Nevada Wild Podcast

Ducks, donuts and a chance to introduce the next generation to waterfowl hunting! 🦆🍩 In this episode of Nevada Wild , hosts Bobby Jones and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Hunter Education Coordinator Martin Olson to talk about the annual Ducks & Donuts Youth Waterfowl Hunt, happening October 24 at the Overton Wildlife Management Area. From what young hunters can expect in the field to the i...

In this week’s Nevada Wild Podcast Bobby Jones sits down with NDOW’s restoration team co-leads Alexa Lyons and Matt Glenn to talk about the 2026 wildfire season, and the significant role NDOW plays in post-wildfire restoration. Alexa and Matt set the stage for why wildfire restoration work is important to wildlife, discuss the tools of the trade and walk through everything that goes into planning...

In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW's Migratory Game Bird Staff Specialist Russell Woolstenhulme to talk about the  conditions waterfowl hunters can expect this season. Russell shares some important information about waterfowl hunting for each Nevada hunt zone and some of the important habitat work being done at popular hunting locations. The crew...

It’s time for upland bird hunters to lace up your boots! Our annual Chukar Forecast is out, the statewide youth chukar hunt opens Saturday, September 26, and the statewide general chukar season opener is right around the corner on Saturday, October 17. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW's Upland Game Staff Specialist Justin Small to prepare upland...

Significant milestone achieved.  Since June of 2023, the Department has issued over 20,000 free kids licenses (hunting/fishing) via the Nevada Youth License Fund! In this week's episode of the Nevada Wild Podcast hosts Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones talk about how this program came to be, why it continues to be a success, and thank the supporters of the program. From hunting and fishing non-pro...

What’s driving mule deer populations in Nevada and across the West? In this episode of Nevada Wild, hosts Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW Mule Deer Staff Specialist Cody Schroeder to break down some of the biggest takeaways from the 2026 Nevada Mule Deer Summit. They discuss the role habitat, weather, nutrition, migration, predators, development, and competition with other animals...

In the final installment of our “One More Story” retirement series, Shawn Espinosa reflects on a career that began as a seasonal conservation aide in 1993 and ultimately led him to serve as administrator of NDOW’s Game Division. Along the way, Shawn worked as a game warden, moved into wildlife management and took on leadership roles that helped shape wildlife conservation across Nevada. Hear Shawn...

After decades dedicated to Nevada’s wildlife, longtime Nevada Department of Wildlife biologist Mike Cox is closing out an incredible career. In this episode of Nevada Wild, hosts Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with Mike to look back on his years with NDOW, the changes he’s witnessed in wildlife management and some of the people, places and experiences that made his career memorable. From a...

Nearly 40 years at NDOW comes with a lot of stories. Before Mike Scott officially retired, Nevada Wild hosts Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sat down with him to look back on a career that began in 1986 as a seasonal conservation aide and eventually led him to serve as NDOW’s Deputy Director.  From the people he worked alongside to the changes he witnessed over nearly four decades, Mike shares some o...

After 33 years of service to Nevada's wildlife, Carl Lackey has officially retired from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. In the weeks leading up to his retirement, Nevada Wild hosts Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sat down with Carl to look back on an incredible career that began in 1993. Carl shares stories from more than three decades in wildlife conservation, including his work with Nevada&...

Still working on your Nevada big game applications? This week on Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with Data and Technology Services Administrator Matt Maples to talk all things big game draw strategy ahead of the May 13 application deadline. The crew breaks down how Nevada’s draw system works, common mistakes hunters make when selecting hunt choices, why bonus points matter and h...

This week on Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW Conservation Educator Logan Klonicke to talk all things junior big game hunting in Nevada. From Nevada’s strong junior hunter opportunities to application strategies and changes coming to the 2026 season, this episode is packed with helpful information for young hunters and their families. The crew also covers open hunter ed...

Nevada big game hunters, this one’s for you.  This week on the Nevada Wild podcast, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW Big Game Staff Specialist Cody Schroeder to talk all things Mule Deer and Pronghorn across the Silver State. From strong overwinter survival and rebounding deer herds in the Rubies to antelope numbers nearing all-time highs, there’s a lot to be excited about heading i...

This week Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with NDOW's Big Game Staff Specialist Cody McKee to hear how Elk and Moose are doing in the Silver State.   Cody shares how NDOW’s new adaptive elk management plan may affect tag quotas and gives some great insight into how these herds are managed. Spoiler alert, thanks to teeth collected from hunter harvested bulls in 2025 we can say that Nevad...

In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with Big Game Staff Specialist Mike Cox to get into the weeds talking about everything bighorn sheep. Mike shares what bighorn sheep harvest data he recommends you review to help decide what sheep hunts to apply for.  He highlights ongoing bighorn sheep genetics work that has future management ramifications and details the appr...

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down with outgoing fisheries biologist extraordinaire Kim Tisdale to reflect on her 31-year career with NDOW. Kim shares the different roles she’s held over the years, highlights some of her favorite projects, and gives us a peek behind the curtain at the exciting changes coming to the Nevada Native Fish Slam Program. Kim is revered at N...

In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Bobby Jones sit down to talk with NDOW’s Publications Coordinator Jamie Roice-Gomes. She tells us about the work that went into combining NDOW’s two big game publications into one convenient publication.  She also shares her personal story of how she always wanted to go hunting but never had the opportunity, until she took matters into her own hand...