Ep. 17: A Non-Hunter's Take On Hunting With Billy Offland

In this episode, we introduce the Give For Grouse Initiative, a fundraising project we created to raise funds for direct, boots-on-the-ground conservation and management of the ruffed grouse. Ruffed Grouse are a species of decline across much of their range, and we're making it our goal to give this iconic upland species a promising future.

And we've already launched and accomplished two fundraising projects! Raising over $4,000 that we're donating to Ruffed Grouse Society Biologists for the purchase of controlled burn equipment and tree plantings. We'll be launching our next fundraiser soon, so stay tuned to learn how you can help us continue to give for grouse!

In this episode we're talking with Virginia DWR Upland Game Bird Biologist, Mike Dye, about the status of the Ruffed Grouse in Appalachia. Mike is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the species and it's management, and in this episode he communicates clearly the trajectory of ruffed grouse in Virginia over the last 100 years, what private landowners can do on their property to improve habitat for ruffed grouse, and what the biggest hurdles grouse have to overcome. This is an incredible episode from a passionate conservationist that you'll surely want to listen to!  

Today's episode is long overdue as sit down and shoot the bull with our friends Jared Van Hees and Brian Halbleib of the Habitat Podcast. We talk about Jared and Brian's individual journeys in the oudoors as well as the how the Habitat Podcast got started and how it's grown into the one of the most popular podcasts for hunting and habitat management while creating a sense of community and brother and sisterhood amongst their followers. This was a great conversation that you'll surely want to check out! 

It's fire season! Last weekend, Erich came down to Rockin' Chair Ridge for a weekend of habitat work, specifically conducting some controlled burns! In this episode, we recap the week and the work we completed. We burnt old field, pollinators, and a clear cut, and we discuss how each burn went, the goals for each, follow up management, and and how we expect the habitat to respond to the fire. 

In today's show we chop it up with Jesse Knox, host of the Beast of Burden Podcast, owner of Dbl Tree Habitat Inc., and our longtime friend. We have a great conversation with Jesse about managing habitat professionally, his journey in the outdoors, and taking ownership and responsibility for his home farm. We also talk about how he's restoring an oak savanna on his home farm as well! Jesse's passion and enthusiasm for wildlife and habitat is genuine and contagious, and you can feel it in this episode!   

In today's episode we talk about a varierty of topics including what management projects we're most excited about for 2023, CWD media and journalism, and big picture decision making and how it effects wildlife. We also talk about preparing now for the fast approaching habitat season that's right around the corner!

Big bucks down! November was good to the both of us, and in this episode we share the stories where we each tagged a mature buck!

In today's episode, we chat with Kyle Lybarger of the Native Habitat Project about the importance of native plants and managing native habitats. Working as a private forester, Kyle noticed a disconnect between landowners, hunters, and habitat managers and the habitats they manage, and set forth to educate all demographics on how important native plant communities are for wildlife and how to manage your property for ecosystems, not singular species. This is a great conversation you don't want to miss!

Native Habitat Project Website

Native Habitat Project Instagram

Native Habitat Project Podcast

Dear Hunter Project YouTube

Concerned, upset, and motivated by the decline of the wild turkey population across much of the country, professional trapper Casey Shoopman wanted to make a difference. So he went to work. The result was 119 raccoons removed from one 20-acre field in 10 days. Listen or watch this podcast to hear Casey's passion for wildlife, turkeys, trapping, and making a difference. This is the mark of a true conservationist - making a difference and doing it for the right reasons.

In today's episode, we're talking with Jared Van Hees and Al James about the launch of their new seed company, Vitalize Seed. Al and Jared share with us what motivated them to start their own seed company, and what makes Vitalize Seed different from other seed companies on the market. Placing a focus on soil health and conservation, Vitalize Seed makes diverse seed blends that help build healthy soil, and benefit all wildlife species from bucks to birds to bees and everything in between.