The Big Wild, Celebrating 17 Years on Air

Don Kirby recalls the constitutional amendment campaign to protect the rights of hunters that first connected him to Gundy, Randy Stark shares how he works to prevent animal trafficking and reminisces with Gundy about their education expo, Longtime friend Chef John, the Game Gourmet, joins us to reminisce and Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte shares her inspiration, Gundy & Friends say goodbye to the show, but not to each other.

Ed Clark from the Wildlife Center of Virginia joins us from the family cabin to share how Covid can affect wildlife populations, Tom Dokken, dog trainer extraordinaire, gives us his best tips, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes Grilled Greek Chicken Wings, Ted Takasaki, Walleye Master, recaps the season so far.

James D. Paruk, author and instructor, tells us about his new book, Loon Lessons, Stan Tekiela, NatureSmart outdoor expert, on the Brown-Headed Cowbird as nest parasites and egg imposters, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes roasted spaghetti squash with cherry tomatoes, Alaina Gerrits of the WI DNR and Upland Game expert gives us a late summer update.

Dr. Randall Eaton joins us again this week to share what he's learned about Native American hunting traditions, Don Kirby, longtime friend of the show, previews the Waterfowl Hunters Expo, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes Jumbo Raw Shrimp with lemon and garlic, Luther Aadland, River Ecology Scientist with Minnesota DNR, tells us about the Mound Creek Restoration project.  

Jimmy Gretzinger from Michigan Out of Doors TV, talks summer in Michigan, Matt Ross, Director of Conservation at the National Deer Association, shares info about the Deer Steward Program, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes honey soy pork chops on the grill, Jim O'Brien from Dancing with Walleyes gives us a summer update.

Grace Latz, 2016 Olympian in rowing, takes us to beautiful Grand Lake, Colorado Hayes Scriven shares what's happening at Split Rock Lighthouse, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes a Wild Rice Chicken and Arugula Salad with Pickled Grapes, Mark Nale, outdoor writer and Angler shares why Pennsylvania Anglers should beware.    Join us in the Big Wild!

Jeff Evans, WI Fishing Guide, calls in as he's out on the water catching bass, Walleye Dan talks about summer fishing and his resort in Minnesota, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes roasted beet salad with mandarins, goat cheese, and arugula. She follows it up with salmon tacos with golden beets, Nick Harrington from South Dakota Fish & Game talks about fishing Lake Oahe.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Dr. Stephen Kajiura tells us about Florida Atlantic University's Shark Lab 2021, Eric Edwards shows us how CampSitePhotos.com can help prevent unfortunate campsite surprises, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes a simple Firecracker Fish recipe, Mary Stefanski from US Fish & Wildlife on the Mississippi River between Wabasha and Winona and camping requests on the Refuge.   It's all here in The Big Wild.

Dr. Warren Allmon talks the Cayuga Nature Center, Our Friend Jared Wiklund gives us a summer update on Pheasants Forever, Michele gets us through another great recipe, and Dr. Brian Patrick talk South Dakota Spiders!   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Land Tawney, President Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, updates us on events and legislative sessions, Dr. Rich Bradley joins us to talk about spiders for the first time in Big Wild history, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes two dishes featuring wild mushrooms, inspired by last week's guests, Noah Gilfillan takes us camping on the Appalachian Trail.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Stan Tekiela of NatureSmart.com on hunting for morel mushrooms, Courtney Iverson of Morels and Memories shares how the organization helps fight Alzheimers, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes Island Queso Dip, Ben Felt, CO Parks & Wildlife Aquatic Biologist, on Northern Pike as an invasive species & the Mack Mesa.

Wendy McDermott, Director of American Rivers Puget Sound & Columbia Basin, takes us to Snake River, Derek Gunderson takes us camping at not one, but three, Devil's Lakes, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes a Berries, Brie, and Brioche Brunch Bake, Pete Robbins, Senior Writer for BASSMaster, tells us why we should Take a Friend Fishing!   It's all here, in The Big Wild!

Randy Johnson, Wisconsin DNR Large Carnivore Specialist, shares Wisconsin's Wolf Plan, Steve Kirkland, California Condor Field Coordinator with US Fish & Wildlife joins us, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes a sweet and savory rhubarb BBQ sauce, Chris Parish tells us about the CA Condor & The North American Non-Lead Partnership.   It's all here in The Big Wild

Michele Losee, The American Kestrel, Falconry & Conservation issues, Kurt Schirado takes us fishing on the Upper Missouri and his show, Ultimate Outdoor Adventures TV, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte rediscovers some of her favorite recipes like Butterflied Smelt Fries with Cornichon Tartar Sauce, Randy Harden of the UTV/ATV Association was on last week's encore, so we thought we would get him back for an update.

Marc Engler takes us to the Homestead National Monument in Nebraska, Randy Harden from the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association gives us a spring update, Mike and Melissa Morgan from Outdoor with the Morgans take a break from YouTube to talk with us, Julia Ponder of the Minnesota Raptor Center joins us.

Kayla Jacumsen on Being a BASS wife and getting the most out of going fishing, Tom Dokken teaches us how to get our dogs ready for spring, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes roasted cherry tomatoes with goat cheese, Justin Haglund of WI DNR Fisheries takes us Fishing in the Driftless region.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Stephanie Vatalaro from TakeMeFishing.org shares how they help people who fish get resources they need, Laindree Richardson, Bassmaster All-American high school angler, shares her story, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes 3 recipes with one of our favorite things: smoked salmon, Ray Ruiz Jr from the Minnesota DNR introduces their new spring initiatives.   Join us in The Big Wild!

It's all about Eagles this week in the Big Wild!   Ed Clark, longtime friend of The Big Wild, updates us on eagles and The Wildlife Center of Virginia.  Lori Arent, Assistant director of the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, joins us.  Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes a sweet and nostalgic Lemon Bliss Cake.  Ed Hahn of the National Eagle Center shares the success story of rehabilitating eagles.   Join us in The Big Wild!

Ted Takasaki takes us fishing for Walleye, Karl Gunzer from Purina joins us to talk about how a dog's diet needs change with the seasons, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes BLT Caesar Salad, Brad Parsons, Minnesota State Fisheries Chief, gives us a Mille Lacs update.

John Michael Donahue of the National Marine Manufacturers Association gives us a 2021 Boating outlook, Skye Goode of the Wisconsin Trappers Association on women in trapping, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes sweet and savory grilled pineapple chicken with rice, Brett Wiedmann, Big Game Biologist in North Dakota, tells us all about reintroducing BigHorn Sheep.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Gunnar Carlson, President of Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists, takes us cycling through Minnesota's unique landscape, Pete Roth from Tap My Trees gives us tips for Maple Syruping, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes her version of the Baked Feta Pasta internet trend, Derek Gunderson shares the Purina Contest Winner and updates us on the good and back of this record year for the outdoors.   The Big Wild is brought to you by Purina Pro Plan, the most advanced nutrition for your dog's Big Wild life!

Jason Meekoff, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Regional Coordinator, talks tips for turkey hunting on public and private land, and BHA's 2nd Annual Spring Turkey Calling Contest, Dan Parnell, President of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, takes us salmon fishing, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes Rachels, Rubens made with turkey burger, layered with reuben sauce and sauerkraut, Chuck Niska, Minnesota DNR Shooting Range Coordinator gives us a summer 2021 outlook.

Artie Arndt of Artie's Bait & Tackle takes us fishing on Big Stone Lake, Jay Anglin of Sporting Digest gives us 20 points for spring turkey hunting, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte shares the first recipe of the blog: butternut corn chowder with sage and bacon, Alaina Gerritts, Wisconsin DNR Biologist, previews the spring turkey season.

Nashville songwriters Jerry Vandiver and Caitlin Evanson share their upcoming music that encourages kids to get outside, John Nelson of the USA Trap Leagues talks about a shortage of ammunition for students, Michelle Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes delicious giardiniera chimichurri, Chris Hall from South Dakota Game fish and Parks talks about what's going on in the Mount Rushmore State.   It's all here, in The Big Wild!

Julie McQueen from CarbonTV joins us to share a new endeavor with us Kip Adams from the National Deer Association updates us on this season's record buck  Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes rustic venison cottage pie Mickey Mueller of the Northwoods Wildlife Center takes us to Northern Wisconsin to rehabilitate injured wildlife.   It's all here, in The Big Wild!

Bruce Akin, BASSmaster CEO, gives us a preview of the 2021 season, Stan Tekiela from NatureSmart on muskrats & the odd winter we are experiencing, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes pork tenderloin with pomegranate port glaze, Stan Tekiela joins us again to talk about filming wolves in Yellowstone.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

It's time to go fishing in The Big Wild!   Jim O'Brien of Dancing With Walleyes Fishing Guide Service takes us ice fishing, Duffy Kopf of the Capital City Online Muskie School tells us about the program, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes smoked trout naan pizza with onion jam, Gundy shares some ice safety tips and other tips for survival.   Find us on Facebook to enter to win a prize from Purina!

Ted Ely, Board Member of JRTCA, on Jack Russell Terriers & the outdoors, Casey Krueger, Wisconsin DNR Chief Warden, gives us a 2020 recap, Michele Phillips of Bacon Fatte makes blackened crappies with beans and rice, Dave Genz takes us ice fishing on Lake Superior.   Join us in The Big Wild!

Chris Britt from Helibacon takes us helicopter hog hunting with machine guns in Texas, Tom Dokken, dog trainer-extraordinaire, shares winter dog tips, Michele Phillips from Bacon Fatte makes Tater Tot hotdish Soup, and Bruce Ross of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association on non-profit paths in 2021.   It's all here in The Big Wild  

Sintia Kawasaki-Yee gives us a look at Sequoia National Park, Pete Robbins from Half Past First Cast gives some advice: Don't Wait on Trips, Mike Reinikianen of the Minnesota DNR on collecting Black Spruce Pinecones, Buzz Kemper takes us rock climbing in South Central Wisconsin.    It's all here in The Big Wild!

The first new show of 2021!   Monica Hendrickson, one of the organizers of this year's Beargrease Sled Race, previews the event, Don Kirby on what fishing and hunting in 2021 could bring, Michele Phillips shares lighter fare featuring fish to help us keep those New Year's resolutions, Pete Berthlesen from the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund gives us good news regarding delisting the Monarch.   It's all here in, The Big Wild!

Happy New Year!  This holiday weekend, we have an encore episode of the Big Wild.   Mike Leonard discusses the historic Modern Fishing Act, Brad White takes us to Ice Fest in New Hampshire, Robin Follette makes roasted poblano chicken chowder, Teresa Stabo previews a free fishing weekend in Wisconsin.   It's all here, in The Big Wild.

Join us this holiday weekend in The Big Wild! We feature our annual retelling of Whisper, the touching story of a girl and tree who protect each other no matter what, Jack Ferrell joins us for two segments to share wine pairings for wild game, and Gundy has some jokes to keep us laughing through to dinner.

Michele Phillips gives us ideas for holiday recipes just in time for Christmas Chris Meister, Founder of the United States Ice Fishing Association, gets us ready for the season, Clark Wendlandt is the Bassmaster 2020 Angler of the Year, Ted Bonde, President of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association, shares how to get kids into fishing.   It's all here in, The Big Wild!

Lane Walker author of Hometown Hunters Books, a series geared toward the young hunters in your life,  Marge Gibson, Founder of REGI in Antigo, WI, joins us, Doug Turnbull on finding & restoring a sentimental or historical firearm, Nick Harrington from the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks gives us a winter update.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

*ENCORE*    Lynne Green from Siren USA on the male vs female shooter, George Meyer from Conservation Leadership Corps joins us, Robin Follette makes frosting for holiday cookies, Dave Weins shares why we might need to kill owls to save owls.   This episode originally aired 11/22/19.   Happy Thanksgiving!  It's all here in The Big Wild!

L. David Mech on his new book, Wolf Island, and discovering the secrets of wolves, Keith Warnke, WI DNR Division Administrator of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks on WI delisting of wolves, Michele Philips, from BaconFatte.com, shares ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers, Ray Ruiz gets us ready for the ice with ice fishing prep tips.   It's all here in The Big Wild

Dominik Dellasala updates us on deforestation of the Tongass in Alaska, Michelle Phillips shares Wild Recipes from her Bacon Fatte blog, Jordan Rutter from the American Bird Conservancy on human focused repopulation efforts VS. natural repopulation of the Brown Nuthatch, Neil Large of the Arizona DNR takes us to AZ parks for the fall & winter.

Ed Clark of the Wildlife Center of Virginia gives us a 6 bear month update, Ron Schara, Minnesota's Outdoor Storyteller, joins us, Mercedes Akinseys on growing up suburban and learning to hunt, Jeb R Williams updates us on North Dakota fall big game hunting.   It's All Here in The Big Wild!

Whit Fosburgh, CEO of Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, on 300,000 acres of landlocked public land in MN & WI, Brenda Valentine, the First Lady of Hunting, updates us on the fall deer season and her bucket list, Mark Titus, Film Producer, follows up with us on Pebble Mine and saving fisheries, John King, the WI DNR Hunter Education Administrator, joins us

Seth Fieder, BassMaster Top 20 performer this season, talks about his push to the end, Stan Tekiela shares early snow hazards for ground animals, Paul Sieswerda from Gotham Whale on whales in NYC, Dan Wennerlind gives us a fall waterfowl hunting update and previews the Ultimate Waterfowlers Challenge.   Halloween weekend in The Big Wild!

Chef John, the Game Gourmet, gives us his approach on field dressing, Gundy and Producer Audrey on introducing kids to a new dog, Randy Stark from the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs updates us on the problem of animal trafficking, Bob Nack, Big Game Manager at the Wisconsin DNR, previews crossbow hunting & lead up to gun season.

Matt Ross, Assistant Director of Conservation with QDMA on how to react when you come across a poacher, Brad Strootman shares how Action Trackchair can help anyone get outside, Peter Sontrop of Archery Hub helps us choose the right bow and arrow, and Jared Wiklund from Pheasants Forever gives us a fall update.

Dr. Randall Eaton joins us again this week to share his most memorable Orca moments, Barb Keller, Minnesota Big Game Program Leader, provides a fall update, Michael Mixon, outdoor BBQ extraordinaire, takes a break from his show to join us on ours, Derek Gunderson gives us some fall fishing tips. Stick around for Parting Shots when Dr Eaton joins us again to share some of his writing.

The Big Wild encountered some technicals problems for this week, so while we work to fix the internet we offer you a great show from last year!   So good we have to hear it again! Join us for this encore presentation of an episode we ran last October. Tina Dokken, Tom Dokken's better half, talks about National Outdoor Women's Weekend, Lindsay Thomas Jr on deer feeders, who feeds and when, Robin Follette makes veggies on the campfire, Jordan Rutter shares the problem of 3 billion birds lost in Canada and the US.

It's all here in the Big Wild!  Dr. Randall Eaton on orca whales and the hunting experience that changed his life, Don Kirby gives us his insights into the outdoors, Dr. Richard Bowman shares his passion for rescuing racehorses, Alaina Gerrits, Upland Game Biologist with Wisconsin DNR, gives us an Upland Game report.   Find us on Facebook!  If you have someone you know to be as passionate about thee outdoors as we are send them our way, we love listener sponsored guests!

This week, we have an encore presentation from September 2019. Jake Grages from Quality Deer Management joins us, Benji Kohn takes us fishing for brook trout, Robin Follette cooks up bear roast, Jeb R Williams takes us to North Dakota for big-horned sheep.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Nic Mink & Marsh Skeele take us salmon fishing in Alaska, Chris Hull from South Dakota Fish, Game, and Parks previews SD fall activity, Tom Dokken, Dog Trainer Extraordinaire, gives us a fall update, John Nelson shares how high school clay target shooting builds lifelong skills for kids.   It's all here in the Big Wild!

Lori Schmidt, wolf curator since 1989, introduces us to the International Wolf Center, Craig Engwall from the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association previews the fall season, Michael Altizer, Sporting Classics Senior Editor, shares The Last Best Day, Heather Talley, Upland Game Coordinator from the Utah Division of Wildlife, on Grouse.   It's all here in The Big Wild!

Becky Humphries, CEO of National Wild Turkey Federation, previews fall turkey, Sean Ferbrache of The American Hunting Lease Association shares the key to the future of hunting, John Eberhart, bowhunter supreme, on why you should never pay to deer hunt, Ray Ruiz with the Minnesota DNR updates us on city fishing in the fall.