North American Outdoors

This is my 50th Podcast!!!  Hear my journey to meet this milestone and why I started podcasting in the first place!  This has all been self-taught, with the use of podcasting websites and forums, and amazing individuals along the way!  Hear what future podcasts will look like and the exciting adventures I have planned!  Hope you enjoy and listen to many more to come!! Learn more about your ad choi...

Luis is a young entrepreneur who had a vision to bring firearms education to his community in the far West Texas town of El Paso.  While in college he was introduced to firearms and his interest grew to seek his own knowledge and training, so he could bring those skills back to his community.  He talks about the importance of training people the right and responsible way, introducing them to firea...

Meet Robyn - she is a retired educator and a trainer, who is always training with a purpose.  Hear her amazing story how she was invited to A Girl and A Gun event which changed her life!  She will share with us how getting more involved in the shooting sports has changed her life.  She not only improved her own skills, but continued her involvement and is now part of a Leadership Training Team who...

Meet Luke - he's my youngest son, age 11, and he shares some of his best hunting memories.  From the days at the shooting range with lots of practice, trips to our favorite spots to sit in deer blinds, and the fun we have even when we don't even see a deer in the area.  I love hearing the memories and stories in his words and from his perspective.  He'll also share how growing up in Cut Scouts has...

JohnJohn was raised to treat firearms with respect and he learned from a very young age how to handle firearms safely.  He also learned how to hunt  when he was young, and his passion has grown over the years as he matures in his hunting ethics and desire to keep learning new skills, techniques and pursuits.  Hear some great stories of JohnJohn's past experiences and enjoy the chat! Learn more abo...

Matthew is 16 and shares his favorite hunting memories, growing up in a house of hunters and recreational shooters!  He talks about his first hunt and putting everything he's learned about firearms and safety to the test while sitting in the deer blind for the first time!  He grows in his hunting maturity and responsibility and like a 'rite of passage' is able to hunt on his own for the first time...

Dominic is 18 and he will share how he was raised around firearms, safety, and hunting.  He shares how he has grown in his hunting ethics, responsibilities and maturity from being guided as a young hunter, to being able to hunt on his own, to guiding another brand new hunter.  Dominic loves the outdoors, and loves to hunt and shoot, and you will hear his passion during this chat.  Enjoy!! Learn mo...

On this blessed Merry Christmas episode - you will hear 3 of my own boys talk, without the others hearing their chats, about their favorite family traditions around the Holiday season.  We discussed some fun times with family and friends, and they unanimously talked about cooking and baking traditions in our 'chaotic' kitchen!  I love that my boys were a part of this episode release - hope you enj...

As hunters, it is imperative that we always put fair chase and sportsmanship first, on any and every hunt.  The problem is that the definitions of "fair chase" and "sportsmanship" vary greatly between three groups of people:  Hunters, Non-Hunters, and Anti-Hunters.  If we hunters engage in any activity, either by mistake, perception or intention, that can be perceived as "unsportsmanlike," you bet...

Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management, said "Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching, even when doing the wrong thing is legal."  To put it another way, good hunting ethics are not usually covered by written laws.  Rather, referred to as the "unwritten law," the real question is:  What is the definition of ethics?  Not everyone has identical morality, nor d...

Hunters have a duty to introduce others, especially youth, to our sport and ensuring that our hunting heritage survives.  By getting new stakeholders vested in hunting, we create a new base of young people that will grow into voting adults.  We are uniquely positioned to intercept and correct misinformation about hunting.  Every hunter should make it his or her goal to recruit and mentor as many n...

Remembering my roots, where I came from and how the outdoors has shaped me into who I am today.  My journey growing up, attending college and earning my 2 degrees, to landing a career in Texas and marrying into the best family any girl could ask for.  Losing my father-in-law this week has caused me so much reflection on the blessings in my life and how I am so thankful of what I have and who I've...

Archery is the art and skill of shooting with a bow and arrow.  Although it does not require great strength, it does require fundamental skills and precision of the shooter's form.  Archery is a sport where the shooter must build their coordination and, through countless hours of practice, increase accuracy and consistency.  Archery increases hand-eye coordination, teaches patience, improves focus...

Shooting is not a talent that you are born with.  One cannot learn this skill by just watching videos or sitting along the sidelines and watching people shoot  Marksmanship is taking the time to practice often to improve your skill and accuracy, as well as gaining new knowledge and experience.  You  must first learn the terminology of the firearm and ammunition, how to safely handle them, and the...

Continuing on from last week's podcast about the fundamentals of shotgun shooting, this week we'll explore some of the terminology that is specific only to shotguns and shotgun shooting.  Learn where the term "gauge" comes from, an explanation of what chokes are and how they are used, and exploring the words stamped on a shotgun shell box of ammunition.  We'll match up shotguns, to ammunition,  ch...

Of all the shooting sports, shotgun shooting may be one of the most difficult to master.  Picking up a fast-moving target with your eyes and developing the proper lead and follow-through are skills that take a lot of patience, practice, and persistence.   Whether shooting a bright orange clay bird on a skeet, trap, or sporting clays course, or a real bird on opening day of dove season, your shooti...

As American's firearm safety and education leader, the National Rifle Association offers a multitude of training opportunities to the public.  Some training accounts for things you learn and then use every time you handle a firearm while other training, such as self-defense, you hope to never have to use.  Additionally, the benefits of NRA training are assets for the trained individual as well as...

The 2nd Amendment Teen Hunters Model is based on recruiting young members of a supporting organization between the ages of 14-21.  This model is far different from many of the existing "one and done" programs currently offered through hunting and shooting sports youth organizations.  Unfortunately, many of these programs focus on first-time hunters, so after a youth participates in a hunt, he or s...

Firearm safety begins with you.  The safest way to transport your firearm is in a case, unloaded, and with the ammunition stored separately.  Any time you transport your firearm to the shooting range or when going on a hunt, safety must always be a top priority.  Make sure the firearm is unloaded with the action open before you put it in a hard or soft gun case.  This not only guarantees you have...

Each time you handle your firearm and ammunition, you immediately become your own Range Safety Officer.  This means you are responsible for your actions, your equipment, your safety, and the safety of those around you.  It is important to know what to look for before, during, and after a day of shooting at the range or in the field. You need to know who and what a Range Safety Officer (RSO) is, th...

It is EXTREMELY important to match the correct ammunition to the firearm you are shooting.  Everything you need to know can be found on the side of the firearm's barrel, box of ammunition, and the individual round of ammo.  In this episode we will cover the basics of what all of this means and why it is so important. We'll discuss handling rifle, handgun and shotgun ammunition safely, components o...

Learn about the basic terminology of Rifles, Handguns and Shotguns.  We'll be discussing shotgun chokes, safeties, triggers, different firearm actions, and pistols vs. revolvers. This is a brief description of terms and hopefully a better understanding of Firearm Parts, Components and Actions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter what the adventure, we do our best to prepare ourselves for whatever situation we encounter.  From heat to cold, hurricanes to fires, poisonous plants to venomous insects and snakes, and everything in between...it is our job to be prepared.  We always ensure our family is safe, while providing hours of entertainment and activities along our journey.  Having basic first aid knowledge, ski...

"Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching - even when doing the wrong thing is legal" ... Aldo LeopoldIf you surround yourself with people who make good choices and decisions, it is more likely that you are going to model that behavior of good choices and decisions.  Likewise, if you have a high set of standards, good decision-making skills, and positive ethics, hopef...

Meet Henry - He was born in Vietnam and is now a proud American citizen.  During our conversation, you will hear his story and what it was like living in communist Vietnam as a child.  Now in Houston, Texas, Henry is a proud American and a firearm owner.  Henry tells us about his unique viewpoint of having "been there" and knowing first-hand how fast our freedoms could all disappear if we don't "w...