Artemis

In this special Pride Month episode of the Artemis Podcast, Program Manager Annita Lucchesi is joined by Artemis co-founder Jess Johnson and ambassadors Jayne Henson and Gabriele Rolland for a powerful conversation about identity, belonging, and leadership in the sporting and conservation world. Jayne and Gabriele share their experiences as queer individuals navigating the outdoor and hunting spaces—offering honest reflections on what it means to show up authentically in places that haven't always felt welcoming. Together, the group explores the strength of community, the importance of visibility, and why creating space for all identities in the outdoors isn't just liberating—it's critical to the future of conservation. Whether you're a lifelong hunter or just finding your way into the field, this episode offers meaningful insights on connection, resilience, and reimagining who belongs in the wild. Follow their socials: @jesscjohnson_ @crimson_wave @queersandcamo @artemis_sportswomen As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's really standing in the way of good science—and what does it mean for hunters? Join hosts Annita Lucchesi and Paige McMahon as they sit down with bat biologist and Artemis ambassador alum Dr. Dana Green for a candid conversation about the unseen pressures facing conservation researchers today. From fieldwork to policy battles, this episode serves as a powerful call to action for sportswomen to advocate for the protection of public lands and the scientific research essential for their future, offering a message of solidarity for women navigating careers in science. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Dana's website: https://www.danagreeneco.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Artemis, Program Manager Annita Lucchesi sits down with Mary Lynn, Artemis Lease Manager in Crab Orchard, Tennessee, and Kelly Ott, a passionate hunter and mentor, to talk about the power of place—and what it means to have access to land and a community that uplifts women in the outdoors. Mary and Kelly share the story behind Artemis' 1,700-acre lease in Tennessee, how it's creating opportunities for women to learn skills from land management to hunting, and why mentorship is at the heart of it all. From first-time hunters to lifelong woodswomen, this conversation is full of laughs, heart, and a whole lot of inspiration. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Artemis' Mary Lynn, lease manager and passionate outdoorswoman, for a behind-the-scenes tour of Artemis Sportswomen's Tennessee hunting lease. Nestled in the Cumberland Mountains, this 1700-acre property is a hub for learning, connection, and hands-on conservation. From a sustainable, hand-built camp to a gear closet stocked for every outdoor pursuit—deer hunting, turkey calling, fly fishing, and more—this episode showcases how Artemis is empowering women to dive into the outdoors, get their hands dirty, and shape wild spaces from the ground up. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi and Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon as they explore a pioneering conservation initiative: an all-women's hunting lease in Tennessee, managed by Artemis. Guests Ashley Chance and Mary Lynn share the story behind the lease, discussing the difficulties women face accessing hunting land, especially in the Southeast. They highlight how this project provides a safe community, builds confidence, and uniquely empowers women by teaching practical land management skills—from running equipment to planning prescribed burns—fostering a deeper connection to conservation and creating potential leaders in the outdoors. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You better be hungry for this episode! Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi shows Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon and YOU how to make contemporary recipes with Indigenous ingredients such as steelhead, elk, huckleberries, and wild rice.  RECIPE  While these recipes are not traditional to any tribe, they do utilize traditional Indigenous foods. The goal in sharing these recipes is to remind folks that Indigenous foods are more accessible than we realize, highly versatile, easy to work with, and usable in a wide variety of cooking styles. Whether you're Indigenous or not, Indigenous foods belong in your kitchen! Every ingredient used is Indigenous to the Americas.   Note: I am a home cook that does not believe in precise measurements. For that reason, you won't see specific measurements in the ingredient lists below. Instead, I use descriptions of texture to give you a feel for what it should look or feel like as you go. As always, do what feels right for your palate and the size of the party you're cooking for.   Prickly Pear Glazed Steelhead  Ingredients:  Steelhead filet  Prickly pear jam  Sunflower oil  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  In a small bowl, mix sunflower oil, salt, and prickly pear jam until evenly blended. Consistency should be similar to a thick salad dressing – thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to lather onto the fish.   Place steelhead filet in an oven-safe pan. Spoon prickly pear glaze over the fish, making sure to spread a medium-thick layer evenly.   Bake steelhead in the oven until it is cooked to desired texture.     Wild Rice & Elk Meatballs  Ingredients:  Ground elk meat  Huckleberries  Wild rice  Mixed wild mushrooms (chanterelles recommended)  Flat (mountain) cedar  Bear root (or osha root)  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  In a large deep pan, add mushrooms, small chunks of bear root, and a pinch of cedar to water. Fill level should be deep enough to create a broth to cook the meatballs in, but not so deep that it will boil over once you add the meatballs. Place the pan on the stove on medium heat, high enough to create a flavored broth.   In a large bowl, mix ground elk, huckleberries, wild rice, a pinch of flat cedar, and salt. The final texture of the mix should be sticky enough for the meatballs to hold shape, but wet enough to remain moist after cooking in the broth.   Form meatballs by rolling between your palms – they should be approximately 1” thick.   Place meatballs directly into the broth on the stove. Turn as needed, and add additional water as needed (the rice will soak up the broth as they cook; the pan should always maintain broth in it because the rice needs the moisture). Cook thoroughly, until meat and rice are fully cooked.     Roasted Maple Chili Sweet Potatoes & Mushrooms  Ingredients:  Diced sweet potatoes  Chanterelle mushrooms (or other wild mushrooms)  Maple syrup  Guajillo chili powder  Sunflower oil  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.   Place diced sweet potatoes and mushrooms in an oven-safe pan (cast iron preferred).   In a small bowl, stir sunflower oil, salt, guajillo, and maple syrup until evenly mixed. Feel free to taste as you go and modify the sweet/spicy level to your preference.   Pour the glaze over the potatoes and mushrooms, and stir to ensure pieces are evenly coated.   Bake until potatoes are soft and easily broken with a fork.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi and Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon as they speak with Vanessa Castle, a Lower Elwha Klallam angler, mother, fisheries advocate, and conservationist. Vanessa shared with us her nation's experience undamming and healing their ancestral river in Washington, the cultural and social impacts of tribal fisheries, how tribal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest have resisted colonial environmental policies, and how restoring salmon heals a community. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You better be hungry for this episode! Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi shows Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon and YOU how to make contemporary recipes with Indigenous ingredients such as steelhead, elk, huckleberries, and wild rice.  RECIPE  While these recipes are not traditional to any tribe, they do utilize traditional Indigenous foods. The goal in sharing these recipes is to remind folks that Indigenous foods are more accessible than we realize, highly versatile, easy to work with, and usable in a wide variety of cooking styles. Whether you're Indigenous or not, Indigenous foods belong in your kitchen! Every ingredient used is Indigenous to the Americas.   Note: I am a home cook that does not believe in precise measurements. For that reason, you won't see specific measurements in the ingredient lists below. Instead, I use descriptions of texture to give you a feel for what it should look or feel like as you go. As always, do what feels right for your palate and the size of the party you're cooking for.   Prickly Pear Glazed Steelhead  Ingredients:  Steelhead filet  Prickly pear jam  Sunflower oil  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  In a small bowl, mix sunflower oil, salt, and prickly pear jam until evenly blended. Consistency should be similar to a thick salad dressing – thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to lather onto the fish.   Place steelhead filet in an oven-safe pan. Spoon prickly pear glaze over the fish, making sure to spread a medium-thick layer evenly.   Bake steelhead in the oven until it is cooked to desired texture.     Wild Rice & Elk Meatballs  Ingredients:  Ground elk meat  Huckleberries  Wild rice  Mixed wild mushrooms (chanterelles recommended)  Flat (mountain) cedar  Bear root (or osha root)  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  In a large deep pan, add mushrooms, small chunks of bear root, and a pinch of cedar to water. Fill level should be deep enough to create a broth to cook the meatballs in, but not so deep that it will boil over once you add the meatballs. Place the pan on the stove on medium heat, high enough to create a flavored broth.   In a large bowl, mix ground elk, huckleberries, wild rice, a pinch of flat cedar, and salt. The final texture of the mix should be sticky enough for the meatballs to hold shape, but wet enough to remain moist after cooking in the broth.   Form meatballs by rolling between your palms – they should be approximately 1” thick.   Place meatballs directly into the broth on the stove. Turn as needed, and add additional water as needed (the rice will soak up the broth as they cook; the pan should always maintain broth in it because the rice needs the moisture). Cook thoroughly, until meat and rice are fully cooked.     Roasted Maple Chili Sweet Potatoes & Mushrooms  Ingredients:  Diced sweet potatoes  Chanterelle mushrooms (or other wild mushrooms)  Maple syrup  Guajillo chili powder  Sunflower oil  Coarse sea salt  Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.   Place diced sweet potatoes and mushrooms in an oven-safe pan (cast iron preferred).   In a small bowl, stir sunflower oil, salt, guajillo, and maple syrup until evenly mixed. Feel free to taste as you go and modify the sweet/spicy level to your preference.   Pour the glaze over the potatoes and mushrooms, and stir to ensure pieces are evenly coated.   Bake until potatoes are soft and easily broken with a fork.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi and Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon as they speak with Vanessa Castle, a Lower Elwha Klallam angler, mother, fisheries advocate, and conservationist. Vanessa shared with us her nation's experience undamming and healing their ancestral river in Washington, the cultural and social impacts of tribal fisheries, how tribal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest have resisted colonial environmental policies, and how restoring salmon heals a community. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Artemis Program Manager Annita Lucchesi as she speaks with Deleana Otherbull, a Northern Cheyenne and Crow climate justice leader, angler, and hunter living on a floating home on the Columbia River. In this episode, Deleana discusses what wellness practices look like for women in conservation, how conservation work can be healing, and why the conservation world benefits from Indigenous women's leadership.  As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype but enjoy being our full, authentic selves. There is no one definition of a sportswoman – Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one, and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders of the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success as hunters and anglers, and role model women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in our work to elevate sportswomen as sporting and conservation leaders today! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Artemis Podcast is back! We're so excited to share stories with you and explore the millions of ways to be a sportswoman. Join Artemis Coordinator Paige McMahon and Artemis Ambassador Megan Plete Postol as they speak with our new program manager, Annita Lucchesi! Artemis, the sportswomen's initiative at the National Wildlife Federation, recently welcomed Annita Lucchesi as its new program manager. Lucchesi has over a decade of experience advocating for policy at the Tribal, state, and federal levels. Most recently, she served as the founder and executive director of Sovereign Bodies Institute, a community-based research institute focused on gender and sexual violence against Indigenous people. “It's an honor to serve in this role, especially as a Cheyenne woman. I am fortunate to come from a family and community full of strong advocates for land, water, and wildlife, and I believe hunters and anglers have an important role to play in safeguarding our wildlife and landscapes for the next generation,” Lucchesi said. “My people place a high value on women's leadership and a close connection to the land, and I am thrilled to honor those teachings by bringing my passion and experience to help Artemis sportswomen become some of the strongest conservation leaders in the nation.” Lucchesi holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Arizona and has nearly two decades of experience as a cartographer. She travels between her Tribal community in southeast Montana and rural northern California, where she grew up and maintains close community ties. She is an avid outdoorswoman who fishes, hikes, and harvests from the land as a way to maintain her cultural traditions as an Indigenous woman. As sportswomen, we don't fit into any box or stereotype—we embrace being our full, authentic selves. There is no single definition of a sportswoman. Artemis celebrates the million ways to be one and uplifts sportswomen as unique leaders in both the sporting world and conservation. We are a nationwide community reflecting the diversity, leadership, expertise, and sisterhood of women hunters and anglers. Artemis sportswomen encourage one another in their growth and success, modeling women's leadership in caring for the lands and waters we harvest from and know so well. Join us in elevating sportswomen as leaders in both sporting and conservation! Learn more: https://artemis.nwf.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to be a conservation advocate? It's different for every person. This week, Artemis ambassador Anne Jolliff talks about what she's learned over the past year about how to best advocate for wild spaces. She shares her "why" and her "how," and more on how it's going. 00:20 Artemis 101 and advocacy 1:00 "Go Confident as an Advocate" program 3:00 Ladies and gentlemen... we are hearing from a mother of 5-year-old triplets 6:00 Why be a conservation advocate?  8:00 First thing: What's holding you back? 10:00 The first time you speak up for something you believe in 13:00 Writing an op-ed, testifying at a hearing, sharing what you know with others 15:00 Preconceptions about what it means to "be an advocate" 16:00 "I'm not here to be the magic bullet that changes everyone's minds and pivots this whole discussion, as much as I would like it to... but I am going to show up." 21:00 When was the last time you changed your mind?  23:00 Wear fancy dresses in the dirt, ya'll 28:00 Start by watching... hearings, the political process, everything. Follow the groups that fit your beliefs. Engage. Reach out. Talk to people. 33:00 Don't be afraid to fail... failure is integral to how you learn this kind of thing 37:00 Ethos, logos, pathos 39:00 Bear! Right there! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Tingey is one of the brains behind a small packrafting company called Alpacka Raft. It started as a basement type of operation, fueled by adventures in the Far North, including time spent in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Sarah tells us about her experiences on that incomparable landscape, plus what it's like to travel there with a small child (on a 10-day packrafting trip, of course). Taking kids into the backcountry isn't all puppies and unicorns, but it can be hugely rewarding when we do make the effort. 1:00 Engage the BLM on Arctic Conservation Issues at www.nwf.org/protectthearctic 4:00 Career life at a small outdoor products company like Alpacka Rafts (you're a jill of all trades) 6:30 Packrafts - they started as a means for water travel in the deep backcountry, like -- say -- a 700-mile trip across Alaska's Brooks Range 9:00 From a basement sewing machine operation to a company that employs 45 people 10:00 "Design by Sheri" - a staple of the Warren Miller ski days, also what would be the skill base for a packraft company 14:00 Sheep hunting; New Mexico elk hunting 21:00 Visiting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and suddenly feeling like all those discussions about oil development weren't very abstract anymore 25:00 Check out a map of where ANWR is 26:00 Efforts to conserve ANWR predate Alaska's statehood 28:00 Would you rather visit a place called a 'petroleum reserve' or a 'wildlife refuge'? 30:00 Taking a BABY rafting on a 10-day trip in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (flash floods, weather delays, hustle hustle hustle) 33:00 Risk judgement when conditions change (leave the stress out of it) 36:00 Carrying a baby in the backcountry; hunting with a baby (or not) 42:00 Growing up in a hunting family, but not ever going along 43:00 Sharing the burden of all the extra energy that goes along with taking a kid outside 47:00 Taking kids into the wild isn't all unicorns and ponies 51:00 Catch the Emily Ledergerber episode on Hunting While Pregnant 53:00 An 185-mile overland trip over several drainages in Alaska, and getting to see a pristine salmon run 56:00 "The 'potted plant' phase [of babyhood]... soak it up." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traditional bowhunter Beka Garris joins Artemis this week to talk about what it's like bowhunting with a baby. Yes... literally WITH a small child. Beka tells us about harvesting two deer (and a squirrel) alongside her daughter. She also talks about traditional bowhunting, the skills involved, and how your experience in the outdoors changes when you have a little one in tow.  2:00 Tiny human podcast crashers... #momlife 3:00 The switch from bowhunting to traditional bowhunting... the trad bow range is more like

This week on the program, a reunion! Mandela van Eeden is leaving Artemis for an epic road trip throughout Africa, where she plans to put her storytelling skills to work on behalf of endangered elephants and rhinoceros. Marcia drops in to talk about what she's been up to ever since leaving Artemis a year ago. We discuss conservation work, burnout, and the powerful feelings of success in what can feel like an up-and-down career.  5:00 Bear-fat French fries, applesauce up the wazoo, and game as a substitute for lamb in recipes 8:00 Straddling life between South Africa and Montana 12:00 Cultivating a life in radio... 18 years strong (then transitioning to video) 14:00 'The Easter rhino'... also an egg-layer? 15:00 Conservation as a family legacy/identity 19:00 "If you think you're too small to make a difference, you've obviously never spent the night with a mosquito." 22:00 Career transitions and the why of how we find our paths (with a side dish of burnout) 28:00 Supporting public educators with counseling 32:00 When your hometown feels a little more cozy in the outdoors than it used to 35:00 Inadvertent geotracking of your wildlife photos  38:00 Lessons learned from a career at NWF - lead-free ammo, wildlife crossings, CWD, policy change, salmon recovery, and more 42:00 Advocating for the Grand Canyon on Capitol Hill 52:00 Staying involved in advocacy in Montana and abroad 53:00 Game Rangers International; Xplorer Maps 55:00 The Trail Less Traveled podcast and radio show 56:00 Interacting with children at home and abroad 57:00 Storytelling as a conservation tactic 1:06 It's not goodbye... it's 'see you downstream' 1:09 "This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. --George Bernard Shaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes on a timely subject matter: Rifles - they seem so simple, right? You put the bullet in. You pull the trigger. You (hopefully) kill the animal. But there's a lot of nuance in how a rifle performs, and it can often feel overwhelming to new hunters. This week we're talking to two experts from the firearms industry: Rachel Schmidt, formerly of Kimber Manufacturing, and Neal Emery of Hornady.  3:00 - Mushrooms in lasagna? OR CAPERS?! 5:30 - Piscivorous: You were probably missing this from your vocabulary. 7:00 - On growing up in a hunting family, "I never knew there wasn't hunting." 14:00 - Rifle calibers... what do those numbers mean?  15:00 - First off, you don't need to be a rifle caliber/reloading expert to have enough working knowledge to go hunting. So don't sweat it. Start with knowing what you want to hunt. 18:00 - Calibers are confusing. It's like learning the English language... there are some general rules, but lots (LOTS) of exceptions. 19:00 - Hornady website, go to "Rifles" and "Ammunition" for a basic caliber chart 21:00 - Start with the basics: How does your rifle work? What does the firing pin do? How does the safety stop it from firing? Check out this great animation from hunter-ed.com. 27:00 - Caliber is just a size. The same caliber bullets can come in different weights, which are called grains (i.e. 220 grain versus 110 grain) 32:30 - Rifle fit and recoil. Heavier guns generally absorb recoil better (the downside: you have to carry them places). 35:00 - Muzzle brakes screw onto the tip of your barrel, and they dissipate the pressure of the air as the bullet exits the barrel, lessening recoil 37:00 - Recoil pads can go on the back of the gun to soften the recoil impact on your shoulder 37:15 - And different ammunition has different recoil... minimizing the weight of the bullet can reduce recoil some. And different gunpowder has different burning properties that can affect how a bullet feels leaving the barrel. In short: Lower recoil loads exist. 39:30 - Does noise make recoil feel worse? Wear ear protection! 44:00 - Bullet construction: This controls how fast (and when) a bullet opens up...aka mushrooming. 50:00 - How well a rifle shoots certain ammo is subjective. The only way to know what works best for your gun is to try a bunch of different bullets. 1:00:00 - Checklist for choosing a rifle: Game you're hunting, stock fit against your body, weight of the rifle, budget. 1:04:00 - Length of pull: distance between the trigger to the butt of the gun 1:06:00 - Hornady cheek pieces 1:12:00 - Rifle myth busters: "A good cartridge for women and kids is the .243" 1:24:00 - Marcia's Moroccan Fish Tagine with halibut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long-time Artemis host and friend of the podcast Ashley Chance returns this week to talk about upland birds. As the new hunting heritage program manager at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Ashley is working to conserve upland bird habitat and recruit and retain new hunters. She introduces us to a new film series called How to Hunt Upland Birds, and also tells us about the Hunter Mentor pledge, which has some sweet prizes attached to it this year. (Pssst... want more bird stuff? Check out past episodes with the grouse lady, Ashley Peters, and an episode on bobwhite quail with Brittney Viers.) 2:00 Wingshooting in wild weather - an Artemis event goes on undeterred 6:00 New town, new job, new childcare... but same passions 8:00 Deerhide in the freezer = endless possibilities 10:00 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever - working to put more birds on the ground through habitat conservation 11:00 Minority Outdoor Alliance 14:00 Getting into upland bird hunting behind a dog named Rocky in high school 17:00 Road trip adventures with a bird dog buddy (in this case, a pudelpointer nicknamed Leo) 20:00 Registered dog names that make a statement 23:00 The thrill of finding quail in unlikely places 25:00 Steep decline in quail habitat with the rise of mechanization in agriculture 30:00 Development and suburban sprawl is a huge threat to upland bird habitat 32:00 How to Hunt Upland Birds course, like 'upland bird hunting for Netflix,' filmed and produced by Modern Carnivore 39:00 The video series portrays a variety of hunters, hunting cultures, and birds 41:00 Hunting with babies and kids - do what works for you 44:00 "Approaching hunting in the way that felt right for me was a revelation that's been valuable moving forward." 47:00 From the Artemis archives on hunting while pregnant and/or with kids: Motherhood and Traditional Bow Hunting with Beka Garris; Melody Haege on Traditional Bow Hunting with Kids; and Hunting While Pregnant with Emily Ledergerber and Kyla West 49:00 Access is a big barrier for new hunters (or new-to-a-place hunters), especially in states with lots of private land 51:00 "What if there was a lease that was all women? That would be cool" - introducing the private hunting lease in Tennessee that Ashley worked on and secured (with A LOT of sheer tenacity and letter-writing) 55:00 Food plots vs. baiting 59:00 Consider taking the Hunter Mentor Pledge at Pheasants Forever - take a new hunter in the field, snap a pic, and be entered to win a guided upland bird hunt for two Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alisa Davis took her partner's military career as a chance to fly-fish the waters of several states, including Hawaii, Colorado and North Carolina, while also pursuing advanced education in science. Alisa is an avid outdoors educator and fly-fishing instructor. In her words, "The more we teach fly-fishing, the more people are going to get into fly-fishing... which is always good for conservation." Alisa also a Type I diabetic, and in the second half of the program she shares how she naviates her outdoor pursuits while managing chronic illness. 2:00 Squirrel cacciatore and other adventures in eating!  6:00 Harvesting rainbows in cutthroat country -- smoke them, eat them, and if not... they're hearty fare at a local raptor center 8:00 Military life, moving across the country, cramming in an education... and getting hooked on fly-fishing 13:00 Southeastern states = fly-fishing powerhouse 16:00 Fly-fishing - not as gear-intensive as elitist as outsiders sometimes think 18:00 Laying off on fishing trout if water temperatures get high 21:00 Little fish with big fight: bass and panfish are hard to beat 25:00 The Joan Wulff method of fly-casting 26:00 "The more we teach fly-fishing, the more people are going to get into fly-fishing... which is always good for conservation." 27:00 North Carolina's John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center 30:00 Getting into conservation careers; Volunteering is a great way to start 34:00 Volunteers are the engine of conservation work 36:00 Hawaii: the devastating fire and the adventures that preceded it 45:00 Managing diabetes (or any chronic illness) in the field... dealing with fatigue, preparing for emergencies, cultivating grit 48:00 Knowing your body, developing a routine, staying hydrated 56:00 Find Alisa on Instagram @starryeyedandoutdoorsy 1:02:00 Sharing nature with kids and families... #warmfuzzyfeelings 1:08:00 The joys of preparing for hunting season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Artemis program manager Carlee Koutnik tells us about her summer trip aboard a fishing boat called the Warthog in Bristol Bay. The sockeye fishery is a frenzy of activity, and Carlee got to work aboard a 32-foot fishing boat schlepping salmon. We get an inside look at the fishery, the regulations that keep it viable, and the business of commercial fishing. Plus... how do you go make a poo on a small fishing boat? Stay tuned. 4:00 Storytelling = mankind's earliest form of entertainment 6:00 Offering to help on an Alaskan salmon boat solely for the experience, getting the 'yes' from a fishing captain, and then... "Planning for Alaska is a different type of planning." 10:00 How the sockeye fishery works 12:00 Xtratuf boots in the habitat they were designed for 15:00 Fisheries regulation in Alaska 20:00 When fishing is on, it gets hectic -- lots of boats in the water are vying for a limited quarry 21:00 Gillnet fishing 25:00 "Picking, bleeding, chilling and floating" 32:00 From Bristol Bay to your dinner table 35:00 Finding a $20 gallon of ice cream at sea... #bliss 40:00 Preparing salmon  44:00 The life cycle of salmon -- it's a pretty amazing feat of biology  50:00 Managing fear in high-consequence environments; Leaning into discomfort/risk 54:00 "Be bold, stay curious, and get outside"... words to live by 57:00 "The Brilliant Abyss" by Helen Scales 1:02 Biden creates new national monument to protect Grand Canyon 1:04 So... how DO you poop on a 32-foot fishing boat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mandela van Eeden is an outdoors communicator, an educator, a yoga instructor, a podcast host, and... a raft guide. She's recently back from an expedition on the Alsek River in the Yukon and Alaska. On this episode, we discuss how wild places rejuvenate us and give us perspective -- and they can even inspire us to act on behalf of the marvelous places we get to visit. Plus: Wool socks, glacial lakes, and riverboarding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Artemis? This week we're revisiting one of our earliest episodes, featuring two of the brilliant minds who spearheaded the effort to make a space for sportswomen and conservationists. We'll hear from Maggie Heumann and Jess Johnson about how Artemis got going and why this work matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tracy Shaw might be best known as the @arkansasoutdoorswoman, but she's also a single mom, an aspiring bush pilot, a mentor to others, and an Artemis Ambassador. This week on the podcast, Tracy shares with us the joy of being a mentor to others -- even when it means being lured into gator hunting by your friends and fan base. Plus: magical waterfowl hunts, sticking to your long-term goals, and saying 'yes' to being a mentor. 2:00 - Goose and duck jerky #droolemoji 4:30 - Opening the invite to women and children in the outdoors through mentorship 8:00 "I get to be a part of so many firsts. And I just feel so blessed and honored." 9:00 The 65-year-old who wonders if she can do a goose hunt... then shoots her first goose and has it literally fall in her lap 12:00 Landowner arrangements surrounding gator tags 14:00 When your Instagram fan base begs for a gator hunt 16:00 Checking gator lines after they've been baited -- excitement like never before! Could be a 4-footer, could be a 12-footer 19:00 Encouraging others around you during high-adrenaline hunts  20:00 Gator meat can taste kind of swampy, but dressing the animal thoroughly helps 22:00 Slipping game meat past your kids 25:00 Getting the family hooked on wild turkey 28:00 Finding the family balance between kids/work/outdoors time 30:00 "I decided I wanted to be a bush pilot" - adventures in the air, and never surrendering your dreams 34:00 A 10-year-old's first goose hunt 36:00 Setting goals and slaying them 40:00 Mentoring newbies... safety should come first 45:00 "You can do anything you want to do... you don't have to be the best at it" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week... fire! Artemis is joined by Jaidyn Hranicka in Wisconsin, who works as a prescribed burn specialist. Wisconsin has a multitude of different ecosystems -- deep dark woods brush up against prairie-like oak savannas. Jaidyn talks to us about what it's like to work in the fire industry. Plus: Turkey misses, brook trout, and trail baloney. 2:00 Trail baloney: A mixed-game, smoked, and pan-fried treat (also a great friend-maker) 4:30 Wisconsin's varied ecotypes 7:00 Fishing for native brook trout in small streams 8:00 Reintroducing fire to oak savannas 13:00 Prescribed fire as a surrogate for natural fire; It's a management tool for fire-adapted ecosystems 18:00 Burning different ecotypes at different times of the year, but generally in a March-May window 22:00 The effect of Rx burn on wetlands 25:00 The nuts and bolts of a day of prescribed burning 29:00 "Dot ignition" and low-intensity fire strategies (plus, sleepover duty for one crew member) 32:00 Fire stories: the one that got away... #nostructuresharmed 38:00 "Burn boss" ... might be the best job title ever 42:00 Loving where you live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we 'pick' the brain of morel expert Kristen Blizzard (see what we did there? 'Pick' the brain? Har, har.) Kristen and her husband run ModernForager.com, an online resource for foragers across the country. Kristen tells us about everyone's favorite -- the morel -- plus other mushrooms you can easily add to your repertoire with a little extra know-how. We also discuss how to harvest for success in the kitchen. The culinary possibilities are endless! 3:40 - Harvesting arnica when the mushrooms aren't in 5:00 - Kristen and Trent Blizzard run ModernForager.com 9:40 - Mushrooms totally have a terroir, a sense of flavor imparted by the place they were harvested. It's simply lovely. 12:30 - What apple is to tree, mushroom is to mycelium. The mycelial network is everywhere! Under every forest floor. They're tree-like.  14:30 - "The Wood-Wide Web" – check it out https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/04/the-wood-wide-web/478224/; https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/from-tree-to-shining-tree 21:00 - Morel hunting wonderfully overlaps with spring bear season. Wild mushrooms complement wild game so beautifully. 23:00 - Adding a new mushroom to your foraging repertoire is a big deal! On posting a mushroom pic to an online forum, and having multiple different (very confident) answers on what it is 24:00 - Coral mushrooms are very hard to tell apart. Some cause gastric upset, others are fine. (Corals = mushroom jerky) 26:00 - Safe foraging is like any hobby: The more you do it, the better you get. Don't eat random mushrooms. Work on your ID skills 28:00 - People from Michigan = Michiganders

Crystal C. Shaw is the Chief Operating Officer for the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation. She previously served as the Executive Director and CEO of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Ms. Shaw spent her earlier career in real estate and executive search advisory and consulting assisting search firms and businesses with c-level recruitment within privately held and PE-backed companies across industries. Ms. Shaw holds a Bachelor's of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She currently serves as a committee member of the Chicago Downtown Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and co-founder of Shane's Anglers, benefitting Cal's Angels. She is a life sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse Society. She formerly served as an Auxiliary Board Member of the Sue Duncan Children's Center. Ms. Shaw enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, fly fishing and hunting. Links: www.mcgraw.org www.annieoakleyshootersni.org  Show notes: 0:52 – What is inside Crystal's freezer? 1:51 – Overview of Crystal's background (three countries and eight states). 4:45 – Childhood adventures, hunting, fishing and upbringing. 8:13 – Hunting and fishing in Australia. 10:26 – Path to cofounding a nonprofit. 12:15 - Best path to obtaining a job in wildlife conservation? 14:00 - Tips for folks who want to reach and grow in the field of conservation. NETWORK! 14:52 - The Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation. 20:52 – Ding Darling was friends with Max McGraw! AND they both have a women's incitive! 22:46 - What is CLfT? 24:44 - Short break for a message from our partner, Prois, and our partner program, NWF Outdoors. Be sure to follow and support both on social media. 26:07 - Favorite field experiences. #DesertQuailHunting 29:20 - Biology, research and the urban coyote project! 32:15 – Fellowship and internship opportunities… reach out to Crystal directly! 33:08 – Crystal looks to the future of conservation. 39:08 – www.annieoakleyshootersni.org  (Fall classic is Sunday, September 24th) 41:43 – Closing statements… hits and misses!

Ashley Chance worked as the southeast program cordinator for Artemis over the past two and a half years. She is intelligent, kind, humble, empathetic, skilled and incredibly talented at everything she does. She made an impact on every single ambassador and leader she came into contact with and her leadership will be greatly missed. Ashley is now advancing onto the next stage of her incredible career in wildlife conseration.  Ashley lives in east Tennessee with her husband and two dogs. She spends time outdoors as a hunter, angler, and horseback rider. Ashley was raised on a farm in Minnesota and earned a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin. After graduation, she traveled around the country working as a wildlife technician on numerous research projects. In 2013 she boarded a plane for Ghana, West Africa, where she spent two years serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a rural village. Ashley fell in love with a scraggly little puppy during her time in Ghana and managed to bring him all the way back home with her. Upon her return to the United States, she began a master's program at Mississippi State University to determine how hunting pressure influences deer movements. While there, she met her husband and they acquired an English Springer Spaniel that is the most versatile (and crazy!) hunting dog you'll ever meet. Ashley's role as the South East Regional Coordinator was to extend the work of Artemis to southern states by supporting sportswomen as conservation leaders and helping them to build community. She did this... and so much more.  Show Notes: 1:22 – What's in Ashley's freezer? 7:01 – Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Alaska! 7:42 – Ashley takes about her background as an equestrian enthusiast. 14:27 – Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Tennessee! 16:02 – Ashley talks about growing up on a farm and her relationship to food. 41:20 – Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Georgia! 24:28 -- Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in TN! MARY LYNN! 27:54 -- Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Oklahoma! 30:22 -- Special message from Marcia – YES, that Marcia!!! 32:52 – Ashley talks about having a baby and working and being mom and all the good things! 36:07 -- Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Florida! 44:38 -- Special message from a duck hunter extraordinaire! 46:08 -- Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in New York!! 48:01 -- Special message from an(other) Artemis ambassador based in Tennessee!   50:27 – Ashley shares a conservation tid-bit. 54:41 -- Special message from an Artemis ambassador based in Ohio! 57:20 – Closing from Ashley… Ashley, we love you! Thank you so much for everything you've done for our community and wildlife.    

Gina De Bernardis, an Argentine hunting guide, was introduced to hunting and fishing by her father Héctor, who has been a hunting guide since his youth. Gina and her brother, Laureano, now run the family business with their father and they hunt all around Argentina. During this episode, Gina reflects on being a female hunting guide in her country, how conservation works in Argentina, struggles with poachers, invasive species and the interesting sounds produced by red stags!  Suggested Links: https://www.instagram.com/g.huntress/ https://www.instagram.com/debernardishunting/ https://debernardishunting.com/ Gina's email:info@debernardishunting.com Show notes: 1:17 – What's in your freezer?? 1:41 – Why so much red stag meat? 4:23 – Gina shares a little about her background and upbringing. 5:14 – Getting into the guiding business, successes, and challenges. 8:01 -  Transitioning from wanting to be an artist to wanting to be a hunting guide. 10:35 – Merging art and hunting through photography. 11:32 -  What is it like to be a female hunter in Argentina? 14:06 – Hunting is part of the “underground” in Argentina? 16:07 – Gina takes friends out but it is difficult to folks to understand. 20:07 - Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. 22:02 -  Signs and symptoms of dengue fever! 25:20 – A day in the life of a Argentina based hunting guide. It's a BIG COUNTRY! 29:27 – Where does Gina guide hunting trips in Argentina? 32:12 -  How does conservation work in Argentina? Is there anything similar to the North American model of conservation? 37:26 – What does it mean to be a “fielder”? 38:25 - Lands management in Argentina. 41:10 – Cutting the grass or mowing and how this can hurt partridge. 44:03 – Gina shares one of her favorite stories from the field. 50:40 – What does the stag roar sound like and what is the season? 52:20 - Do the animals experience a lot of pressure in the areas Gina hunts? What about poachers? 54:25 – Do women come and hunt in Argentina? What are Gina's hopes and dreams in this realm for the future? 56:46 – Weekly closer: hits and misses!

Few legacies can impact the amount of people, organizations, species and habitats that Becky Humphries has. Starting as an employee of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the 1970s, she quickly transitioned to state wildlife work the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and grew through the ranks culminating in her being appointed Director of the Department of Natural Resources and then in 2010 of the newly-developed Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which combined the DNR and state's environmental agency. She was the first woman to hold either director role in Michigan. Humphries' leadership saw the department through some of the most trying and uncertain times – including the discovery of Bovine Tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease in the state. Humphries' work with the DNR elevated her to leadership roles within Association of Fish and Wild Agencies. She not only won their two most prestigious awards for her work, but she was named chair of the Fish and Wild Health Committee and led the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative. After more than 30 years with the DNR, Humphries left in 2011 to join Ducks Unlimited as the director of conservation partnerships. In 2013, Humphries joined the National Wild Turkey Federation as its chief conservation officer before being named chief executive officer in 2017 (Sourced from Michigan United Conservation Clubs). Suggested Links: https://www.nwtf.org/ http://www.peddersolutions.com/ Show Notes: 0:36 – Becky talks about where this episode was recorded at the North American Fish and Wildlife Conference. It has been happening since 1911!! 1:22 – A little on Becky's background and start in conservation. 6:10 – Mentorship. Becky talks about some of her mentors during her career. 10:52 – Discussing professional courage and steps in moving up the ladder and picking your battles. 13:14 – “You always want to work around people who are very ethical.” 15:45 – Becky talks about some of the biggest projects she was involved with during her career. Notable projects at each stage. 28:00 – Becky reflects on where it has worked in her advantage to be a female in this industry. 33:28 - Pathways and pipelines to leadership. Did Becky set her intention to be the CEO of the DNR? 35:41 - Short break for a message from our partner, Prios, and the NWF Outdoors Outdoors podcast. 37:07 -  What's in Becky's freezers?! Better late than never ;) 39:48 -  Becky reflects on her passion for turkey hunting, bird hunting and her bird dogs. 41:33 -  What projects has Becky worked on over the years? 49:50 – The conversation regarding hunting, taking a life, spirituality, remorse, and conservation. 51:33 -  Becky to continue to stay engaged in the conservation community. 52:28- Closing statements and final advice for women who want to work in conservation and the out of doors. 54:39 - Becky's plans for the future after retirement. 57:10 – Sam, Carlee and Becky share their hits and misses.

Kate Crump owns and operates Frigate Adventure Travel with her husband, Justin. Kate is a fishing guide based in Bristol Bay, Alaska and Oregon's North Coast. Kate serves on the board of Pacific Rivers and is a member of the North Coast Citizens for Watershed Protection, promoting and protecting healthy watersheds. Her writing has been featured in the Fly Fish Journal, Trout Magazine, Patagonia Fly Fishing catalog, and the Salmon Steelhead Journal.  Links: Pacific Rivers Films: https://www.pacificrivers.org/storytelling.html Short Lesson on Snake River Dams: https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/our-work/saving-salmon/snake-river-dams Our lodge: www.thelodgeat58north.com Show notes: 1:02 – Kate shares what is in her freezer… Bristol Bay salmon, lincod, blackcod, elk and pig! 2:25 – How do you ship a pig to/from Alaska? 3:31 – Alaskan Airlines is unlike any other airline; they transport a lot of interesting supplies. 6:12 – Kate shares some background on her business and adventures in life as a fishing guide. 9:38 – Kate talks about her upbringing and start in fishing. 14:24 - Kate reflects on the value of being super present when fishing and how spirituality plays a role in her angling pursuits. 17:17 - What lead Kate to Washington and her first-time fishing?  21:31 – The awesomeness of Kate learning to love fishing and then moving to Alaska to become a fishing guide. 23:48 – Carlee asks Kate how she creates a safe and fun environment for kids to learn how to fish. 27:01 – Short break for a message from one of our partners, PRIOS, and our partner podcast NWF Outdoors. Be sure to follow Artemis and NWF Outdoors on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! 28:22 – Kate talks about the Bristol Bay Defense Fund and why we need to protect Bristol Bay. 32:45 – A crash course on the Snake River Dams and the story of the Columbia River salmon. 36:05 – How are we still talking about building dams in 2023? 39:35 – Genetic differences between spring and fall chinook salmon. 42:32 - How can people engage and contribute to these efforts (salmon and steelhead recovery). Take the time to sign your name and check the box on ACTION ALERTS! 45:19 – “I definitely and truly believe that the best way to heal our world is to start with ourselves… just being very kind to everyone you run into.” 47:47 – Kate reflects on hard questions and one of her favorite moments on the water. 53:45 – Hits and Misses of the week! Goose hunting, fishing with babies and travels to Chile!                

Acting Director at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Heather Disney Dugan, shares her career path, favorite State Parks, her adult onset hunting stories with friends and family, and recognizes her mentors. “From sunrises at eleven mile and seeing the sunlight shining through the crystals that are hanging frozen from evergreen trees…I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to be able to have experiences like that and get paid for it.” Artemis Ambassador applications are still open, apply here before March 13th!   4:00 Favorite state parks 11:00 The initiative providing sustainable funding for Colorado's state lands 20:00 In pursuit of turkeys…as an adult novice 24:30 Check out our Turkey Tactics Webinar! 30:00 Heather taking her son hunting & family stories 34:00 A thought for folks new to conservation, “A degree of change in time results in a monumental arc of change over time” 40:00 Ashley's research findings

Join Ashley and Mandela as they interview Carlee, the new Artemis Program Manager, and delve into details of her career, education, and path to becoming part of the Artemis Team. AND…our 2023 Ambassador Applications are open until March 13th, 2023. Apply Here! A program of the National Wildlife Federation, Artemis seeks build a community of bold sportswomen who can articulate conservation issues to their legislators as well as skin a deer. Check out Artemis events in-person and online and connect with extraordinary sportswomen in your state.  

Part highlight reel, part blooper episode: Artemis's end-of-year special is back. Hear the most memorable clips from our THIRD year on the airwaves. As always, thank you for being here.   1:00 Artemis's Women in Conservation Leadership series aired this spring, an 8-episode dive into the stuff strong leadership is made of 4:00 Check out Artemis's field episodes: A rabbit hunt with Mary Lynn and turkey camp in South Carolina 6:00 This year we brought you field events, book clubs, tactics courses, a year's worth of podcasts, and more. If Artemis has meant something to you, please share the show with a friend or leave us a review wherever you listen. If you're able to donate, all financial contributions are put toward expanding access for women in sporting.

Artemis is revisiting one of its most popular series ever: A deep dive into ungulate biology with the scientists of the Montieth Shop. Mule deer are remarkably faithful to the geographies they were raised in... until they're not. Ungulate ecologist Rhiannon Jakopak talks with us about rogue individuals, migration fidelity, the rose petal hypothesis, and more. Plus, the emotions of harvesting your first animal (slash ANY animal).  4:00 From vegetarianism to wildlife science to becoming a hunter with your sci-pals in tow 6:00 Taking a life... you process it while you're literally processing it. The complicated feelings are normal; they don't need to go away 12:00 Those hunting mentors who make you feel encouraged, not pressured 14:00 A first-time mule deer harvest: Watching an individual deer for weeks before getting a shot on it at 28 yards.... and just like that, a life is changed 17:00 Knowing your local mule deer as individuals... so much so that you recognize certain animals in friends' harvest photos 19:00 Transition from bow- to rifle-hunting... there's a different feel to the hunt 23:00 The Rose Petal Hypothesis - this idea that female deer establish home ranges that are adjacent to and overlapping those of the female parent and sisters in a manner that looks like the petals unfolding on a rose 24:00 Mule deer have high fidelity (faithfulness to preferred geographies) and philopatry (those places near where they were born/reared) 28:00 Because of high site fidelity/philopatry, mule deer are especially slow to fill habitat vacuums... if we inadvertently remove them from a landscape, it can take a long time for new deer to show up 31:00 Combining knowledge from the science world with the place-based experience of hunters, ranchers, and other intimate land users 32:00 Rogue deer do colonize new habitats! They completely buck the fidelity/philopatry pattern, especially with their winter range 36:00 The first year of an animal's life is crucial for establishing the behaviors that'll govern behavior later on - rogue deer go rogue as yearlings 39:00 Mule deer have generally low fawn survival... but they also typically have two fawns per year 41:00 Scientist #facepalm: when all 50 collared fawns in your study die 45:00 Why is it so fun to pick on bird people? Jokes aside, they have some SOLID science on taught vs. inherent migration 48:00 Do relatively common species lose their mystique for us? Heck no. Next time you see a deer on the side of the highway, ask yourself how many mountain ranges it crossed in the past year 52:00 Those big antlers on your buck? They're a symbol of an intelligent species on healthy, connected habitat... be reverent, everyone! 57:00 How do we tell compelling science stories? 1:02 We're in an unprecedented era of everyone caring how we communicate/reach each other 1:06 The good news: Everyone cares about mule deer. The bad news: We disagree what's going on with them 1:08 Scientists as arbiters of information for policymakers 1:13 MontiethShop.org - a place to get involved and be in the loop on new science; Also @Monteith.Shop on Insta

This week we're revisiting one of Artemis's best-loved series of all time - Chasing Ungulate Tales with the scientists at the Montieth Shop at the University of Wyoming. You've heard it before: "If we kill the animals with the biggest horns, aren't we selecting for smaller horns over time?" This week we take a deep dive into that question with ungulate biologist Tayler LaSharr in the third episode of our special series with The Monteith Shop. We'll also talk about her research into how mule deer behaviors are affected by harsh winter events.  2:30 Squirrels... the gateway drug to hunting? 4:00 A Wyoming antelope hunt with all the science gals, creeping in for that 150-yard shot 7:30 Autopsy is to human what Necropsy (NEE-kraap-see) is to animals 9:00 Antelope heart pastrami (!!!) - get the how-to right here 10:00 Jess's Wyoming tag line-up: Three antelope, three elk, three deer, and one bear 13:00 Research deep-dive: The effects of hunter harvest on horn size in sheep. It started with a paper that used Boone & Crockett data to assess changes in horn size over time 14:30 Bighorn sheep harvested by hunters anywhere are required to be checked into a Fish and Game station… which means there's a treasure trove of data on size/ages of in every state 16:00 Horn size is a function of age + nutrition + genetics 19:00 Mom's nutrition affects her son's antler size 21:00 Does the removal of big males (by hunter harvest) change a population's genetics over time? A lot of it has to do with the average age of rams being harvested in different years 23:00 Alberta harvests sheep by a different standard -- the four-fifths curl. When you have management scenarios where harvest is determined by horns and not age (the annuli), there is evidence that it leads to decreased horn size over time. For example, if a five-year-old grows fast and gets to that four-fifths curl before other individuals his age, he stands to be harvested sooner from his population and may not have adequate chance to breed and pass on his genetics 25:00 How do you age a bighorn sheep?  27:00 One hedge against the overharvest of big-horned young animals is a conservative tag system... it's still a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in many states 29:00 "Evolution reverse" is this theory (/misunderstanding) that hunter harvest of big-horned animals selects out those traits in a population over time. In reality, it's way more complicated than that... management strategy plays a big role in how traits persist over time. Many factors are involved, and broad generalizations generally don't hold up all the time. 31:00 Changes in game management aren't often reflected in an animal population for years/decades 37:00 Rhiannon Jakopak's digest of Tayler's horn size work in layman's terms 38:00 Connecting sheep scientists with sheep hunters 40:00 The Wyoming Range Mule Deer Project  - a long-term study following deer individuals throughout their lives AND their offspring 42:00 Looking at the after-effect of harsh winters on mule deer. Differences in behavioral strategies? Migration routes? Reproductive strategies/mothering behavior? What allowed them to survive when other deer succumbed to winterkill? 48:00 Fish and Game departments have to balance immediate hunter desire against the long-term, ever-changing health/hardiness of game populations 57:00 The genesis of an ungulate biologist!  59:00 Check out more of the Monteith shop at UngulateCompendium.org

Artemis is revisiting its best-loved series of all time: A deep dive into ungulate ecology with the scientists at the Montieth Shop. This week we're surfing the green wave! Seasonal mule deer migration is based on food availability. Deer move across the landscape to maximize their access to high-quality food resources. We're joined by migration ecologist Ellen Aikens  to learn more about Wyoming's mule deer populations and how they're challenged by drought, climate change, and energy development.  PLUS: Artemis's long-time partner, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is offering an incredible giveaway that includes a guided pheasant hunting trip in South Dakota, a travel voucher to get there, and a $4,000 gift card to Scheel's. Don't miss out!  3:00 - Artemis's first guest to connect from overseas! Plus, moving to Germany during the pandemic 6:30 - Animal research: A generally rewarding endeavor with LOTS of challenges 8:00 A new scientist asks her peers/mentors, What's one of the most important fields to be savvy in? "GIS/remote sensing" comes up again and again 11:00 GPS collars let us see where an individual animal is going, year after year -- it's a bonafide jackpot of data. This field is called "movement ecology" 12:30 Marcia's sage advice: "Do what you enjoy doing until you don't enjoy doing it anymore. Then go do something else." 13:30 Sampling the field April-August to survey which plants are available and when. Documenting the seasonal change from green to brown was revelatory! Plus, KNOWING the place. 17:00 Dynamics in plant growth and seasonal transition influence how animals move 18:00 To study mule deer you need to become versed in the world they live in 20:00 "The green wave" - this idea that for deer and other species, young/emergent plant species are the most nutritious growth. That stage is staggered across an elevational gradient -- and this is the 'green wave' -- moving to find that nutritious feed 22:00 Most mule deer move from a low-elevation winter range to a higher elevation spring/summer range. This is colloquially called 'surfing the green wave' 24:00 Migration isn't a continuous line from Point A to Point B. Mule deer spend about 90% of their time on migration at stopover sites, foraging and eating 27:00 What makes a good stopover? It totally depends. Elevation plays a big role. They're generally places that are more lush than the surrounding area. 30:00 Fall migration: A combination of fleeing cold/snow, plus finding the lushest feed given the season... the "residual greenness" 33:00 Drought has an effect on how well mule deer can surf the green wave, which is shorter; Energy development also affects that migration 35:00 Mule deer in the West have high fidelity to their migration routes 38:00 Mule deer DO move through energy development sites... but they're not able to use those areas to the degree they would if there was no resource development there 39:00 A high-quality study would collect data BEFORE an energy project, DURING it, and AFTER reclamation 45:00 Being migratory is key for mule deer in the Wyoming Range. There ARE resident deer populations, but it's a small fraction (

We're revisiting Artemis's most-downloaded series ever, Chasing Ungulate Tales, featuring scientists from the Monteith Shop, an ungulate research lab at the University of Wyoming. This week we're joined by Rebecca Levine, whose research is focused on understanding the thermal ecology of moose. More than half of southern moose populations in the Lower 48 are in decline. We talk parasite loads, chronic wasting disease, the mysterious moose of New Zealand's fjordlands, and what habitat a moose needs to stay cool. Also: bear spray works for moose, too.  PLUS... Artemis's long-time partner, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is offering an incredible giveaway, which includes a guided pheasant hunting trip, a travel voucher to get there, a $4,000 gift card to Scheel's, and loads of other gear. Check it out and be sure to enter.  4:00 When do you get to call yourself a 'hunter'? 5:00 In the southern half of moose's range, about half of populations are in decline 7:00 Why is heat stress so particular to moose versus other cervids? The skinny: They're big, they're dark, and they don't sweat. 10:00 How do moose find those spots to cool off in? 12:00 Collaring MOOSE... it's a PROCESS. But the video collars? SO COOL 15:00 Moose = tick paradise 16:00 Moose are intermingling with more ungulates that they ordinarily may not have overlapped with, which is one vector for parasite spread 18:00 Preg-checking a female moose 21:00 Twin prevalence in moose 24:00 Different subspecies of moose and their historic ranges... they're unique in that moose are circumpolar. They're in Russia, China, Canada, Alaska, etc. 28:00 Moose are relative newcomers to Wyoming/Utah/Colorado 32:00 Moose reach heat stress above 55 degrees... and they indulge in a number of behaviors to mitigate heat -- bedding down in marshes, traveling to higher altitudes, etc 36:00 Chronic wasting disease effects all cervids, including moose 37:00 Wyoming Chronic Disease Management plan 44:00 Bilingual fishing/game regs - Kansas just did this, and the results are great 46:00 Monteith Shop on Insta (@Monteith.shop) 47:00 Funding is a limiting resource on the production of high-quality science 47:40 Monteith Shop website, UngulateCompendium.org 52:00 Moose encounters in the Brooks Range... MONSTERS RISING FROM THE WILLOWS! Bear spray doesn't help you feel brave in that moment 53:00 "Don't run" is the general advice for wildlife encounters... EXCEPT with moose 54:00 National Park Service project to preserve big-horn sheep in Grand Teton National Park 55:00 Charismatic megafauna vs charismatic megafauna... eliminating mountain goats to preserve bighorn sheep 56:00 Three hours to go a mile in canyon/bog/swamp... great chance for a somewhat scary moose encounter! Also, that moment when your scientist friend hears something and says, "Hmm... that sounds like a large mammal." 59:00 Two cans of bear spray deployed... which totally got the target animal, but also the person in flight 1:01 Bear spray is oil-based, and thus very sticky 1:04 In 1910 moose were introduced into New Zealand's fjordlands. The population never really took off... the last sighting was in 1980, BUT, it's led to a Sasquatch type of fervor, with the occasional wingnut moose sighting in that area. #moosetrivia 1:06 Moose = swamp donkeys

Karlin Gill grew up among her family's outfitting business... in Karlin's words, "Food is our love language." Hunting was always a part of her life, but hunting and foraging came to take on new meaning for Karlin as an adult as she grappled with Crohn's disease. This week we talk about actually wanting to eat what you hunt -- making exquisite food from the wild. Plus: Big bucks, missing the shot, field to fork, and TWO giveaways on the table.    2:00 Tanner crabs from Alaska & transporting your bounty on a passenger flight #carryoncrabs 4:00 Growing up in a subsistence-centric household 6:00 Artemis's foraging outing was a huge success! 7:00 Wanting to eat the bounty you forage/harvest (versus choking it down) 9:00 New to foraging? Start with something easy to identify: Pawpaws, acorns, etc. 10:00 Acorn flour, acorn milk (and mushroom flour, ya'll) 14:00 A hunting season where you just can't get into the deer 18:00 I like big bucks and I cannot lie #buckfever 21:00 National Deer Association's Field to Fork program 24:00 TWO GIVEAWAYS, everyone! First, Artemis is teaming up with Prios for the month of November to offer a full outfit of swag. Check out the Artemis Instagram or Facebook feeds for all the details on how to enter. Also, Artemis's long-time partner, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is offering another giveaway, including a guided pheasant hunting trip, a travel voucher, and a $4,000 gift card to Scheel's. Don't miss either chance!  26:00 Crohn's disease 27:00 Safari Unlimited hosts an incredible dinner for Artemis's deer camp... "Food is our love language" 31:00 Being a hunter's ed instructor, and generally having a love for outreach/education 37:00 White belly dance 40:00 Hits and misses... the only way to never miss is to never shoot 44:00 Why can't we easily pop the deers raiding our gardens.... WHYYY!?

Ashley Peters works at both The Ruffed Grouse Society and The American Woodcock Society -- groups that aim to preserve upland bird habitat across the country. Members of both groups are heavy on sporting tradition (cue the bird dog talk), and part of Ashley's job is to build bridges outside that arena. On this episode we talk about forest health, disturbance, people management, and the future of our forests.   We have a giveaway going for the month of November! It's from Prois, and we're giving away a full outfit -- a Trial Pack, Torai Pants, Torai Jacket, Cap, AND a Tintri 2.0 shirt!! Check out the Artemis Instagram or Facebook feeds for all the details on how to enter.   4:00 Crop-share/produce share arrangements 6:00 Combining fish/game with what's in season around us (even acorns) 9:00 Connect with Ashley @grouse.lady, or listen to her previous episode of the Artemis podcast 12:00 When do adult-onset hunters finally identify as just "hunters"... ? 14:00 The culture of sporting dogs is a source of camaraderie among grouse conservationists 15:00 The crop: A peek into what your grouse has been eating 19:00 Bird digestion 101: Sooo... what's the point of the crop?  25:00 Grouse rely on a mosaic of different forest types to hack it year round 28:00 Disturbance (logging, Rx fire) can be a boon to long-term forest health 32:00 It's more difficult to restore a species that's gone from a landscape than it is to prevent its demise 38:00 Conservation best practices are always changing, but how well we talk to each other will always be paramount 43:00 "Wildlife management is people management" 45:00 The Women's Forest Congress 49:00 All of us influence the future of our forests 53:00 Bird dogs make our forays into the forests more colorful 59:00 Pudelpointers as bird/family/companion dogs... zeroing in on your breed? Try a NAVHDA hunt test 1:05 Her Upland Grouse Camp 1:08 Upland hunting might be the most baby friendly

After Tanya Dowdy and her husband sold their veterinary practice, she started working at a tackle shop. That led to a boater safety job, requiring Tanya to get her captain's license. Before she knew it, she was elbows-deep in Reel Chica Charters, which takes anglers of all abilities on fishing trips off the coast of South Carolina. Tanya is on a mission to make angling and boating more accessible to everyone -- especially women.  3:00 A freezer portrait from a woman who gets to fish 12 months of the year 5:00 From a family business to working in a tackle shop... then an invite to get your captain's license... then, "Why don't you do fishing charters?" 8:00 The process of getting your captain's license 13:00 Girl meets redfish 16:00 What to expect on a fishing charter 17:00 The smell of "pluff mud" -- sulfurish and smells like home 23:00 Charters can tailor a day of fishing to most experience levels on board 25:26 Pssst... we're doing another giveaway! This time it's from Prois to give away a full outfit! Yes, that's correct, we are giving away a Triall Pack, Torai Pants, Torai Jacket, Cap, AND a Tintri 2.0 shirt!! Check out the Artemis Instagram or Facebook feeds for all the details. 27:00 When a rodmaker asks you to join a photoshoot in Alabama, you say YES (St. Croix Rods) 29:00 The catch of a lifetime 32:00 Conflict over redfish breeding and easy catching conditions 33:00 "Covid did crazy things for the fishing and water industry." 35:00 Be a conscious angler/guide with responsible fish-handling 37:00 Ventilating a fish 39:00 Sharks... the 'tax collector' of the seas 42:00 SaferBoater.org ... We all have to do driver's ed for cars, but no so for boats! (That said, it's still a good idea) 50:00 Getting a kid his first saltwater fish... "This is why I do this and I love doing this." 54:00 Find Tanya on Instagram or at Reel Chica Charters 58:00 Companies buoying female charter captains (and anglers): Aftco, St. Croix Rods, Z-Man Fishing, Eye Strike Fishing, Rheos glasses, Shimano

Bethany Bethard grew up knowing that her grandfather was a hunting fiend, but hunting wasn't a big part of her own upbringing. As an adult, though, she got curious and started getting in the field more. Bethany is a homeschool mom of five kids, and a military spouse, and she's adamant that just because you're a mom doesn't mean you don't get to have your own identity. Plus: Hunting military lands, representation in the field ("You can't be it if you can't see it"), Oklahoma elk hunting, jerky methods, and bison. Pssst... we're doing another giveaway! This time it's from Prois to give away a full outfit! Yes, that's correct, we are giving away a Trial Pack, Torai Pants, Torai Jacket, Cap, AND a Tintri 2.0 shirt!! Check out the Artemis Instagram or Facebook feeds for all the details. 3:00 Oklahoma IS an elk-hunting destination... check our our episode with Alyssa Bowen to hear more about it 5:00 Hunting on military property... like public lands with way more rules 7:00 Making time to hunt with five kids in the mix 8:00 Aaaand a deer-hunting fail with young kids 10:00 Absorbing family hunting knowledge, but not having it as a regular part of your upbringing 12:00 Jerky making au natural 18:00 Tracking down your family's sporting history 19:00 "Just because we're a mom doesn't mean we lose our identity." 22:00 Incorporating indigenous heritage into a modern sporting tradition 25:00 "The Time of the Buffalo" by Tom McHugh 27:00 Using homeschool to follow family passions/interests 30:00 Representation in the outdoors matters... "You can't be it if you can't see it" 34:00 'Earn a buck' regulations... you have to harvest does before you're issued a buck tag 38:00 Bison hunting 44:00 Hunting is a service to family 47:00 Striving to be a well-rounded hunter

Outsiders might think of Long Island as a suburb of New York, but it's also a remarkable place to be a hunter and angler. Two years ago, bow-hunter Jacqueline Molina was featured in the New York Times as part of a growing movement of women taking to the woods on Long Island, which struggles with deer overpopulation. That exposure led her and some friends to start a women's hunting group. This week on the program: Blowfish, pandemic hobbies, Euro mounts, and solo hunts. Plus, don't forget to take the Artemis podcast listener survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Isle Royale Outfitters. 2:00 Fishing for blowfish... the other "chicken of the sea" 6:00 Long Island Babes and Bucks @longislandbabesandbucks Email: libabesandbucks@gmail.com 8:00 Long Island... sportswoman's paradise! 11:00 The DIY approach to teaching yourself how to hunt 12:00 Sitting in the tree stand with your nursing school books on your lap, trying to turn pages as quietly as possible 14:00 Look at Hunter You from three years ago... have you changed? 18:00 In case you missed Ashley's Artemis deer camp report from Tennessee... it's still there! 21:00 Pandemic hobbies... how about turning those skulls into art? 24:00 See Jacqueline's work on her Instagram @jmolina319 26:00 How-to on Euro mounts - use a salon product that seems to make bone shine bright 31:00 "Deer Overpopulation Meets Its Match: Women Who Hunt" New York Times  36:00 Hunting headspace... especially if you're solo 39:00 Going into a hunt thinking you won't see anything... then... EVERYTHING 43:00 Hunting snacks & snack faux-pas (and tuna hearts) 48:00 Matthews V3 bow 49:00 Retire and old bow, lighten the draw weight, and save it for those super-frigid days  

This week we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes from the Artemis archives... Beavers are amazing! Artemis is diving straight into the beaver pond with Dr. Emily Fairfax, ecohydrologist, science story teller, and beaver dam enthusiast. Join us to hear how this keystone species shapes our landscape, supports wildlife, and improves our watershed wherever they slap a tail. Plus, don't forget to take our podcast listener survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Isle Royale Outfitters. The giveaway closes on Nov. 2.  2:00 "Beavers are a keystone species, which means they modify their environment in a way that influences the whole ecosystem." 3:30 First beaver experience... when your animal guide finds you 5:30 Idaho's beaver reintroduction efforts involved parachuting them in the Frank Church 7:00 Hauling a canoe over a beaver dam (over and over) in the Boundary Waters makes you realize what incredible engineers beavers are 9:00 Beavers are masters at helping lands retain water longer, which benefits a slew of other animal species – including fish, birds and ungulates! 11:00 In Nevada, beavers started improving cattle grazing land... but their real hero moment was during a drought, when areas with beavers stayed greener longer. 14:30 Now there's just two species of beaver: North American Beaver and the Eurasian Beaver. They're different enough that they can't interbreed, but both are dam-builders 15:00 There used to be 20-odd beaver species... some dug spiral burrows into the earth, others were Pleistocene-size beavers as big as linebackers 16:00 Dam-building was a hugely advantageous skill, evolutionary-wise... it meant beavers could build their own habitat pretty much anywhere there was water 17:00 Beaver populations remained stable pre-settlement, when some indigenous cultures had ways of self-regulating harvest. The European fur trade marked the start of beaver decline 19:30 "Ecological amnesia"... when people can't remember whether or not an animal is native to a landscape 21:15 Beaver dams generally don't stop the flow of water completely. Beavers then dig channels out from the dam, dispersing water, and also giving them routes back to the dam (so they're not just chicken nuggets waddling around on land). This is the chief mechanism of how beavers turn streams into wetlands. 26:00 Water retention, water temperature, and soil health in beaver habitat 28:00 How beavers overwinter... it's brilliant 31:30 Beaver family units... they mate for life!  33:00 Adult beavers can be enormous... up to 110 pounds, especially in northern climates. (They're also a favorite food for some wolf packs.) 38:00 BDA = beaver dam analog (basically a human-constructed beaver dam to replicate the species' effect on the landscape) 39:00 Beavers and people/private lands... we have some tricks for management, like the "beaver deceiver" 41:00 Beaver presence in Nevada... it's a big of a mystery how they got there. Beaver dispersal is difficult because they're not well-adapted to moving over land 45:00 Beaver misconceptions are a huge obstacle for beaver conservation. Education is an important arm of conservation. 48:00 Beaver ponds are remarkable fire deterrent, and they're refuges for wildlife, "emerald sanctuaries" 51:00 The West has lost 60-90 percent of its natural wetlands... this has likely affected how fire behaves on the landscape 52:00 Beaver ponds = duck city! 53:45 "Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter" by Ben Goldfarb 55:00 How accurate is our perception of what a Western stream looks like? Those smooth-banked places we like to fish? They're not as natural as they look. 58:00 Find Emily @emilyfairfax on Twitter, or by email emily.fairfax@csuci.edu 59:00 Emily's film on beavers and wildfires 59:30 Beaver ponds are full of pointy sticks! But they're very stable to walk across

Tice Supplee has had a remarkable career in wildlife management and conservation. She served as a game warden in Arizona, and after retirement she became active in conservation groups like the Arizona Antelope Foundation and the Arizona Elk Society. These days she works in bird conservation, and we discuss habitat restoration. What's good for elk is often good for birds - it's a win-win. Plus: Zuni bowls, sourdough victories, condor reintroduction and more. Also: Artemis has a giveaway going on! Take our podcast listener survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Isle Royale Outfitters. 3:00 Archery elk hunt 4:00 Coues deer in southeast Arizona 7:00 Hunting in your 70s, being a game warden & game manager 8:00 Audubon Southwest 9:00 When respectable, nice people violate wildlife laws (and busting in on an illegal elk camp) 14:00 Why people violate game laws 16:00 Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Antelope Foundation and board service 19:00 Bringing veterans into conservation, starting with a hunt 20:00 Auctioning off game tags to fundraise for conservation, perks and drawbacks to the program 24:00 Grassland restoration work for bird habitat (plus... the pinyon jay!) 26:00 Habitat improvements for some ungulates/birds often benefit others... but not always 29:00 On southeast Arizona: "We don't have a lot of anything, but we have a little bit of just about everything."  31:00 Condor reintroduction and lead ammo 32:00 90% of captive doves force-fed two size 8 lead pellets died, compared to 0% of doves that were not fed lead shot 34:00 Arizona's yellow-billed cuckoos 35:00 Zuni bowls: an old-school method for increasing water retention on the landscape 39:00 New to conservation? Join an organization. If you can't join, volunteer. You can help no matter where you are in your sporting journey, and you'll meet a lot of people 44:00 An archery elk hunt turns into a recovery mission, then getting the abrupt whiff of elk after hearing an unusual bark 51:00 Vacuum-sealing your meat... it KEEPS 53:00 You've earned a travel trailer when you're in the field as much as Tice 54:00 #sourdoughvictories and a rabbit hole on heirloom flour 1:00 "The Time of the Buffalo" by Tom McHugh

Beth Johnson has 15 chest freezers, 2 walk-in coolers, and 3 added walk-in freezers. Johnson's taxidermy shop is predominantly women, and they specialize in hunting mounts of all kinds (from bison to zebras), and doing the odd job for Hollywood here and there. This week we hear from a taxidermist with 35 years of experience on how you can best ready your harvest to be mounted by a taxidermist. Don't forget to take the Artemis podcast listener survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Isle Royale Outfitters.   2:00 We've got some serious freezer real estate on hand 3:00 Hollywood's need for taxidermy (those roadkill items you see in movies aren't fresh carcasses) 4:00 Doing a taxidermy job out of someone's favorite mule #foreverfriend 5:00 Getting your science degree, becoming a teacher... then realizing your path is elsewhere 7:30 A predominantly female taxidermy shop 9:00 How you take care of an animal before bringing it to a taxidermist influences the quality of the final mount 10:00 That duck whose feathers got blown off? Maybe not the keeper to mount 12:00 The "pantyhose" trick for keeping feathers flush and lifelike on bird mounts 14:00 The scoop on freezer temps 17:00 Odds are you don't gut/skin the same way a taxidermist does; Tips for getting your quarry from the field and into the taxidermy shop 19:00 Multi-species displays... it's a dream job where science and artistry blend 23:00 Plant/vegetative elements in displays 26:00 Turn-around times 34:00 Comparing mounts from the '60s versus present day - the forms are completely different 37:00 Prepping a hide for tanning 40:00 Yep, you can get the hide of a favorite dog tanned up for your couch 43:00 Salting a hide properly (birds included!) 48:00 Taxidermist vs. catfish 51:00 Embracing trial and error 53:00 Recreating illegal-to-harvest species like eagle and owls using chicken/goose feathers 54:00 A drawer of chicken feathers also comes in handy when Hollywood needs a parrot doing a specific thing 55:00 Feather, Finn and Fur Taxidermy & Red Barn Processing (and Atlanta Poultry Processing for all things chicken)  56:00 "I just can't sleep fast enough to get back to work"... when you love what you do

Tiffiny Sanders is a mother of four, an avid sportswoman, and an ambassador who aims to connect others with the outdoors. Tiffiny is an adult-onset hunter who got into sporting when she got together with her husband. In this episode: waterfowl retrieval in gator country, food as medicine, the tension between loving animals and harvesting them, race and identity, and building a community of hunters. 2:00 Hunting in the Florida heat: stay cool, acclimated to the heat, and covered up from insects 4:00 Gator bait trivia: Which body part floats and rots nicely?  7:00 "I'm definitely an outdoors grocery shopper." 9:00 Waterfowl hunting in Florida & retrieving ducks in gator country 13:00 Adult-onset hunting, large families, and sticking with it through small kids 14:00 Acquiring hunting knowledge online (YouTube, podcasts, articles, etc) and distilling the useful parts 19:00 Outdoors & natural foods as medicine 23:00 Nontypical Outdorsman- promoting outdoor diversity and inclusion by education and outreach 27:00 @lolaofthesouth  29:00 The tension between loving animals and also harvesting them for food 32:00 Choosing your role in the food system 33:00 Looking different than your family (both natal and family by marriage) 36:00 When farm children go vegetarian & embracing the freedom of choice for your kids 41:00 The JOY of watching your kids succeed in the field, and anticipating a similar journey with your grandkids 43:00 Teaching hunter's ed, becoming an Artemis ambassador... SHARING the wisdom/power/knowledge of sporting with others = a joy in and of itself 46:00 Artemis waterfowl hunt on the horizon in Florida toward the end of January, keep an eye out for registration 47:00 Franchi Affinity Catalyst, a shotgun designed for women

This week we're headed to Mississippi with Leah Robinson, an Artemis ambassador and sportswoman of the South. She fills us in on what alligator season is like (gator nuggets, anyone?), the tradition of froggin', and some of the finest waterfowl hunting in the U.S.  2:00 Alligator season in Mississippi 3:00 So... how much meat do you get off a 10.5-foot alligator? #gatornuggets 6:00 Getting to the BIG gators (catch and release is harder than it is with fish) 9:00 Two lines and a snare 11:00 Feisty female gators 12:00 Dispatch, hauling into the boat, then a hot tip for quickly measuring a gator's length 15:00 Mississippi Wildlife Federation 16:00 Childhood sweetheart, gator wrangling BFF... #allinahusband 18:00 Getting hooked on bird hunting (and getting your first turkey five years in) 21:00 Building a community of sportswomen by starting with camaraderie and education 23:00 A hunter-to-bird ratio on the rise in the Mississippi Delta 29:00 Academics Afield 31:00 Nurturing a family culture of hunting, even as the family grows up 35:00 Hey Yeti, you ready to sponsor the Artemis pod? 38:00 Memorable duck hunts 40:00 Game warden encounters 42:00 "There's just something so special to me about froggin'" 48:00 Doing something new (like pheasants) as a family 52:00 The kind of turkey hunt that's worth waiting five years for 1:02 Gun/ammo incompatibility

Bailey Petersen helps facilitate Minnesota's woodcock banding program, which enlists the help of volunteer dog handlers. Dogs have to pass a control test before they're approved to join. We talk about steadiness in a bird dog, protective vests, and breeds - from Münsterländers to Llewellin setters. Plus: Grouse hunting in Minnesota... what to look for and what differentiates grouse habitat from woodcock habitat. 1:30 A little woodcock 'splash' for your sniffing pleasure, everyone 3:30 Harvesting wild rice... it involves a 'ricing buddy', a canoe, and tools called 'knockers' 7:00 Agencies working hand-in-hand with non-profits on habitat restoration 10:00 When a professional interest in healthy lakes leads you to appreciate waterfowl in a new way 11:00 Small Münsterländer; Llewellin Setter 13:00 Finding 'your' dog breed 15:00 Skijoring with your dogs 22:00 Minnesota's woodcock banding program 24:00 Recruiting new human/dog woodcock-banding teams 28:00 Testing dogs: It's about steadiness and control 32:00 The 2-week banding season overlaps with hatching 34:00 Finding a nest is an exercise in extreme caution 38:00 Steadiness training... start with "whoa," then add a temptation 43:00 Band return rates on woodcock are 11%, which isn't too bad 45:00 "If you have a cooperative dog, then it's really just an exercise of repetition." 46:00 Grouse hunting Minnesota, a pep talk  47:00 Hunter walking trails on OnX 50:00 Woodcock cover vs. grouse cover... "It becomes grouse cover after it's been prime woodcock cover." 52:00 For grouse, look for fruiting shrubs (chokecherries, highbush cranberries, hazel, birch) 58:00 Protective dog vests 1:05 Seeds embedded in dogs... #problems

For Tina Dokken, hunting started with a chocolate lab. She was determined to be the best fur-parent she could be, and took her dog all over. She met her husband at a dog festival, and that's when her journey into sporting started in earnest. Tina is a gifted teacher -- both in person and over her YouTube Channel, Tina DokkenUnleashed. She talks about how learning is a mindset, and being curious and willing is the path to an adventurous life with your animals.   3:00 Tina's Mexican pheasant recipe 5:30 Getting your chocolate lab into hunting  6:00 GameFair festival (like a state fair for dogs... also a place to find a husband!)  9:00 The freeze-thaw longevity of a single duck used for scent training 13:00 Being a great learner carries over to being a great teacher 15:00 Visual vs. verbal learning 18:00 When your dog chooses your husband 21:00 Learning from people who aren't your spouse/partner 23:00 Eye dominance 25:00 Shooting stance 30:00 Developing a mount technique  34:00 Progressing to other shots (and clays vs. real-life hunting) 36:00 Franchi shotguns and short-stock guns 41:00 Bridging the dog work with hunting 46:00 Hunting by yourself means following your dog (versus the others in your party) 49:00 Trusting your dog 53:00 Pheasant tricks 55:00 Hunting quietly with dogs 56:00 Snare-prepared... "you never know" 58:00 Gun safety... it's a journey, and you never stop improving; show off your empty barrel 1:00 "Tina Dokken Unleashed" YouTube channel 1:05 Archery hunting with a baby -- balancing that counterweight on your back as you draw

Adult-onset hunter... traditional bows... five kids... would you guess those things add up to having six deer in the freezer? This week we're joined by Melody Haege, who talks to us about how she settled on traditional bowhunting when she began her sporting journey, and what it looks like today. 2:00 Living in the Minnesota 'big woods' 3:00 Six deer doesn't last that long for a family of seven; Keeping the blood to train a scent-tracking dog 4:00 Pig procurement & fat rendering tips 8:00 Deer hunting with a traditional bow (you need to hear about this 27-yard shot) 14:00 Adult-onset hunting & going all in 15:00 Being an excellent shooter isn't always synonymous with being an excellent hunter 16:00 You don't know what you don't know 18:00 Crossbow to traditional bow transition 20:00 Hunting/archery isn't one parent's "thing"... it's the family's thing 23:00 Making hunting a shared joy among family sometimes means putting the brakes on your own journey 24:00 Tree stands vs. ground blinds when hunting with kids 25:00 Judging snacks by how loud they are to unwrap 27:00 Stalking with a 7-year-old #buckfever 30:00 Building bridges with farmers 37:00 Hunting styles/methods vary by geography/culture... "Even if it is legal, that doesn't mean it's respectful to the animal" 40:00 Homeschooling & time management (say, during deer season) 47:00 Finding a balance when it comes to engaging your kids; Going by their cues 51:00 Family hardship... there's significance/meaning in doing hard things 54:00 The 75 Hard challenge

Marcia Brownlee is leaving Artemis after four years as the program's manager. (Sad faces!) Artemis is housed under the National Wildlife Federation's public lands team, but its leadership team is made up of women from women across the country. Under Marcia's wings, the program has grown from a feeble idea tossed around at a campfire to a program with 71 ambassadors in 35 states. Artemis hosts events in-person and online, and connects sportswomen across the country. Artemis also seeks to foster a the kind of community where women can articulate conservation issues to their legislators as well as they can skin a deer. Today on the program: A deep dive into Marcia's work the past four years and where Artemis stands. 3:00 Marcia's #freezerconfessional leads us down a coffee-routine rabbit hole [pssst... want to hear from Artemis's coffee queen? You need to listen to the Sharenda episodes 1 & 2] 7:00 Coffee processes in the home vs. the field 9:00 The real Marcia Brownlee, ya'll... how do you describe yourself to people who know you? 13:00 Getting into hunting with the help of great people + the merits of DOING something with our loved ones 14:00 "I applied for the job with Artemis and was kind of shocked when I got it, but obviously very excited." 17:00 A nod to the NWF/Artemis work community 21:00 The back channels of conservation work... it's invigorating to be in the know 22:00 Pssst... the Artemis program manager job is accepting applications on a rolling basis until September 5th! 23:00 "You may have what they don't know they need" - never take yourself out of the running for an opportunity you're interested in 27:00 Shaking the outside expectations and defining your life/goals/mojo for yourself 33:00 Mentors in conservation -- they shape us, buoy us, and build us into better versions of ourselves 35:00 "Your Mountain" podcast with David Willms 37:00 Mentoring people you may never meet in real life 41:00 Intimacy between virtual-only co-workers 43:00 The self-declared adult sabbatical 48:00 "It's all about people. If we want to fix things -- we need to start with people." 51:00 Hunting brings us a sense of self-efficacy, confidence, independence... there's a strong mental health thread woven through sporting 58:00 Artemis is changing... but the core values remain the same #futureisbright 1:01 Conservation needs more engaged sportswomen 1:07 When you're social skills are fine-tuned for an in-person workplace, then switching to entirely remote work

Dr. Ellen Candler's career track in predator biology is full of riveting stories -- from trapping a mountain lion under the famous 'Hollywood' sign outside LA, to working on cougar and wolf studies in Yellowstone. Candler has always been interested in how added resources influence the wildlife in their vicinity -- whether it's a hunter's bait pile for bears, or a leftover gut pile from someone's deer kill. 2:00 A how-to on freezing morels 5:00 First-time hunting emotions 6:00 Remembering wolf introductions as a child growing up in Idaho 7:00 Predator field work outside LA (like riiight under the famous 'Hollywood' sign) 10:00 Work as a cougar/wolf field tech 12:00 When you say "hey bear!" and a bear pops its head up #whoa 15:00 Becoming a mother... defending your PhD... #nbd 17:00 Does wolf behavior change when bear bait piles are available? 22:00 ...so, where DO you get wolf urine? 25:00 Diabetic bears  30:00 The Offal Wildlife Watching Project ... which scavengers are the gut-eaters? 33:00 The longevity of gut piles as a food source varies depending on the season 37:00 Every time something dies, it's a resource pulse for the surrounding environment (hunters = gut piles) 43:00 Residual lead from ammunition + public education 48:00 "Hunters need to realize that what they're leaving on the landscape is eaten by other things" Ellen is always happy to take more hunter volunteers for Offal Wildlife Watching. Current research is focused in Minnesota, but if you're outside the state and are interested in participating, reach out to Ellen: belle130@umn.edu