The Wild Initiative The Wild Initiative, LLC

Charles Spiegel, co-owner and co-host of Target Rich Environment TV, Helihunter, and 3 Curl, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to share his knowledge on feral hogs, where they came from, and why it's essential to keep the population down. Charles gives some back story on how these 3-4 million non-native hogs came to be in Texas, from domestication to feral. He explains that the constant increase in population and the damage done to farms and ranches is how they became the world's largest hog hunting outfitter in Texas. “We got Started out of necessity, not necessarily a business.” Charles talks about their adaptability, intelligence, and how quickly these hogs can reproduce and spread disease and parasites. He describes how these non-native feral hogs actually harm native habitats and animals. Charles walks Sam through a typical helicopter hunt experience with their company Heli-hunter, from blaring Led Zeplan to shooting pigs sideways out of the helicopter. Check Charles and the team out on Target Rich Environment Tv, the sportsman channel.

See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/247.
 
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Lilian Mremi, a native and game scout of The Rungwa Game Reserve, Tanzania, Africa, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about her perspective as a professional African game scout. Lilian shares how her journey as a professional game scout began with inspiration from her uncle's occupation as a wildlife commander. She and Sam chat about the misconception outsiders have on hunting in Africa by telling how these hunts are conducted and are actually very closely watched and regulated by biologists and researchers with rules and quotas. Lilian explains her country’s perspective and the many reasons why hunting is actually beneficial to the wildlife and local communities of Africa as a whole. “If there is overpopulation, there becomes a lack of food and in turn destruction to the habitat as well as the community crops and livestock.” Lilian goes on to talk about how the government and game reserves help their people learn to live with these animals and teaches them to avoid massive encroachment with resources like beehives, chili peppers, and more. She also clarifies how hunting outfitters in Africa greatly benefit the local communities and details of how they help provide value to things such as schools, roads, water, and even employment. She leaves Sam with a little lesson in Swahili “Asante Sana,” and gives her best advice to those who do not know much about African hunting. “I encourage people to come and view the process for themselves.”

See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/246.
 
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Captain Zachariah Rollins, host of Along the Keel, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to bring us into his world of offshore fishing and the captain’s life. Like the movie "The Perfect Storm," Zach shares that his family comes from a history of sou’wester-wearing longliners off the coast of Rhode Island and so began his involvement and passion for fishing at the young age of 10. He chats with Sam about different saltwater fishing styles, how he came to be captain of his own fishing boat, and the importance of protecting fishing and hunting resources going back to Teddy Roosevelt, the father of modern conservation. Zach and Sam also run through the superstitions of why bananas and whistling are not allowed on the boat. You will hear these two reminisce a little about everything from beginning a career as a fisherman, getting to see 20-foot manta rays off the coast of Hawaii, to how Zach took his own unique spin on creating his podcast “Along the Keel.”
See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/245.
 
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Sue Tidwell, author of Cries of the Savanna, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to share her love affair with hunting and conservation in Africa. Sue discusses growing up in a hunting family, but never hunting herself until she met her husband after moving to Alaska. A trip to Tanzania, in Africa, was her husband's dream, but Sue explains how, initially, she was strongly against pursuing several specific African species. However, her real-life experience in Africa gave her an outsider's understanding of why hunting and trophy fees are so crucial to African communities and conservation, and how anti-hunting and trophy import bans could negatively impact Africa. Sue explains how "No meat goes to waste in Africa" and takes us alongside her and her husband's Cape Buffalo "Dagga Boy" hunt. She tells Sam about her fantastic learning experiences with their hunting guides and 23-year-old female game scout. Sue will make you fall in love and want to fight for Africa. Make sure to pick up a copy of Cries of the Savanna for yourself and one for a non-hunting friend.
See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/244.
 
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Dan Cabela, executive director of the Cabela Family Foundation, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to discuss the importance of conservation as well as his broad hunting background. Dan reminisces about his first exposure as a youth to hunting waterfowl and upland birds with family and just a BB gun. He talks about how he went from hunting small game and waterfowl to his love of Africa and the quality family time that goes on during those hunting trips. He shares a few of his scary situations and digs into how hunting can be both physically and mentally exhausting. Besides hunting Dan has a love of conservation. He talks about how the Cabela Family Foundation supports a number of conservation initiatives in both North America and Africa and explains not only how to get involved, but how to recognize when your efforts are successful. He also chats a little bit about his exciting experience collaring black bears and picking alligator eggs. Be on the watch for his new TV series “The Hard Truths” coming out August 20th.
See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/243.
 
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Britné Prosser, long-time friend, and supporter of the podcast joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to chat about her experiences hunting as a woman, newbie, and mom. They reminisce about what got her started with hunting and her first real experience hunting with her family. How she researched and connected with other hunters. Britné tells Sam about her failed elk hunt and they talk about how, regardless of how much you prepare, you’re never as ready as you’d like to be in the field. She also goes into depth about her experiences hunting spring bear with her friend Laura and how she finally found success this season. Britné reminds us how patience and perseverance can truly pay off.
See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/242.
For AD-FREE EPISODES, please subscribe via Patreon at patreon.com/thewildinitiative.
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