Let’s Hope The Weather Holds

What are the threats to New Zealand hunting and how to train a deer dog

General manager for the New Zealand Game Animal Council Tim Gale speaks to me about the days when his dad used to supply deer farms with wild caught hinds.
He gives me tips on training a dog to hunt deer.
We lament that we don't get out enough.
He tells me about his horse wrangling and hunting guide days overseas.
We discuss working with people with opposing views and diplomacy.
We discuss the challenges the council face and the challenges deer, tahr and chamois face.
 
 
 
 
 

Native New Zealand eel thrive in hunter created duck ponds

In this episode I speak to Fish and Game field officer Cohen Stewart about research done in Southland in New Zealand about how native eel thrive in hunter created duck ponds.
Cohen talks about how the study came about, the methods they used, and their findings.
He also talks about his passion for hunting deer over his German Short Haired Pointer, how he joined Fish and Game, and how he began fishing.
All music by Jacques van Wyk

Ciao Andrea - the Italian fly fishing New Zealand

Andrea Mattioli quickly became a legend under fly fisherman in Auckland when he began working at a local shop Rod and Reel.
When the shop closed everyone missed his no nonsense approach, humour and willingness to talk fishing for hours.
In this podcast he tells me about growing up in Italy and fishing in the traditional 'al tocco' style since he was a kid.
He tells me how in the region where he grew up the biggest decision a kid makes is picking between soccer or motorbike racing, he chose racing.
We talk about catching marble trout in Italy.
He tells my about the connection he feels with fish when he catches them on dry fly.
We talk about fishing for Instagram.
And how he now fishes while carrying his 11 month old son on his back.
All music by Jacques van Wyk

The Thrasher of hunting magazines - bird hunting with Project Upland magazine

I speak to editor and founder of Project Upland magazine A.J. DeRosa about bird hunting in the USA, his dogs, how he started the magazine despite being told it won't work and how punks can also hunt.
He talks about hunters getting involved in politics, how to use climate change to get funding to secure more bird habitat, how denying climate change is not helping, how being a hunter does not automatically make you a conservationist.
He gives me tips about buying my first bird dog, he talks about working for the police and about electronic dance music, his favourite shotguns and more
Have a look at https://projectupland.com
 
All music for the podcast by Jacques van Wyk.

Selling 2000 rhino and rhino conservation in South Africa

In this episode I speak to Pelham Jones, president of the Private Rhino Owners Organisation about what it takes to conserve rhinoceros in South Africa, the sale of almost 2000 rhinoceros by John Hume, the human and animal toll rhino poaching takes, why South Africa is not allowed to legally sell rhino horn, how the sale of rhino horn is similar to trading deer antler in the way New Zealand does, we talk about sustainable utilisation,  why CITES opposes trade, the Asian black market for rhino horn and more.
We also talk about how to see when rhino are stressed, litigations against the South African government, how rhino populations in South Africa grow by over 7% per year despite natural losses and poaching, all thanks to private owners, how private rhino owners own more than 60% of rhino in the world and carry a massive conservation burden.
All music by Jacques van Wyk.
 
 

Homesteading in New Zealand

Homesteading in New Zealand is growing, especially after recent floods and the Covid pandemic.
I speak to Michael Andrew, editor of Lifestyle Block magazine about homesteading in New Zealand.
We ask are preppers crazy? (No they're not!) We talk self sufficiency, hunting, fishing, bartering, permaculture and how he is building his own homestead in Raglan, New Zealand.
Note; the interview was done late last year, so when he refers to next year he means 2024.
All music by Jacques van Wyk

The Golden Mole - lost to science for almost 100 years and rediscovered

The De Winton’s golden mole was last seen in 1937 and was declared lost to science.
But a team of researchers recently used environmental DNA to find it again and also managed to get hold of one of the moles and take DNA sample swabs.
I speak to Dr. Samantha Mynhardt, a Conservation Genetics Researcher, about their discovery on the South African West Coast.
We talk about the potentials of the use of environmental DNA in conservation, the sniffer dog they used to detect the golden mole, why it is better if some species are left undiscovered but why finding the De Winton's mole is good, the threats against it and more.
Samantha is part of the Drylands Conservation Programme, for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and an extraordinary lecturer for the Department of Botany and Zoology at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Hunting with The Weekend Mish

What is better than a weekend hunting mission with mates?
So, in this episode I speak to Riley Meason and Gabe Ross from The Weekend Mish.
They talk about how they started hunting, building a YouTube channel brand, their participation in the reality TV show Tracked, how they handle criticism, their recent hunt in the USA and why it rocked, big missions and taking risks, what a trophy is, the future and more.
Gabe cuts out a few times and Riley and I just keep talking.
We laugh at our own jokes.
Good times!
Check them out on https://www.youtube.com/@TheWeekendMish
All music by Jacques van Wyk