Lone Star Outdoor Show Lone Star Outdoor Show

One of the highlights of my year is my annual journey to South Africa to hunt with my good friend Carl Van Zyl and John X Safaris. Each safari and experience is totally unique unto itself and trip number 7 with Carl was no exception. On this episode we sat down at their Woodlands base camp and reflected on our latest adventure. Over the years, Carl and I have repeatedly tried to push the envelope and raise awareness on certain species as well as conservation success stories and failures. The underlying theme of every story we tell always goes back to science based wildlife management and the undeniable truth that “if it pays, it stays”. When wildlife has a value, wildlife flourishes.

On this episode we talk about the Cape Mountain Zebra, once hunted to near extinction in the early 1900s but brought back from the brink due to private landowners/conservationists investing in the future of the species. The onery little zebra species has the most striking cape of all zebra. We dive in deep on the history of the species and why we chose to hunt one in 2024. What do the numbers and science say? Why is the USFWS dragging their feet on allowing U.S. hunters to import their trophies and why do they continue to try to dictate to African countries how they should be managing their wildlife?



Next we head to a unique area of the Eastern Cape in search of giant kudu bulls. How has management and the kudu’s continued expansion of their historic range created this little gem? It truly is a special place where the bulls attain a body size and horn length unlike anywhere else in the region. Carl explains the strict quotas and how they work with the land owners to help manage this diamond in the rough, a true trophy kudu honey hole.

We then recap our hunt for red lechwe, a species not endemic to South Africa at all, but one that is thriving on the Eastern Cape and has become a favorite for safari hunters. So where is the red lechwe from and why aren’t hunters pursuing it there? Carl and I had pursued lechwe (unsuccessfully) on a previous safari. I have to admit that it’s one of the most stunning antelope species we’ve pursued to date.  We wrap up the conversation by talking youth hunters on safari. Something that is near and dear to Carl and the John X philosophy.

 

Renown TV shot host, podcaster and former fishing guide Tom Rowland of the Saltwater Experience and Tom Roland Podcast joins the show this week. We discuss his modest beginnings in the fishing industry to where he is today. The former fishing guide has seen much change in his beloved Florida Keys, but nothing in recent memory is as concerning as the increase in shark depredation on fishing vessels.

(hammerhead attacks a fisherman’s tarpon)



We discuss the phenomenon and why Tom believes there are more sharks today than at any time in modern history. The reality that sharks are doing quite well along America’s coast is causing quite a few issues for the fishing community and even pitting angler against angler in some situations. Is there a simple solution to fix the shark problem? We discuss in detail. Other highlights include:



* So you want to be a fishing guide?

* From guide to tournament angler to TV show host

* The hidden gems in podcasting

* What’s up with NOAA Fisheries and the one day Atlantic Coast red snapper season?

* An old photo and some modern day grouper conservation

* Florida’s water issues

* Permit on the fly

* Shark Fin Soup

* “Finning Sharks”

* What products can be made from sharks?



(Tom with one of his most prized catches, permit on the fly)

Jason Wilson and Jordan Elizabeth join me in studio for an uncut and uncensored discussion on the state of America in 2024. An avid sportsman and patriot, Jason is entrenched in the fight to get America back on track in November 2024. We discuss why it’s never been more important to vote than it will be this November. More importantly, why are so many hunters failing to make it to the polls each election cycle?

We take a look at the numbers and what his organization Vote4America is doing to try and get every one of us to take a hunting buddy, a gun owner or family member that didn’t vote in 2020 to rectify that wrong in ’24. The numbers are staggering, literally millions of hunters aren’t even registered to vote. The sporting community has long been way too apathetic to politics, but like it or not, politics affect us more today than ever before.

Don’t like more gun laws? Don’t like increased infringement on hunting regulations? Don’t like the left transgendering kids? Those things barely scratch the surface as to what is wrong with our country and if you don’t like the current direction then get your butt to the polls and take a friend!

We also talk some hunting, spear fishing and a whole lot more on this installment of Campfire Conversations.

Few folks have joined the show as many times as Mark Boardman. Vortex Optics’ jack of all trades is one of the nicest guys you’ll come across in the outdoor industry. We dive into a myriad of topics and have a ton of fun in the process. Highlights include:



* How was turkey season?

* Why did Mark suddenly get back on Instagram? Is he getting the validation he needs?

* Spring bear recap

* Emotions in wildlife management

* Would you shoot an elephant?

* Mark’s love affair with the .300 WSM

* Is the .308 still relevant?

* What tags did we draw for this fall?

* New Vortex products including a bad little pair of UHD binos and a spotting scope that won’t break the bank



 

A.G. Gregoroff is one of the most interesting dudes I’ve ever had on the show. His rough upbringing resulted in doing time in California’s prison where his passion for  jiu-jitsu served him well. The stories from being incarcerated alone are worth the price of admission in this one. However, the hard times only built character and a desire to succeed.  We discuss his journey that ultimately lead to founding Toehold Flip Flops.  The former military contractor turned Apple employee also has an affinity for spear fishing and archery elk hunting. Some other highlights include:



* Spear Fishing and holding your breath

* The underreported reality of shark attacks

* Humboldt squid attacks

* Prison fights

* Growing up poor in San Diego

* Finding a flip flip making maestro on Okinawa Island, Japan

* Who likes Tesla anyway?

* Archery elk hunting

* The creation of Toehold

* Why are his flip flops literally $100s of dollars to purchase?

* What makes Toehold unique?

* Life in Sin City

* What’s wrong with society?

We revisit the audio vault this week. 3 time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mark Davis deviates from largemouth to give us some tips on his favorite summer past time- bluegill fishing. Most of us likely enjoyed catching a bluegill or some other type of panfish as our first fish we ever caught, however they are still loads of fun for experienced anglers, especially this time of year.

Next we take a listen to a conversation with respected back country hunter and Kifaru’s chief designer Aron Snyder. If you were lucky enough to draw a tag(s), it’s time to start planning your back country hunt for this fall. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is determining what shelter you will utilize on your hunt. Weight, size, functionality… all of it comes into play. Aron gives us his take on what shelter to use and when.

We wrap it up with one from our longtime friend Captain Len Girard who passed away in late 2023. His trout and red fishing tips transcend time however, and I certainly miss having the old sea dog on the show from time to time. RIP Captain Len.