Call of the Outdoors Episode 49: Leaving it Better Than We Found it: Updates for the 2024-25 Hunting Season

Call of the Outdoors Episode 49: Leaving it Better Than We Found it: Updates for the 2024-25 Hunting Season

Author: Pennsylvania Game Commission October 2, 2024 Duration: 52:55
Hunters are at the forefront of wildlife conservation — the Pennsylvania Game Commission depends on hunter harvest and input for the future of hunting in the Keystone State.   Heading into hunting season, Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to discuss key changes for this fall, tips for success in the field, and updates on hot-button issues like Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.   Episode Highlights: Squirrel season insights and tips Legislative updates on the Sunday hunting issue and how to make your voice heard How the Game Commission invests back into wildlife, habitat, and hunters  The challenges of deer management and the importance of filling antlerless tags Early season archery tactics for hunting public land Bear season changes for better management and future hunting   Resources: Find a shooting range near you. Learn more about your role in healthy forests and healthy deer.  Review safe hunting tips. Contact the Game Commission with your feedback. Enter the Take Someone Hunting Photo Contest.

There’s a particular feeling that comes from swapping stories with good company under an open sky, and that’s the spirit we try to capture in every episode of Call of the Outdoors. Produced by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this podcast brings together voices who live and breathe the state’s wild places. You’ll hear from biologists, wardens, hunters, and conservationists, all sharing their deep, firsthand knowledge. Conversations range from the intricate management of local habitats and the science behind tracking species, to the timeless traditions of hunting and the simple joys of noticing nature’s details. It’s not all serious talk-expect genuine laughter and personal anecdotes that remind you of a friendly chat around a campfire. Each installment offers a specific, grounded look at a piece of Pennsylvania’s natural world, whether it’s following the journey of a black bear, understanding the role of prescribed fires, or exploring how communities get involved in protecting their local environment. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that connect you to the ongoing story of wildlife and wilderness stewardship in the Keystone State.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 71

Call of the Outdoors
Podcast Episodes
Special Update: Changes for 2026-27 Hunting Seasons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
Following the Board of Game Commissioners April meeting, Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to discuss expanded Sunday hunting opportunities, updates to big game seasons and bag limits, and the expans…
Ep. 68 | Speaking Spring Gobbler: Turkey Man’s Calling Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:28
Turkey hunting icon and champion caller Eddie Salter joins longtime friend Matt Morrett to share stories chasing gobblers with the greats, calling strategies for fooling toms, and wisdom from decades of tagging longbeard…
Ep. 67 | Forged by Fire: Prescribed Burns for Better Habitat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:06
Prescribed fire is a HOT topic in Pennsylvania! Fire Program Manager Bryan Whitmore and Southcentral Assistant Regional Forester Brent McNeal join host Matt Morrett to discuss the value of prescribed fire as the ultimate…
Ep. 66 | Conservation Legislation: Tags, Tradition, and Title 34 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:10
Growing up with Yellowstone as your backyard gives you a unique appreciation for the great outdoors — just ask Senator James Malone. The minority chair of the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee joins host Matt Morrett and…
Special Update: Proposed Change to Firearms Deer Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Proposed Change to Firearms Deer Season At its meeting next week, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will consider a proposal that could change opening day for hundreds of thousands of deer hunters. Executive D…
Ep. 65 | Trapline to Tree Stand: Tom Miranda’s Outdoor Adventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:57
Hall of Fame trapper and award-winning bowhunter Tom Miranda joins host Matt Morrett to share insights from over 40 years in outdoor television and a lifetime in the woods. Learn what it takes to be a wilderness trapper,…
Ep. 64 | Game Chat: Answering Your Wild Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:11
Drone recovery, shortened bear seasons, tree stand snacks — we’re tackling the tough topics! Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to answer YOUR questions, straight from social media. From what to do if…
Ep. 63 | Protect & Serve: Game Wardens in the Wild [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:01
Pennsylvania state game wardens don’t just check hunting licenses in the field — they wear many hats to protect people, wildlife, and habitats. Col. Rod Danley, the new director of the Bureau of Wildlife Protection, join…
Ep. 62 | Deer Camp Kinship: A Hunting Legacy of Giving Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
Deer Camp Kinship: A Hunting Legacy of Giving Back We hit the road for every hunter's favorite place — deer camp! Host Matt Morrett is joined by Dan Smoker of United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania (UBP) and Game Commissioner…
Ep. 61 | Firing for the Future: Conservation Starts at the Range [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
Conservation funding is going off with a bang! Shooting Sports Division Chief Todd Holmes and Range Management Coordinator Luke Johnson join host Matt Morrett to discuss the value of the Pittman-Robertson Act to conserva…