for roast because you can just kind of throw it.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Together exactly you can throw any sortied sauce or, sauce
combination uh for. A sturfry so how it. Turned out
so one of the judges was my Dear Friend, linda
huang who Is a, chinese Chef and YANNI thought i
was making a stir fry, TO like i, don't know
(39:02):
make it easy. For MYSELF but i told him it
was actually going to be more Difficult because linda's standards
would be. Very high so she was she. WAS surprised
i was, surprised myself but she was surprised that it
turned out that it turned out as. IT did i
just tried to not overcook.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
The meat THAT'S what i was.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
Ask challenge it, was tender and SHE had I don't
i think that was the first time She's eating canada
goose and she said if she, didn't know she she
would have thought it was, Like, beef.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
Yeah nice what's your garnish? On, that oh.
Speaker 4 (39:32):
There's some scallions and, sesame seeds and then the vegetables
were it was yellow pepper and. Some, mushroom yeah it.
Speaker 5 (39:41):
Looks delicious tough to beat, That.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
One, corey oh.
Speaker 5 (39:47):
Let's see well, Wait here, I'M sorry.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
I couldn't remember how many. Pictures coincidentwave.
Speaker 11 (39:56):
This is here.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
We go, oh, yeah man that looks good, Right now
i've made a Black bear california crunch rap supreme black?
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Bear burger is?
Speaker 8 (40:06):
That?
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Like what kind?
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Of?
Speaker 5 (40:07):
LIKE so i took a black bear shoulder roast and
braised it, for gosh nine hours. Or so kind of forgot, about,
it honestly but that was probably for.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
The best the nice blaze on.
Speaker 5 (40:19):
That, bear yeah from A bear i harvested. Last spring
they call that a. Chevron, chevron yeah it looks like
a wearing a. Good thing he had that going for
him because his back was rubbed off. REALLY bad i
got That late may and he had already rubbed too.
Many trees, but yeah big, old bear fifteen year old
black bear, meats delicious every single morsel. Of it but
(40:41):
this was the last chunk. OF it I figured i
might as well eat IT before i kill another one.
This SPRING but i tried To Copy taco Bells Crunch
wrap supreme and It's the California crunch RAP because i
threw some avocado.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
In, there yeah explain the layering you got going.
Speaker 5 (40:57):
On there, let's see it's bear a crispy, corn, tortilla,
cheese avocados and some hot sauce and then you just
wrap it up all pretty kind of like. A quesadilla
but there's two flour tortillas all pressed and heated and
warmed and melted. And gooey AND then i got a
little not homemade salsa to go with, it there Ripping Off.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Taco bell you don't need. Homemade, salsa oh it was
pretty easy To Outdo. Taco, bell, yeah great.
Speaker 6 (41:29):
All right.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
The old. Fried turkey we were talking about fried turkey
just a minute ago that there is a fried. Turkey
SANDWICH so i just you take a lobe or half
of a turkey breast and slice that against the grain
and get your cutlets and then just pound those. Things
OUT then i like to soak them in buttermilk for a,
(41:52):
little while and then, it's uh you throw like one
layer of the, breading on get them in a. Dry
breading then you dip them in an egg egg milk
wash and then get another layer of that breading. On
THERE and i did these in my. Deep frier you
can do them in a in a cast, iron pan,
you know with whatever half an inch of grease in.
(42:12):
THE bottom i did these in the. Deep, friar honestly
this is how in my family we eat most of
our turkey breast meat because my boys. Love it it
actually stretches it out more than making just a big batch,
of nuggets like we always have leftovers for extra sandwiches
(42:33):
from one. One lobe, very simple and it's just like
a solid meal that my. KIDS love i love. It
too and that's. A buffalo i think It's Like frank's
buffalo wing sauce.
Speaker 3 (42:47):
On there, All right i'm gonna put a pole up
in the live chat. Right now who had the best
meat eat or? Menu dish Was it Krins, Stir, Fry
canada Goose, Stir Fry Corey's black California crunt Rap Or
Brodie's Fried. Turkey sandwich and.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
We're just gonna come back to.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
That later how about after the interview with our, next
guests we'll check.
Speaker 5 (43:10):
IN there i don't know if anyone's paying attention or
they're all Talking to spencer in.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
The, chat, Yes yeah spencer is always lurking, in, THERE
man i don't.
Speaker 5 (43:17):
Like.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
It okay our next Guest Is, Montana fish Wildlife And
park Region Six Wildlife Manager. Scott, thompson scott, YOU there
i am Mayor got welcome to, the show and thanks
for chatting with. Us, today yeah.
Speaker 7 (43:38):
You bet thanks for, The.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Invite scott can you tell us about your ROLE with
fwp conducting aerial big game surveys In? Northeast, montana.
Speaker 6 (43:49):
Yeah you.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
BET so i am the regional wildlife Manager for. Region.
Six uh that area is a huge northeast Corner of
montana For About north dakota over to The Sweet grass
hills about halfway over to. The front so my ROLE
is i have the privilege of leading a team of.
(44:11):
Wildlife biologists they get to do most of the fun
work in the field in the backseat of the supercub.
Counting critters in my, PREVIOUS life i did a lot
of that for about FOURTEEN years i was an area biologist. As, well,
so yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:29):
And you guys do those aerial big game surveys like
late winter? Early spring is that typically the time you're
out there. Doing, that.
Speaker 7 (44:38):
Yeah, it varies but that is right for most of
our big game species except, for antelope which are spring or,
excuse me summer surveys where we're trying to get an
idea of fawn production and so we can react to
changes in the population for the upcoming fall.
Speaker 5 (44:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Away Gotcha, uh so when when these biologists are going
out in, the plane uh to do to? Do account
are they focused On one they're they're like each flight
has the goal of doing a survey for one species
or are they kind of gathering into all the information
(45:20):
they can or what's kind of the process most?
Speaker 7 (45:25):
Of them most of the surveys are designed to collect
data on. One species so, for instance some of the
pictures here are during winter, elk surveys And The missouri
river breaks of course at high elevation in. Those photos
but uh so the primary target and, Is elk but
(45:47):
biologists do record what we would, call incidentals sightings or
observations of, meal deer, you know other. Species encountered uh the,
elk survey we do also a bighorn cheap survey at the,
same time so that is a dual.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Purpose survey, But gotcha and what's the actual? Counting process,
look like like is are they sitting up there with
a clicker, or like how are they doing the? Actual
counting are these are these guys just good enough they
can like look at that photo right there and, be,
like man that's like thirty.
Speaker 3 (46:24):
Right, THERE.
Speaker 7 (46:28):
Yeah i challenge you to count elk once they get
past about thirty to fifty in. A. Bunch. Yeah it
so there's a couple couple things that the biologists. Will
do so, you know the idea is to get the
(46:48):
animals on a side profile that that helps us not
only count how, many animals but then they're. Also classifying
they're looking for how many calves are in, the bunch
how many bulls or bucks or in. The bunch so
oftentimes it's finding a group of animals and. Circling them
(47:09):
if they're in a super cub, for example if they're in,
a helicopter you're kind of moving with, the herd but
both trying to count and trying, to classify and so
it's a bit of. A process you might spend, you
know five ten minutes with a group until you really
get a sense of what's in. The group sometimes photography.
Speaker 2 (47:33):
CAN help i was going to ask you if that plays,
a role like you come back later and count from
pictures that.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
You're, taking, yeah, yeah yeah it's hard to get the
classification data from. A photo sometimes, you can but the
photo really helps. Verify that, you know it's, a snapshot
you can. Count it when you have almost four hundred
elk in a group and you're trying to count that
and they're, all moving that's.
Speaker 5 (48:00):
Pretty.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
Difficult gotcha so one of the main other than getting
the lowdown on how these, surveys works the main reason
we wanted to talk to you Today IS montana fwp
was recently forced to close hunting for bighorn Sheep in
district six twenty two after a really drastic decline in
(48:26):
cheap numbers in that unit in. Recent years how many
sheep were in, that unit say ten, Years.
Speaker 3 (48:35):
Ago.
Speaker 7 (48:39):
Yeah so sheep numbers in that district have ranged between
one hundred and fifty and three hundred animals that we
observe on. The survey our population objective is about two,
hundred animals so obviously it kind of varies through.
Speaker 4 (49:01):
The.
Speaker 7 (49:01):
Years yep so ten years ago we had over three
interren animals and.
Speaker 2 (49:04):
Gotchaulation things but things were looking good, back then maybe
too many in.
Speaker 7 (49:10):
That, unit, yeah yeah that really signaled to us to
be a bit, more aggressive especially with you harvest and
provide a lot of either sex or ram harvest at,
the time and so we were, pretty aggressive allowing quite
a few hunters access to hunting there and trying to
bring it back to about two, hundred cheap which we
did for a period of about five or.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
Six years and so how many when you went out
there to do your survey. This spring i'm sure you
guys that were already aware that there was a decline,
going on but this spring when you did your, aerial
survey how many sheep did you guys see in. That, unit.
Speaker 7 (49:49):
Yeah we were prepared for, a reduction but probably not
what we saw and that was.
Speaker 3 (49:55):
Five wow.
Speaker 7 (49:56):
Five rams no hunters us fall had kind of had
some trouble, finding cheap so we knew something was.
Speaker 2 (50:04):
Going on and what is? Going on what's the main
driver for the decline in? That, unit.
Speaker 7 (50:13):
Well it is, Disease related uh. You know we we
were able to get some samples from both hunter harvested
sheep last fall an additional sample. This spring pneumonia is
a driver here visible pneumonia in the lungs of several
animals in some recent lab work from. Those samples, you
(50:39):
know there's a number of bacterias and pathogens in, the
herd and we've known that, for years but this is
the first time. We've detected one of the key ones
is michael plasma, ova pneumonia so we did detect that
in the herd for the. First time, so yeah it's
it's a. Complex thing there's a lot of a lot
(51:01):
of bugs that can affect sheep and. Respiratory health and
it looks like you hit them hard in six two.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
And and so the habitat there is in good shape,
like that that's not playing a role at. All, here yeah.
Speaker 7 (51:17):
Habitet's good, you know we see the ups and downs
with drought of rights a couple of years of dry
conditions and we see lamb production suppressed during those times
and then they. Bounce back, but yep so no overlying
habitat issues that.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
We see So Like i've i've spent a little bit
of time up in that part of, the STATE and
i know there's, sheep nearby you know where these sheep
kind of dropped off. To nothing is there a concern
about the sheep and units that are adjacent to six,
(51:52):
twenty two where these these sheep at a really. Tough, time.
Speaker 7 (51:58):
Yeah. It, Did this this die off did cause us
to do just a quick check on those, neighboring herds
and it looks like we're not seeing the same thing. Happen,
there thankfully we have a pretty. Good separation there's about
forty to fifty miles between, those populations so we can
(52:23):
expect to have minimal interchange between those populations, of sheep
but it. Can happen rams do go wandering, at times
but at this point we don't have any major concerns for.
Those populations.
Speaker 2 (52:39):
Is there any hope for recovery in six? Twenty two
will those well we'll sheep from those adjacent units maybe,
fill in or will you guys maybe get active and
putting sheep back? In there are you just gonna like
kind of see. What, HAPPENS.
Speaker 7 (52:58):
Yeah a common question and. GOOD question i would say
there's a lot of decision points between.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
Here, and yeah what's The early.
Speaker 7 (53:07):
We're probably on about step two of ten and where
do we go with? This HERD and i think at
this point we really need to know more about, you
know where did work you know them ov it appears
to be a, new strain and so learning more about
what does?
Speaker 3 (53:26):
That mean.
Speaker 7 (53:29):
And then there are a few individuals and we've learned
of a few other individual sheep that hunters and recreationists
have seen. Out there so now there's a handful of,
sheep left so it would be good to know what
is what is their status before we take any. Additional.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
Steps, gotcha well thanks a lot for talking. TO us
i know this is not necessarily the happiest discussion, to
have but it's important for people to know what's going on.
OUT there, i mean you're talking about like a pretty pretty,
well known pretty well regarded area for. Sheep hunting it's
(54:08):
a place people, you know dream about drawing a big.
Horn tag so hopefully the future's got got some bright
spots in it for those sheep.
Speaker 7 (54:16):
Up, there, yeah YEAH and i hope. So too, and,
yeah well we'll certainly be working hard to see if
we can't recover that, that heard it's still, good habitat
and you know we have we have a lot of
support to. Do.
Speaker 2 (54:32):
That, Great, great Well, thanks scott it's been good talking,
to YOU and i hope you have a, Great Day,
Thanks scott thank.
Speaker 7 (54:38):
You guys, All, right.
Speaker 2 (54:42):
Phil who made the best food in?
Speaker 3 (54:44):
THIS room i would love to let, you know let's end.
This poll in third place with sixteen percent of, the
vote It Was krins steer A.
Speaker 2 (54:52):
Fry, yeah correct that got.
Speaker 5 (54:54):
My vote that.
Speaker 3 (54:55):
Look good and now in second place with thirty percent of,
the vote It was brody sand which making with fifty
two percent of. THE vote i feel like that's.
Speaker 4 (55:09):
The Yeah taco bell. Bear point that's the way to.
Speaker 5 (55:13):
EVERYBODY'S heart a little Two Am.
Speaker 2 (55:15):
TACO bell i, GUESS man i.
Speaker 5 (55:17):
Guess, rough well, thanks everybody just as good as.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
It looked we got any other feedback to check? In With, philm,
well yeah.
Speaker 3 (55:25):
If you want to want to answer a few, more,
Questions yeah i'm going to answer this one for ban
unless current has some uh specific examples From The meat,
eater PODCAST but i can't think. Of any but there
might be some black bear. Hunt Recap so, ben asks
is there a podcast of voted to diy over the
counter black bear Hunts, in Montana like Degrees, of difficulty.
(55:45):
ET cetera i would direct you to The wonderful Cutting the,
distance podcast which is hosted by our Good, Friend jason Phelps.
And dirk, but yeah you can go through that. Whole
catalog i'm not sure if he has a specific black
Bear in, montana ONE but i can all guarantee if
you go even further Back When remy warren was, the
host you'd probably be able to find some stuff there.
(56:06):
As well because that's. The, podcast well you're going to
find some very, specific instances specific situations and how to cut.
The distance it's kind of the whole thing in. That
Podcast so i'll check.
Speaker 5 (56:17):
That, out agreeed go back into the archives on. That
one remy has multiple podcasts just related, to that Maybe not,
montana Specific but western. BEAR hunting.
Speaker 3 (56:27):
A lot of Questions. For krin this one's from this One's.
From andreas they all have a. Similar theme how why
she started working at a company Like meat eater with minimal?
Speaker 4 (56:37):
Hunting experiences putting me on. The spot i'll make. This
short my background is in journalism and. NEWS production i
Moved to montana seven some, years ago came Upon, meat
(56:57):
EATER and i guess the background parlayed INTO what i,
Do now but the subject matter was, did not and
the culinary aspect of meteor was always appealing. TO me
i grew up eating all, the Things as i've stated throughout,
(57:18):
the Years and i've loved the outdoors and just was
was open to open to what meat eater was. Was
doing and and.
Speaker 2 (57:31):
You'd probably never Have you have you even shot? A gun? I?
Speaker 4 (57:35):
Had, yeah yeah, my dad. My dad my dad's hobby,
is firearms so so indoor range Stuff, wasn't yeah but long,
distance rifle all of that was new.
Speaker 2 (57:45):
To Me.
Speaker 4 (57:47):
Uh, AND yeah i WAS just i was just open.
To It and i've loved every bit. Of it i've learned.
So much i'm so grateful to all of my colleagues for.
The mentorship i'm GRATEFUL that i have full FREE and
i get to get outside and do this for. A living, so.
Speaker 2 (58:04):
Yeah seven, years later you're just a stone cold Killer,
in yeah.
Speaker 3 (58:08):
FOR sure i think that's one of our most viewed
look clips. On YouTube is you shooting the Hog?
Speaker 4 (58:14):
In? Texas yeah, oh, GOSH oh i get all.
Speaker 3 (58:19):
Over again and this Is also i'll, say too that's
a Credit to Steve finding Kreng because steve actively looks
was looking for people and still does look for people
that are outside the kind of usual, hunting bubble like
who are people that are just killers at. Their jobs
who who are outside of this. Whole industry so. Good,
point yeah let's. See here, Devin, asks Hey Is dan
(58:46):
flores Is The american west an extension of the mediater
podcasters or is it going to be an upcoming? Book
release looks? Really, good uh, FIRST question i would say
it's it's neither an extension of the podcast or an upcoming.
Book release it's going to be on its. Own feed
so if you haven't checked, it out the trailer is.
Up now Historian Author, dan Flores Who tot Steves Do
(59:06):
tot randall At the University, of montana has a brand.
New podcast it's all About The, american west but not
sort Of like Cowboys And. Monument valley it's it's, going,
deep deep further into into. Deep, time first first people's
history of the, land itself the animals that have been
there and will be there and. Are there it's gonna.
(59:27):
Be great we've we've recorded a bunch, of episodes getting
cracking on them now in the first episode Launches, on
tuesday the Sixth Of.
Speaker 4 (59:34):
Main tuesday so everybody. Please, subscribe yeah.
Speaker 3 (59:38):
Big thing it's on its. Own feed it's on its.
Own feed so you're going to have to do some
very minor googling or clicking of links in. Podcast descriptions
we Should just. I'll link i'll make a link in
the description of. This, show yeah media to radio a,
lot today a link to The New Dan Floores American.
Speaker 4 (59:54):
West feed and there will also be accompanying video episodes
on right here on.
Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
The, YouTube, Yeah, Yeah yeah we've got some visuals that
go along with with the, Show too so check it
out on YouTube. As well and it's not going to
be an upcoming, book RELEASE but i will direct You
To dan floores's whole bibliography that that's not the. Right,
way yeah especially his his, last book which Was. Wh,
catalog yeah. It's catalog check. It out very super super,
(01:00:22):
nice guy. Incredibly smart it's gonna be a. Good show
samantha asks Or, says phil don't skip everyone's questions. For
you mogor asked question for. The team when you're in
an area with the game species that requires a lot,
of glassing what do you use? Against mosquitoes the big.
Mosquito question you guys have any go To, Tips man,
(01:00:44):
Go ahead Cory.
Speaker 5 (01:00:45):
A man last couple springs have been, pretty brutal bear
glass and glass and for bears and trying to swap
mosquitos at the. Same time i'm usually prepping my clothes
with some permethron, for tics but it also works well.
For mosquitoes it kind of works. For mosquitos they still will.
GET you i don't have a, great tip just keep
(01:01:06):
swatting them or. MOVE around, i mean.
Speaker 2 (01:01:08):
Like in, the fall it's just like in this part of,
the country it's just not. A PROBLEM but i have Hunted,
in alaska like tail end of summer, early fall where
mosquitos and these little things called white sox teeny little
biting flies and and really like a headnet and gloves
(01:01:32):
is like like you can put all the deet on
in the world in that situation and they're they're still
going to get. To you, BUT yeah, I mean i
know it's not practical for glassing to have a, headnet
ON but i mean other than permethne and deep there's
not a whole lot you.
Speaker 5 (01:01:49):
Can, do yeah wear clothes down, works well even if it's.
Speaker 2 (01:01:52):
Hot out you can wear, is uh as long as
you're like glass and far off and it's not going
to disturb, The critters like build a fire.
Speaker 5 (01:02:01):
There you go smoke. Him out woke.
Speaker 2 (01:02:02):
Him, out yeah that's a, good point hope for. A.
Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
Breeze cool. Good, QUESTION well I guess, i will just
because so many people are Asking if, i'm going uh
turkey hunting at all this. This year nick says we'll
fill tea engineer be hunting turkeys. This season he's. PRETTY serious,
I have. I have i have no plans CURRENTLY because
i always feel weird asking people to to take to take.
(01:02:25):
Me hunting but do you KNOW what i would love,
To do and because he's not in, THE room i
don't feel weird. About it and because he's also never
shot a turkey yet as FAR as, I know i'd
love to go Out with randall because because we are
we are both. Turkey virgins there's a video, right, there
boy go follow you. Two Around, so randall if, you're
listening this is my weird passive way of asking you
to take take me out.
Speaker 6 (01:02:47):
Better.
Speaker 5 (01:02:47):
LISTENING cool i thought.
Speaker 3 (01:02:50):
That was a pretty, good. Show, guys yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:02:52):
Super interesting before, we, GO though i got a little.
LITTLE announcement i want to let people know that the
paper back edition of our Number One New york, times
bestseller our Kids Book, Catch crayfish Count the stars is
coming out in Paperback on may, twenty seven so it's
(01:03:13):
just in Time For father's day and summer vacation for.
The kids and if you're not familiar with, the book
it's it's a book that's full of dozens of activities
that are going to get your kids off screens and
get them outside and doing cool stuff out in the.
Speaker 3 (01:03:27):
Natural world if you.
Speaker 2 (01:03:30):
Bought, the, hardcover great we. Appreciate it buy the, paperback
too because your kid's priority destroyed. The hardcover if you
haven't bought, the hardcover then get the. Paperback now it's
a really. Cool book it's got a bunch of great illustrations,
in it and my kids. LOVE it i don't know
if your kids have gotten into, it yet if they're
old enough yet, Or, not corey but it's just it's a.
(01:03:52):
Great book and you can Get on amazon and pre
order that thing now so it'll be at your door
of the day it.
Speaker 5 (01:03:58):
Comes, out, yeah, man winter my kid opened up the
book and the first thing he saw was how to
build a fish tank in? Your house ye stocking, a
yeah and, uh yeah we did not go find some.
Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Little, perch well now is the time to.
Speaker 5 (01:04:12):
Do that, right. Now right that was a. Winter, project,
yep yep that.
Speaker 2 (01:04:16):
Was fun, so yeah that's it for, today's. Show folks
good luck to everyone that's headed out turkey hunting or
bear hunting, this weekend and we'll see you.
Speaker 3 (01:04:25):
Next.
Speaker 2 (01:04:25):
Week, audios thanks
Host
Steven Rinella
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