Hunting Matters

Joe Betar
  • 5.0 (1)
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  • Updated Weekly

Hunting Matters is an award-winning podcast celebrating the wonders of the great outdoors.Join host Joe Betar, Executive Director of Houston Safari Club Foundation, as he delves into captivating discussions with a diverse array of guests. From hunting and fishing to sport shooting, conservation, policy, and even culinary arts, this podcast covers it all. Available on all major podcast platforms—subscribe, listen, rate, and review!

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 270: Agricultural Lending and the Economics of Rural Texas with Phil Peabody

    In this episode of Hunting Matters, host Joe Betar sits down with Phil Peabody, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Capital Farm Credit. Drawing from over 15 years in agricultural lending and corporate risk management, Phil explores how Texas growth, land values, and conservation economics shape the future of rural real estate and farm management.   Key Topics Covered: Navigating Rural Real Estate & Lending: How financing farms, ranches, and recreational properties differs from traditional residential loans, along with key strategies for managing input costs, interest rates, and commodity fluctuations.The Cooperative Advantage: Understanding Capital Farm Credit’s cooperative structure and how returning earnings to customer-owners strengthens local rural communities.The Economics of Wildlife & Hunting: Balancing livestock operations with habitat management, and using hunting lease revenue to enhance land stewardship, offset operational costs, and fund conservation practices.Generational Succession & Future Outlook: Practical advice for farm and ranch families planning succession, overcoming high entry barriers for young agricultural operators, and maintaining Texas rural heritage for the next generation.Supporting Conservation & Youth: Why Capital Farm Credit partners with organizations like the Houston Safari Club Foundation to fund youth scholarships and protect hunting traditions. Connect with Capital Farm Credit: Website: Capital Farm CreditFacebook: Capital Farm Credit on FacebookInstagram: @capitalfarmcreditX (Twitter): @CapitalFarmCredLinkedIn: Capital Farm Credit Company PageYouTube: Capital Farm Credit ChannelConnect with Hunting Matters: Subscribe & Review: Be sure to subscribe to Hunting Matters on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating and review!Learn More: Visit https://hscfdn.org/ to support conservation, education, and our hunting heritage.

  2. Sep 8

    Episode 269: Faith, Leadership, and 140+ Species with Victor L. Bretting

    What does it take to turn a lifetime in the outdoors into a lasting legacy? On this episode of Hunting Matters, we are joined by Victor L. Bretting—an 8th-generation Texan, 50-year construction executive, author, and founder of North Texas’s B-Tex Ranch. Having pursued over 140 species across five continents, Victor shares gripping insights from dangerous-game safaris and mountain hunts, explaining why the true value of hunting lies far beyond the trophy—it’s rooted in the people, the character built through adversity, and a deep respect for wildlife management. We explore his memoir, The Man That I Would Become, unpacking how faith, accountability, and decades of corporate leadership shaped his approach to land stewardship. Victor also discusses his mission to give back by hosting combat veterans, mentoring the next generation of outdoorsmen, and highlighting the realities of conservation as co-host of Trekin Outdoors and The B-Tex Ranch on MyOutdoorTV . Connect with Victor L. Bretting & B-Tex Ranch: Website: brettingtexanranch.comGet the Memoir (The Man That I Would Become): brettingtexanranch.com/the-bookFacebook: facebook.com/btexranchLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/victor-brettingLearn more about HSCF:  Houston Safari Club Home - Houston Safari Club

  3. Aug 31

    Episode 268: Mentoring Youth and Healing Through the Outdoors with Micah Seavers

    In this episode of Hunting Matters, host Joe Beta speaks with Micah Seavers, President of Walking Humbly Outdoor Adventures. Micah shares how his upbringing as a preacher's kid and the guidance of early mentors led him to build a nonprofit dedicated to introducing young people to outdoor traditions. Key Topics Covered: Mentorship & Youth Engagement: Why absent mentors—not technology—are the main barrier keeping kids indoors, and how a single positive outdoor experience can make a lasting impact.The Rules of Firsts: Teaching ethical conservation, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness through trapping, metal detecting, survival skills, and wild game processing.The Heroes Hunt & Community Outreach: Providing all-expenses-paid trips for children of fallen and wounded military members, police officers, and firefighters, alongside programs supporting local families.Bridging Perspectives: Embracing open dialogue with non-outdoorsmen and opposing groups to foster true stewardship and understanding Website: Walking Humbly Outdoor Adventures Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/

  4. Aug 24

    Episode 267: Ranching Legacy, Youth Conservation, and South Texas Stewardship with Leo & Madison Martinez

    In this episode of "Hunting Matters", we are joined by Leo Martinez, Ranch Manager of the Dancing Elk Alexander (DEA) Ranch in Mathis, Texas, Vice President on the HSCF Board of Directors, and the 2025 HSCF Outfitter of the Year, along with his daughter, Madison Martinez. We dive into Leo's nearly four-decade career in ranching and hunting, exploring how family legacy, Texas history, and a deep commitment to stewardship shape their family-run operation in South Texas. The discussion details Leo’s multi-generational roots in the industry—inspired by his grandfather’s life as a cowboy and ranch foreman—and how he carries those foundational values forward today. Leo and Madison share what it takes to manage the daily balance of native wildlife, exotic game, cattle production, and hosting hunting guests on a working South Texas ranch. We explore the unique allure of South Texas hunting, the intricacies of humane wildlife and habitat management, and how Madison’s perspective as the next generation is helping shape the ranch's future. Finally, we explore the essential connection between ethical hunting, conservation, and youth education, highlighting DEA Ranch’s hosting of HSCF’s first annual Summer Youth Conservation Education Program. Leo and Madison share powerful insights on passing down land stewardship to the next generation, the honor of receiving the 2025 Outfitter of the Year award, and why hands-on outdoor experiences are critical to protecting wildlife, rural communities, and hunting heritage for decades to come. Learn more about DEA Ranch and their work: Website: https://dearanch.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dealexanderranch/ Instagram: @dea_ranch Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/

  5. Aug 11

    Episode 266: Global Waterfowl Conservation: From Texas Pintails to New Zealand Game Birds with Matt Garrick

    In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Matt Garrick, Senior Field Officer at Fish & Game New Zealand and a former HSCF-Dan L Duncan Scholarship recipient. We dive into Matt's impressive international career in wildlife biology and waterfowl management, following his journey from a small farm in New Zealand to top research and state biologist positions across North America, and back home again to lead game bird conservation. The discussion details Matt’s extensive educational and professional journey, from his undergraduate work at Iowa State University to completing his master's degree at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, where he studied the nutritional ecology of northern pintails along the Texas coast. Matt shares how receiving the HSCF-Dan L Duncan Scholarship fueled his aspirations, reflecting on his seasonal field experiences spanning Alaska, Alberta, Alabama, Nevada, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. We explore his previous leadership roles as an Assistant State Waterfowl Biologist in Iowa and Waterfowl Program Manager in Nebraska, highlighting the critical science behind bird banding, satellite telemetry, and cross-border international agency collaboration within the Central Flyway. Finally, we explore Matt's current work leading habitat restoration, hunter surveys, and game bird management programs with Fish & Game New Zealand, comparing the hunting traditions, species, and regulation structures between North America and Australasia. Matt shares his lifelong passion for chasing waterfowl alongside his black lab, breaks down how biological research shapes hunting bag limits, and offers valuable advice for students looking to turn their love of the outdoors into a global conservation career. Learn more about Fish & Game New Zealand and Matt's work: Website: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/ Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/[

  6. Aug 3

    Episode 265: Wildlife Science, Water Conservation, and Visual Storytelling with Joe Richards

    In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Joe Richards, an accomplished wildlife biologist, outdoor photographer, writer, and Outreach Specialist for Playa Lakes Joint Venture. We dive into Joe's multifaceted career at the intersection of wildlife research, water conservation, and visual storytelling, highlighting his passion for protecting our natural resources and outdoor heritage across Texas and the Great Plains. The discussion details Joe’s impressive educational background, from earning his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences with a double major in Entomology at Texas A&M to completing his master's degree at Texas Tech University. Joe shares insights from his hands-on field experience through diverse seasonal internships—studying quail in Texas, elk in Colorado, and wild turkeys in Oklahoma—and how those early roles shaped his deep understanding of wildlife management and habitat conservation. We explore his current work with Playa Lakes Joint Venture and the Tomorrow's Water initiative, detailing how healthy grasslands, wetlands, and voluntary landowner partnerships are critical to stabilizing vital groundwater resources like the Ogallala Aquifer. Finally, we explore Joe's art as a seasoned wildlife photographer and writer, discussing how his background as a biologist and hunter gives him a unique lens for capturing animal behavior and translating complex science into compelling stories. Joe shares practical tips for aspiring wildlife photographers, reflects on his lifelong commitment to service as an Eagle Scout, and offers inspiring thoughts on the future of conservation, private land stewardship, and community action. Learn more about Joe's work and photography: Website: https://www.richardsoutdoorphotography.com/joseph-richards-photography.html Instagram: @Richardsoutdoorphoto Facebook: @Richardsoutdoorphotography Learn more about HSCF: https://hscfdn.org/

  7. Jul 27

    Episode 264: Sustainable Wild Game & Legacy with Chris Hughes of Broken Arrow Ranch

    In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Chris Hughes, second-generation owner of Broken Arrow Ranch in Ingram, Texas—one of the world's premier artisanal purveyors of free-range wild game. We dive into Chris's journey growing up on the family ranch, his educational background in engineering and business, and his lifelong dedication to sustainable wildlife management, ethical food sourcing, and Texas heritage. The discussion details Broken Arrow Ranch’s incredible origin story, starting in the early 1980s when Chris’s father, Mike Hughes, recognized a unique opportunity to supply fine dining restaurants with high-quality venison while actively managing overgrazing non-native deer populations in the Texas Hill Country. Chris shares what it was like growing up in the business—from trade show demonstrations to chef retreats—and how those early experiences shaped his values as he now raises his own family on the same land. We explore the revolutionary mechanics of their innovative, mobile field-processing units that allow for humane, stress-free harvesting under full USDA inspection right on the range. Finally, we explore the journey from field to table, highlighting the exceptional nutritional benefits of free-range game meat, the truth behind "gamey" flavors, and how creating a culinary market for invasive wild boar plays a vital role in population control and conservation. Chris shares practical advice for cooking venison at home, demystifies professional wildlife management versus recreational hunting, and offers inspiring insights on where the future of sustainable, ethically sourced food is headed. Learn more about Broken Arrow Ranch and Chris's work: Website: http://www.brokenarrowranch.com Instagram: @brokenarrowmeats Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenarrowranch. Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org

  8. Jul 20

    Episode 263: From Gridiron to Grasslands, Wildlife Research & Land Management with Carsten Groos

    In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Carsten Groos, a wildlife biologist, hunter, conservationist, and proud former recipient of the HSCF Dan L. Duncan scholarship. We dive into his journey from growing up in Austin and playing collegiate football at the University of Oklahoma to pursuing his passion for wildlife and wild places. Carsten shares how early ranching internships and foundational scholarship support propelled his academic path, leading to his graduate research at Texas Tech University focused on natural resource management and the science behind sustainable land stewardship. The discussion details Carsten’s master's research in the unique landscape of the Texas Hill Country, where he investigated habitat selection and interactions between native white-tailed deer and exotic species like axis deer and blackbuck. Our guest breaks down how he combined multiple survey techniques into a practical, cost-effective monitoring system that everyday hunters and landowners can use. We explore how recent severe winter storms impacted exotic populations, whether native and exotic game can successfully coexist, and the single biggest mistake landowners make when managing wildlife on their properties. Finally, we address critical modern conservation challenges in Texas, including rapid land fragmentation, disease monitoring, and invasive species management. Carsten reflects on how his training as a biologist has reshaped his personal approach to hunting, his experience instructing the next generation of students at Texas Tech, and his perspective on long-term habitat investment. He leaves us with valuable advice for aspiring wildlife biologists and inspiring thoughts on what the HSCF motto "We Hunt. We Give." means for the future of Texas conservation. Learn more about Texas Tech Natural Resources Management and follow their journey: Website/Socials: @texastechnrm and @theconwaycoalition_ttu Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org

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Hunting Matters is an award-winning podcast celebrating the wonders of the great outdoors.Join host Joe Betar, Executive Director of Houston Safari Club Foundation, as he delves into captivating discussions with a diverse array of guests. From hunting and fishing to sport shooting, conservation, policy, and even culinary arts, this podcast covers it all. Available on all major podcast platforms—subscribe, listen, rate, and review!

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Betar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Hunting Matters
  • Show Website
    Hunting Matters