Ep.59 | Tree Trailblazers: Forest Stewardship & Wildlife Strategy

Ep.59 | Tree Trailblazers: Forest Stewardship & Wildlife Strategy

Author: Pennsylvania Game Commission July 2, 2025 Duration: 1:10:20
Tree Trailblazers: Forest Stewardship & Wildlife Strategy   Managing over 1.5 million acres of land may seem daunting — but not for Pennsylvania Game Commission’s habitat management staff.     Northwest Regional Forester Scott Wolbert, Northcentral Regional Forester Dan Heggenstaller, and Forestry Division Chief Paul Weiss join host Matt Morrett to discuss how the agency uses sustainable forestry to create diverse ecosystems for better wildlife habitat.     Episode Highlights:   What is habitat?   The Game Commission’s role in forestry   The relationship between deer management goals and forest health   The role of deer exclosures and why the agency uses deer fencing   Tips for hunting inside deer fences   What hunters should look for to improve their season      Resources:   Learn more about the balance of healthy forests and healthy deer.   Find state game lands near you.  Learn more about habitat management in Pennsylvania.    

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
Episode 48: R3-Preserving Pennsylvania’s Hunting Heritage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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With nearly a million passionate hunters in Pennsylvania, the new process for purchasing antlerless licenses led to high demand and longer-than-expected wait times last year. So the Game Commission made some key changes…
Episode 43: Introducing PGC’s New Executive Director Steve Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:50
The future is bright at the Pennsylvania Game Commission! New executive director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to provide Pennsylvanians with an update on the latest changes within the agency. Learn how 30 years of…
Episode 42: Fact or Fiction: Busting the Biggest Wildlife Myths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:22
Have you heard whispers that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is in cahoots with car insurance companies to reduce the deer herd or the agency trades our turkeys to other states in exchange for coyotes? Captain Chad Eyle…
Episode 41: Nature Calls: Newborn Wildlife Tips with PGC Dispatch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
Available 24/7/365, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Centralized Dispatch Center received nearly 210,000 calls last year, from reports of game law violations to sasquatch sightings. Each spring, as animals are born and…
Episode 40: Igniting Change: Prescribed Fire for Wildlife Habitat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:20
Prescribed fire is nothing new — Native Americans used controlled burns to boost berry production and draw in wildlife for centuries. Chief Land Manager Dr. Scott Bearer and Land Management Supervisor Steve Ferreri join…