Ep. 67 | Forged by Fire: Prescribed Burns for Better Habitat

Ep. 67 | Forged by Fire: Prescribed Burns for Better Habitat

Author: Pennsylvania Game Commission March 4, 2026 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 habitat management tool that directly benefits game species and how meticulous practices ensure safety and promote healthy native wildlife habitat.     Episode Highlights:  Current status of the 15-year PGC fire program What an ideal burn day looks like What a burn plan is and why it’s so important Why prescribed fire is an effective habitat management tool  The difference between prescribed fire and wildfire Driving the future of the fire program through refinement   Resources:  Learn more about the PGC prescribed fire program.  View our online mapping system for upcoming prescribed fires.  Sign up for prescribed fire notifications in your area. Check out the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council.    

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 30: People & Patience: Keys to PA Waterfowl Hunting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:37
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Daylight hours are shortening, and Pennsylvania’s first hunting seasons are finally here. Waterfowl hunters are gearing up for early Canada goose season, which opens Thursday, Se…
Episode 29: Habitat 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:25
How do you define habitat? Host Matt Morrett is joined by Dave Gustafson, Bureau Director of Wildlife and Habitat Management for the Pennsylvania Game Commission who dives in on habitat 101. Dave explains that habitat is…
Episode 28: Spilling Turkey Secrets, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:35
What makes a turkey talk? Host Matt Morrett and Denny Gulvas continue to break down turkey habits, mannerisms and body language to help you develop your turkey calls and have a successful season. In this part 2, they are…
Episode 27: Spilling Turkey Secrets, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
What’s better than getting tips from a Grand National Champion Turkey Caller? Getting to learn from TWO Grand National Champion Callers. In this episode, host Matt Morrett is joined once again by Denny Gulvas, World Cham…
Episode 26: Pennsylvania Shooting Sports  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:23
Pennsylvania has a rich history of archery across the state. No one knows more about that than Todd Holmes, Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The tradition of archery is strong in…
Episode 25: Waterfowl Hunting in the Keystone State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:30
From its rivers, streams, wetlands and agricultural fields, Pennsylvania offers waterfowl – and waterfowl hunters – many diverse and appealing habitats. Through careful planning and habitat management, Pennsylvania has b…
Episode 24: First Year as a State Game Warden  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:31
Being a game warden is a job unlike any other and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation is actively recruiting candidates for its 35th class. Interested in applying, but wish you knew mor…
Episode 23: Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing The Harvest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
Since its inception in 1991, Pennsylvania’s acclaimed Hunters Sharing the Harvest program has donated nearly TWO MILLION pounds of venison to hungry families across the state, thanks to the generosity of Pennsylvania hun…
 Episode 22: Hunting the Whitetail Rut in Pennsylvania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:07
The smell of fall is in the air. The rut is on in Pennsylvania.In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the mating season and biology of white-tailed deer with Kip Adams, the National De…
Episode 21: Operation Game Thief Protects Pennsylvania Wildlife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:10
Wildlife crimes affect everyone. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) program provides a way for people to directly report information related to wildlife crimes. Reporting illegal wildlife activ…