Natural Resources University

The central United States is known for its big rivers. From the mighty Mississippi to its tributaries that include the Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas River, these large rivers drain about 41% of the U.S. including 31 states. They are important for our economy as corridors for transportation, and they are important as recreational fisheries. But they are facing many threats. From river modification,...

Today we're talking turkeys in Oklahoma with Marcus Thibodeau and Eric Suttles, wild turkey biologists for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Join as they disclose the status of subspecies across the state, harvest rates, seasons dates, habitat challenges across the state, successful and unsuccessful restocking efforts,  on-going research, assistance for landowners, and more. Resour...

Gamebird University dives into the conservation and management of gamebirds, uncovering the science behind these efforts. From waterfowl and quail to turkeys, woodcock, and beyond, no gamebird species is off the table for discussion. The show also features engaging discussions on bird dogs and bird hunting. Whether you're passionate about gamebird management or an avid hunter, this podcast is for...

We're honored to host Dr. Dave Engle—Regents Professor Emeritus at Oklahoma State University and a pioneer in fire ecology. From wildland firefighting in New Mexico to building OSU's fire program with just two torches and a vision, Dave shares an incredible career rooted in science, stewardship, and some good ol' fashioned trial and error. We dive into the origins of patch-burn grazing, the challe...

Dr. Kelly O'Neil breaks down details of our latest research project focused on poult behavior and development. Join as she walks us step-by-step through a poult's life - from egg collection to incubation, hatching, imprinting, and development until flight. Watch this episode (filled with poult footage) on our YouTube! We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts acros...

In this episode, Mark and James sit down to discuss what landowners and managers should be thinking about as spring arrives. From prescribed fire in upland habitats to wetland management during spring and summer, they cover key seasonal considerations for supporting gamebird populations. The conversation also touches on quail call surveys, the spring migration of waterfowl, and new insights from t...

In this episode of  Blazin ' Grazin' and Other Wild Things , Dr. Bidwell — emeritus professor and longtime OSU Extension specialist — shares how prescribed fire, patch grazing, and a deep understanding of native plants can turn overgrown pastures into thriving, profitable landscapes.  From chasing helicopters to chasing quail, his experience is equal parts science and grit. We dive into the real-w...

We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. This course is intended to be comprehensive, leading you through advanced concepts in habitat management, predator management, disease, and overall population management. We made the course online so you can take i...

Have you ever struggled to find areas to hunt? Especially in Nebraska, where over 97% of the state is privately owned land, access to hunting can be difficult to come by. We know from previous research that a lack of access is also a top reason why people stop hunting or don't start at all. But public access programs like Open Fields and Waters and the Nebraska Community Access Partnership are tac...

Today, we are covering the Florida Wild Turkey Cost-Share program. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Forest Service, and National Wild Turkey Federation have teamed up to put millions into improving turkey habitat on over one million acres of public hunting ground in the state. Resources: Wild Turkey Cost Share Program Florida's Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program   New, comprehensive online wi...

Gamebird University dives into the conservation and management of gamebirds, uncovering the science behind these efforts. From waterfowl and quail to turkeys, woodcock, and beyond, no gamebird species is off the table for discussion. The show also features engaging discussions on bird dogs and bird hunting. Whether you're passionate about gamebird management or an avid hunter, this podcast is for...

Silvicultural methodology for longleaf pine is sometimes misunderstood by landowners and land managers. Join the Timber University team as they discuss longleaf systems and their management using current techniques with today's guest, Dr. John Willis, a research forester with the United States Forest Service. For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com .  

Northern bobwhite quail are a popular game bird in Kansas and across the United States, but they have experienced widespread population decline throughout their range.  Join Drew and Joe as they discuss some northern bobwhite basics including: population trends, mortality factors, diet, and management practices in the Great Plains. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and...

Join us by the campfire as we swap hunting stories from this year's season - discussing hunting strategy, gear reliability, density index for gobbling activity, and reflecting upon what it means to make the most of a close call. New, comprehensive online wild turkey course launching -  Pre-enroll now!   Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance , Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby , Publications...

In this episode, we dive into the controversies and complexities of decoy use while turkey hunting. Join as we discuss the biological implications of using decoys, trends in decoy adoption among hunters, the relationship between decoy usage and hunter success, preliminary results from Will's study, and more. Resources: Butler, A. B., & Wang, G. (2022). Connecting hunt outcomes to the demographics,...

We are homogenizing our animal communities. You can hunt Nilgai in south Texas Reticulated Pythons in Florida, and wild pigs just about anywhere. But did you know things are often worse in the aquatic world? It is true that we have released just about every species discovered into our waterways, and many have taken hold. Some were intentional and part of legal government management, some were acci...

Many people are familiar with Walleye, Sauger, and Yellow Perch but did you know that there are a lot of small related fish called Darters? Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the fish in the family Percidae including feeding strategies, reproductive trends, and the best time of year to catch big saugeye in Kansas. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in...

Over 700 birds studied, 400 nesting attempts monitored, 100 broods followed, and in collaboration with over 250 landowners…all on private lands?!  In today's episode, we are joined by Hannah Plumpton and Chris Kreh, Upland Game Bird Biologist and Assistant Chief for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. They disclose preliminary results from their massive statewide turkey research proj...

This month we are joined by Crystal Powers, Research and Extension Communication Specialist at the Nebraska Water Center, to talk all about nitrates in our water systems. We talk about what nitrates actually are, best practices for keeping them out of our water supply, and how to mitigate them once they are there.   Resources: UNL Extension | Water Nebraska Water Center ( Twitter , Facebook ) Wate...

How much area are these gobblers using? What does the literature say? Join us as we dive into the published science on home ranges for each subspecies and share preliminary results from our research tracking Osceola movement.  Resources: Cohen, B. S., et al. (2015). Space use, movements, and habitat selection of translocated eastern wild turkeys in northwestern Louisiana. In Proceedings of the Nat...

In this episode, we're joined by Cole Fagen, the coordinating biologist for the Oak and Prairies Joint Venture, and Ken Gee, a conservation delivery specialist. Together, they work with landowners to implement wildlife habitat management, focusing primarily on upland and grassland birds in southern and northern Oklahoma and central Texas. In this episode, we dive into how technical and financial a...

In this episode Natasha Neary, Luke Resop, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland discuss the MSU Deer Lab's recent analyses that disentangle the intricate relationship between buck movement and weather conditions. They use various metrics of deer activity, like movement rates and bedding percentages, and control for time of day and rut phase to isolate any additive effects of weather conditions....

Tree squirrels are common in cities and rural areas alike.  These native rodents can be a source of entertainment and provide a connection to nature for some people, and they can simultaneously be a source of frustration and property damage for others. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss tree squirrel biology, damage caused by the 3 species that occur in the eastern Great Plains, and practical solut...

Welp, he would sit in the blind for hours on end next to a nesting hen to collect intricate details about her every move and behavior. Listen in as we cover all aspects of his pioneering nest behavior work. Resources: DrDisturbance #WildTurkeyHistory (video series) Ideal Nesting Cover | Ep 121 Illumination in the Flatwoods, by Joe Hutto Little House in the Flatwoods | Ep 87 The Book of the Wild Tu...

In this episode, we feature Mr. Ken Gee, a conservation delivery specialist for the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture, who brings decades of experience working with landowners in Oklahoma and the Great Plains, offering his extensive knowledge in land and wildlife management. Before joining the American Bird Conservancy, Ken spent 31 years with the Noble Foundation, where he managed the Noble Foundat...