Modern Carnivore Podcast

Conversations from Game Fair 2021 On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark sits down for six separate interviews.  These interviews take place in the Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers booth at Game Fair 2021. Listen in for a sampling of the wide range of people you might encounter at Game Fair.  Based on the answers to Mark's questions you can tell that they truly love what they do and want to share that with anyone and everyone.  You can find the line-up below! Lee Kjos Lee Kjos, founder of Boss Shotshells. First off we have Lee Kjos from Boss Shotshells. Lee is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for duck hunting.  He created the Boss Shotshell brand to help clean up the environment using only non-toxic materials. While listening to Lee talk you can hear the passion he has for keeping our land and waters clean.  He believes it so much he built the idea for the Boss brand around that principle.  You will never go bored or hungry while sitting at Lee's table.  So pull up a chair and tak

Northstar Bison - Ethical Bison Farming On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark chats with Sean Graese.  Sean lives in New Mexico where he is an avid elk hunter.  However, this conversation has a little bit different topic.  Sean is a Wisconsin native where his family owns a 100% grass fed bison farm.  This journey started when his mother (a dietician) and his father (a power lifter) were trying to find the best, nutrient dense, red meat.  Thus, Northstar Bison was born.  There are a few things that set this farm apart from the rest.  The first difference is they use a feeding system called rotational grazing.  This is a practice that simulates the natural movement of the bison across the land as they use up the available resources in a particular area.  The second difference, is use a practice called, field harvesting.  Field harvesting is when the farmer harvests the needed animal in the field with a firearm.  The practice helps to reduce stress on the animal because they are harvested in t

Hunters in Conservation On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast we talk about conservation.  Joining Mark are guest Kyle Daly and Dan Born.  Kyle is a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Dan is an archeologist and environmental analyst formerly for the U.S. Forest Service.  They have both worked in wildlife studies for many years.  Therefore they have great knowledge of the natural world and how hunters play a part in it.   Kyle Daly Dan Born Conservation has had a long history in the United States.  Historical figures in the fight for conservation have stressed the importance of public lands and waters.  This is so that anyone, not just the wealthy, can have access to wild game and fish. This idea is what helped create the North American Conservation Model.  For example, here is how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service defines it: The North American Conservation Model Wildlife is a public resource Markets for game are eliminated Allocation of wildlife by law W

Hunter Recruitment, through a New Lens! On this week's episode Mark has a conversation with Torey Vayer and Lincoln Larson.  These two are researchers with the North Carolina State University's College of Natural Resources.  In contrast with many of the guest on this podcast, Torey and Lincoln are not hunters.  However, I think this makes what they have to say even more important.  They recently released their research involving thousands of students across the country.  Their research, in a nutshell, involved two main questions: Do you hunt? If not, do you have an interest in hunting?  College campuses are traditionally a very diverse place.  Since this is the case, Torey and Lincoln were able to get a very unique and diverse sample for their research.  During their research they came across a lot of interesting data.  This research can provide vital insight into the future of hunter recruitment.  Are we putting hunter recruitment dollars in the wrong place?  You will have to listen in to this episode of

Turkey Hunting Camp 2021 On May 7, 2021 a group of thirty-plus people converged on Ideal Township in north-central Minnesota for turkey hunting camp. Most were new hunters and from as far away as Texas and New York. Others were experienced hunters who had never been turkey hunting. Most importantly we had some amazing mentors who worked tirelessly to get all the new turkey hunters out into the field to safely chase after some spring gobblers. Three of our new hunters were successful in the hunt over the weekend. Congrats Dawn, Nate and Rya...Jim and Greg...and Nolan and Joe! Nate (mentor) with new hunters Dawn and Rya (and Dawn's big tom turkey) Jim Specht and Greg Kvale (mentor) and Jim's tom turkey. Nolan Kerr and his mentor Joe Mixer with their jake turkey Listen to this podcast to hear new hunters Dawn McShinsky and Rya Stone along with their mentor Nate Thom share their story of the hunt. If you're interested in learning to hunt turkeys make sure you check out our Learn To Hunt Turkeys course on the

New CWD Field Test For those who don't know, CWD stands for Chronic Wasting Disease. The animals affected by this disease include deer, elk, and moose. This disease is spread through direct and indirect transmission. Direct transmission is when the animals are together and are in direct contact with each other. However, indirect is when an animal transmits the disease through the silva, urine, or other bodily materials that an infected animal has left behind in the environment.  This disease is fatal 100% of the time but can take 2-3 years to fully waste the animal. Commonly, animals with CWD appear sickly and confused. Yet, this disease is found in seemly healthy animals as well.  As a result of the lengthy period from infection to death, it can be hard to track animal exposure.  This is why testing can be one of our best and only defenses against this disease. The Importance of Testing Currently CWD has been found in 26 states across the Untied States and is spreading fast.  By testing the deer we can d

Hunting Access for Urban Dwellers On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast we discuss hunting accessibility.  Mark is visiting New York City where he talks with his friends Todd Waldron and David Gever.  Todd is the host of the Outdoor Feast Podcast and a longtime resident of New York.  David is an avid hunter that lives in the heart of Brooklyn.  He experiences first-hand the challenges of living in such an urban area.  Mark, Todd, and David are discussing some of the challenges of being a hunter in an urban area, such as New York City.  These challenges include transportation, land access, and gun ownership laws and can make getting out to hunt and fish a hassle.   This conversation is being recorded in the Metropolitan Rod and Gun Club in Brooklyn.  The hunters and fisherman of the Brooklyn area founded this club in 1934.  They were looking for a place to meet so they could discuss their adventures and teach new generations of hunters and fisherman.  In addition, they were meeting to discuss

Death and the Spirituality of Hunting A successful hunt can bring many mixed emotions. It is exciting to succeed in your goal but can be equally as troubling because you have taken the life of a living being. To help sort through these emotions, Mark has a talk with Tony Jones, the Reverend Hunter.  Tony has a Ph.D. in theology from Princeton Theology Seminary and is an accomplished author. He has many books and is frequently found in the "Outdoors" section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  You can also listen to Tony on his own podcast titled, The Reverend Hunter.  Mark and Tony discuss hunting ethics and the spirituality of hunting.  Join us for this in-depth discussion.   Tony Jones out hunting with his dog. You can also listen to Mark on the Reverend Hunter Podcast, "Mark Norquist: It's better to sit in a boat and think about God than to sit in a church thinking about fishing". For more reading on hunting ethics, check out these titles. * Beyond Fair Chase by Jim Posewitz Mindful Carnivore by Tova

Women in the Outdoors with Ali Juten Ali Juten is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hunting and fishing in the north woods of Minnesota.  Ali works to bring people, especially women, into the outdoor space via hunting and fishing.   On this episode, Mark sits down with Ali and his friend, Todd Waldron, from the Outdoor Feast Podcast to discuss important topics such as, empowering others to get into the outdoors and how to create fun outdoor experiences for children. They also share a couple of laughs over their own hunting and fishing stories. You can follow more of Ali's adventures by going to her instagram "Ali_UpNorth" or by tuning into her podcast/blog, Empower Outdoors. Ali Juten hunting in Northern Minnesota During the introduction, Mark and Todd talk about Todd's new role as the Northeast Forest Conservation Director for the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society.  For more information on this conservation organization, listen in to the Modern Carnivore Podcast (Ep:015) where Mark tal

Firearm Basics with John McAdams On this week's episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark talks with John McAdams about firearm basics.  John McAdams is the founder of the Big Game Hunting Blog.  He created this blog as a source of information for the average hunter and to help prepare hunters for their big game hunting adventures.  He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and an Army Veteran of 10 years.  Through his experiences in the military and growing up as a hunter, he has gained an extensive knowledge of firearms.  In this episode, he shares this knowledge with Mark and the listeners of the Modern Carnivore Podcast. John McAdams glassing a beautiful landscape.Photo credit: Big Game Hunting Blog John McAdams during his tour to Afghanistan.Photo Credit: Big Game Hunting Blog Mark had the opportunity of being a guest on John's podcast, the Big Game Hunter Podcast.  On this episode, they discuss the best ways to care for and cook wild game.  You can listen to that ep

New Hunter Stories - Ronnell Lynn On this week's episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast Mark has a conversation with first-time hunter Ronnell Lynn and his mentor Erik Jensen.  Ronnell is a butcher at the Seward Co-Op in Minneapolis and has plenty experience with meat.  Erik helped to build and served as a board member for the Minnesota chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. He is also a passionate hunting mentor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  While butchering Ronnell's first deer, they discuss the hunt and the process/preparations for a backcountry hunting experience.  They share the good and the bad about hunting in the backcountry wilderness of Minnesota.   Listen in for plenty of laughs and a very unique way of asking someone about their interest in hunting. Ronnell in the deer stand on his first hunt. Ronnell pulling his gear to the backcountry camp for his first deer hunt. Watch the Podcast here or on Youtube. If you are someone who loves the outdoors but is not qui

A Conversation with Andrew Zimmern On this episode of the Modern Carnivore Podcast, Mark speaks with culinary expert and outdoor enthusiast, Andrew Zimmern.  Andrew is a Emmy award winning TV personality and chef.  He currently is the host of two television shows, What's Eating America on MSNBC and Family Dinner that will soon be premiering on the new Magnolia Network.  In his most notable series, Bizarre Foods, Andrew travels the world exploring different cultures and traditions through food.  These explorations have shaped Andrew's perspective on food and made him into the person/chef he is today.  Andrew currently resides in Minnesota where he believe the opportunities to get outside, both for recreation and for food, are abundant.  Listen in as Mark and Andrew discuss some of their latest outdoor adventures.   Andrew Zimmern Duck Hunting (photo credit: Travel Channel) Watch the Podcast with Andrew Zimmern on Youtube   Make sure you check out the Outdoor Feast Podcast by Modern Carnivore, and host

Part of the Hardwater Hunter Series by Modern Carnivore

New Hunters at Grouse Camp 2020 - Part 2 I recently attended Grouse Camp 2020 in Eagle River, Wisconsin and got to talk with several new hunters. This is the second year that the Ruffed Grouse Society has held this event, and even though the heavens opened with a deluge of rain on Saturday evening a wonderful time was had by all. In this second set of conversations I talked with Alex and Delos Kohnhorst who went out hunting with Luke who was their mentor for the day. I also caught up with Mike and Dave Schwabe who are brothers that have hunted together for 30 years and are passionate about mentoring new hunters. And finally I talked with Jake Lindemann who is a new grouse hunter, and the founder of Chief Upland. I think you'll really enjoy these conversations! Subscribe to this podcast on the right side of the page to stay up-to-date and make sure you listen to Part 1 of this episode if you haven't done so already.     Alex Kohnhorst with his first American Woodcock Hunting mentors and brothers, Mike

New Hunters at Grouse Camp 2020 - Part 1

Ben Jones - President / CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Just days before the pandemic required our country to close down I was able to sit down with Ben Jones who is the President and CEO of two hunting conservation organizations: The Ruffed Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society. We were at Pheasant Fest which is the annual meeting of the organization Pheasants Forever, and great conservation partner of both Ben's organizations and Modern Carnivore. We talk about forest health and how proper management can help replicate natural disturbances that have been eliminated as the human population continues to expand across our continent. Ben Jones from Ruffed Grouse Society is on the Modern Carnivore PodcastClick To Tweet   Make sure you check out the Outdoor Feast Podcast by Modern Carnivore, and hosted by Todd Waldron. Todd had a recent conversation with Justin Bubenik who talks about the challenges of being a gay man in the hunting world, and conversely also bein

Diversity In Hunting Diversity in hunting and the inclusion of all people is a serious issue that hasn't often received enough serious attention. We in the outdoor world who hunt and fish are not immune to this. For too long the community and the industries that feed off it have been too insulated, playing only to those who were traditionally active participants. It's now time to reach out to the broader world and welcome people into the water and woods to take part in hunting, fishing and foraging. It's unfortunate that there are still hurdles to this and that it takes situations like the killing of George Floyd for people to wake up to the challenges that exist for people of color, or any other identifying characteristic that attracts judgement by others. Modern Carnivore has made a commitment to highlight these issues, to talk about them, and to continue to look for ways to eliminate barriers to entry in the outdoors. In this episode Mark's guests are Jenny Ly who is the founder of Chasing Food Club

Davin Brandt - Founder/Director of Minnesota Steelheader In today’s podcast I sit down with Davin Brandt who is the founder and director of Minnesota Steelheader. This non-profit organization’s mission is to “engage volunteers who share a common interest of conserving the Lake Superior steelhead, trout, and salmon fisheries on Minnesota’s North Shore tributaries while informing, inspiring, and educating on the water, on-line, and in our communities.” I met Davin while serving on the MN DNR R3 Council over the past year and I can’t say enough positive things about this guy. He truly cares for the resources on the North Shore of Minnesota and is passionate about introducing people to steelhead fishing. I hope you enjoy the conversation! You can also watch this podcast on Youtube and see Davin’s and my shining faces, if you’d like. Scroll below, or just click here to go to the Modern Carnivore Youtube Channel. Davin Brandt, Founder/Director of MN Steelheader is on the Modern Carnivore PodcastClick To Tweet

Turkey Hunting with Mark Strand In today's podcast I sit down with Mark Strand. Mark has been an outdoor writer, photographer, and filmmaker since 1977. He has hunted wild turkeys for 41 years, traveling to hunt 17 states including Hawaii and several regions of Mexico. He has shot all 6 species and subspecies of wild turkeys. He often starts in late March in the South and works his way north, hunting turkeys through the end of May. A graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Journalism with a minor in Fisheries & Wildlife Science, he has written extensively for the National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) Turkey Call, Turkey & Turkey Hunting, Realtree’s Turkey Special, and many other publications. At one time or another, Strand has written for nearly every outdoor magazine, and authored or co-authored 14 books, including Paint the Next Sunrise: A Future for Hunting and Fishing, and the e-book Turkey Camp and other turkey hunting stories. Mark belongs to the “Ray Eye coaching tree,” giving much cre

Sally Fallon Morell - The Weston A. Price Foundation In Episode 11 of the Modern Carnivore Podcast I'm joined by Sally Fallon Morell. Sally is the founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation and also the author of Nourishing Fats - Why We Need Animal Fats For Health & Happiness. Sally had several ailments when she was younger but found that she felt better when she had fat in her diet. This led her to researching the work of Dr. Weston A. Price and then authoring several cookbooks. She then went on to form the Weston A. Price Foundation in 1999 with Mary Enig, PhD. The organization "always aims to provide the scientific validation of traditional foodways". The work of Dr. Price definitely has it's detractors as it flies in the face of much of the modern dietary guidelines. I think you'll find this conversation with Sally very interesting.   The Modern Carnivore Podcast is talking animal fats and a nutrient-dense diet with Sally Fallon Morell. #fat #cookingwild #realwildfoodClick To Tweet Links from Tod