Jacob and Eric sit down with MSU Assistant Research Professor Dr. Melanie Boudrou to discuss the results of a recent project that used GPS collars to study deer-pig interactions. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to…

In this episode, we return to the mailbag to answer listener questions. Brady covers the current status of brownspot needle blight and thinning pines with herbicide applications as an alternative to commercial thinning in light of depressed markets. Shaun covers a combo question on replanting costs and how to treat those costs for tax purposes and …

Strap in for a philosophical episode as we sit with Dr. Dwayne Elmore and explore the complex nature of critically evaluating information in an age of information overload. Resources: Pre-Print: Lashley et al. (2025) Female Wild turkey survival meta-analysis Dr. Dwayne Elmore - Tall Timbers, Publications Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If…

AI generated wildlife videos are common on the internet and it can be hard to distinguish what is real and what isn't. For this episode, Drew and Joe are joined by Danny to discuss the kinds of AI generated videos that frequently feature wildlife, the ways artificially generated videos can alter expectations of real-world interactions with wildlife…

We've launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here! Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab We've launched a comprehensive online wild …

This month we are joined by Dr. Jordan Giese, Research Assistant Professor at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to talk about prairie strips and his research on bird responses to prairie strips in row crop acres. From songbirds to Ring-necked pheasants, Dr. Giese shares how prairie strips can be be…

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, Noble County rancher Grady Parmley joins the team to share how prescribed burn associations empower landowners to use fire as a powerful tool for grassland management. Grady recounts his own journey from being intimidated by fire to leading burns on thousands of acres through the North Centr…

Jacob and Eric catch up to discuss the rut. They cover everything from what triggers the rut to phases of the rut, changes in buck behavior, and hunting strategies. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the semi…

We dive into Will's recent research assessing the effects and prevalence of Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys in Alabama. Resources: Alger, K., et al. (2017). Risk factors for and spatial distribution of lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in New York State, USA. Journal of wildlife …

What do grasshoppers, prescribed fire, and peer pressure have in common? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jason Harmon, the new head of Oklahoma State University's Natural Resource Ecology and Management department, to find out. From his early days counting insects in Wisconsin to leading research on pollinators and rangelands in North Dakota,…

he State of Arkansas is well known for its quality fishing opportunities, particularly its tailrace trout fisheries. Although Fish University has spent several episodes discussing the self-sustaining brown trout in the Little Red River, the majority of these fisheries are supported with catchable size, hatchery produced trout. Unfortunately, the tw…

Waterfowl and other birds often migrate long distances to optimize habitats for feeding and meeting. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss what triggers migration, how far species travel, and the cost and benefits associated with these long distance movements. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wil…

In this episode, we discuss our recent paper quantifying turkey abundance, highlighting the Florida Wildlife Corridor and exploring how this project preserves turkey habitat amidst increasing development pressures. Paper will be linked as soon as it is released. Resources: Citizen science for turkeys Episode 119 eBird https://ebird.org/home Florida…

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we hear from Kayla Moss, Extension Assistant at Oklahoma State University, about her groundbreaking research in Oklahoma. Moss shares how she tackled the invasive sericea lespedeza using a combination of fire, herbicide, and grazing. She discusses how growing-season burns, when followed by a…

We're bringing back our episode exploring the American chestnut's history, ecological importance, challenges faced due to habitat change and disease, on-going conservation efforts, and how you can get involved in its ecological restoration. Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: htt…

While a hunt may end with the release of an arrow or pulling the trigger, what a hunter does next has important legal, food safety, and food quality implications. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss important considerations for tagging and proof-of-sex requirements, care and handling of harvested game to minimize disease transmission, zoonotic diseas…

In this episode, we discuss how management scale and arrangement influence turkey behavior and productivity. Resources: Chitwood, M. C., et al. (2015). Do biological and bedsite characteristics influence survival of neonatal white-tailed deer?. PloS one, 10(3), e0119070. Day, M. S. (2024). Factors impacting gobbling chronology and activity of male …

What makes the Great Plains such a productive agricultural hotspot? And why are some fields just more productive than others no matter what? It turns out the secret is in the soil. This month we are joined by Dr. Ray Ward, founder of Ward Laboratories, to discuss how our soils came to be and how a better knowledge of your soil can lead to healthier…

In this episode, we walk you through the steps on managing your fallow fields for turkey and deer. We cover the plants we're after and those we want to manage against, as well as herbicide preparation, broadcast application, timing of management, and more. Resources: iNaturalist Seek App We manage DEER food plots for TURKEYS (video) Our lab is prim…

Jacob and Eric sit down with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Research Division Chief, Cory Gray and Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Dr. Marcelo Jorge to discuss the results of their 5-year project evaluating the effects of CWD in Arkansas. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources opt…

Amphibians such as frogs and salamanders are common critters often seen in the Midwest near ponds, creeks, and rivers. These animals are often indicators of water quality conditions. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss common amphibians of the Great Plains, why many of these populations are declining, and steps you can take to help ensure frogs are c…

Dr. Craig Harper returns to share insights on how sloped topography affects plant communities, wild turkey use, and management strategies for both turkey and deer. Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab Dr. Craig Harper (Website) We've launched a comprehen…

We're back with Part 2 of discussing cool-season food plots. Hosts Jacob and Eric catch up with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop to talk about seed mixes and weed management. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an accoun…

A good trilogy establishes the characters and the main conflict in installment one, then installment two deepens the conflict, and finally installment three provides the climax and resolution for the entire saga. Way back in Episode 10, Wes interviewed the Bluegill Queen (Sarah Parvin) to discuss her 5-acre pond that had become notorious for produc…

In this episode, hosts Jacob and Eric discuss cool-season food plots with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop. They cover key topics such as food plot placement, soil testing, and seed-bed preparation in part 1 of this 2-part series. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Cate…