November 20, 2025 • 37 mins
Joe Thomas from The Outdoor Channel with tips and tricks for Firearms Deer Season, plus Ducks Unlimited and the TIP Program.
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Speaker 1 (00:29):
Well, did you get your deer yet? Don't you love
that conversation? It is the Indiana Outdoor Show, and I
am your host, Brian Pointer. So great to visit and
be in the studio this Saturday, as we do each
and every Saturday. Thank the stations that carry us. We
appreciate them and we appreciate you sharing a little bit this.
(00:49):
Hopefully you're on your way somewhere to field them for
us this weekend. If you liked warm weather and stiff winds,
you enjoyed opening weekend. But by all accounts, a lot
of deer were killed and a lot of folks put
venison in the freezer. So it was successful, including our
camp where some of the young ones, some of the youngsters,
the second gen folks got their opportunities this year and
(01:10):
it was so enjoyable to see that. But don't you
love the conversation, have you got your deer? It's almost
like it's commonplace if you go out, people expect that
you're going to end up with some venison, and that
always hasn't been the case. And with that, we are
so thrilled to bring Indiana Outdoors and talk about this
(01:31):
great part of Indiana heritage. A lot of festivities, traditions,
hunting camps. It's all good. We're going to get right
to it with our good friend Joe Thomas, one of
the hardest working guys in the outdoor is super nice
Ohio next door native. He is pursuing one of his
local bucks that he's identified, so we're going to have him.
(01:52):
But he is the host of American Archer and Reel
in the Outdoors, which is currently both underway this time
of the year, and Joe's as soon as Joe's done,
we're going to try to track down the new development
director in Indiana for Ducks Unlimited.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Rj.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Suffin's going to join us, and we're going to visit
with our law enforcement friends, Lieutenant Bobrick at the end
of the show. Safety first, plus it's always great to
hear the message about the tip program, which I know
he's very much a part of. So as you can see,
we got a lot to do. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show.
Joe Thomas is ready, and when we come back, it's
the Indian Outdoor Show. Indian Outdoor Show rolls on. What
(02:43):
a perfect time of the year, and we are in
the second weekend of Indiana's gun season Indiana Outdoors. Of course,
here each and every Saturday, we're brought to you by
our friends at Indiana Donor Network, driven to SaveLives dot org.
You can sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy the hunting and fishing license and
if you haven't gone to buy that license yet new
system here in Indiana and by all accounts very user friendly,
(03:07):
but it's if you're used to the old we've got
a new one, hopefully a better one and more convenient
for everybody, So give yourself a little extra time. I
love this time of the year. I think most hunters
do because everything kind of comes together full circle at
this time in November, where a lot of folks maybe
haven't been out in field or for since last year.
(03:28):
So we bring in some of our favorites who are
longtime contributors to the Indiana Outdoor Show, and none better
than our good friend Joe Thomas. And Joe's got a
couple of his shows in mid season right now. We'll
get to that in a little bit, But Joe, anytime
I can get you on the phone this time of
the year, you're one of the most prolific outdoor hunters.
(03:51):
You're a great archer, and I know you've got a
passion for deer hunting. So how have you been and
what have you been up to.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I've been great, And this is you're right, man, this
is my favorite.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I mean, the whitetail rut is just rolling on right now.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And and for me, that's southern Ohio. You know, I
live in one of the best counties in southern Ohio
for whitetail hunting.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
And uh, you know, you got.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Claremont and then Brown County and Adams along the Ohio River.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
They're all super good.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And uh so I'm blessed to be where there's a
lot of really big deer and in the hunting's good
and there's a lot of deer. But that comes in
with a with a curse too, because when you live
where there's big deer, you set the bar high. And
and you know, I've been in fortune enough the last
couple of years to kill what I would consider to
be my target buck.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And uh you have.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
To spend a lot of time to do that, and
my wife would say an insane amount of time.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
And I'm right in the middle of that right now.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And I think the other day, I passed one of
my camera men looked down at.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Me and just shook his head like he didn't even
have to say a word. He's just like, you're an idiot, dude,
I know you are.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I love that it gives such It makes us do
what we do. Whether you're young or old, male, female,
doesn't matter. That pursuit is what makes hunting, especially the
ruts part of the season here where you've got so
many things happening, and especially if you if you've got
(05:19):
your eyes on one and it becomes an obsession. You
think about it when you wake up, and you think
about it when you go to bed, when you're in
the tree, you should have been there yesterday, et cetera.
So I can understand how it just rolls.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
It is and it's the ultimate game.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, in trail cameras and stuff, you know,
love them or hate them, you know they've contributed to
that because we know what's there now, and it does
take away a little bit of that you.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Never know aspect of hunting.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But you know, for us in Ohio to our you know,
our gun season is late. We don't come intil after Thanksgiving,
So that whole rut period is all archery, very low
pressure to the deer, and I just I really, I
just love it, you know, I really enjoyed. I like
the whole this is the strategy of the whole thing.
But yeah, it's it's just a great time to need
(06:04):
to be out there, and I've been really putting in
the time and having a good time with it.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
We're visiting with Joe Thomas and I've prefaced already. You
are host a popular host by all accounts on many
of your different shows, but right now you've got the
American Archer going on as well as you host Real
in the Outdoors and you've been a long time on
both of those. Is it hard to keep coming up
(06:30):
with new content and different angles? I can't imagine going
in each and every episode. You're kind of a real guy,
you know, you show the flaws, you show all the
good and the bad. But does it come hard to
make good TV out of all that?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Well, you know, I would say number one. You know,
right now is the time you know we're trying. I'm
trying to flip flop back and forth between filming.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
We're always a year ahead.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We're filming a year ahead, so everything I'm filming now
is for next fall for real and the outdoors and
American Archer and so literally before you know we spoke,
I was actually texting with a good friend of mine
down Rob Jordan, down on Lake Lanier, and he's saying,
you need to get down here the top water by
big spotted bass on top water. And those are the
(07:14):
kind of people that are so invaluable to me. And
the same with the hunting, you know, I you know,
next week I'll go to Kansas and I've got a
great friend out there that's got some property, and you know,
it all starts with with with good situations and good
people and and.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
But it's a non stop process. I mean, we're filming,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Quite a few episodes of both shows and huntings a
little bit harder because it just takes longer, but when
you know, it's it's a NonStop process. And I spend
as much of my time doing the mining for opportunities
as I do anything.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Joe Thomas is our guest, and you cut your teeth
in the outdoor world and your television as a professional
bass fisherman. You're tremendously dedicated archer, wildly popular American Archer
and here you are in a hot game pursuit in
your own backyard. I love this story. What tips do
you have for people this time of the year. Do
(08:08):
you think the rut? You know, we're close enough over
here in Indiana. We have these conversations each and every
time I'm in a deer camp. You know the age old. Well,
the rut's already happened. But I like the fact that
Indiana has a very liberal deer season over here, giving
many opportunities from October into January for a variety of
different resources that you can use from muzzloader to gun
(08:31):
to archery and crossbow and everything in between. So I
like that. What's it like over in Ohio these days?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Well, you know the thing is again Ohio, you know,
we have a long archery season before the guns season,
so you know, the deer are really low pressured and
they're doing their thing. And I think the question is
is people has always thought about the rut and temperature,
and the bottom line is is a photo period is
(08:57):
what puts the dose into esters, and that's what makes
the bt bucks rut it doesn't have. It's like the
spawn with the bass, though it doesn't always happen at
the same time, So you're going to always.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Get that searching phase in late October.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You're always going to get that peeking of the rut
and the crazy chasing that we all love that sixth, seventh, eighth,
ninth of November, and then about the eleventh through the seventeenth,
and again it's based on photo period. It's not me
just guessing at this. Then the dose will be receptive.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So you'll have that.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Slow lockdown period where the deer not searching, and then
right before Thanksgiving, which is what we're getting ready to
get into, they start to search again, and so you
got that lull and then it comes back. And so
there's a lot of different opportunities if you just are
willing to play the game.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Really, Joe Thomas is with us, and I love the
fact that we can talk because we're neighbors. Because I
saw so many pictures this last week in Indiana, the
opening weekend of gun season. A lot of folks were successful.
And we also have this conversation. I heard you talk
about pursuing that one that you've targeted, and I know,
(10:07):
if you put the time in the seat and you
do your homework and you study and you do all
that stuff, you increase your chances. But oftentimes, you know,
passing on a deer, as you've said you've done so
many times, is the age old question where a one
buck state. So if a nice deer comes by, the
temptation is always there. It takes a lot of patience
to pursue just that one. And I know you've become
(10:30):
very good at it, But that takes a whole different
set of discipline, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
It does, And sometimes I actually question myself about it
because you know, I just I love that, you know, hunting,
and I love I love harvesting the deer, but it's
it's a chess match when you're when you're trying to
get one, you know.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
One animal. And I'm fortunate to have some private properties
and I'm able to hunt. Not all of us have that.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Some guys are hunting public land, and you kind of
you kind of have to know, you know what that
land's going to be able to give you to. You know,
if a for a real high end buck in that
county in Indiana is one hundred and thirty five inch
ten point, and by golly, when that thirty one hundred
and thirty five inch ten point it comes by you,
you better.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Drop the string or drop the hammer on him.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
And you don't always want to be too picky, I guess,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So let's talk about your shows. What's going on in
American Archer.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yeah, American Archer like this. This week, I just aired
my elk hunt in New Mexico and it's probably one
of the most exciting hunts I've aired in a couple
of years. Lots of bugle and lots of screaming, lots
of craziness. And then next next week, we've got me
in Ohio from last year, chasing the buck. We called
(11:41):
the ticker time Buck and it was kind of a
cloak excuse me, the dagger buck. We got mixed all
of my deer up the dagger buck. He had a
big drop time. And so that's that's what's airing right now.
But I'm actually getting ready to go to Spain week
after next to film for next year for I were
hunting Ibex with a bow in Spain.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
And I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I've been there one time before and I loved it,
and I'm getting an opportunity to go back. So that's
happening and then going to Mexico, down the anglers in
in Mexico on Lake Picachos and film a show for
a largemouth bass, and then trying to get one more
show on Lake Erie for some small mouths. So a
lot of things happen, and in a very short period
(12:24):
of time before it.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Gets too cold.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I was going to say, it's you're you're switching back
and forth. You've led me right into real in the outdoors.
Another popular show that's going on right now. What where
are your travel is going to be taking you? As
you turn the corner. I heard you talking about going
to Spain for the IBEX. That's fascinating. How do you
hunt those?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
That's a spot install hunt, and I really enjoy that,
particularly when you've been sitting in a tree stand or
a ground blind for almost almost a month straight, which
I will have been doing by that time, to get
to go out and you be able to glass them,
and you to be able you play the wind and
make a stalk. They're in the mountainous terrain and it's
a true spot in stall hunt.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
They're very wary, some long shooting involved, but I just
I really dig that. I love that a.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Lot, and so I'm pretty excited to get to do that,
and then I try out to take that for granted.
I mean, this TV show provides me opportunities to do
things I would just never get to do normally in
Spain's one of those.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Well, I spent some time in Spain this summer trying
to do across Spain height called the Camino and spend
a lot of time in rural Spain. I can't imagine
what that experience is going to be like for you.
So I'm excited for that. Where else do you have
on your travel schedules. We talk about the logistics of
(13:42):
being a hunter and your vocation, your vacation and all
these successful shows, but it takes a lot of time.
Where do you take people in the next after the
first of the year, Well.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
As far as the shows are concerned, you know, like
you know, like I said, we did. We went from
Elk to White Tails and then my finale for the
season of my new episodes is Mongolia. And I did
my dream trip back last August to Mongolia for a
different species of Ibex, the Altai ibex.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
And it was my final continent.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Always I want to try to hunt on every continent
that you can hunt them with a bow, And that
was my last piece of the puzzle. And I think
I think people are going to really enjoy that show.
It's it's almost like more of a travelog. I mean,
you're riding the Asian ponies and you're, you know, you're
in the thirteen thousand.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Feet hunting these super wary animals.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
And I think even even if you don't appreciate the
Ibex himself, if you're a hardcore white tail.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Hunter, you may not.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I just think just the challenge of the whole thing,
people will like it. And it's it's one of my
favorite shows.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
All right, let's get right back to the brass here.
And that's we got this weekend and this coming week
and the final weekend here in Indiana. And you still
have hunting opportunities surely as things get colder and the
whole woods change. Any tips for late season that you
like to employ over in.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Ohio, Well, the thing is, you know, Ohio and Indiana
are is completely different in that Ohio is a legal
debate state. In other words, you can put feeders in
salt blocks and things out like that.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
For the deer. Indiana you cannot.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
But I've always really relied on late season food plots,
and I'm a big believer.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
In that late season can be just some amazing hunting.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
And you know, if you have the resources, whether you're
broadcasting it or you're plowing it and putting it in,
you know, the way the big boys do. But Brassicus,
you know, like your your tubers and your radishes and
those type of things that late season they're magic.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I mean, it'll be you.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
You won't think there's a deer on the farm, and
then when you get that first real cold snap and
the sugar level goes into the the roots of those
radishes and turnips and things like that, those those bucks
will come from the deer will come from, you know,
from for miles away literally to dig them up and
eat them, and it can be a really good way
to hunt them in late season.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
That's my favorite.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
We did that at a food plot that I hunt
last year, and I believe they were beats. Maybe they
were radishes, and they're good too. This was this year,
was in Sorghum, a new venture, and I really liked
that late I think that's going to be a great
late season food plot. So I couldn't agree with you
more Joe. I know that your time is so valuable.
(16:27):
You always are generous with us here. But it's not
going to be too long before we're talking about the
Ford Boat Sport and Travel show, where you're always as staple.
You're going to be planning to come back.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yes, actually, I've already, We've already got our dates locked in.
I'm going to be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday of
both weekends.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Oh my, good for you about that.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Yeah, yeah, I'm going to be there a bunch and
I haven't really we haven't revealed them yet, but I've
got some really good young pro anglers coming in as
well that'll be with me there doing seminars some of
the hot young.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Guys on the bass Master's circuit.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
So I'm excited to watch these guys and learn a
little from them while I'm there too.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
You're always so humble and again my compliments are true
in spirit and that you're one of the hardest working guys.
We appreciate your time and friendship here in Indian Outdoors.
I hope you go after and find that elusive buck
that has caused you and your wife's stress and trauma,
the hunting trauma, but you know what, You're gonna go
back and do it again, and I believe in you,
so we look forward to talking about your next success
(17:30):
and always an open phone here in Indian Outdoors. My friend,
you're good.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I'd love I would love to tell you that I'll
send you a picture if I get him. You won't
need a picture because you'll hear me yelling.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I got you know what, I know exactly what that
feels like.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Joe.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Always great to visit with you. Thank you, my friend,
you too, Brian, Thank you. It is the Indiana Outdoor
Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer. We're just
kicking this thing off. What a great way to do it,
our friend, Joe Thomas, it's the Indian Outdoor Show back
right after this Indian Outdoors rolls on. What a great
(18:14):
way to kick it off. Our good friend, Joe Thomas
one of the hardest working guys in outdoor media. He's
one of the most passionate, honest sincere. I just love
the guy and I love his TV and right now
episodes of The American Archer are underway, and his season
finale he already previewed with us. He's going to be
(18:34):
worth it. Plus he goes back and forth. Now he's
doing real in the outdoors and all these other great
shows on the Outdoor Channel. That being said, we are
in the second weekend of deer season, and this is
one of my favorite times, and not only because it's
deer season, but we also have the opportunity for waterfowl
(18:55):
and a lot of people, doesn't matter Field, Forest, Creek,
Stream Pond, and we got a lot of folks out there,
plus some fall fishing. It's still been warm enough and
great fishing across the board. I love to invite our
great partners and friends who have been with us here
on Indian Outdoors. None better than our friends at Ducks Unlimited.
RJ SUTFN just joins us now. RJ new to Indiana Outdoors,
(19:19):
new to Ducks Unlimited, and we always welcome that and
our partnership with them.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Have you been I've been doing great. I've been looking
forward talking to you again.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It's always great to visit with Ducks and this is
a special time of the year for waterfowlers and hunters alike.
And here you've got a new position with Ducks Unlimited
here in Indiana, a very important one. Let's talk a
little bit about r J. Where'd you come from and
how'd you end up in this crazy position?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I reside up.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
In Fort Wayne and spent the last twenty eight years
as a police officer for the Four Wayne Police Department,
and have always been a long time volunteer for Dustlin Limited,
including being the state chairman and state campaign chairman at
recent years. And the position of director of Development came
(20:12):
open and I applied and was lucky enough to accept
up a job offer with them, And I believe it's
going to be a really lucky thing for me that
I'm able to participate in two dream careers during my lifetime.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Well, that makes your vocation, your vacation. You qualify and
you are living the dream. The development director for Ducks
and Limited here in the state a very very important role.
Indiana has a high threshold, a high bar when it
comes to Ducks and Limited. Nationally, we have had two
national presidents from Indiana. We have an incredibly loyal and
(20:52):
diverse donor base and a growing membership in Indiana, and
I have to think that's because there's great leaderships like you,
leaders like you within Ducks Unlimited and all the folks
that are putting on banquets this time of the year
and doing the stuff that puts money in the bank
for the Ducks that stay here. But being a development
(21:12):
director for du in Indiana is a special position, and
I know that one that doesn't come lightly given some
of the achievements that we've had here in this state
in the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yeah, the development position is works hand in hand with
our events side and works with major sponsor gifts and
plan giving with your wills or estates or anything of
that nature. And it is a huge part of the
revenue that we use because, as you know, Ducks and
Limited members believe fully that the money that they give
(21:46):
is going to do good things and is going to
allow them to be able to see the skies filled
with ducks and geese.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Well, I also believe there's a missing component there to
what you said, because Indiana, as I said, is a
very loyal state with duckson Limited. But you know, we're
not necessarily known as one of the major flyways, if
you will, but we have some very loyal folks and
that money that is raised at these events, by and large,
(22:15):
a great percentage stays here in the state of Indiana.
Right back in for conservation efforts, and I'm very proud
of that, and I know you are as well.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, we have been extremely lucky over the last probably
about ten years or so. Just about all of the
dollars that we raise is about the amount of money
that is spent on projects in Indiana. We are constantly
looking for land acquisitions or small wetlands projects that we
can utilize from dearmark things like the license plate fund
(22:47):
for specific use within the state.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I love that. I'm always curious how much does there's
so many license plight now? Is that still a big
revenue source for the organizations, especially the Ducks.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yes, we definitely are seeing. We have yet to see
a year without increases in the number of Ducks Unlimited
Indiana license plates. Every license plate sold is another chink
in the chain. That is dollars that we're able to
use right here within the state, and those dollars for
(23:24):
the license plate are specifically designated to be used only in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Who love that, you know. One of the things that
got me interested in Ducks Unlimited was my dad forty
years ago. I went to a Ducks Unlimited dinner. I
remember it. I remember how I felt. I remembered the camaraderie.
There were so many fond memories, and it really got
baked in and I spent a lot of years running
banquets and doing that. Where did your affinity for Ducks Unlimited?
(23:50):
You talked about your immense contributions so far. Where'd that
all come from?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
You know?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
When I was about fifteen years old, a gentleman took
me on my first duck and goose hunt, and I
was hooked. That followed up that same fall, he took
me to a DUTs and Limited fundraising event up in
Lagrange County, and I was hooked from there on. Been
a supporter and a member ever since. It's really a
(24:16):
great thing when you're a younger kid and you attend
these events and you see the adults getting excited about
winning things and being willing to contribute their dollars to
a great cause and knowing that money is going to
go where it's supposed to.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Well, our jay is our favorite development director. He may
be calling you, but if you're interested, maybe I had
a couple of young people. Here's a very quick story.
One of the mentors that got me involved in duckson Limited.
Outside of my dad, I thought when I was at
twenty something, I got invited to go see Tom Bereford.
And Tom was a longtime leader and giver in the
state of Indiana, recently passed away. Attending his funeral, I
(24:54):
still remember the opportunity when he gave me all the
notes that he could. He welcomed me into his office
and shared with me where and who and how to
start duck hunting in the state. And I believe that's
a culture that is different and Ducks promotes that. And
I'm so glad to see that it was a friend
that took you and you got hooked in the same way.
(25:15):
But I want to make sure if people want to
get involved at a local level, maybe a chapter, maybe
just joining some like minded folks at a dinner, where
do they go and how do they get involved? Beyond
the work that you do on a day to day basis.
Events going on all over the state.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
You know, literally everything. Ducks Unlimited is on the ducks
dot org website. You can look up events to attend.
They're listed by state. You can look at philanthropy type giving.
You can look at greenwy or our youth programs, our
high school programs and college programs, which are becoming very popular.
(25:51):
We have a couple new chapters that we're looking at,
and Purdue a IU both already have current chapters with
unlimited going on right now. So it's really a one
stop shop for everything you need. Ducks Onlimit's with all
the contact information. If you're not finding what you need,
you'll be able to click and you'll be able to
get to a person that you can ask those questions
(26:13):
of RJ.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Don't be a stranger. Always an open phone here for
the ducks, the deer, the turkey, the oaks, the quail,
all of them great conservation organizations, none better than du
and Indiana. We appreciate your new role in leadership and
we look forward to talking to you regularly. Thanks for
being a part of Indiana Outdoors today. All right, my pleasure,
My pleasure, RJ. Suttfan. If you get a call from
(26:35):
he needs your money, the ducks need the money. It's
the Indiana Outdoor Show and I'm your host. We're brought
to you by Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save Lives
dot org. Sign up to be an organized tissue donor.
When you buy that honey and fishing license, don't you
think about going anywhere. We're going to talk to our
good friends in law enforcement. It's the Indian Outdoor Show.
(27:08):
What a great show. They're always great. It's Indian Outdoor
Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer. Brought to
you by our good friends at Indiana Donor Network. So
important to be an organ and tissue donor, so easy
to do. When you buy that hunting and fishing license
you can just check the box or when you go
to the BMV or wherever you're asked to do so
(27:29):
a great gift of life and healing, and we do
thank them for carrying that message. But we started things
off with my good friend Joe Thomas, one of the
hardest working outdoor journalists if you will. He's got so
many great award winning shows, and we caught him mid
pursuit of that one elusive buck. And we all know
(27:49):
when you get honed in on one, how obsessive that becomes.
So my heart feels for you, brother, But if I
know anybody it's going to get it done, it's you.
Also a visit with our friends and a new position.
The new director of Development at Ducks Unlimited here in Indiana,
r J Setfn, joined us and we are always appreciative
with giving our friends in those conservation organizations time on
(28:11):
Indiana outdoors. But none better than our friends in law
enforcement and with me is Lieutenant Bobrink with our Division
of Law Enforcement. It is, Lieutenant. It's always great to
visit with you. How's your season been so far?
Speaker 5 (28:29):
Well for season so far, obviously the weather hasn't quite
played out, I think for the sportsmen as much as
they might like. But yes, our officers are hitting the
ground and running. You know.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I loved the conversation at deer camps of which we
had last year. And I was driving over in the
western part of the state and saw the law enforcement
officers out doing what they wanted to do, and every
part of me wants to stop and thank them for
what they do. But I know they're doing a job
and doing it very well. And it's not like they
just woke up and on October first and said, Okay,
(29:04):
it's archery season, time to go back to work. You
guys are called to do on so many things throughout
the year, and as we have coined the term, nobody's
out to steal anybody's fun. Pie and our officers deserve
our respect and I have to think that our hunters
here in the state when approached, are always respectful, but
you can never guarantee that we thank you for the
(29:25):
hard work that you guys do.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Well, thank you we appreciated. I would say that a
very strong majority of the worsemen that we run into
are good at school hunters out there and sportsmen who
appreciate the service that we provide. And you know, as
little as we want to inconvenience anybody you know, have
a brief conversation, get in there and get out and
(29:48):
let you get back to your activity in the field.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I saw a very sweet picture of what looked like
a father and a son and obviously a law enforcement
officer was probably checking licenses and turned that opportunity in
the picture with the young man and the officer's truck.
It was just so endearing to see that type of interaction.
But we also know things don't always aren't always a
bet of roses. And you know how much I am
(30:13):
a big fan of our tip program, the turn into
Poacher program. We've ended every show here for the last
twenty six years with remember to Turn in a Poacher
and the number one eight hundred tip IDN r We're
in the middle of that right now. But that's a
twenty four hour, three hundred and sixty five day a
year thing. But we have you know, a quarter of
a million people who have bought licenses or more who
(30:33):
potentially are going to be in the woods. That's a
lot of eyes and ears that can help you. How
does that work?
Speaker 5 (30:39):
Well, the way it works is if an outdoorsman or
anybody out recreating an outdoor sees something that they either
believe to be illegal in nature or just unsure or
believe something's just not quite right, they can contact that
number of the one eight hundred tip IDNR and provide
us whatever information they know. You know, Once that happens,
(31:00):
that information gets to our officers, and our officers do
what they do best and they investigate it. Sometimes they
don't pan out and it doesn't amount to anything, and
other times we make very quality cases that we normally
would not have made had it not been for the tipster.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Well, you and I have had this conversation over the
years about what that looks like. And instead of me
trying to filter, well, is this information important or not?
It didn't sound right, make the call because you don't
know that officer may have been working for a very
long period of time and that one little thing that
you just tipped off or maybe said, hey, so and
(31:37):
so this, or I saw this or heard that might
be that one thing that that officer needs to finish
that case.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
You never know, correct, And I don't expect the average
individual to know the letter of the law and to
know the ins and out of the laws. You know.
Lead that up for our officers to do their job
and what they're trained to do. You know, I'm just
going to encourage everybody out there that if you just
don't think something is right, go ahead and call the number.
(32:04):
Let us figure it out, and and that way we
don't let something maybe get away that we should.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Have known about.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Safety is always a key component, and I know that
you guys deal with a lot of accidents hunting very safe.
But you know, maybe it's just my perception. It feels
like we haven't had a slew of falls from trees
or misidentified shots things like that. I don't want to
(32:32):
jinx anything, but it seems like everybody's having a good season.
I haven't seen a lot of those. Is that just
my perception or is that true?
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Well?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
I would say it's a little bit of both. You know,
we have had several and I'm not going to give
any hard facts.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yeah right, tree.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Stand accidents this season, So you know, I'm just going
to preach preach the safety. You know, if you're out
there hunting, make sure you have your hunter orang John.
If you're going to ground blind, make sure it's got
its one hundred and forty four square inches of hundred
orange visible from you know, all sides. If you're going
to be in any type of a tree stand, you know,
(33:09):
make sure you always have your lifeline and you're wearing
your safety harness. And then clearly you know something unfortunately
we shouldn't have to say, but we do say it is,
you know, don't don't use drugs or alcohol when you're
out hunting. You know clearly they IMPERI your judgment, make
be poor decisions.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So but but yes, we have had we have had
several accidents so far, and hopefully hopefully we don't have anymore.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I know that's always painful for the officers to have
to deal with those, and hopefully everybody takes that message
to heart. I don't get up in trees anymore, but
I tell you if you get up on what you
think is that new ladder platform, clip in and harness up,
because there's no reason not to, and you want to
go back and do it the next day. So we've
(33:56):
got a lot of hunting left this fall. We've got
great fishing offices are out there doing what they do.
I would like this generally. I just came to my mind,
are the spots open or filled for the conservation officers?
Do we have a full crew out there or are
we still looking for more. We have a pretty full
(34:20):
crew out there.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
We're very pleased to have the number that we have
right now. But you know, it look like any employment
you have attrition, and we are planning on hiring starting
in twenty twenty six. I do not know at this
point how many we are hiring for, but I do
know that we will have a hiring process.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Good to know. Always an open phone here for you,
my friend. I know you've got a lot going on
this time of the year, as do the other men
and women that wear that green uniform. We thank you
for your service, be respectful, and we look forward to
having you back here in the next go around, maybe
even before the end of the year. So Lieutenant, thanks
for being a part of Indiana Outdoors. Keep up the
(34:59):
great work and best off men and women out there.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I appreciate it, my pleasure. One of our favorites, our
friends in law enforcement, Lieutenant Bowbrink. It is the Indiana
Outdoor Show. I am your host, Brian Pointer, brought to
you by the Indiana Donor Network. Don't go anywhere. We're
going to be back right after this. So little time,
(35:34):
so much to talk about, so much enthusiasm, so much excitement.
I hope that you can feel that this time of
the year, with so many of the seasons going on, waterfowl,
deer hunting, our firearm season well underway. Hopefully this weekend
is a little different. Last week Holy smokes wind warm,
but it didn't put the damper on our deer camp
(35:58):
or many others. It was is one for the ages.
We had some young folks tag their first bucks, their
biggest bucks, so that was always nice and we are
thrilled to be a part of that here in the
Indian Outdoor Studio. Sharing that today with Joe Thomas given
us some late season hunting tips as well as his
(36:18):
own stories. One of the nicest guys in outdoor American
Archer Reel in the Outdoors underway currently in seasons. He
already kind of previewed some of the upcoming which you
don't want to miss.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
R J.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Suttfon our friends at Ducks Unlimited, brand new development director,
great guy, long standing volunteer, always an open phone for
he and the other organizations here spreading the word. Lieutenant
Bobrink given the preaching, the safety tips from law enforcement,
plus remember to turn in a poacher one eight hundred
(36:51):
tip IDNR. Plug it into your phone. Folks, you know
we are excited. We're going to be back out in
the woods here in just a little bit. Hopefully you
are too and Fielder Forest. Remember what we say, turn
in a poacher one eight hundred tip I D N R.
I will see you outside, hopefully somewhere
Well, did you get your deer yet? Don't you love
that conversation? It is the Indiana Outdoor Show, and I
am your host, Brian Pointer. So great to visit and
be in the studio this Saturday, as we do each
and every Saturday. Thank the stations that carry us. We
appreciate them and we appreciate you sharing a little bit this.
(00:49):
Hopefully you're on your way somewhere to field them for
us this weekend. If you liked warm weather and stiff winds,
you enjoyed opening weekend. But by all accounts, a lot
of deer were killed and a lot of folks put
venison in the freezer. So it was successful, including our
camp where some of the young ones, some of the youngsters,
the second gen folks got their opportunities this year and
(01:10):
it was so enjoyable to see that. But don't you
love the conversation, have you got your deer? It's almost
like it's commonplace if you go out, people expect that
you're going to end up with some venison, and that
always hasn't been the case. And with that, we are
so thrilled to bring Indiana Outdoors and talk about this
(01:31):
great part of Indiana heritage. A lot of festivities, traditions,
hunting camps. It's all good. We're going to get right
to it with our good friend Joe Thomas, one of
the hardest working guys in the outdoor is super nice
Ohio next door native. He is pursuing one of his
local bucks that he's identified, so we're going to have him.
(01:52):
But he is the host of American Archer and Reel
in the Outdoors, which is currently both underway this time
of the year, and Joe's as soon as Joe's done,
we're going to try to track down the new development
director in Indiana for Ducks Unlimited.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Rj.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Suffin's going to join us, and we're going to visit
with our law enforcement friends, Lieutenant Bobrick at the end
of the show. Safety first, plus it's always great to
hear the message about the tip program, which I know
he's very much a part of. So as you can see,
we got a lot to do. It's the Indiana Outdoor Show.
Joe Thomas is ready, and when we come back, it's
the Indian Outdoor Show. Indian Outdoor Show rolls on. What
(02:43):
a perfect time of the year, and we are in
the second weekend of Indiana's gun season Indiana Outdoors. Of course,
here each and every Saturday, we're brought to you by
our friends at Indiana Donor Network, driven to SaveLives dot org.
You can sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor when you buy the hunting and fishing license and
if you haven't gone to buy that license yet new
system here in Indiana and by all accounts very user friendly,
(03:07):
but it's if you're used to the old we've got
a new one, hopefully a better one and more convenient
for everybody, So give yourself a little extra time. I
love this time of the year. I think most hunters
do because everything kind of comes together full circle at
this time in November, where a lot of folks maybe
haven't been out in field or for since last year.
(03:28):
So we bring in some of our favorites who are
longtime contributors to the Indiana Outdoor Show, and none better
than our good friend Joe Thomas. And Joe's got a
couple of his shows in mid season right now. We'll
get to that in a little bit, But Joe, anytime
I can get you on the phone this time of
the year, you're one of the most prolific outdoor hunters.
(03:51):
You're a great archer, and I know you've got a
passion for deer hunting. So how have you been and
what have you been up to.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I've been great, And this is you're right, man, this
is my favorite.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I mean, the whitetail rut is just rolling on right now.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And and for me, that's southern Ohio. You know, I
live in one of the best counties in southern Ohio
for whitetail hunting.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
And uh, you know, you got.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Claremont and then Brown County and Adams along the Ohio River.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
They're all super good.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And uh so I'm blessed to be where there's a
lot of really big deer and in the hunting's good
and there's a lot of deer. But that comes in
with a with a curse too, because when you live
where there's big deer, you set the bar high. And
and you know, I've been in fortune enough the last
couple of years to kill what I would consider to
be my target buck.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
And uh you have.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
To spend a lot of time to do that, and
my wife would say an insane amount of time.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
And I'm right in the middle of that right now.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And I think the other day, I passed one of
my camera men looked down at.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Me and just shook his head like he didn't even
have to say a word. He's just like, you're an idiot, dude,
I know you are.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I love that it gives such It makes us do
what we do. Whether you're young or old, male, female,
doesn't matter. That pursuit is what makes hunting, especially the
ruts part of the season here where you've got so
many things happening, and especially if you if you've got
(05:19):
your eyes on one and it becomes an obsession. You
think about it when you wake up, and you think
about it when you go to bed, when you're in
the tree, you should have been there yesterday, et cetera.
So I can understand how it just rolls.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
It is and it's the ultimate game.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, in trail cameras and stuff, you know,
love them or hate them, you know they've contributed to
that because we know what's there now, and it does
take away a little bit of that you.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Never know aspect of hunting.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But you know, for us in Ohio to our you know,
our gun season is late. We don't come intil after Thanksgiving,
So that whole rut period is all archery, very low
pressure to the deer, and I just I really, I
just love it, you know, I really enjoyed. I like
the whole this is the strategy of the whole thing.
But yeah, it's it's just a great time to need
(06:04):
to be out there, and I've been really putting in
the time and having a good time with it.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
We're visiting with Joe Thomas and I've prefaced already. You
are host a popular host by all accounts on many
of your different shows, but right now you've got the
American Archer going on as well as you host Real
in the Outdoors and you've been a long time on
both of those. Is it hard to keep coming up
(06:30):
with new content and different angles? I can't imagine going
in each and every episode. You're kind of a real guy,
you know, you show the flaws, you show all the
good and the bad. But does it come hard to
make good TV out of all that?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Well, you know, I would say number one. You know,
right now is the time you know we're trying. I'm
trying to flip flop back and forth between filming.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
We're always a year ahead.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We're filming a year ahead, so everything I'm filming now
is for next fall for real and the outdoors and
American Archer and so literally before you know we spoke,
I was actually texting with a good friend of mine
down Rob Jordan, down on Lake Lanier, and he's saying,
you need to get down here the top water by
big spotted bass on top water. And those are the
(07:14):
kind of people that are so invaluable to me. And
the same with the hunting, you know, I you know,
next week I'll go to Kansas and I've got a
great friend out there that's got some property, and you know,
it all starts with with with good situations and good
people and and.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
But it's a non stop process. I mean, we're filming,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Quite a few episodes of both shows and huntings a
little bit harder because it just takes longer, but when
you know, it's it's a NonStop process. And I spend
as much of my time doing the mining for opportunities
as I do anything.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Joe Thomas is our guest, and you cut your teeth
in the outdoor world and your television as a professional
bass fisherman. You're tremendously dedicated archer, wildly popular American Archer
and here you are in a hot game pursuit in
your own backyard. I love this story. What tips do
you have for people this time of the year. Do
(08:08):
you think the rut? You know, we're close enough over
here in Indiana. We have these conversations each and every
time I'm in a deer camp. You know the age old. Well,
the rut's already happened. But I like the fact that
Indiana has a very liberal deer season over here, giving
many opportunities from October into January for a variety of
different resources that you can use from muzzloader to gun
(08:31):
to archery and crossbow and everything in between. So I
like that. What's it like over in Ohio these days?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Well, you know the thing is again Ohio, you know,
we have a long archery season before the guns season,
so you know, the deer are really low pressured and
they're doing their thing. And I think the question is
is people has always thought about the rut and temperature,
and the bottom line is is a photo period is
(08:57):
what puts the dose into esters, and that's what makes
the bt bucks rut it doesn't have. It's like the
spawn with the bass, though it doesn't always happen at
the same time, So you're going to always.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Get that searching phase in late October.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You're always going to get that peeking of the rut
and the crazy chasing that we all love that sixth, seventh, eighth,
ninth of November, and then about the eleventh through the seventeenth,
and again it's based on photo period. It's not me
just guessing at this. Then the dose will be receptive.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So you'll have that.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Slow lockdown period where the deer not searching, and then
right before Thanksgiving, which is what we're getting ready to
get into, they start to search again, and so you
got that lull and then it comes back. And so
there's a lot of different opportunities if you just are
willing to play the game.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Really, Joe Thomas is with us, and I love the
fact that we can talk because we're neighbors. Because I
saw so many pictures this last week in Indiana, the
opening weekend of gun season. A lot of folks were successful.
And we also have this conversation. I heard you talk
about pursuing that one that you've targeted, and I know,
(10:07):
if you put the time in the seat and you
do your homework and you study and you do all
that stuff, you increase your chances. But oftentimes, you know,
passing on a deer, as you've said you've done so
many times, is the age old question where a one
buck state. So if a nice deer comes by, the
temptation is always there. It takes a lot of patience
to pursue just that one. And I know you've become
(10:30):
very good at it, But that takes a whole different
set of discipline, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
It does, And sometimes I actually question myself about it
because you know, I just I love that, you know, hunting,
and I love I love harvesting the deer, but it's
it's a chess match when you're when you're trying to
get one, you know.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
One animal. And I'm fortunate to have some private properties
and I'm able to hunt. Not all of us have that.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Some guys are hunting public land, and you kind of
you kind of have to know, you know what that
land's going to be able to give you to. You know,
if a for a real high end buck in that
county in Indiana is one hundred and thirty five inch
ten point, and by golly, when that thirty one hundred
and thirty five inch ten point it comes by you,
you better.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Drop the string or drop the hammer on him.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
And you don't always want to be too picky, I guess,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So let's talk about your shows. What's going on in
American Archer.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yeah, American Archer like this. This week, I just aired
my elk hunt in New Mexico and it's probably one
of the most exciting hunts I've aired in a couple
of years. Lots of bugle and lots of screaming, lots
of craziness. And then next next week, we've got me
in Ohio from last year, chasing the buck. We called
(11:41):
the ticker time Buck and it was kind of a
cloak excuse me, the dagger buck. We got mixed all
of my deer up the dagger buck. He had a
big drop time. And so that's that's what's airing right now.
But I'm actually getting ready to go to Spain week
after next to film for next year for I were
hunting Ibex with a bow in Spain.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
And I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I've been there one time before and I loved it,
and I'm getting an opportunity to go back. So that's
happening and then going to Mexico, down the anglers in
in Mexico on Lake Picachos and film a show for
a largemouth bass, and then trying to get one more
show on Lake Erie for some small mouths. So a
lot of things happen, and in a very short period
(12:24):
of time before it.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Gets too cold.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I was going to say, it's you're you're switching back
and forth. You've led me right into real in the outdoors.
Another popular show that's going on right now. What where
are your travel is going to be taking you? As
you turn the corner. I heard you talking about going
to Spain for the IBEX. That's fascinating. How do you
hunt those?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
That's a spot install hunt, and I really enjoy that,
particularly when you've been sitting in a tree stand or
a ground blind for almost almost a month straight, which
I will have been doing by that time, to get
to go out and you be able to glass them,
and you to be able you play the wind and
make a stalk. They're in the mountainous terrain and it's
a true spot in stall hunt.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
They're very wary, some long shooting involved, but I just
I really dig that. I love that a.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Lot, and so I'm pretty excited to get to do that,
and then I try out to take that for granted.
I mean, this TV show provides me opportunities to do
things I would just never get to do normally in
Spain's one of those.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Well, I spent some time in Spain this summer trying
to do across Spain height called the Camino and spend
a lot of time in rural Spain. I can't imagine
what that experience is going to be like for you.
So I'm excited for that. Where else do you have
on your travel schedules. We talk about the logistics of
(13:42):
being a hunter and your vocation, your vacation and all
these successful shows, but it takes a lot of time.
Where do you take people in the next after the
first of the year, Well.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
As far as the shows are concerned, you know, like
you know, like I said, we did. We went from
Elk to White Tails and then my finale for the
season of my new episodes is Mongolia. And I did
my dream trip back last August to Mongolia for a
different species of Ibex, the Altai ibex.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
And it was my final continent.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Always I want to try to hunt on every continent
that you can hunt them with a bow, And that
was my last piece of the puzzle. And I think
I think people are going to really enjoy that show.
It's it's almost like more of a travelog. I mean,
you're riding the Asian ponies and you're, you know, you're
in the thirteen thousand.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Feet hunting these super wary animals.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
And I think even even if you don't appreciate the
Ibex himself, if you're a hardcore white tail.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Hunter, you may not.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I just think just the challenge of the whole thing,
people will like it. And it's it's one of my
favorite shows.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
All right, let's get right back to the brass here.
And that's we got this weekend and this coming week
and the final weekend here in Indiana. And you still
have hunting opportunities surely as things get colder and the
whole woods change. Any tips for late season that you
like to employ over in.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Ohio, Well, the thing is, you know, Ohio and Indiana
are is completely different in that Ohio is a legal
debate state. In other words, you can put feeders in
salt blocks and things out like that.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
For the deer. Indiana you cannot.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
But I've always really relied on late season food plots,
and I'm a big believer.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
In that late season can be just some amazing hunting.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
And you know, if you have the resources, whether you're
broadcasting it or you're plowing it and putting it in,
you know, the way the big boys do. But Brassicus,
you know, like your your tubers and your radishes and
those type of things that late season they're magic.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
I mean, it'll be you.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
You won't think there's a deer on the farm, and
then when you get that first real cold snap and
the sugar level goes into the the roots of those
radishes and turnips and things like that, those those bucks
will come from the deer will come from, you know,
from for miles away literally to dig them up and
eat them, and it can be a really good way
to hunt them in late season.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
That's my favorite.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
We did that at a food plot that I hunt
last year, and I believe they were beats. Maybe they
were radishes, and they're good too. This was this year,
was in Sorghum, a new venture, and I really liked
that late I think that's going to be a great
late season food plot. So I couldn't agree with you
more Joe. I know that your time is so valuable.
(16:27):
You always are generous with us here. But it's not
going to be too long before we're talking about the
Ford Boat Sport and Travel show, where you're always as staple.
You're going to be planning to come back.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yes, actually, I've already, We've already got our dates locked in.
I'm going to be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday of
both weekends.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Oh my, good for you about that.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Yeah, yeah, I'm going to be there a bunch and
I haven't really we haven't revealed them yet, but I've
got some really good young pro anglers coming in as
well that'll be with me there doing seminars some of
the hot young.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Guys on the bass Master's circuit.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
So I'm excited to watch these guys and learn a
little from them while I'm there too.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
You're always so humble and again my compliments are true
in spirit and that you're one of the hardest working guys.
We appreciate your time and friendship here in Indian Outdoors.
I hope you go after and find that elusive buck
that has caused you and your wife's stress and trauma,
the hunting trauma, but you know what, You're gonna go
back and do it again, and I believe in you,
so we look forward to talking about your next success
(17:30):
and always an open phone here in Indian Outdoors. My friend,
you're good.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I'd love I would love to tell you that I'll
send you a picture if I get him. You won't
need a picture because you'll hear me yelling.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I got you know what, I know exactly what that
feels like.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Joe.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Always great to visit with you. Thank you, my friend,
you too, Brian, Thank you. It is the Indiana Outdoor
Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer. We're just
kicking this thing off. What a great way to do it,
our friend, Joe Thomas, it's the Indian Outdoor Show back
right after this Indian Outdoors rolls on. What a great
(18:14):
way to kick it off. Our good friend, Joe Thomas
one of the hardest working guys in outdoor media. He's
one of the most passionate, honest sincere. I just love
the guy and I love his TV and right now
episodes of The American Archer are underway, and his season
finale he already previewed with us. He's going to be
(18:34):
worth it. Plus he goes back and forth. Now he's
doing real in the outdoors and all these other great
shows on the Outdoor Channel. That being said, we are
in the second weekend of deer season, and this is
one of my favorite times, and not only because it's
deer season, but we also have the opportunity for waterfowl
(18:55):
and a lot of people, doesn't matter Field, Forest, Creek,
Stream Pond, and we got a lot of folks out there,
plus some fall fishing. It's still been warm enough and
great fishing across the board. I love to invite our
great partners and friends who have been with us here
on Indian Outdoors. None better than our friends at Ducks Unlimited.
RJ SUTFN just joins us now. RJ new to Indiana Outdoors,
(19:19):
new to Ducks Unlimited, and we always welcome that and
our partnership with them.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Have you been I've been doing great. I've been looking
forward talking to you again.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It's always great to visit with Ducks and this is
a special time of the year for waterfowlers and hunters alike.
And here you've got a new position with Ducks Unlimited
here in Indiana, a very important one. Let's talk a
little bit about r J. Where'd you come from and
how'd you end up in this crazy position?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I reside up.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
In Fort Wayne and spent the last twenty eight years
as a police officer for the Four Wayne Police Department,
and have always been a long time volunteer for Dustlin Limited,
including being the state chairman and state campaign chairman at
recent years. And the position of director of Development came
(20:12):
open and I applied and was lucky enough to accept
up a job offer with them, And I believe it's
going to be a really lucky thing for me that
I'm able to participate in two dream careers during my lifetime.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Well, that makes your vocation, your vacation. You qualify and
you are living the dream. The development director for Ducks
and Limited here in the state a very very important role.
Indiana has a high threshold, a high bar when it
comes to Ducks and Limited. Nationally, we have had two
national presidents from Indiana. We have an incredibly loyal and
(20:52):
diverse donor base and a growing membership in Indiana, and
I have to think that's because there's great leaderships like you,
leaders like you within Ducks Unlimited and all the folks
that are putting on banquets this time of the year
and doing the stuff that puts money in the bank
for the Ducks that stay here. But being a development
(21:12):
director for du in Indiana is a special position, and
I know that one that doesn't come lightly given some
of the achievements that we've had here in this state
in the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yeah, the development position is works hand in hand with
our events side and works with major sponsor gifts and
plan giving with your wills or estates or anything of
that nature. And it is a huge part of the
revenue that we use because, as you know, Ducks and
Limited members believe fully that the money that they give
(21:46):
is going to do good things and is going to
allow them to be able to see the skies filled
with ducks and geese.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Well, I also believe there's a missing component there to
what you said, because Indiana, as I said, is a
very loyal state with duckson Limited. But you know, we're
not necessarily known as one of the major flyways, if
you will, but we have some very loyal folks and
that money that is raised at these events, by and large,
(22:15):
a great percentage stays here in the state of Indiana.
Right back in for conservation efforts, and I'm very proud
of that, and I know you are as well.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, we have been extremely lucky over the last probably
about ten years or so. Just about all of the
dollars that we raise is about the amount of money
that is spent on projects in Indiana. We are constantly
looking for land acquisitions or small wetlands projects that we
can utilize from dearmark things like the license plate fund
(22:47):
for specific use within the state.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
I love that. I'm always curious how much does there's
so many license plight now? Is that still a big
revenue source for the organizations, especially the Ducks.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yes, we definitely are seeing. We have yet to see
a year without increases in the number of Ducks Unlimited
Indiana license plates. Every license plate sold is another chink
in the chain. That is dollars that we're able to
use right here within the state, and those dollars for
(23:24):
the license plate are specifically designated to be used only in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Who love that, you know. One of the things that
got me interested in Ducks Unlimited was my dad forty
years ago. I went to a Ducks Unlimited dinner. I
remember it. I remember how I felt. I remembered the camaraderie.
There were so many fond memories, and it really got
baked in and I spent a lot of years running
banquets and doing that. Where did your affinity for Ducks Unlimited?
(23:50):
You talked about your immense contributions so far. Where'd that
all come from?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
You know?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
When I was about fifteen years old, a gentleman took
me on my first duck and goose hunt, and I
was hooked. That followed up that same fall, he took
me to a DUTs and Limited fundraising event up in
Lagrange County, and I was hooked from there on. Been
a supporter and a member ever since. It's really a
(24:16):
great thing when you're a younger kid and you attend
these events and you see the adults getting excited about
winning things and being willing to contribute their dollars to
a great cause and knowing that money is going to
go where it's supposed to.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Well, our jay is our favorite development director. He may
be calling you, but if you're interested, maybe I had
a couple of young people. Here's a very quick story.
One of the mentors that got me involved in duckson Limited.
Outside of my dad, I thought when I was at
twenty something, I got invited to go see Tom Bereford.
And Tom was a longtime leader and giver in the
state of Indiana, recently passed away. Attending his funeral, I
(24:54):
still remember the opportunity when he gave me all the
notes that he could. He welcomed me into his office
and shared with me where and who and how to
start duck hunting in the state. And I believe that's
a culture that is different and Ducks promotes that. And
I'm so glad to see that it was a friend
that took you and you got hooked in the same way.
(25:15):
But I want to make sure if people want to
get involved at a local level, maybe a chapter, maybe
just joining some like minded folks at a dinner, where
do they go and how do they get involved? Beyond
the work that you do on a day to day basis.
Events going on all over the state.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
You know, literally everything. Ducks Unlimited is on the ducks
dot org website. You can look up events to attend.
They're listed by state. You can look at philanthropy type giving.
You can look at greenwy or our youth programs, our
high school programs and college programs, which are becoming very popular.
(25:51):
We have a couple new chapters that we're looking at,
and Purdue a IU both already have current chapters with
unlimited going on right now. So it's really a one
stop shop for everything you need. Ducks Onlimit's with all
the contact information. If you're not finding what you need,
you'll be able to click and you'll be able to
get to a person that you can ask those questions
(26:13):
of RJ.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Don't be a stranger. Always an open phone here for
the ducks, the deer, the turkey, the oaks, the quail,
all of them great conservation organizations, none better than du
and Indiana. We appreciate your new role in leadership and
we look forward to talking to you regularly. Thanks for
being a part of Indiana Outdoors today. All right, my pleasure,
My pleasure, RJ. Suttfan. If you get a call from
(26:35):
he needs your money, the ducks need the money. It's
the Indiana Outdoor Show and I'm your host. We're brought
to you by Indiana Donor Network Driven to Save Lives
dot org. Sign up to be an organized tissue donor.
When you buy that honey and fishing license, don't you
think about going anywhere. We're going to talk to our
good friends in law enforcement. It's the Indian Outdoor Show.
(27:08):
What a great show. They're always great. It's Indian Outdoor
Show and I am your host, Brian Pointer. Brought to
you by our good friends at Indiana Donor Network. So
important to be an organ and tissue donor, so easy
to do. When you buy that hunting and fishing license
you can just check the box or when you go
to the BMV or wherever you're asked to do so
(27:29):
a great gift of life and healing, and we do
thank them for carrying that message. But we started things
off with my good friend Joe Thomas, one of the
hardest working outdoor journalists if you will. He's got so
many great award winning shows, and we caught him mid
pursuit of that one elusive buck. And we all know
(27:49):
when you get honed in on one, how obsessive that becomes.
So my heart feels for you, brother, But if I
know anybody it's going to get it done, it's you.
Also a visit with our friends and a new position.
The new director of Development at Ducks Unlimited here in Indiana,
r J Setfn, joined us and we are always appreciative
with giving our friends in those conservation organizations time on
(28:11):
Indiana outdoors. But none better than our friends in law
enforcement and with me is Lieutenant Bobrink with our Division
of Law Enforcement. It is, Lieutenant. It's always great to
visit with you. How's your season been so far?
Speaker 5 (28:29):
Well for season so far, obviously the weather hasn't quite
played out, I think for the sportsmen as much as
they might like. But yes, our officers are hitting the
ground and running. You know.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
I loved the conversation at deer camps of which we
had last year. And I was driving over in the
western part of the state and saw the law enforcement
officers out doing what they wanted to do, and every
part of me wants to stop and thank them for
what they do. But I know they're doing a job
and doing it very well. And it's not like they
just woke up and on October first and said, Okay,
(29:04):
it's archery season, time to go back to work. You
guys are called to do on so many things throughout
the year, and as we have coined the term, nobody's
out to steal anybody's fun. Pie and our officers deserve
our respect and I have to think that our hunters
here in the state when approached, are always respectful, but
you can never guarantee that we thank you for the
(29:25):
hard work that you guys do.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Well, thank you we appreciated. I would say that a
very strong majority of the worsemen that we run into
are good at school hunters out there and sportsmen who
appreciate the service that we provide. And you know, as
little as we want to inconvenience anybody you know, have
a brief conversation, get in there and get out and
(29:48):
let you get back to your activity in the field.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I saw a very sweet picture of what looked like
a father and a son and obviously a law enforcement
officer was probably checking licenses and turned that opportunity in
the picture with the young man and the officer's truck.
It was just so endearing to see that type of interaction.
But we also know things don't always aren't always a
bet of roses. And you know how much I am
(30:13):
a big fan of our tip program, the turn into
Poacher program. We've ended every show here for the last
twenty six years with remember to Turn in a Poacher
and the number one eight hundred tip IDN r We're
in the middle of that right now. But that's a
twenty four hour, three hundred and sixty five day a
year thing. But we have you know, a quarter of
a million people who have bought licenses or more who
(30:33):
potentially are going to be in the woods. That's a
lot of eyes and ears that can help you. How
does that work?
Speaker 5 (30:39):
Well, the way it works is if an outdoorsman or
anybody out recreating an outdoor sees something that they either
believe to be illegal in nature or just unsure or
believe something's just not quite right, they can contact that
number of the one eight hundred tip IDNR and provide
us whatever information they know. You know, Once that happens,
(31:00):
that information gets to our officers, and our officers do
what they do best and they investigate it. Sometimes they
don't pan out and it doesn't amount to anything, and
other times we make very quality cases that we normally
would not have made had it not been for the tipster.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
Well, you and I have had this conversation over the
years about what that looks like. And instead of me
trying to filter, well, is this information important or not?
It didn't sound right, make the call because you don't
know that officer may have been working for a very
long period of time and that one little thing that
you just tipped off or maybe said, hey, so and
(31:37):
so this, or I saw this or heard that might
be that one thing that that officer needs to finish
that case.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
You never know, correct, And I don't expect the average
individual to know the letter of the law and to
know the ins and out of the laws. You know.
Lead that up for our officers to do their job
and what they're trained to do. You know, I'm just
going to encourage everybody out there that if you just
don't think something is right, go ahead and call the number.
(32:04):
Let us figure it out, and and that way we
don't let something maybe get away that we should.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Have known about.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Safety is always a key component, and I know that
you guys deal with a lot of accidents hunting very safe.
But you know, maybe it's just my perception. It feels
like we haven't had a slew of falls from trees
or misidentified shots things like that. I don't want to
(32:32):
jinx anything, but it seems like everybody's having a good season.
I haven't seen a lot of those. Is that just
my perception or is that true?
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Well?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
I would say it's a little bit of both. You know,
we have had several and I'm not going to give
any hard facts.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yeah right, tree.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Stand accidents this season, So you know, I'm just going
to preach preach the safety. You know, if you're out
there hunting, make sure you have your hunter orang John.
If you're going to ground blind, make sure it's got
its one hundred and forty four square inches of hundred
orange visible from you know, all sides. If you're going
to be in any type of a tree stand, you know,
(33:09):
make sure you always have your lifeline and you're wearing
your safety harness. And then clearly you know something unfortunately
we shouldn't have to say, but we do say it is,
you know, don't don't use drugs or alcohol when you're
out hunting. You know clearly they IMPERI your judgment, make
be poor decisions.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
So but but yes, we have had we have had
several accidents so far, and hopefully hopefully we don't have anymore.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
I know that's always painful for the officers to have
to deal with those, and hopefully everybody takes that message
to heart. I don't get up in trees anymore, but
I tell you if you get up on what you
think is that new ladder platform, clip in and harness up,
because there's no reason not to, and you want to
go back and do it the next day. So we've
(33:56):
got a lot of hunting left this fall. We've got
great fishing offices are out there doing what they do.
I would like this generally. I just came to my mind,
are the spots open or filled for the conservation officers?
Do we have a full crew out there or are
we still looking for more. We have a pretty full
(34:20):
crew out there.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
We're very pleased to have the number that we have
right now. But you know, it look like any employment
you have attrition, and we are planning on hiring starting
in twenty twenty six. I do not know at this
point how many we are hiring for, but I do
know that we will have a hiring process.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Good to know. Always an open phone here for you,
my friend. I know you've got a lot going on
this time of the year, as do the other men
and women that wear that green uniform. We thank you
for your service, be respectful, and we look forward to
having you back here in the next go around, maybe
even before the end of the year. So Lieutenant, thanks
for being a part of Indiana Outdoors. Keep up the
(34:59):
great work and best off men and women out there.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
I appreciate it, my pleasure. One of our favorites, our
friends in law enforcement, Lieutenant Bowbrink. It is the Indiana
Outdoor Show. I am your host, Brian Pointer, brought to
you by the Indiana Donor Network. Don't go anywhere. We're
going to be back right after this. So little time,
(35:34):
so much to talk about, so much enthusiasm, so much excitement.
I hope that you can feel that this time of
the year, with so many of the seasons going on, waterfowl,
deer hunting, our firearm season well underway. Hopefully this weekend
is a little different. Last week Holy smokes wind warm,
but it didn't put the damper on our deer camp
(35:58):
or many others. It was is one for the ages.
We had some young folks tag their first bucks, their
biggest bucks, so that was always nice and we are
thrilled to be a part of that here in the
Indian Outdoor Studio. Sharing that today with Joe Thomas given
us some late season hunting tips as well as his
(36:18):
own stories. One of the nicest guys in outdoor American
Archer Reel in the Outdoors underway currently in seasons. He
already kind of previewed some of the upcoming which you
don't want to miss.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
R J.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Suttfon our friends at Ducks Unlimited, brand new development director,
great guy, long standing volunteer, always an open phone for
he and the other organizations here spreading the word. Lieutenant
Bobrink given the preaching, the safety tips from law enforcement,
plus remember to turn in a poacher one eight hundred
(36:51):
tip IDNR. Plug it into your phone. Folks, you know
we are excited. We're going to be back out in
the woods here in just a little bit. Hopefully you
are too and Fielder Forest. Remember what we say, turn
in a poacher one eight hundred tip I D N R.
I will see you outside, hopefully somewhere
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