In this weeks episode we learn about the importance of wetlands in SONEC (Southern Oregon and North Eastern California) to waterfowl, waterbirds and a way of life on private lands. This is my old stomping grounds where I cut my teeth as a private lands habitat biologist.  How is the NRCS and Intermountain west joint venture helping to protect this important migratory corridor? What does it take to get a cool job like Ed has? Listen in to find out! 

Western Bird Biologist

#32 Keeping wetlands wet! In southern Oregon with Ed Contreras

My new friend and co-worker Mike and I were lucky enough to squeeze in some time to chat about Kansas!A place I have never hunted and a place that has had some pretty good upland bird hunting the past couple years. We chat about bird biology, bird hunting and some about his work with prairie chickens and now the National Wild Turkey Federation. 

Who wants to learn about Kansas? Come take a listen to veteran biologist Mike Mitchener

In this episode Bill and I get a little nostalgic about NAVHDA and Wirehairs long since passed to the happy hunting grounds. We talk about changes in the boise valley, Blue grouse hunting and about some of the wirehairs and wirehair breeders we have known. Some of our favorite dogs which became the foundation dogs for several kennels. Bill had Black Canyon kennels but we talk about Grossklaus, three devils, Blue collar and Bachman bay kennels a bunch of rich bird hunting history with this line of dogs. I hope to interview all the wirehair breeders in the west. 

Idaho wirehair and NAVHDA history with Bill "Blue Grouse" Dillon

Monty Gregg a career Forest service biologist that holds the coveted title of game bird centers of excellence biologist covering Oregon and Washington. He has 20 years experience in central Oregon and is the lead for partnerships with the National Wild Turkey Federation. We cover some history of the Forest service, fire management and some current projects we are working on. 

Monty Gregg forest biologist talks about forest history and health in the PNW

While waiting for an unbelievably thick fog to lift while chukar hunting in the Owyhees Frank Pucccio and I sit in his chukarjeep and record some stories. Frank founded Hun Hill Kennels and gets out hunting an incredible 5 days a week! We cover topics on chukar biology and hunting tactics, raising and breeding griffons and living in southern Idaho.  WHAT the HECK is bird fanciers lung??? How could it change your life and the way you enjoy outdoor sports? Give this podcast a listen and find out! ***New podcast every Wednesday!

The "Chukarman" Frank Puccio in a tell all about chukars, griffs and pigeon lung

Sculling is a method of sneaking up on waterfowl by laying on your back in a special boat with a long whippy oar sticking through a hole in the transom. This method was used by market hunters and is still in use today. In this episode we chat with Humboldt county natives Chris and Steven Jensen about their experiences growing up on Humboldt bay which is the main hub of west coast sculling. We talk about different floats, oars and techniques used by scullers to hunt waterfowl and other things. Scullers are some of the most closed lipped hunting groups you will ever find!  I dedicated this episode to my long time friend Bill Pinches of Arcata, CA who was a sculler, decoy carver and heck of an interesting human!    Rate and review the podcast please!   New episode every wednesday!

The ancient art of sculling as a bird hunting tool with the Jensen Brothers!

***New podcast every Wednesday! Interesting chat about doing bird research in remote Alaska. Bryan has done work on all kinds of waterfowl from Texas, California and Alaska. Bryan studied Brant in Cold bay Alaska for his masters and currently does some interesting work with Brant, eiders and pintails. Bryan is enjoying the rural alaskan lifestyle and getting out and doing some hunting based out of Bethel. I was pretty Jealous of his swan hunting!      

Alaska bird biology and hunting in remote spots with Bryan Daniels

Jeremiah and Johanna both have some interesting perspectives on the future of hunting and cooking wild game. Jeremiah challenges the traditional way we have been recruiting new hunters. The ethics of posting photos on social media. We cover some of the philosophy of why locavores and millennials are getting so interested in hunting for food.We have a great discussion about ways to mentor a new hunter through their first hunt. The wild game cooking discussion will have you thinking about recipes and how you are gonna process the meat before you even pull the trigger.  ***Challenge yourself to be a bean burrito!!!  Check out Jeremiah's Field to plate website!  https://fromfieldtoplate.com/ NWTF is working hard to recruit hunters! http://www.nwtf.org/about/outreach        

Hunter recruitment and cooking wild game with Jeremiah Doughty and Johanna Dart

Nerd out with Casey and I on the life history and management of Cinnamon Teal in Colorado. Also we discuss remote waterfowl research in Alaska. She tells her story to becoming a bird biologist and bird hunter. She goes from vegetarian to newly minted wild game chef and well on her way to being Dr. Setash! Casey and I talk about hunter recruitment programs we have been part of and mentoring new hunters. We also talk about doing research and habitat projects on private lands and some of the techniques we use to get access to lands for research and hunting.       

Casey Setash cinnamon teal expert, Colorado wetlands and hunter recruitment nerd out session

Had a fantastic chat with my Father, Val Bachman a wildlife biologist for forty years who grew up hunting and guiding in the marshes surrounding of the great salt lake of Northern Utah. We talk about growing up in utah and tell some of my favorite family hunting stories about snipe, pheasants, waterfowl and bird dogs. Dad talks about his favorite dogs, how we got involved in GWP breeding and how he designed our families custom bird hunting camping trailer called "the lions den"

Utah bird hunting and bird dog history and family stories with my father

****We will be a releasing a new podcast every wednesday!*** I got to sit around and chat with two Washington Department of Wildlife biologists in the hotel room after we assisted with an upland hunting workshop. We cover a bunch of topics from AZ quail and Utah sage grouse and what type of experiences it takes to become a biologist. We cover just about everything WA game birds and bird hunting. Anis Aoude is the game program manager for WDFW and supervises pretty much everything related to game management in Washington. Chris White oversees the raising and release of 43 thousand pheasants and also happens to own the sister to one of my wirehairs.    

Washington Fish and wildlife biologists talk about raising pheasants, bird biology and bird dogs across the west

After a day of dog training I was lucky enough to get a chance to sit down with  Jason and talk about his career as a law enforcement officer and his time hunting over wirehairs and Drahthaars in Washington.  This guy is the real deal! Give it a listen!

Washington fish and wildlife officer Jason Snyder talks about his career and Washington bird hunting

Dr. Jared Duquette is a wildlife biologist, hunter and all around great dude who is working hard to influence the decline of hunter numbers through recruitment, retention and reactivation or R3. Jared is Based in Illinois but came out to eastern Washington to hunt upland birds with me and the wirehairs. Hopefully, you all enjoy this chat we had. We all need to do our part to help recruit new hunters and keep old ones out in the field. Do your part everybody!

Recruiting hunters and recapping a Washington state upland hunting trip with Jared Duquette

I met Kaylee at the NWTF National Staff meeting in Augusta, Georgia and after sitting next to her on the bar stool for five minutes I knew I had to talk her into being on the show! She has a cool path to becoming a biologist, becoming a hunter and is a heck of a great story teller!! YOU WILL LOVE HER! I cant believe how good her mouth calling is under pressure in the corner of a bar this girl has some serious moves!

Turkey Biologist Kaylee Resha talks about her work with NWTF and her first turkey!

Opening day and the glory of what September represents to a bird hunter. A mostly Solo podcast about my first hunt with a bonus Cameo from the lovely Julie Unfried a bird biologist on her first Montana Sage Grouse hunt. I talk a little about my past and how fun it is to keep a hunting journal. Our first recording from the "lions den" ultimate bird hunting trailer. 

Short Bonus Birthday Episode! Sage grouse hunting in Montana and memories of my first bird hunt

This is a show about the life of wildlife biologists and other people who are passionate about bird hunting, bird habitat and bird dogs.

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Western Bird Biologist

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