NDOW presents the Nevada Wild Podcast

Starting today, Friday, February 12, 2021 through Sunday, February 15, 2021, people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. This is a global event that anyone can take part in from anywhere! In this week's Nevada Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez talk to NDOW Wildlife Educators Julie Watson and Jess Brooks about the Great Backyard Bird Count, how easy it is to take part in it, great local spots for bird watching and a free birding webinar series NDOW is holding for those wanting to learn more about birding! Learn more about the Great Backyard Bird Count here: https://www.birdcount.org/ Register for NDOW's Birding Series webinars here: https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/events/ Check out all webinars on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuC0SE9pUmam8ijRB48kVRA

For the first time, state and federal wildlife biologists have come together to begin mapping the migrations of mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bison across America’s West. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez virtually podcast with NDOW's Mule Deer Staff Specialist Cody Schroeder, and first time Nevada Wild guest, Dr. Matthew Kauffman with U.S. Geological Survey's Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. They talk about how these maps came about, the collaboration between agencies, and how the maps will help to sustain big game populations not only in Nevada, but across the west. For more details about big-game migrations in the Western United States, read the report, Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States: Volume 1, which includes maps of over 40 big-game migrations in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming here: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/ You can also download the data via www.ScienceBase.gov. To explore the Western Migrations web viewer, visit the online portal here: https://www.westernmigrations.net/

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with NDOW Angler Educators from across the state Abbey Czarnecki, Jan Nemec and Julie Gabrielson about Trout in the Classroom (TIC), a popular education program, NDOW has put in classrooms for the past 20 years. TIC delivers tanks and trout eggs to local classrooms, in which students learn about aquatic life as about six weeks, until the eggs hatch and students release the fry into local water ways. The group talks about the history of the program, how the program benefits students, how they’ve continued it this year in a virtual setting, and how you can get your kids involved. See the livestream of the trout tank referred to in the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8uPJGg5q_M Join in on the webinars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf6NZwe0hFU&t=2747s Learn more about TIC: http://www.ndow.org/Education/Wildlife_Ed/Trout_In_The_Classroom/

In this week’s Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller are joined by NDOW Outdoor Connection Coordinator Bobby Jones and Ducks Unlimited (DU) Biologist Amelia Raquel to talk about wetland conservation. Amelia tells us about her role as a DU biologist, lets us know what wetland conservation projects are currently underway here in Nevada, and explains how DU partners with groups, agencies, and private landowners across the country.

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with Nevada Wild regular and avid birder Rob Lowry, who recently broke a birding record! Lowry fills us in on his birding adventures over the last year, tells us about his record, and explains why now is a great time to get into birding and how easy it is to get started.

This holiday season, NDOW launched FishNV, a convenient new tool to help you locate Nevada’s sportfish species, and a guide and map of all state waters. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez talk with NDOW GIS experts, Jinna Larkin and Mitch Gritts, and NDOW Fisheries Biologist Chris Crookshanks about what went into developing the FishNV app, the inspiration behind it, and how it can be used to benefit anglers and to plan the perfect fishing trip! Give the tool a try here: https://fish.wildlifenv.com/

Some of our favorite fishing spots are freezing over, making for great ice fishing. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to Conservation Educator Joe Doucette about which waters are safe for ice fishing right now, and what waters will be in the near future. They also go over ice fishing equipment, and safety information anglers should keep in mind when they head out on the ice. For fishing reports click here: http://www.ndow.org/Fish/Fishing_Report/

In the winter months it's common to see wildlife like waterfowl, deer and other animals in neighborhoods. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to NDOW's Urban Wildlife Coordinators Jessica Wolff and Lauren MacLeod about the common wildlife-related calls they receive this time of year, why it is important that people don't give in to the urge to feed wildlife in these colder months and the impact that can have. Learn more about Nevada's wildlife at our webinars here: https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/events/

With the holidays approaching, NDOW wanted to give you some ideas to help you find the perfect present for the outdoor enthusiast in your life. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Conservation Education Division Administrator Chris Vasey, and Nevada Wild regular Julie Watson to share gift ideas for hunters, anglers, and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors.

In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with first time Nevada Wild guest, Wildlife Diversity Biologist Mark Enders. Mark explains his work around Lake Tahoe, the unique species that live there, the work NDOW does to learn more about raptors that spend their winters in Nevada, and the importance of this work.

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller introduce NDOW's Wildlife Veterinarian Nate LaHue. LaHue explains his role at NDOW, and the various projects he works on to monitor the health of Nevada's wildlife. Currently, LaHue and NDOW biologists are busy working to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal disease to animals in the deer family, from entering the state. While it hasn't been found in Nevada, CWD has been detected in our neighboring state, Utah. LaHue explains what hunters need to know before heading into the field to help us stop CWD from entering Nevada. Find more information on CWD here: http://www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Health_and_Disease/Chronic_Wasting_Disease/

In the spirit of Bat Week and Halloween, this week's Nevada Wild focuses on bats, along with one of our favorite creepy crawlers, snakes! Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with NDOW Wildlife Diversity Biologists Jason Jones and Jason Williams about the common misconceptions revolving around bats and snakes. They also highlight what makes these creatures so important to our ecosystems. For information on bat houses mentioned in the podcast click here: https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bat-houses/

The fall season has some of the best fishing of the year in Nevada! If you haven't already, buy your fishing license at ndowlicensing.com so you can get out there and enjoy it! In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller are joined by NDOW's Angler Educators Jan Nemec, Joe Doucette, and Abbey Czarnecki to talk about what makes fall a prime time of year for fishing, the best places to go, and fish stocking updates around the state. They also highlight a great learning opportunity for both, avid anglers and people interested in learning to fish, NDOW's first Virtual Fish Camp, happening next week, Monday, October 26 through Thursday, October 29. Learn more about Fish Camp, and get registered here: https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/events/ For fishing reports head here: http://www.ndow.org/Fish/Fishing_Report/

Do you have ground elk, venison, or antelope in your freezer? Get it thawing out so that you can cook enchiladas tonight! On this week’s Nevada Wild, we hear from Ashley Sanchez, who had been interested in cooking with wild game meat, and tests it out for the first time in her life with venison enchiladas (elk version of the recipe below)! NDOW's Outdoor Connection Coordinator Bobby Jones joins Sanchez and Aaron Keller to talk about how you can get more creative with cooking wild game. Whether you have never cooked with wild game before or you're a professional chef, the elk enchiladas recipe discussed in this podcast is a great one to try. Don't have elk? Don't worry. You can cook this recipe with any type of meet! Find the complete Elk Enchiladas with a Spicy Red Sauce recipe on Kristy Crabtree’s Nevada Foodie website here: https://nevadafoodies.com/elk-enchiladas-with-a-spicy-red-sauce Watch a video tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOhhtT2oOII&feature=youtu.be For more wild game recipes, check NDOW's Facebook every Friday for the latest Foodie Friday recipe! https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/

Beginning this weekend, all of northern Nevada will be open to waterfowl hunting for the season! The season opener for northwest Nevada is tomorrow(Oct. 10), and the season is well underway in the eastern side of the state. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with NDOW's Waterfowl Staff Specialist Russell Woolstenhulme and Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge Manager Pete Schmidt about what hunters can expect for waterfowl hunting this year, they share some recommended places to go, and explain what to do before heading out. If you're going out hunting, remember to bring the fishing gear so you can get in some fishing while you explore the outdoors. Buy a hunting, fishing or combination license at ndowlicensing.com.

You have one more weekend left to take your kids hunting for the youth chukar hunt, which ends this Sunday(Oct. 4). On top of that, the chukar opening is on October 10. There's a lot to prepare for! In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to NDOW's Upland Game Staff Specialist Shawn Espinosa and Chukar Chasers Foundation President Damon Booth about this year's chukar forecast, the best spots to take your kids upland game hunting and more! Be sure to buy your hunting license at ndowlicensing.com so you can join in on the fun. Make it a combination license so you can do some fall fishing while you're on your hunt! If you're a passionate about chukar hunter, learn more about the Chukar Chasers Foundation here to get involved: http://www.chukarchasers.com/foundation View the chukar forecast here: http://www.ndow.org/Hunt/Seasons_and_Regulations/Upland_Game/

There is no better excuse to explore Nevada than by celebrating Nevada Public Lands Day, tomorrow, Saturday, September 26. Nevada Public Lands Day, which also falls on National Public Lands Day, encourages Nevadans to discover the many exciting and affordable recreation opportunities right in their own backyards. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to Jenny Ramella and Dale Conner with Nevada State Parks to highlight parks you can explore near you, fun ideas for celebrating your National Public Lands Day and how to respect the outdoors while exploring. To celebrate Nevada Public Lands Day, Nevada State Parks is waiving park fees, including entrance costs, camping, and for the day. Find a state park near you here: http://parks.nv.gov/ Red Rock Canyon national conservation area will waive entry fees, but some fees such as camping and group day-use fees will remain in place. Lake Mead National Recreation Area also waives entry fees for the day. Saturday is also National Hunting and Fishing Day. The free entries to many state parks and national recreation areas present a great opportunity for fall fishing, some of the best fishing of the year! Buy your fishing license today at ndowlicensing.com. Also be sure to check out a virtual volunteer event to celebrate National Public Lands Day here: https://www.neefusa.org/npld

Farmer Stan Hardy invests in his community by working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nevada (NRCS) to implement conservation measures like land leveling at the Overton Wildlife Management Area in Southern Nevada where he leases land for his hay operation. . In this week's Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Stan, NDOW's Overton Wildlife Management Area Supervisor Bennie Vann and NRCS District Conservationist Teri Knight to talk about how this partnership is important for all involved, and ultimately benefits the recreationists who visit the area and the wildlife alike! For video mentioned in this podcast click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJh8OtYnlzs Find a story map on the partnership here: https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=2dea7d67b31f49ef8a55fbf17abbd160 If you're a farmer and need assistance from NRCS, email Teri Knight at [email protected], or visit: Farmers.gov

Ron Pierini's history with educating the public on hunting safety and ethics is evident through his work volunteering hundreds of hours as a hunter education instructor and his work for Operation Game Thief. His dedication to wildlife made him a great recipient for the annual Wayne E. Kirch Nevada Wildlife Conservation Award, which he received at the June Nevada Board of Wildlife Commission meeting. Pierini was also recently appointed to the Wildlife Commission. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to Pierini about his love for Nevada's wildlife and volunteering. NDOW's Julie Watson, a member of the judging committee, joins in to talk about the award, and why Pierini was selected. Pierini also explains his goals as a board of wildlife commissioner.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is increasing its crime-fighting arsenal with a new app that helps citizens use their smartphones to connect with the department to both get information as well as submit anonymous tips with a customized app. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller meet with Game Warden Captain Brian Eller and Matthew Woller with TIP 411, the app's developer, to talk about how this will be a powerful tool in helping game wardens stop wildlife crimes, how the tool has been effective in other states, and how you can use it to report possible crimes. NDOW Tip is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the agency’s website (www.ndow.org). Members of the public can also still call the OGT hotline directly at 1-800-992-3030.

Just in time for the season opener for Nevada's forest grouse species, Utah State University released a guide on forest grouse hunting that can benefit all hunters in western states, including Nevada. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller meet with NDOW Upland Game Staff Specialist Shawn Espinosa and an author of the publication, Dave Dahlgren to talk about how this guide can help upland game hunters in Nevada. They also share strategy and locations for hunting Nevada's forest grouse species. View the guide, "Forest Grouse in the Fall, Improving Your Forest Grouse Hunting Skills", as you listen to the podcast here: https://www.usugrouserange.com/resources-research Nevada's opening date for forest grouse hunting is September 1. For more season dates click here: http://www.eregulations.com/nevada/small-game/

Due to a dry year, bears in western Nevada are moving into lower elevations to search for food, leading to more bear sightings. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with Bear Biologist Heather Reich over Zoom to discuss the importance of being responsible while living in bear country. Heather explains why people need to be diligent about securing their trash and other attractants more than ever before, and takes us through the steps you can take to keep Nevada bears wild. For more information on the wildlife resistant trash containers and other resources mentioned in this podcast visit NDOW's Bear Awareness page at this link: http://www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Bear_Logic/

If you have been staying home recently, you may have noticed more wildlife near your home than usual. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez talks to NDOW's Urban Wildlife Coordinators Jessica Wolff and Lauren MacLeod about the common wildlife-related calls they've received from people recently, why there is an increase in wildlife sightings and what to do if you spot wildlife in your neighborhood.

As a dry summer continues and we see wildfires pop up across the state, this week's Nevada Wild takes a look at the importance of NDOW's Habitat Division and the prevention and rehabilitation work it does to protect crucial habitat for Nevada's wildlife. shley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with NDOW Habitat Biologists Mark Freese and Caleb McAdoo about their role in wildfire prevention and rehabilitation, the importance of working with partners to protect wildlife habitat and more! We want to thank all of the partner agencies and sportsmen's groups who help us protect, preserve and rehabilitate Nevada's wildlife habitat!

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller chat with NDOW's new Outdoor Connection Coordinator Bobby Jones and his wife Allie Scurry. Bobby explains his position at NDOW and the important role he plays in connecting people with nature and recreation. Right on topic, his wife Allie joins us to explain how Bobby has completely changed her perception of hunting, how their differing beliefs have brought new interests into each others lives, and she explains how her new and expanded view on conservation has impacted her.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is learning more about the state's growing moose population with help from ongoing projects by NDOW biologists and sightings reported by Nevadans. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez talks to NDOW Game Biologists Kari Huebner, Travis Allen and Cody McKee about the status of Nevada's moose population, the work they're doing to learn more, the importance of information from the public, how you can report a sighting and more!

Game wardens will be out in force for Fourth of July weekend as part of Operation Dry Water looking for anyone boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller Zoom with NDOW Game Warden Captain Brian Bowles and officer in charge of the US Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, Chief Colt Fairchild. They explain how the agencies work together to keep the waters safe, especially during busy weekends like the Fourth of July holiday, they explain Operation Dry Water, and what you need to do to prepare before heading out. The two even exchange a couple U.S. Coast Guard stories!

Nevada waters are stocked and ready for fishing. Now is the perfect time to get back outside and enjoy! In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller chat with NDOW Angler Educators Abbey Czarnecki, Joe Doucette and Jan Nemec about fishing conditions around the state, recommended spots, the importance of planning ahead, and social distancing tips to follow so you have a safe and memorable experience.

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's Bighorn Sheep Staff Specialist Mike Cox to reflect on the similarities between COVID-19 in humans and a disease pandemic in wild sheep that biologists in North America have been dealing with for centuries. Mike explains the challenges the disease pandemic in wild sheep has created as they try to restore populations, its similarities to COVID-19 in humans, and the successes biologists and partners have had in restoring bighorn sheep herds. Read the article that resulted in this podcast here: https://www.wafwa.org/news/e_2205/News/2020/5/Issue-Profile--Human-COVID-19-and-Wild-Sheep-Disease-Pandemics-

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Deputy Director Jack Robb and Habitat Division Administrator Alan Jenne to talk about the Wildlife Heritage Trust. This trust is administered by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, and is critical in funding projects that benefit Nevada's wildlife and wildlife habitat. This podcast explains where Wildlife Heritage Trust funding comes from, its history and Nevada sportsmens' involvement in the trust's creation, and how it's used on a wide range of projects that have led to success stories for Nevada's wildlife. If you notice any technical glitches, bear with us! We're still recording from home and had some internet issues.

In this week's Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk with NDOW educators Joe Doucette, Julie Watson and Abbey Czarnecki about the different apps and websites you can Integrate into your family's outdoor experiences to encourage a deeper understanding of the natural world. The tools discussed vary from websites that will help you prepare for a hunting, fishing or boating trip to apps to use to identify wildlife while enjoying the outdoors!

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez sits down with NDOW Wildlife Education Coordinator Julie Watson and Wildlife Diversity Biologist Jason Jones to talk about Nevada snakes and reptiles! They also discuss what to do if you come across a snake while spending time in the outdoors, the precautions to take, and what you can do to help NDOW gather valuable data on the state's reptiles.

In this week's Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller have a Zoom session with NDOW's Jan Nemec, Julie Gabrielson, Abbey Czarnecki and Joe Doucette to talk about where you can fish in our current situation and fishing activities you can do right from your backyard while we all home. Check out upcoming webinars discussed in this podcast here: https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/events/ You can watch them as their posted to YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8qVTj4pp2qJpFolaNNibYphWT47VnfBn

In this Nevada Wild, we're Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller continue their conversation with NDOW's Cody McKee, Cody Schroeder, CJ Ellingwood and Zac Campbell. You'll want to listen to the end because they share their hunt choices and give some insider info! You have until 11 p.m. on May 4 to apply for big game tags at ndowlicensing.com. Listen to the part one of the podcast here:https://soundcloud.com/user-934973730/big-game-faqs-and-insider-info?fbclid=IwAR1vB_Stkuv-QaPFwkHz7VhZ1sGl8CxylOzKyHij9kWXe55vr2wqCNPI3ZI To do more homework before applying for tags check our out Top 10 Tag Application Resources here: http://www.ndow.org/Hunt/Resources/

In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's Cody Schroeder, Cody Mckee, CJ (Norm) Ellingwood and Zac Campbell to talk about procrastinating when it comes to getting your big game tag application submitted. They share answers to the FAQ's they've had so far, give tips on how to apply, share resources and more! They also give some useful information to those who have already applied. This podcast continues here: https://soundcloud.com/user-934973730/big-game-procrastinators-and-strategy You can view the Top 10 Resources list they refer to here: http://www.ndow.org/Hunt/Resources/ Apply for your big game tags at ndowlicensing.com through May 4.

In this week's Nevada Wild, we're representing southern Nevada! Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's Southern Nevada Urban Wildlife Coordinator Lauren MacLeod and Wildlife Educator Jess Brooks. They talk about the wildlife you can see in your backyard, some of the great programs they have right now to keep you busy at home, and go over some wildlife information you should be aware of a we move into spring. For a list of the webinars they discuss in this podcast, head to NDOW's Facebook events here: https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/events/

In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller chat with NDOW Educators Jess Wolff, Julie Watson, and Jess Heitt from home! They talk about the ways their working to connect people with wildlife while everyone stays home for Nevada, including a series of educational webinars they started holding this week. They also go over the first webinar, the Wonderful World of Coyotes, which educated viewers on coyotes, their biology and ways to live with the animals in your backyard. You can find the webinar schedule here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NvDOW/events Nevada Wild wants your ideas. Are there any topics you'd want to learn more about while you're listening from home? Comment here or send us a direct message on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. https://www.facebook.com/pg/NvDOW/events

Being outside is a great way to social distance yourself at this time. Connecting to nature is also good for your mental and physical health. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Nevada Outdoor School Executive Director Melanie Erquiaga to talk about why it's so important to connect people of all ages with the outdoors, and the importance of teaching them to use public lands responsibly.

This week Brenden Burnham caught this 35 pound, 3 ounce carp at Virginia Lake in Reno breaking the state record for carp! The previous state record was 34 pounds 10 ounces set 15 years ago. Brenden is an avid carp angler, and caught and entered 46 carp trophy fish in 2019 alone. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with Brenden and NDOW's Fisheries Staff Specialist Pat Sollberger to rehash the moment Brenden caught the carp. They talk about the trophy fish program, carp fishing and why it's becoming more popular.

Hunters... it's almost time to start submitting your big game applications! The big game application period opens on Monday, March 16 at ndowlicensing.com. NDOW has multiple resources, including the Big Game Hunting Regulations, bonus point data(see links below) and Big Game Application Seminars on March 25 in Reno and Las Vegas(see page 34 of regulations book). In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW's new Game Division Administrator Mike Scott and Big Game Staff Specialist Cody McKee. They map out important dates, explain changes hunters should be aware of, share some big game strategies. Hunting Regulations: http://www.eregulations.com/nevada/big-game/ Bonus Point Data: http://www.ndow.org/Hunt/Resources/Bonus_Point_Data/

If you have ever fished at places like Angel Lake near Wells, NV, chances are you have caught fish raised at the Nevada Department of Wildlife's Gallagher Fish Hatchery. The hatchery, located on the beautiful Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, supplies many of the sportfish in waters all over northeastern Nevada. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Fisheries Staff Specialist Pat Kelly to talk about the history of Gallagher Fish Hatchery, how it works and its importance to the state and anglers.

In this week's Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller continue their sit down with world renowned Conservationist Shane Mahoney. Mahoney explains the Wild Harvest Initiative, a project to complete the first assessment that looks into the significance of hunting and angling to modern society, economically, socially, and ecologically. Mahoney explains the importance of this information, how it will show that hunting and angling are linked to human health and economic prosperity, and how it will define the totality of what we stand to lose, should hunting and angling cease to exist.

Conservationist and New Foundland native Shane Mahoney has over 30 years of experience working primarily as a scientist, wildlife manager, policy innovator and strategic adviser. You may also recognize him as a filmmaker, writer, narrator, TV and radio personality, and lecturer. In this week's Nevada Wild, Shane stopped by NDOW's headquarters during a visit to Nevada to talk to Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez about his upbringing and background, his company Conservation Visions Inc., and its mission to create a world where everyone does their part in conservation in order to effect positive change for wildlife and humanity.

Each year hundreds of student archers representing schools across the state take part in the Nevada Department of Wildlife's National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament. By the time the tournament is over, competing archers will have nearly fired 32,000 arrows! In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller reflects back on this year's tournament, which took place this week in Las Vegas, with NDOW's Statewide Archery Coordinator Holly Brisendine and Southern Nevada Conservation Education Supervisor Doug Nielsen. They also explain the tournament, why archery is a sport that all kids can excel in, and how you can get your kids involved in the sport as a teacher or a parent. Here's how you can get NASP started at your school: https://www.naspschools.org/opportunities/bring-nasp-to-school

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is partnering up with Nothing To It! Culinary Center to host two cooking events on February 22 that will give participants tips and techniques to get their game successfully from the field to the table in meals they’ll be proud to serve family and friends. The first, starting at 10:30 a.m., is a cooking demonstration that will cover topics including game care, processing and storage; proper use of spices and marinades and the differences in handling and preparing wild game vs. domestic meats. For the second class, which will take place that afternoon at 2:30, we're partnering up with Wild Sheep Foundation to teach kids how to cook wild game. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Kristy Crabtree with Nevada Foodies, Nothing To It Chef Lara Ritchie and the Wild Sheep Foundation's Ryan Brock to talk about the classes, why they are important, and how you can take part in them.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is one of the fastest growing conservation organizations on the continent. Members are dedicated to keeping public lands in North America healthy and accessible. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Russell Kuhlman, David Gough and Kyle Davis with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to talk about the organization's history and mission, some of the Nevada chapter's upcoming events and awareness efforts, how you can get involved and more!

Ice fishing season is here! For those anglers new to ice fishing, you are in for a surprise. It is relaxing, quite easy and much more social than its warm weather cousin. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to eastern Nevada's Conservation Educator Joe Doucette and southern Nevada Angler Education Coordinator Abbey Czarnecki about the best ice fishing locations around the state, ice fishing tips, upcoming events and more!

It's a new decade and NDOW has a lot going on moving into 2020! In this week's Nevada Wild NDOW's Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with NDOW Director Tony Wasley. They talk about major projects the Department took part in 2019, like wildlife safety crossings, the support for Recovering America's Wildlife Act (a bill that would direct $1.4 billion to state conservation efforts), and more. They also look ahead to the upcoming year and discuss what anglers, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can look forward to in 2020! If you want to show your support for Recovering America's Wildlife Act as mentioned in this podcast, head to ournatureusa.com.

You may not realize the Nevada Department of Wildlife has engineers who are dedicated to maintaining, improving and creating new infrastructure that improves recreational opportunities in Nevada. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Engineer Bob Ragar and Chief Engineer Rodd Lighthouse. The guests explain their role in the Department, why it is so important, and what projects their working on now that will benefit you.

The season opener for fishing at Topaz Lake is January 1. For many this has become a New Year's Day tradition. In this Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with fisheries biologists Kris Urquhart and Chris Crookshanks to talk about fishing conditions at Topaz Lake, an underutilized fishery at the lake, and how anglers can give their input on a year-round season being considered for the lake.