Call of the Outdoors
Episodes
Ep. 64 | Game Chat: Answering Your Wild Questions
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Drone recovery, shortened bear seasons, tree stand snacks — we’re tackling the tough topics! Executive Director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morret...
Ep. 63 | Protect & Serve: Game Wardens in the Wild
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania state game wardens don’t just check hunting licenses in the field — they wear many hats to protect people, wildlife, and habitats. ...
Ep. 62 | Deer Camp Kinship: A Hunting Legacy of Giving Back
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deer Camp Kinship: A Hunting Legacy of Giving Back We hit the road for every hunter's favorite place — deer camp! Host Matt Morrett is joined by Da...
Ep. 61 | Firing for the Future: Conservation Starts at the Range
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Conservation funding is going off with a bang! Shooting Sports Division Chief Todd Holmes and Range Management Coordinator Luke Johnson join host Matt...
Ep. 60 | Keep Your Weekends Wild: Sunday Hunting is History in the Making
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania is making momentous strides in shaping the future of conservation with Act 36 of 2025, which fully repeals Pennsylvania’s prohibition o...
Ep.59 | Tree Trailblazers: Forest Stewardship & Wildlife Strategy
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tree Trailblazers: Forest Stewardship & Wildlife Strategy Managing over 1.5 million acres of land may seem daunting — but not for Pennsylvan...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 58: PA Residents Guaranteed an Antlerless License for Any WMU
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 58: PA Residents Guaranteed an Antlerless License for Any WMU You get an antlerless license! You get an antlerless license! Everybody gets...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 57: How To Sweet-Talk the Toughest Turkeys
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you can outsmart a longbeard here, you can probably outsmart one anywhere. Pennsylvania birds can be challenging to hunt. Grand National Champion a...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 56: Samples, Spurs, and Strutters: Pennsylvania’s Wild Turkey Studies
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s turkey time! Wildlife Technicians Rachel Pennell, Tony Musselman, and Andrew Cushman join host Matt Morrett to discuss Pennsylvania’s lar...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 55: The Bear Necessities
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Question: what kind of bear is best? Black bear! The Game Commission’s new Black Bear Biologist Brandon Snavely joins host Matt Morrett to provide i...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 54: Miles for Piles-Pennsylvania Shed Hunting Strategies
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s about that time when white gold starts dropping in Penn’s Woods! Forester Chris Sabol and Recruiting Outreach Specialist Tyler Strohecker j...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 53: Keep Wildlife Wild-The Dangers of Supplemental Feeding
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Piling up corn for deer might seem helpful during harsh winters, but feeding wildlife is actually dangerous to animals and humans. Deputy Executive Di...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 52: Late-Season Hunting Tactics & Opportunities
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re nearly halfway through Pennsylvania’s deer firearms season, but hunters still have plenty of opportunities to get into the field and fill ta...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 51: Penn’s Woods Law: Busting Poachers & Protecting Wildlife
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From finding camouflage corn culprits to taking tips from scorned lovers to catching bear poachers in the act, the life of a Pennsylvania state game w...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 50: Mark Drury’s Big Buck Tips & Land Management Strategy
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Drury dynasty has become synonymous with monster white-tailed deer, but did you know Mark and Terry got their start filming turkey hunting videos ...
Call of the Outdoors Episode 49: Leaving it Better Than We Found it: Updates for the 2024-25 Hunting Season
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hunters are at the forefront of wildlife conservation — the Pennsylvania Game Commission depends on hunter harvest and input for the future of hunti...
Episode 48: R3-Preserving Pennsylvania’s Hunting Heritage
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With participation numbers trending downward nationwide, efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters are more critical than ever. Hunter-Trappe...
Episode 47: Full Quiver: Pennsylvania NASP Introduces 120,000 Students to Archery
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know Pennsylvania proudly claims an elite archery program and a 2024 NASP world champion? Shooting Sports Division Chief Todd Holmes joins hos...
Episode 46: The Other Pennsylvania Lottery: Elk Hunting & Conservation in the Keystone State
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know the sixth-largest non-typical bull on record was harvested in Pennsylvania? Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield joins host Matt Morrett to disc...
Episode 45: Offseason Scouting & Prep for Public Land Hunting
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bowhunting big woods bucks isn’t just a fall hobby — it’s a year-round grind. Beau Martonik of East Meets West joins host Matt Morrett at the To...
Episode 44: Antlerless Licenses Guaranteed for Most PA Residents
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With nearly a million passionate hunters in Pennsylvania, the new process for purchasing antlerless licenses led to high demand and longer-than-expect...
Episode 43: Introducing PGC’s New Executive Director Steve Smith
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The future is bright at the Pennsylvania Game Commission! New executive director Steve Smith joins host Matt Morrett to provide Pennsylvanians with an...
Episode 42: Fact or Fiction: Busting the Biggest Wildlife Myths
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard whispers that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is in cahoots with car insurance companies to reduce the deer herd or the agency trades ...
Episode 41: Nature Calls: Newborn Wildlife Tips with PGC Dispatch
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Available 24/7/365, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Centralized Dispatch Center received nearly 210,000 calls last year, from reports of game law...
Episode 40: Igniting Change: Prescribed Fire for Wildlife Habitat
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Prescribed fire is nothing new — Native Americans used controlled burns to boost berry production and draw in wildlife for centuries. Chief Land Man...
Episode 39: Sharp & Pointy Teeth: Black Bear Biology & Management
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know more than half of black bears in Pennsylvania den on top of the ground in a thicket that resembles a giant bird nest? Black Bear Program ...
Episode 38: PA Game Laws & The Legislative Process
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know the Pennsylvania Game Commission is an independent agency tasked with managing the Commonwealth’s wildlife resource for both current an...
Episode 37: Behind the Scenes of Pennsylvania Game News
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania Game News has been in print since 1929 and still boasts a circulation of 80,00 throughout the Keystone State nearly a century later! Edit...
Episode 36 Part 2: Healthy Forests, Healthy Deer
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that taking a single doe out of the deer population can have a ripple effect into future years? Deer Biologist David Stainbrook joins hos...
Episode 36 Part 1: Healthy Forests, Healthy Deer
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The average adult white-tailed deer needs five pounds of browse per day — healthy habitat is critical to a healthy deer population. Chief Forest...
Episode 35: Life-Saving Advice from State Game Wardens
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, Pennsylvania recorded 14 hunting-related shooting incidents, and more than 6,000 hunters were cited for serious violations that could put t...
Episode 34: Understanding the role of Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Pennsylvania Game Commission doesn’t just serve hunters — the agency manages 480 species of wild birds and mammals for all 13 million resident...
Episode 33: Discussing Public Lands in the Keystone State
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you hunt, fish, hike, or simply enjoy viewing wildlife, Pennsylvania has millions of acres of public lands for you to to take advantage of. H...
Episode 32: Pennsylvania Deer Hunting Past and Present with Dr. Gary Alt
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for the statewide regular firearms deer season opener, Dr. Gary Alt, a well-known Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist talks ...
Episode 31: Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the best time of year! Mornings are crisp and it’s beginning to feel like fall. Pennsylvania is celebrating 50 years of conservation for thi...
Episode 30: People & Patience: Keys to PA Waterfowl Hunting
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Daylight hours are shortening, and Pennsylvania’s first hunting seasons are finally here. Waterfowl ...
Episode 29: Habitat 101
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you define habitat? Host Matt Morrett is joined by Dave Gustafson, Bureau Director of Wildlife and Habitat Management for the Pennsylvania Gam...
Episode 28: Spilling Turkey Secrets, Part 2
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a turkey talk? Host Matt Morrett and Denny Gulvas continue to break down turkey habits, mannerisms and body language to help you develop...
Episode 27: Spilling Turkey Secrets, Part 1
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s better than getting tips from a Grand National Champion Turkey Caller? Getting to learn from TWO Grand National Champion Callers. In this ep...
Episode 26: Pennsylvania Shooting Sports
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania has a rich history of archery across the state. No one knows more about that than Todd Holmes, Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator fo...
Episode 25: Waterfowl Hunting in the Keystone State
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From its rivers, streams, wetlands and agricultural fields, Pennsylvania offers waterfowl – and waterfowl hunters – many diverse and appealing ha...
Episode 24: First Year as a State Game Warden
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Being a game warden is a job unlike any other and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation is actively recruiti...
Episode 23: Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing The Harvest
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Since its inception in 1991, Pennsylvania’s acclaimed Hunters Sharing the Harvest program has donated nearly TWO MILLION pounds of venison to hun...
Episode 22: Hunting the Whitetail Rut in Pennsylvania
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The smell of fall is in the air. The rut is on in Pennsylvania.In this episode, Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett discusses the mating ...
Episode 21: Operation Game Thief Protects Pennsylvania Wildlife
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife crimes affect everyone. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) program provides a way for people to directly report...
Episode 20: Managing Wildlife for a Brighter Future
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A shared passion for wildlife, whether identifying as a hunter or birder, is the one thing all wildlife lovers have in common. Listen to Pennsylvania...
Episode 19: Turkey Talk Secrets with Denny Gulvas
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a Pennsylvania turkey hunter, you need to listen to this episode, featuring two of Pennsylvania’s own Grand National Champion Turkey Ca...
Episode 18: State of the Turkey Flock, Spring 2021
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of Pennsylvanians are thinking about turkeys as the state’s 2021 Spring Gobbler season is right around the corner! In this episode, host Matt ...
Episode 17: How to Become a PA State Game Warden, Part Two
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you ask a Pennsylvania state game warden what their dream job is, they are likely to tell you that it’s being a game warden. In part two of “H...
Episode 16: How to Become a PA State Game Warden, Part 1
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being a Pennsylvania state game warden is more than just a job; it’s a passion fueled by protecting our state’s wildlife and natural resources. I...
Episode 15: The Cory Gulvas PA Mountain Buck Story
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The 2020 archery deer season is one that Cory Gulvas will never forget, as he successfully harvested one of the state’s largest typical bucks – e...
Episode 14: Pennsylvania: A Pioneer in Conservation
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re beginning the new year with a meaningful nod to the past. For 125 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has officially managed the state’...
Episode 13: Making Hunting History in Pennsylvania
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Sunday, Nov. 15, Pennsylvania’s archery deer hunters made history as they took to the woods for the state’s first-ever regulated big-game hunt...
Episode 12: Bear Conservation in the Keystone State
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania is home to more than 20,000 black bears and they can be found in all 67 counties. Whether you hunt bears or just enjoy learning about th...
Episode 11: Bear Hunting in the Keystone State
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a Pennsylvania bear hunter, you’re in luck, because the hunting opportunities have never been better! It’s an exciting time, between ...
Episode 10: State of the Pennsylvania Deer Herd: Fall 2020
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not only is the white-tailed deer Pennsylvania’s state mammal and most popular game species, but here in the Keystone State, we have some of the mo...
Episode 9: “What Hunting and Conservation Means to Corey Brossman, Pennsylvania Hunter and Sportsman Channel TV Host”
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As hunters, we wait all year for fall to get here! In this episode, Pennsylvania Game Commission Marketing Director Matt Morrett celebrates the be...
Episode 8 “Dove Hunting in the Keystone State”
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The opening day of Pennsylvania’s 2020-21 hunting seasons is almost here! Dove hunting is oneof the first signs of fall and a brand-new hunting sea...
Episode 7: “Elk Hunting in the Keystone State – Past, Present and Future”
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Early accounts claim that the last of Pennsylvania’s native elk were hunted in the 1860’s. Today, thanks to many dedicated efforts of the Pennsyl...
“Episode 6: Pennsylvania’s Elk Herd and the Inaugural Archery Season”
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A special piece of hunting history was made in Pennsylvania when the first-ever archery elk season took place in September of 2019. Pennsylvania Game...
Episode 5: “125 Years of Wildlife Conservation in Pennsylvania”
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has been a national leader in wildlife management for 125 years! On June 25, 2020, the agency celebrates its 125th a...
Episode 4: “Celebrating 100 Years of Pennsylvania’s State Game Land System”
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On June 15, 2020, Pennsylvania’s State Game Lands System turned 100 years old! To celebrate, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Habitat Manageme...
Episode 3: Can’t Stop The Hunt
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Waddell is a well-known name in the hunting industry who got his start by winning a turkey calling contest. From there, he went on to guide a...
Episode 2-Getting the Next Generation’s Hands in the Dirt, featuring Blake Shelton
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You know Blake Shelton as a country music superstar. You know him as a host on The Voice. Here is a chance to meet a different side of Blake – a pa...
Episode 1-We are Hunters-Our Heritage is Deep
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At the Pennsylvania Game Commission, our passion is wild, from the top on down. The “Call of the Outdoors” is the agency’s podcast, and the fir...