Outdoors Initiative Podcast Alex Burton

Most people who have eaten frog legs usually purchase them at restaurants to try. They are missing out on the full fledged fun that is gigging for bullfrogs on summer night's around a pond.

Gigging for bullfrogs is easily one of my favorite summer time activities. I have been chasing them since I was in high school heading over friend's farm ponds in an attempt to thin out their numbers.

It is also a perfect activity for a fledgling outdoorsman looking for their first wild meal. It takes very little equipment and bullfrogs are overly abundant in most places. Just simply purchase or make a gig, grab a bright flashlight, and find the nearest pond to start loading up.

Bullfrog legs are also very delicious, but take quite a few to make a good meal. They can be fried, sauteed, baked, and more making them a great appetizer or main course.

While these are all great reasons to give it a shot most people now days have either given up chasing them or don't realize that gigging for bullfrogs is even a thing. This may be surprising to some, but it is becoming a lost art that needs to make a comeback.

This is especially true if you live in states outside of their natural range of the Eastern U.S. as bullfrogs are considered an invasive species.

I cover all of this and more in today's episode.

Today's Topics:


Invasive Bullfrogs
Identifying bullfrogs from green frogs
Items needed to go gigging for bullfrogs
Various techniques for success
How to clean a bullfrog
Ways to prepare frog legs

Resources:


IOTW- Eagle Claw Frog Gigging Head
Music- "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free Download: joshwoodward.com
Social Links: Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram
Email: alex@oipodcast.com

Outside of hiking, your first camping trip is probably the first experience most people have in the outdoors. It is an amazing starting point that pairs well with just about any other outdoor activity.

Popping up a tent, immersing yourself in nature, and relaxing is a great way to spend a weekend. Not to mention having a few drinks around the fire with friends before crawling into a warm sleeping bag for the night.

Anytime you head outdoors you should do some planning ahead of time. This is especially true when deciding to head out on your first camping trip.

Not checking the weather, improperly packing, picking the wrong campground, and other things can quickly ruin any camping experience. Don't fret because all of this is easy to avoid if you follow the advice I offer in today's episode.

Just remember no amount of planning will avoid every mishap, but it will help cut down those odds. Your first camping trip (and all of them really) should be about fun, relaxation, and good times around a fire.

Today's Topic:


Thinking Ahead
Basic items you will need to purchase or borrow
Importance of trying gear out in advance
Clothing selection
Choosing a campground
Simple meal option

Resources:


Super Simple Car Camping Checklist
IOTW- Colemon Camp Chair with Side Table
Trip Planning Page
Music- "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free Download: joshwoodward.com

There are many ways to catch a fish, but fly fishing is definitely one of the hardest and most rewarding ways to do so. If you have ever wanted to try it, but weren't sure where to start today's episode has you covered.

Since I am far from an expert on the matter, I invited Brad Smith of Walton Rods onto the show. Where I have only been at it for a year, he has been casting flies for over a decade.

Brad is an avid fly fisherman, outdoor writer, and all around great person. He has fished from coast to coast, and even off the coast to test his skills. I probe his brain on just about everything anyone could ask about fly fishing.

Today's Topics:


Differences between traditional fishing and fly fishing
Differences types of rods and reels
Choosing your first combo
Setting up a fly fishing rod
Casting techniques
Different flies and selecting the right one
Hook sets and fighting fish
Brad's top fish species to target and locations

Resources:

Walton Rods

Fly Line Knots: Surgeons, Perfection Loop, Clinch, Loop-to-Loop

IOTW: Gerber MP400 Compact Sport Multi-Pliers

Music: "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free Download: joshwoodward.com

 

Squirrel hunting is often overlooked by many new hunters, with most wanting to get straight into deer. While this is fine, small game can teach you a wealth of basic hunting knowledge with less investment. Often this leads towards a natural progression towards larger game species.

That is exactly what I will be discussing on today's episode with a squirrel hunting 101 lesson.

Squirrel offer up a challenge for new and veteran hunters alike. Little gear is needed to pursue them and they are abundant across most of the United States. Not to mention how tasty they can be fried up or thrown into some stew.

Today's Topics:


Why many hunter's should start with squirrel hunting over big game.
Different species of squirrels, their habitat, and behaviors.
Common methods of taking them
Basic gear load out
Scouting and tactics
Skinning, gutting, quartering, and freezing
Cooking

Resources:


Fried Squirrel Legs Recipe
IOTW- FieldLine Pro Series Big Game Pack
The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook
Music- "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free Download: joshwoodward.com

 

Today I wanted to talk about one of the most important aspects of the outdoors, conservation. Without the funds to conserve our wildlife, fish, public lands, and more there would be nothing there for us to pursue.

Many people are also not aware of where the money for conservation comes from. They believe the federal or state governments allot fish and wildlife agencies money and they go on their way. This couldn't be farther from the truth. It is the hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters that are responsible for the bulk of these funds.

This is why participation numbers directly impact the amount of funds available for fish and wildlife conservation. Join me as I explain just how the our North American Model of Conservation works in the U.S. and how participation affect the bottom line.

Today's Topics:


Where conservation money comes from.
What the money goes towards exactly.
Today's participation numbers and how they are monitored.
Why some participation numbers are dropping.
How we can change the trend

Resources:


U.S. Fish and Wildlife 2016 Survey
Items Taxed to Support Wildlife
Music- "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free download: joshwoodward.com

This is a special episode of the podcast. This was taken around the fire at camp where I was joined by my brother, father, and uncle during a guys weekend fishing trip this past weekend. Join us as we talk about the fishing, past experiences, and other random topics. Def good for a few laughs at least. 

 

Have suggestions, episode ideas, or wanna be a guest? Email me at outdoorsinitiativepodcast@gmail.com.

(Music Intro: "Coffee" by Josh Woodward. Free download: joshwoodward.com)