Call of the Outdoors

Apr 17 2024 51

Call of the Outdoors Podcast artwork

Imagine sitting around a campfire listening to a group of friends share their passions, stories and connections to the great outdoors. At the Pennsylvania Game Commission, our passion is WILD, and “Call of the Outdoors,” the agency’s podcast, is all about wildlife, hunting, habitat and conservation efforts in the Keystone State. Each episode includes a unique look into a Pennsylvania wildlife-related subject, a few laughs, and is sure to leave listeners with a renewed sense of knowledge and pride in the work being done on behalf of wildlife. Join the campfire and explore lots of ways to promote and enhance Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources for current and future generations!

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Episode 42: Fact or Fiction: Busting the Biggest Wildlife Myths

Apr 17 2024 71 mins

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 Eyler and Furbearer Biologist Tom Keller join host Matt Morrett to dispel the most common myths swirling around social...

Episode 41: Nature Calls: Newborn Wildlife Tips with PGC Dispatch

Apr 03 2024 31 mins

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 bears come out of hibernation in search of food, the number of wildlife-related calls skyrockets. Nick Sechrist, Assistant Director of Central Dispatch Operation

Episode 40: Igniting Change: Prescribed Fire for Wildlife Habitat

Mar 06 2024 51 mins

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 host Matt Morrett to explain the value of this management tool to wildlife and their habitats throughout Pennsylvania. Learn how prescribed...

Episode 39: Sharp & Pointy Teeth: Black Bear Biology & Management

Did you know more than half of black bears in Pennsylvania den on top of the ground in a thicket that resembles a giant bird nest? Black Bear Program Manager Emily Carrollo joins host Matt Morrett to bust some common bear myths, share her firsthand experience visiting dens, and explain what to do if you...

Episode 38: PA Game Laws & The Legislative Process

Jan 04 2024 34 mins

Did you know the Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent agency tasked with managing the Commonwealth’s wildlife resource for both current and future generations? Legislative Liaison Josh Zimmerman and Executive Director Bryan Burhans join host Matt Morrett to explain how the agency works with legislators, the way policies get made, and what it takes for...

Episode 37: Behind the Scenes of Pennsylvania Game News

Pennsylvania Game News has been in print since 1929 and still boasts a circulation of 80,00 throughout the Keystone State nearly a century later! Editor Travis Lau and Senior Associate Editor Bob D’Angelo join host Matt Morrett to share details on the rich history of the magazine, the iconic artists who’ve contributed illustrations to its...

Episode 36 Part 2: Healthy Forests, Healthy Deer

Nov 01 2023 32 mins

Did you know that taking a single doe out of the deer population can have a ripple effect into future years? Deer Biologist David Stainbrook joins host Matt Morrett to discuss the history of deer management in Pennsylvania and how the Game Commission sets license allocations to promote healthy deer herds and bigger bucks in...

Episode 36 Part 1: Healthy Forests, Healthy Deer

Nov 01 2023 37 mins

The average adult white-tailed deer needs five pounds of browse per day — healthy habitat is critical to a healthy deer population. Chief Forester Paul Weiss and host Matt Morrett discuss how the Game Commission manages habitat for white-tailed deer and hundreds of other species on state game lands throughout Pennsylvania. Learn more about the...

Episode 35: Life-Saving Advice from State Game Wardens

Last year, Pennsylvania recorded 14 hunting-related shooting incidents, and more than 6,000 hunters were cited for serious violations that could put themselves, other hunters, and wildlife at risk. State Game Warden Mario Altieri and Information & Education Supervisor Aaron Morrow join host Matt Morrett to share the most common mistakes they see hunters make and...

Episode 34: Understanding the role of Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners

The Pennsylvania Game Commission doesn’t just serve hunters — the agency manages 480 species of wild birds and mammals for all 13 million residents of the Keystone State. Executive Director Bryan Burhans and Commissioner Robert Schwalm join host Matt Morrett for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Board of Commissioners works with the PGC to...