Imagine sitting around a campfire listening to a group of friends share their passions, stories and connections to the great outdoors. At the Pennsylvania Game Commission, our passion is WILD, and “Call of the Outdoors,” the agency’s podcast, is all about wildlife, hunting, habitat and conservation efforts in the Keystone State. Each episode includes a unique look into a Pennsylvania wildlife-related subject, a few laughs, and is sure to leave listeners with a renewed sense of knowledge and pride in the work being done on behalf of wildlife. Join the campfire and explore lots of ways to promote and enhance Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources for current and future generations!
Listeners of Call of the Outdoors that love the show mention: conservationist, wildlife, outdoors, pa, hunter, game, great, listen, love.
The Call of the Outdoors podcast is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in hunting, wildlife, and the great outdoors in Pennsylvania. With direct insight from the employees of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and other guests, this podcast provides a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about the decision making processes, biology, habitat, and populations of Pennsylvania wildlife.
One of the best aspects of The Call of the Outdoors podcast is the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared by the guests on each episode. The PGC employees are passionate about their work and are able to provide valuable insights into topics such as hunting regulations, conservation efforts, and wildlife management strategies. Hearing their actual voices adds a personal touch and makes it feel like you're having a conversation with them. Additionally, the information provided is not only educational but also enjoyable to listen to, as they discuss their experiences in the field and share anecdotes.
Another great aspect of this podcast is its accessibility. While Game News magazine is a valuable resource, The Call of the Outdoors podcast allows listeners to engage with the content in an audio format that can be enjoyed on-the-go. This makes it convenient for people who may not have time to sit down and read a magazine but still want to stay updated on Pennsylvania wildlife news.
Unfortunately, one potential drawback of this podcast is that it may not appeal to everyone. While it provides plenty of valuable information for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, those who are not interested in these topics may find it less engaging or relevant. However, even if you are not a hunter yourself but simply enjoy learning about nature and its benefits, you will still find value in listening to this podcast.
In conclusion, The Call of the Outdoors podcast is an excellent resource for anyone interested in hunting, wildlife conservation, or just learning more about Pennsylvania's natural environment. It offers educational yet enjoyable content that can be accessed conveniently through audio streaming platforms. Whether you're a hunter, sportsman, conservationist, or simply someone who appreciates the outdoors, this podcast is definitely worth a listen.
With participation numbers trending downward nationwide, efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters are more critical than ever. Hunter-Trapper Education and Outreach Division Chief Courtney LaCivita joins host Matt Morrett to detail what the Game Commission is doing to create new hunters in the Commonwealth, and Environmental Education SpecialistBrian Collett shares his personal tips for...
Did you know Pennsylvania proudly claims an elite archery program and a 2024 NASP world champion? Shooting Sports Division Chief Todd Holmes joins host Matt Morrett to discuss how participation in Pennsylvania NASP has skyrocketed over the last decade, and competitor Madi Rhinevault shares her firsthand experience rising to the top of the life-changing program....
Did you know the sixth-largest non-typical bull on record was harvested in Pennsylvania? Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield joins host Matt Morrett to discuss how the Game Commission's reintroduction and careful management have resulted in a thriving population of world-class wapiti here in the Commonwealth. They also share a behind-the-scenes look at the elk license drawing,...
Bowhunting big woods bucks isn't just a fall hobby — it's a year-round grind. Beau Martonik of East Meets West joins host Matt Morrett at the Total Archery Challenge in Seven Springs to discuss ways to improve your archery skills in the offseason, effective summer scouting strategies, and how to take advantage of the millions...
With nearly a million passionate hunters in Pennsylvania, the new process for purchasing antlerless licenses led to high demand and longer-than-expected wait times last year. So the Game Commission made some key changes for the upcoming license year to streamline the process and guarantee antlerless licenses for most residents. Deputy Director of Field Operations Dave...
The future is bright at the Pennsylvania Game Commission! New executive director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to provide Pennsylvanians with an update on the latest changes within the agency. Learn how 30 years of public land hunting and legislative expertise ultimately led Steve to this pivotal role and gain insight into his vision...
Have you heard whispers that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is in cahoots with car insurance companies to reduce the deer herd or the agency trades our turkeys to other states in exchange for coyotes? Captain Chad Eyler and Furbearer Biologist Tom Keller join host Matt Morrett to dispel the most common myths swirling around social...
Available 24/7/365, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Centralized Dispatch Center received nearly 210,000 calls last year, from reports of game law violations to sasquatch sightings. Each spring, as animals are born and bears come out of hibernation in search of food, the number of wildlife-related calls skyrockets. Nick Sechrist, Assistant Director of Central Dispatch Operations, joins...
Prescribed fire is nothing new — Native Americans used controlled burns to boost berry production and draw in wildlife for centuries. Chief Land Manager Dr. Scott Bearer and Land Management Supervisor Steve Ferreri join host Matt Morrett to explain the value of this management tool to wildlife and their habitats throughout Pennsylvania. Learn how prescribed...
Did you know more than half of black bears in Pennsylvania den on top of the ground in a thicket that resembles a giant bird nest? Black Bear Program Manager Emily Carrollo joins host Matt Morrett to bust some common bear myths, share her firsthand experience visiting dens, and explain what to do if you...
Did you know the Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent agency tasked with managing the Commonwealth's wildlife resource for both current and future generations? Legislative Liaison Josh Zimmerman and Executive Director Bryan Burhans join host Matt Morrett to explain how the agency works with legislators, the way policies get made, and what it takes for...
Pennsylvania Game News has been in print since 1929 and still boasts a circulation of 80,00 throughout the Keystone State nearly a century later! Editor Travis Lau and Senior Associate Editor Bob D'Angelo join host Matt Morrett to share details on the rich history of the magazine, the iconic artists who've contributed illustrations to its...
Did you know that taking a single doe out of the deer population can have a ripple effect into future years? Deer Biologist David Stainbrook joins host Matt Morrett to discuss the history of deer management in Pennsylvania and how the Game Commission sets license allocations to promote healthy deer herds and bigger bucks in...
The average adult white-tailed deer needs five pounds of browse per day — healthy habitat is critical to a healthy deer population. Chief Forester Paul Weiss and host Matt Morrett discuss how the Game Commission manages habitat for white-tailed deer and hundreds of other species on state game lands throughout Pennsylvania. Learn more about the...
Last year, Pennsylvania recorded 14 hunting-related shooting incidents, and more than 6,000 hunters were cited for serious violations that could put themselves, other hunters, and wildlife at risk. State Game Warden Mario Altieri and Information & Education Supervisor Aaron Morrow join host Matt Morrett to share the most common mistakes they see hunters make and...
The Pennsylvania Game Commission doesn't just serve hunters — the agency manages 480 species of wild birds and mammals for all 13 million residents of the Keystone State. Executive Director Bryan Burhans and Commissioner Robert Schwalm join host Matt Morrett for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Board of Commissioners works with the PGC to...
Whether you hunt, fish, hike, or simply enjoy viewing wildlife, Pennsylvania has millions of acres of public lands for you to to take advantage of. Host Matt Morrett is joined by Division Chief of Habitat Planning and Development of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Scott Bearer and Chief of the Forest Resource Planning and Information Division...
Just in time for the statewide regular firearms deer season opener, Dr. Gary Alt, a well-known Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist talks about his career with the agency. Dr. Alt is a Pennsylvania native and a lifetime deer hunter. In fact, he got out of his tree stand to do this podcast interview. He hunts...
It's the best time of year! Mornings are crisp and it's beginning to feel like fall. Pennsylvania is celebrating 50 years of conservation for this year's National Hunting and Fishing Day. Host Matt Morrett is joined by Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission Bryan Burhans and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat...
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Daylight hours are shortening, and Pennsylvania's first hunting seasons are finally here. Waterfowl hunters are gearing up for early Canada goose season, which opens Thursday, Sept. 1. Waterfowl hunt zones, season dates, hours and regulations are different across the state, so hunters should review the digest before...
How do you define habitat? Host Matt Morrett is joined by Dave Gustafson, Bureau Director of Wildlife and Habitat Management for the Pennsylvania Game Commission who dives in on habitat 101. Dave explains that habitat is essentially a place where wildlife has access to food, water, space, and a secure place to raise their young....
What makes a turkey talk? Host Matt Morrett and Denny Gulvas continue to break down turkey habits, mannerisms and body language to help you develop your turkey calls and have a successful season. In this part 2, they are joined by Michael Waddell, a well-known name in the turkey hunting industry and host of “Bone...
What's better than getting tips from a Grand National Champion Turkey Caller? Getting to learn from TWO Grand National Champion Callers. In this episode, host Matt Morrett is joined once again by Denny Gulvas, World Champion Turkey Caller and mentor. Denny has spent decades learning turkey habits, body language and calls and is ready to...
Pennsylvania has a rich history of archery across the state. No one knows more about that than Todd Holmes, Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The tradition of archery is strong in Todd's family. He began shooting a bow when he was just five years old with his dad and uncles. Today,...
From its rivers, streams, wetlands and agricultural fields, Pennsylvania offers waterfowl – and waterfowl hunters – many diverse and appealing habitats. Through careful planning and habitat management, Pennsylvania has become one of the top states in the Atlantic Flyway, with ample hunting opportunities for Canada goose, mallards and wood ducks. In this episode, Game Commission Marketing...
Being a game warden is a job unlike any other and the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Ross Leffler School of Conservation is actively recruiting candidates for its 35th class. Interested in applying, but wish you knew more about the process? Listen to this episode for the inside scoop from new state game wardens Hannah Robinson and Travis O'Neill. Visit www.pgc.pa.gov to apply. Hannah and Travis are 2021 graduates of the Ross Leffler...
Since its inception in 1991, Pennsylvania’s acclaimed Hunters Sharing the Harvest program has donated nearly TWO MILLION pounds of venison to hungry families across the state, thanks to the generosity of Pennsylvania hunters. Hunters Sharing the Harvest is a hunter-inspired community service outreach that works through a network of approved deer processors to channel venison donations to...
The smell of fall is in the air. The rut is on in Pennsylvania.In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the mating season and biology of white-tailed deer with Kip Adams, the National Deer Association's Chief Conservation Officer. Kip lives in Knoxville (Pennsylvania) and is a certified wildlife biologist whose love...
Wildlife crimes affect everyone. The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Operation Game Thief (OGT) program provides a way for people to directly report information related to wildlife crimes. Reporting illegal wildlife activity helps to protect our wild birds and mammals for current and future generations. In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with the...
A shared passion for wildlife, whether identifying as a hunter or birder, is the one thing all wildlife lovers have in common. Listen to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans, Bureau of Wildlife Management Director Matthew Schnupp and Call of the Outdoors Host Matt Morrett discuss exciting new hunting opportunities, along with ways in...
If you’re a Pennsylvania turkey hunter, you need to listen to this episode, featuring two of Pennsylvania’s own Grand National Champion Turkey Callers Denny Gulvas and host Matt Morrett, as well as Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. The amount of tips and information related to turkey calling is incredible and will leave listeners better...
Lots of Pennsylvanians are thinking about turkeys as the state’s 2021 Spring Gobbler season is right around the corner! In this episode, host Matt Morrett talks with Pennsylvania Game Commission Wild Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena about the state of the turkey flock, as well as some of her own professional experiences. The answer to...
If you ask a Pennsylvania state game warden what their dream job is, they are likely to tell you that it’s being a game warden. In part two of “How to Become a State Game Warden” Pennsylvania Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett talks with Assistant Director of Training Joel Gibble and State Game Warden...
Being a Pennsylvania state game warden is more than just a job; it’s a passion fueled by protecting our state’s wildlife and natural resources. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a game warden – wonder no more – because this episode is packed with insight right from the Game Commission’s Director of...
The 2020 archery deer season is one that Cory Gulvas will never forget, as he successfully harvested one of the state’s largest typical bucks – ever – on public land in Tioga County, with a traditional bow. The history between him and this buck began two years prior, in September 2018, when he got his...
We’re beginning the new year with a meaningful nod to the past. For 125 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has officially managed the state’s wildlife resources and our state has always been a national leader when it comes to wildlife conservation efforts here in Penn’s Woods. In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett...
On Sunday, Nov. 15, Pennsylvania’s archery deer hunters made history as they took to the woods for the state’s first-ever regulated big-game hunting opportunity. It’s been an exciting fall, with plenty of expanded hunting seasons, including two more Sunday hunting dates during the statewide regular firearms bear season, on Nov. 22, and statewide regular firearms...
Pennsylvania is home to more than 20,000 black bears and they can be found in all 67 counties. Whether you hunt bears or just enjoy learning about them, this episode is full of information about black bears in the Keystone State, including biology, behavior and much more. Mark Ternent is the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral...
If you’re a Pennsylvania bear hunter, you’re in luck, because the hunting opportunities have never been better! It’s an exciting time, between expanded seasons, including one of Pennsylvania’s first-ever Sunday big game hunting opportunities on Nov. 22 for the statewide regular firearms bear season, and a robust bear population totaling about 20,000. In this episode,...
Not only is the white-tailed deer Pennsylvania’s state mammal and most popular game species, but here in the Keystone State, we have some of the most deer hunters in the country! To celebrate fall and a new deer season, this episode is completely focused on deer and what’s been done to manage the herd for...
As hunters, we wait all year for fall to get here! In this episode, Pennsylvania Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett celebrates the beginning of the new season by talking with lifelong Pennsylvania hunter and host of The Sportsman Channel’s “Innerloc’s Out There,” Corey Brossman, about the upcoming archery season and so much more! Corey and Matt have hunted together in Penn’s Woods for decades. Corey...
The opening day of Pennsylvania’s 2020-21 hunting seasons is almost here! Dove hunting is oneof the first signs of fall and a brand-new hunting season. It opens statewide in Pennsylvania onTuesday, Sept. 1. Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife habitat crews have created someincredible managed dove fields across the state for hunters to explore.In advance of the...
Early accounts claim that the last of Pennsylvania’s native elk were hunted in the 1860’s. Today, thanks to many dedicated efforts of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, as many as 1,400 elk freely roam across 3,000 square miles, mostly within several counties in our state’s northcentral region. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Director Dave Mitchell...
A special piece of hunting history was made in Pennsylvania when the first-ever archery elk season took place in September of 2019. Pennsylvania Game Commission Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield joined Marketing Director Matt Morrett to talk about how that exciting season came to be and explain the opportunities now available for those interested in pursuing...
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been a national leader in wildlife management for 125 years! On June 25, 2020, the agency celebrates its 125th anniversary. In this episode, Pennsylvania Game News Editor and Game Commission Historian Joe Kosack leads listeners on a walk through the agency’s impressive natural history here in Penn’s Woods. In the...
On June 15, 2020, Pennsylvania’s State Game Lands System turned 100 years old! To celebrate, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Habitat Management Bureau Director Pete Sussenbach shared a lot of details about our game lands system, which totals more than 1.5 MILLION acres of land today, [which is more than the entire state of Delaware]! Pete...
Michael Waddell is a well-known name in the hunting industry who got his start by winning a turkey calling contest. From there, he went on to guide and film many hunts and eventually founded “Bone Collector,” his show on the Outdoor Channel. He recently took a break from hunting turkeys in his home state of...
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