Episode Highlights:

• How Eddie got his start turkey hunting and building calls at 10
• Insights from winning dozens of turkey calling contests
• Tactics for success in the turkey woods
• The truth behind common turkey hunting myths

Resources:

Learn more about turkey hunting.

Find places to hunt turkeys.

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.  

The minority chair of the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee joins host Matt Morrett and Executive Director Steve Smith to discuss his journey from subsistence hunting in Wyoming to serving Pennsylvania’s top county for hunting licenses sold. He also shares details on a new bill that could boost hunter recruitment and how outdoorsmen can get involved with the legislative process.

Episode Highlights:

• Senator Malone’s background in the outdoors and how he got into politics
• Why he believes hunting is critical to conservation
• How the legislative process works with input from the public
• Details on his new initiative to promote hunting for future generations
• When and how to contact senators to make your voice heard

Resources:

Learn more about Senator Malone’s first-time hunter deer tag initiative.

Donate to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

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 Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to explain details of the potential change, how it could affect other hunting seasons, and ways to share feedback with the board.

Episode Highlights:

• How seasons and bag limits are set
• Details on the proposals related to firearms deer season
• Why the board is considering a change
• The other seasons this proposed change would impact
• How hunters can make their voices heard and tune in to the meeting

Resources:

Contact the Board of Game Commissioners with your questions, comments, or concerns. 

Episode Highlights:

• What trapping taught Tom about the woods
• How he got his start in outdoor media
• Why trappers make the best bowhunters
• How he completed the archery Super Slam
• Tom’s tips for trapping and bowhunting

Resources:

Get started trapping.

Visit Tom Miranda’s website.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Trappers Association Rendezvous.

Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to answer YOUR questions, straight from social media. From what to do if you find a roadkill deer to why Sundays weren’t included for spring gobbler, they explain current regulations and the latest updates. 

Episode Highlights:

• How changes to regulations, seasons, and bag limits are made
• What Sunday hunting opportunities will be available in the future
• Tips for legally packing a deer out of the woods
• How to get started with a career in conservation
• Details on junior and mentored hunting programs

Resources:

Check current seasons and bag limits.

Review regulations in the Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Follow us on social media for updates.

Contact the Game Commission.

Col. Rod Danley, the new director of the Bureau of Wildlife Protection, joins host Matt Morrett to share the history of game wardens in Pennsylvania, the passion they share for wildlife, and how hunters can have a great interaction with a warden in the woods.

Episode Highlights:

• The role of Pennsylvania state game wardens 
• Tips for trapping coyotes and hunting the rut
• What to do if a game warden approaches you
• Why game laws are in place and common regulation questions
• Col. Danley’s vision leading law enforcement for the agency 

Resources:

Review the Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Find tips for safe hunting.

Learn more about Operation Game Thief.

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 Bob Schwalm to discuss the powerful sense of community behind our Pennsylvania hunting heritage. From mentoring new hunters to partnering with farmers to helping feed families in need, we dive into all the ways hunting unites Pennsylvanians for a greater purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• Details on the UBP annual hunt event and how bowhunters can participate
• The importance of building mutually beneficial relationships between hunters and farmers
• Why mentoring children and adults is critical to the future of hunting
• How to give back via Hunters Sharing the Harvest
• The value of deer camp comradery

Resources:

Get involved with United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania.

Consider donating to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Purchase a mentored hunting permit.

Review deer hunting regulations. 

Episode Highlights:

· How the Pittman-Robertson Act plays a crucial role in conservation

· The Game Commission’s public shooting range diversity, design, safety, and accessibility

· Updates from the Shooting Range Improvement Program’s successful pilot year

· Partnerships with sportsmen clubs and municipalities

· Future plans for public shooting ranges

· Tips when using the range and improving your shot

Resources:

Find a shooting range near you

Learn more about the Shooting Range Improvement Program

Learn how the Pittman-Robertson Act benefits wildlife conservation

Buy a shooting range permit

Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to commemorate the event that is going down in conservation history. They go on to discuss the behind‑the‑scenes legislative process that made this possible, provide a detailed recap of the thoughtful science-based decisions made during the Board of Game Commissioners meeting, and highlight exciting new opportunities for the 2025–26 seasons as a result of the executive order. A cumulative team effort dedicated to doing what's best for wildlife, Pennsylvania, and future generations!  

Episode Highlights:    

Where we started vs what we have accomplished in Pennsylvania.   

Explanation behind the legislative process that led to Act 36.   

Why the Game Commission used an executive order.   

New opportunities available for 2025-26.   

A glimpse into what hunting seasons may look like in the future.    

Resources:    

Watch recorded Board of Game Commissioner Meeting    

Review the approved Sunday hunting dates for the 2025-26 seasons    

For more details reference PGC Newsroom   

Follow us on social media for timely updates 

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.  

Episode 58: PA Residents Guaranteed an Antlerless License for Any WMU

You get an antlerless license! You get an antlerless license! Everybody gets an antlerless license!

Well, all residents for 21 days, anyway.

Executive Director Steve Smith and Deputy Executive Director Dave Gustafson join host Matt Morrett to discuss the biggest changes for the 2025-26 license year, including guaranteed antlerless licenses for residents, a shortened bear archery season, expanded DMAP opportunities, and a 10% cap on nonresident elk tags.

Episode Highlights

• How seasons and bag limits are set
• Whether guaranteed resident antlerless licenses will cause WMUs to oversell
• Why the bear archery season was shortened to one week
• The impact an extended DMAP season will have on overall harvest
• Tips for hunting state game lands
• Why hunters in some WMUs will have a higher personal limit for antlerless licenses
• Changes coming to the elk application process

Resources

Log in to HuntFishPA to update your account.

Find state game lands near you.

Learn more about changes for the 2025-26 license year.

Episode Highlights: Tips for taking your turkey calling to the next level How to avoid overcalling and when to be patient after a tom’s gone quiet The skills to pair with solid calling to fill tags on pressured birds Ways to switch up tactics as the season progresses The importance of boots-on-the-ground scouting

Resources:

Explore more turkey hunting tips

Review spring gobbler seasons and bag limits 

Find state game lands near you

Learn more about Nancy’s Vision Youth Turkey Hunt

#wildlife #conservation #nature #PennsylvaniaGameCommission #PAgameCommission #GameCommission #PGC #habitat #turkeyhunting #turkeys

Wildlife Technicians Rachel Pennell, Tony Musselman, and Andrew Cushman join host Matt Morrett to discuss Pennsylvania’s largest-ever wild turkey study and their boots-on-the-ground experience with birds that will shape the future of turkey management in the state.  

Episode Highlights:  

• How the turkey team uses thermal imaging and radio transmitter technologies to collect data
• Why temporary trapping and biological sampling provide valuable population info
• Anecdotal findings as the turkey team awaits final results of the study
• The truth behind common turkey myths
• The unlikely places turkeys nest
• The important role private landowners play in turkey studies
• Gobbler chronography as the future of turkey research  

Resources:  

• Learn more about wild turkey research.
• Review seasons and bag limits for spring gobbler.
• Try these turkey hunting tips. 
• Find shooting ranges and places to hunt.  

The Game Commission’s new Black Bear Biologist Brandon Snavely joins host Matt Morrett to provide insight into the latest black bear science, a look at a year in the life of a Pennsylvania bear, and tips for coexisting with these opportunistic omnivores.

Episode Highlights:

• The state of the black bear population in Pennsylvania
• Current studies and research projects that will help shape bear management
• What biologists learn from visiting bear dens
• The diet and lifecycle of black bears
• How to prevent human-bear conflicts

Resources:

Learn more about black bears in Pennsylvania.

Explore ways to be BearWise.

Forester Chris Sabol and Recruiting Outreach Specialist Tyler Strohecker join host Matt Morrett to share their tips for finding dozens of antlers across Pennsylvania public land and how shed hunting helps them harvest bucks each fall.

Episode Highlights:

• The best time of year and conditions for shed hunting
• Where to look for deer and elk sheds 
• Tactics, technology, and gear to up your odds
• How shed hunting can help your fall hunting strategy
• Regulations on shed hunting in Pennsylvania

 Resources:

Find state game lands near you.  

Learn more about deer and elk in Pennsylvania.

Get familiar with forest habitat for wildlife.

Deputy Executive Director Dave Gustafson and Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Andrew Di Salvo join host Matt Morrett to explain how supplemental feeding negatively impacts wildlife, why food plots and birdfeeders are different, and how Pennsylvanians can create complex habitat in their own backyards.

Episode Highlights:

The ways supplemental feeding can harm wildlife

How feeding deer can disrupt habitat for other species

Why food plots can be beneficial for several species

Best practices for birdfeeders

Tips for helping wildlife long-term no matter where you live 

Resources:

Learn more about the dangers of feeding wildlife.

Find six things you can do for wildlife.

Explore ways to improve habitat for wildlife.

Range Management Coordinator Luke Johnson and Deputy Director of Field Operations Dave Mitchell join host Matt Morrett to discuss their changing strategy as hunting season progresses, go-to guns and gear throughout the year, and why no amount of technology can replace putting boots on the ground.

Episode Highlights:

• How to adjust your tactics based on hunting pressure and time of year
• Ways to up your odds for success without relying on expensive technology
• Tips for taking advantage of Pennsylvania’s unique flintlock season
• The connection between healthy habitat and big bucks
• Small game, waterfowl, and predator hunting opportunities available this winter

Resources:

Explore winter hunting opportunities.

Find shooting ranges and places to hunt.

Report a harvest.

Donate a deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Learn more about how deer populations affect habitat.

Southcentral Region Director Seth Mesoras and Assistant Counsel Jason Raup join host Matt Morrett to discuss the demands of serving as a game warden, the intensive process of investigating poachers, and some of the most interesting cases that have resulted from Operation Game Thief (OGT).

Learn what you can do to help protect our wildlife resources and how to avoid ending up on the wrong side of an OGT tip.

Episode Highlights:

• Details of the recent Chester County poaching ring case
• How OGT helps protect Pennsylvania wildlife
• The critical role tips from the public play in uncovering cases — and the rewards up for grabs
• The investigation process and why some tips don’t result in criminal charges
• Some memorable and bizarre poaching cases in Pennsylvania
• The most common violations game wardens encounter 

Resources:

Report suspected wildlife crimes to OGT.

Get familiar with current regulations in the Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Review safe hunting tips.

Find state game lands near you.

Mark Drury joins host Matt Morrett to share insights from 35 years in hunting media, from the conditions he looks for to consistently shoot world-class bucks to his tactics for balancing the buck-doe ratio for better rut activity.

Episode Highlights:

• How Mark broke into the hunting industry and started Drury Outdoors
• Why he and his team harvest 125 does annually on their properties
• The story of the 160-inch Missouri buck he shot in early archery season
• His strategy for managing and hunting on small parcels of land
• Top tips for targeting big bucks anywhere

Resources:

Learn more about healthy forests and healthy deer.

Explore DMAP opportunities in Pennsylvania.

Find where to donate a deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Get the DeerCast app and subscribe to Drury Outdoors on YouTube. 

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.

Access resources to get started hunting.

Join the PA Wild Women Facebook Group.

Find state game lands near you.

Email mentoredhunting@pa.gov with questions.

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 challenges of maintaining young successional forests and how DMAP permits can help balance deer populations for the future of our forests in this first installment of a two-part series.

Prior to State Game Lands, the Game Commission established wildlife refuges on the Bureau of Forestry Lands to protect wildlife, until non-resident and resident hunting funds paved the way for the State Game Lands System.

The Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources both have conservation at the core of their missions, however there are some differences when it comes to managing public lands. Learn how these two agencies work together for recreation, conservation and the betterment of Pennsylvania. 

The Keystone State is a special place for everyone, enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer.  

Photo Caption: Gifford Pinchot (the Father of American Forestry, seated at left) and Valentine Bearer (Bureau of Forestry’s Forbes District Forester, Scott Bearer’s great-grandfather; seated at right) at the 1922 Society of American Forester’s Convention at Mont Alto, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Alt is a Pennsylvania native and a lifetime deer hunter. In fact, he got out of his tree stand to do this podcast interview. He hunts deer six weeks in the fall but he thinks about deer every week of the year. His greatest memories of his father, grandfather and son all include hunting whitetails.

Dr. Alt began his work with the Pennsylvania Game Commission in the late 1970’s as a bear biologist to conduct research on the bear population and continued in that role for 22 years.

He then served the agency as the whitetail deer biologist for five years, where he led efforts to balance the deer herd with habitat by increasing antlerless permits and reducing the mortality of immature bucks by instituting antler restrictions.

He shares his perspective on deer and the enormous impact they have in our society in Pennsylvania. From our forests, to agriculture, to people, there are very strong opinions on deer management, which has historically made deer management here in the Keystone State difficult.

Dr. Alt retired from the Game Commission in the early 2000s. Today’s he is still researching bears across the globe and also works with the Pennsylvania Wildlife Leadership Academy as an instructor and curriculum developer.

National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates generations of hunters and anglers and how they contribute to our rich sporting heritage and wildlife conservation.

Pennsylvania is home to 1.6 million acres of state game lands that are open to the public and 86,000 miles of streams, second only to Alaska! The Keystone State is a special place that has something to offer everyone whether you’re hunting, fishing or just enjoy recreating outside.

Thank you to our hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts for their passion and dedication to conservation. Listen now to find out how you can play a role in protecting and preserving wildlife and their habitat for current and future generations.

Waterfowl hunters are gearing up for early Canada goose season, which opens Thursday, Sept. 1. Waterfowl hunt zones, season dates, hours and regulations are different across the state, so hunters should review the digest before heading out to hunt.

Game Commission Assistant Legal Counsel Creigh Martson and Waterfowl Program Specialist Nate Huck joined host Matt Morrett to provide some updates and tips for hunters.

Our state’s geography, from river valleys and wetlands to large agricultural fields and farm ponds, makes it a pretty good waterfowl state. People and patience are two keys to waterfowl hunting in our state.

It’s about the people you hunt with. From your crew and those you strategize, to being respectful to the private landowners and other groups of hunters.

Practice your patience, as there are plenty of variables in waterfowl hunting, including wind, weather and the birds changing up their behavior when hunting season starts.

Tune in for other helpful tips, including when to call (and when to stop), the importance of scouting and the role decoys can play.

Good luck. Have fun. Hunt safely.

Dave explains that habitat is essentially a place where wildlife has access to food, water, space, and a secure place to raise their young.

Dave’s love for the outdoors started at a young age while spending time hunting and fishing with his grandfather, leading him to become passionate about wildlife and their habitat.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is currently in charge of over 1.5 MILLION acres of state game lands. Dave says, “it’s a humbling responsibility to think about our charge of managing wildlife and their habitat for current and future generations.”

Dave is excited about the future of the agency and the Bureau of Wildlife and Habitat Management he’s leading.

In this part 2, they are joined by Michael Waddell, a well-known name in the turkey hunting industry and host of “Bone Collector,” on the Outdoor Channel.

Michael and Denny swap stories of how they mastered turkey vocalizations over the years and are ready to let you in on their best kept secrets. 

The clock is ticking down to the start of Spring Gobbler season which opens statewide on April 30, 2022.  It’s time to practice your calls and put them to the test! 

 In this episode, Todd joins Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett to discuss shooting sports in Pennsylvania and the growing excitement for the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). 

NASP is a joint venture that partners with state education and wildlife management agencies to promote student education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery.  The NASP program which had around 100 schools participating in the program has steadily grown to over 300 schools and reaches 90,000 students each year in Pennsylvania.  

Not only has Todd helped develop the NASP program in Pennsylvania, but he has also made it a priority to create public access archery ranges on state game lands.  Listen now to learn how he is increasing opportunities for everyone looking to get out and shoot. 

For more information on the NASP program, visit www.pgc.pa.gov or www.facebook.com/PennNASP.   

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the biology and migrations of waterfowl in Pennsylvania with Nate Huck, Waterfowl Program Specialist for the Game Commission. As the agency’s Waterfowl Biologist, Nate’s main focuses throughout the year include post-season banding, waterfowl surveys and flyway communication with other states. He emphasized the importance of analyzing the banding and survey data to estimate survival and harvest rates, because both play a crucial role in proposing annual seasons and bag limits.

Hannah and Travis are 2021 graduates of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32nd class. Hannah has been a serving in Bucks County and Travis in Butler County since February 2021. After they graduated, host Matt Morrett spoke with the pair about their journeys to becoming game wardens in episodes 16 and 17. In this episode, they fondly recount memories from their first year in the field. 

Both game wardens agreed they felt fully ready after completing their 44-week intensive training, where they were trained to investigate crimes, interview suspects, educate the public and protect wildlife. Visit www.pgc.pa.gov to learn more about becoming a state game warden. 

Hunters Sharing the Harvest is a hunter-inspired community service outreach that works through a network of approved deer processors to channel venison donations to local food banks, soup kitchens and hungry families in Pennsylvania’s urban and rural communities. 

This episode features the program’s first Executive Director John Plowman and its current Executive Director Randy Ferguson. They join host Matt Morrett to share the step-by-step process in which a hunter can donate a deer to the program at no cost to them and how it gets from the processor and back into the community. This program is a national leader and has grown into a huge success, thanks in large part to the generosity of Pennsylvania hunters.

One deer can provide as many as 200 high protein, low fat servings. Last year, in 2020, the program set a new all-time record when 190,302 pounds of venison was distributed across the Commonwealth.  Visit www.sharedeer.org or call 866-474-2141 to learn how to donate or volunteer, or to locate a processor, area coordinators and/or food banks near you.

Kip lives in Knoxville (Pennsylvania) and is a certified wildlife biologist whose love for hunting began while growing up on a dairy farm in Tioga County. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a wildlife biologist.  

Pennsylvania has a seven-to-ten day window in early to mid-November when the whitetail rut reaches its peak. Kip’s advice to hunters: Once we hit the rut, go and stay in your stand. It can all change at any second and turn into the most explosive time of the year. Go and stay in your stand for as long as you can.  

Kip explains why education is so important in managing and understanding deer. Knowing the deer’s patterns, food sources and shelter needs for deer is crucial to determining the life cycle and mating habits for deer.   

Kip credits hunters for being very knowledgeable about deer biology, management and knowing how to enhance habitats. Hunters have always answered the call and are working toward ensuring that we have healthy deer herds for the next generation. He predicts a lot of good things for the future of white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with the Bureau of Wildlife Protection’s Chad Eyler and Brian Sheetz about our state’s wildlife protection programs, including OGT. To confidentially report information, call the OGT hotline toll-free – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – at 1-888-PGC-8001 or fill out a form online at http://bit.ly/PGCOGT. With more than 1,500 tips a year, Pennsylvania’s program is ranked third in the nation behind Texas and Florida. 

From its first days, Pennsylvania was founded on William Penn’s belief that wildlife belongs to everyone. Today, our state Constitution says that all the natural resources within this Commonwealth belong to the people. The Pennsylvania Game Commission serves as the state’s wildlife agency and is dedicated to managing and protecting wildlife and their habitats, while promoting hunting and trapping, for current and future generations.

Whether an avid hunter or someone with a general love of the outdoors, understanding the multi-faceted approach of modern wildlife management practices helps everyone better appreciate our agency’s mission: To manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations.”

Matthew Schnupp was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia and spent much of his childhood chasing after pheasants in the state game lands of Pennsylvania. After going to West Virginia University for his undergraduate degree, he headed down south to Texas, where he attended Texas A&M University. He spent the next 15 years in Texas working as the chief biologist for an 825,000-acre private ranch. Matthew took the opportunity to move closer to home in 2018 and planted his roots in Pennsylvania when he assumed his current role. He’s glad be in the state where his love for hunting began.  

Denny Gulvas, of DuBois, is a proud Pennsylvania hunter who loves living in a state with plenty of turkey hunting opportunities. He’s dedicated most of his life to turkey calling and was inducted into the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand National Hall of Fame in 2020. Denny refers to turkey calling as an art. He explains that the whole process of calling in a turkey – from locating the gobbler, to setting up, to communicating, to watching the bird’s body language – is all an art and something that takes time and skill to learn.

Denny has produced his own turkey calls since the 1970s, and he explains how he got started and what makes his calls unique. He spends a lot of time in the woods and shares some of his best tips and tricks for hunting and understanding turkeys and other wildlife. Denny has mentored plenty of young turkey callers and hunters, including his sons. In this episode, he also shares memories of his earliest hunting experiences with his dad and grandfather, including every detail of his first turkey hunt.

The answer to the No. 1 question our agency gets when it comes to spring gobbler season, “Why doesn’t the season open sooner?” is answered in this episode. Mary Jo explains why fall turkey harvest rates and habitat management strategies are both very important when it comes to managing wild turkeys in Pennsylvania. Details about why the Game Commission is leg banding males to get harvest rates and annual survival rates, a practice similar to waterfowl leg banding, is also included.

Mary Jo covers some of the challenges that are currently facing our wild turkey population and shares what the agency is doing to best monitor and manage those issues. Mary Jo also shares many facts and figures related to our turkey population, including the average life expectancy of our gobblers is three years old.

Mary Jo admits her favorite species to hunt is the wild turkey and “there’s nothing like the roar of the gobble in the spring.” In 7th grade biology class, Mary Jo decided she wanted to be a wildlife biologist to speak on behalf of wildlife. She recently celebrated her 28th anniversary with the agency, where she’s held a few positions, including pheasant biologist, then waterfowl biologist and now as the wild turkey biologist since 1999.

Every state has some form of wildlife protection. Here in Pennsylvania, we refer to our officers as game wardens. The Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg is the academy where our game wardens go to train. In addition to the physical and educational requirements, game wardens must have an appreciation for wildlife and natural resources to be truly successful in their careers.

Assistant Director Gibble and SGW O’Neill grew up with true passions for the outdoors, from hunting, fishing and beyond. They have both served our country in the military and they both work every day to serve the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The pair discusses the unique role that game wardens have and how their primary mission is protecting wildlife, but the ways in which that is accomplished – through education, communication and enforcement – can look a little different on a daily basis.

Assistant Director Gibble served as a game warden in Schuylkill County for several years before coming on board to help train the next generation of game wardens. He gives plenty of advice to those interested in becoming a game warden and also touches on some of the other opportunities that are available within the agency. He also shares memories from some of his best days and worst days in the field and how they helped to shape his career as a game warden.

SGW O’Neill is an Allegheny County native and recent graduate of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32^nd class. Believe it or not, he nearly talked himself out of applying for the class, which he explains in the episode. He went on to receive the class award for academics, with a score of 96.9 percent and gave the class speech at the graduation in February. Watch it here: https://bit.ly/3cRR8rU. He was recently assigned to his first district in Butler County and he tells some stories about his first few weeks on the job.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications through April 10 for its 34^th class of state game wardens. Learn more or apply here: https://bit.ly/2OkvYdr. Click here to listen to “How to Become a State Game Warden, Part One:” http://bit.ly/3vBY2K9.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s training program takes place at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in Harrisburg. The school started in 1936 and has produced just 728 graduates since that time. Hear how Director Jury and SGW Robinson’s paths led them to being two of those 728 and why they are passionate about their unique roles in protecting wildlife here in the Keystone State.

The official training currently takes about 44 weeks, but the process to getting to that point requires multiple steps. Director Jury provides insight on that process, from the civil service announcement, to applying online, to the written, oral and physical assessments, to background checks and more.

SGW Robinson is a Wayne County native and recent graduate of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation’s 32nd class. She was just assigned to her first district in southern Bucks County in February. Hannah had the opportunity to harvest her first pheasant while on field training last fall. As a graduation present from academy, her family surprised her with a new bow and she’s looking forward to becoming an archery hunter this fall. Click here to watch the recent graduation of the 32nd class on YouTube.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications through April 10 for its 34th class of state game wardens. Learn more or apply here.

In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks one-on-one with Cory about what hunting and conservation means to him, as well as the details of his unbelievable fall 2020 deer hunt. Cory is an avid woodsman, a dedicated outdoorsman and a professional forester who has spent a lot of his life studying white-tailed deer, from understanding their behavior patterns and movement and beyond.

In 2005, Cory’s passion for studying their habits was further fueled when he began searching for their sheds in the big woods. He now has a shed hunting dog, Mighty, that helps him comb through miles of mountains in search of antlers. Cory shares some of his tips and what he’s learned over the years and how this method of scouting has helped him have better success in the field.

Cory explains how hunting is about so much more than harvesting an animal; the challenges, skills and lessons are just as valuable and important. As a traditional bowhunter and IBO Traditional Archery World Champion, he makes a point to shoot his bow every single day. Cory has a young family, and a very supportive wife, who encourages him to get out in the woods as much as possible.

To celebrate the hunt, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett in this episode to wish hunters a happy Thanksgiving and remind everyone about the important role our hunters share in conserving our wildlife.

As the first day of rifle deer season in Pennsylvania is quickly approaching, Bryan shares his memories from his first-ever buck harvest, his personal sentiments on being a Pennsylvania hunter and his thoughts on all the hunting opportunities we’ve had so far this fall – from doves to squirrels to pheasants, turkey, deer, bear and more!

To Bryan, conservation means “the wise use of natural resources,” and he shares why the work the agency does to actively manage wildlife habitat is so important to current and future generations of both wildlife species and humans. Hunters live a certain lifestyle that embodies the principles of conservation and requires them to take personal responsibility for their actions. From knowing the hunting regulations and laws, to taking clean and ethical shots, to getting their deer tested for CWD, to sharing tasteful photos on social media, to recruiting and teaching new hunters and continuing traditions, hunters are very involved with conservation.

Mark Ternent is the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Wildlife Management Supervisor and has worked with bears for 30 years, including 20 of them as the agency’s bear biologist. Mark went from studying prairie chickens in the Midwest, to turkeys in the Ozarks, to grizzly bears in Wyoming and then to Pennsylvania as the agency’s black bear biologist in 2000.

In Pennsylvania, we have 12 million people and a robust bear population, so regardless of where you live or recreate in the state, it’s possible for humans and bears to end up in the same places. The Game Commission receives about 5,000 reports of nuisance bears a year. Whether you want to see a bear in the woods or you’re trying to avoid a run-in, Mark shares some tips on how we can best live together in Penn’s Woods.

In this episode, Pennsylvania native and lifelong hunter Frank Sutliff, shares his insights on bear hunting in our state, and what to look for when you’re planning your hunt. Frank is from Renovo, Clinton County, which is well-known for its black bear hunting, due to the rugged terrain in that northern area of the state.

Frank grew up hunting and fishing in the great outdoors and went on to create Top Calls, a well-known Pennsylvania call company specializing in turkey, deer, waterfowl and predator calls. He shares some of his favorite bear hunting tips and stories from his time in the woods.

Chris Rosenberry, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Game Management Division Chief, provides an inside look into our state’s deer management strategies. If you can hunt it or trap it, the management strategies related to that species falls within Chris’s division.

Prior to his current role, Chris served as the agency’s Deer and Elk Section Chief, and he’s also a Pennsylvania native and lifelong deer hunter. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a deer biologist, Chris shares some of his own experiences collecting data and using science to develop recommendations to achieve agency goals for the betterment of the resource.

If you harvest a deer this season, be sure to report it! Chris explains how important accurate deer harvest data is in managing the deer in our state. He also gives deer hunters a few of his personal tips to keep in mind while pursuing Pennsylvania whitetails this fall!

Corey and Matt have hunted together in Penn’s Woods for decades. Corey is a Berks County native and has spent his life hunting the mountains of northcentral Pennsylvania. Now, as host of his own hunting show, he travels the country chasing everything from deer, to turkey, to stingrays.  

Corey’s Pennsylvania hunting roots run deep and that shows as he shares his story about how his dad and grandfather taught him how to hunt and how’s he’s now passing the tradition of hunting along to his two kids.  

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Director Dave Mitchell joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett to explain the modern elk hunting opportunities we have in the Keystone State and much more!

Dave is a longtime, passionate hunter and has been out west to hunt elk several times. He shares some comparisons between his western elk hunts with the opportunities available here – including our bonus points system, elk hunt zones and more.

Of course, the elk hunting opportunities wouldn’t exist without extensive wildlife habitat projects within the herd. Dave provides an inside look into some of the ongoing work happening within the region, benefitting the elk, and some of the current and future goals to expand the herd in the future; more elk equals more hunting.

Successful 2019 Pennsylvania rifle elk hunters Trevor Vossler, from Chester County, and Alice Elliott, from Montour County, also joined this episode to share their exciting Pennsylvania elk hunting experiences.

Jim Lickfeld and Luke Miller also join us on this episode, who were both fortunate enough to draw an archery bull tag in 2019 and had the opportunity to hunt in the inaugural season. On the first evening of the season, Jim was able to take the season’s first-ever archery bull, a 7×6 dark-antlered bull in Hunt Zone 10. Luke also successfully harvested a bull with his bow in Hunt Zone 13.

While the elk hunting opportunities are exclusive in Pennsylvania, it’s an important component of maintaining a healthy and sustainable herd. The deadline to apply for the 2020-21 Pennsylvania Elk Hunting Seasons – archery, general and late season – is July 31, 2020. A total of 164 tags will be allocated for the seasons, which is an increase of 20 tags from last year.

Thank you to everyone who applied for an elk license and thank you for being a Pennsylvania hunter!

In the late 1800’s, wildlife was dwindling as a result of deforestation, pollution, and unregulated hunting and trapping took place in Pennsylvania. From this dark period emerged the Game Commission, created by the state Legislature to protect and conserve wildlife, which was then commonly referred to as “game.” The wildlife diversity we enjoy today is largely due to the agency’s progressive, scientifically-based wildlife management programs and support from countless Pennsylvanians, hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and outdoors organizations.

Joe is the author of “100 Years of Wildlife Conservation,” a book published in 1995, to commemorate the agency’s 100th anniversary and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of wildlife and conservation in the Commonwealth. The book is available at http://www.pgc.pa.gov.

Pete explains how the forefathers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, responsible for establishing the state game lands system in 1920, had the vision to create “many miniature Yellowstone Parks throughout the state,” including lots of public hunting land and suitable habitat for wildlife.

Today, we have 308 state game lands that are managed for high-quality wildlife habitat, including forage, feed, shelter and water for ALL wildlife; game and non-game species alike. Our agency uses the best science and technology available to make this possible across the state.

We remain grateful to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s forefathers for their great vision to dedicate public land for wildlife, hunting, trapping, wildlife watching and recreation. Thank you to Pennsylvania hunting license buyers for supporting wildlife conservation in our state, including wildlife management. And thank you to the men and women who have worked to manage these special lands for the last 100 years!

He recently took a break from hunting turkeys in his home state of Georgia to talk with us for a few minutes about his passion for hunting and wildlife.

If it gobbles, quacks, bugles or grunts, chances are Michael has hunted it more than a time or two. He got his start hunting small game with his dad and from there he’s had the opportunity to hunt in plenty of other states, including Pennsylvania.

Michael and host, Matt Morrett, have been friends for a very long time; they’ve hunted together many times and even competed against one another in turkey calling contests.

He shares about what it means to be a hunter, why he’s proud to be one, and how hunting is what made him appreciate wildlife conservation. Hunters are the largest group of conservationists; we feed those in need, we fund conservation, we do a lot of good and it’s time to celebrate and share that message on a broader scale.

Michael commends the work done by state wildlife agencies to manage our wild species to ensure we’re leaving it better than we found it, so future generations of hunters and wildlife lovers can enjoy the natural resource, too.

In this episode, Blake shares that his late brother was the person who got him started hunting early in life, (and also interested in music). Blake shared some of the challenges he endured during his first few years hunting whitetails in Oklahoma and how those experiences helped to shape his great appreciation for wildlife conservation.

Hear about Blake’s favorite way to hunt turkeys; some of his favorite turkey hunting memories with host, Matt Morett; his thoughts on Pennsylvania’s first-ever upcoming Sunday Hunting opportunities; his involvement with wildlife conservation efforts in Oklahoma; how he’s occupying his time at home during the COVID-19 outbreak and plenty more.

As much as Blake loves to hunt, he explains how his rush nowadays comes from taking someone hunting for the first time and introducing people of all ages to the great outdoors that he knows and loves. He shares that someone doesn’t need to harvest an animal to be passionate about the outdoors.

Bryan is a proud Pennsylvania native who has spent his life hunting wild turkeys, whitetails and more in Penn’s Woods. At a young age, he developed a passion for wildlife and conservation and you can hear that excitement in some of the stories he tells. He recounts being so happy to take his Hunter-Trapper Education Course, as a kid, that he actually took it a second time!

As a wildlife biologist, Bryan has dedicated his entire professional career to wildlife conservation in both the public and private sectors. It was a lifelong dream of his to work for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. That became a reality in 2014, and in 2017, he assumed the role of executive director. Bryan shares about his personal preference for hunting on public lands, the lasting legacy those lands will provide and more.

Bryan and Matt explain what the Game Commission is all about – it’s mission, it’s people, it’s passion and it’s purpose. The year-round wildlife management that is done on Pennsylvania’s 1.6 million acres of state game lands is for the betterment of wildlife and for current and future generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. They also provide insight on how the agency is funded, the challenges the agency faces when it comes to managing wildlife and habitats, as well as dispel a few common myths about the Game Commission.