North American Outdoors
180 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Tips, techniques, videos, articles, and many other "HOW TO" do all things outdoors from hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, shooting, and much more! There is no better place to learn than in the outdoor classroom...roaming the woods and waters, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
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Episodes
Heidi Lyn Rao on "Hunting Matters" podcast by Houston Safari Club Foundation
March 01, 2024 11:00 - 41 minutesHeidi Lyn Rao was hired by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 1998 and has recruited, trained, and retained volunteers, as the Hunter Education Specialist for Southeast Texas. In 2010 she also assumed the role as statewide Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Coordinator. During her TPWD career, she developed many partnerships and organized many education & outreach events. She started “Take Me Outdoors Houston” in 2009, when the Texas Wildlife Expo ended, and brings this annual famil...
S8-E176: Mistakes to Avoid When Introducing a New Hunter
October 20, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutesHunting season is not only for adults. Many kids look forward to getting in the field with their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or any other adult role model. This is especially true if it is a kid’s first-time going hunting. Unfortunately, many adults do not understand what a huge responsibility this is. What happens on a kid’s first hunt can be a big factor in his or her decision to continue hunting. The next generation of hunters are who will ensure that our hunting heritage conti...
S7-E175: Luke my Singing Cowboy - age 13
July 07, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesFrom as early as he could talk, he could sing! Luke loved to belt out the latest and greatest songs from an early age, and fortunately that has continued until his early teenage years. I can only hope he continues his journey growing his voice and talent! He's been in choir during elementary and middle school - and has earned solo spots over the years. Although he was a bit hesitant, he quickly overcame his shyness after he warmed up his pipes! We do not own the rights to any of these songs -...
S7-E174: Mountain Lake Fishing with Luke - age 13
June 30, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutesEver since Luke was a baby, our family takes an annual summer vacation to Yellowstone National Park. Over the years we've ventured further and further around the local communities throughout Wyoming and Montana in search of the best fishing spot. His memories have always included a summer adventure to the Northwest and across the woods and waters of the great outdoors. We did what we could, fishing the banks and shorelines with the gear we had. Without much luck, we learned from our mistakes ...
S7-E173: 3 Rules to Follow When Observing Wildlife
June 23, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutesOne of the most visited National Parks in the world is Yellowstone National Park, located in Northwestern Wyoming. Yellowstone is an incredible place to view wildlife. All the large mammals that were present when Yellowstone first became a National Park in 1872, are still roaming the landscape today. These wildlife species include grizzly and black bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk, bison, pronghorn, moose, and bighorn sheep. Not to mention the hundreds of other species ranging from birds t...
S7-E172: 4 Tips for the Trips that Include Firearms
June 16, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesWe all take our safety and security seriously when we are at home, going to and from work, and while running errands around town. Sometimes we let our guard down and are lax when we go on vacation. Afterall, vacations are supposed to be fun and carefree, and a time when you should not have to worry about your safety and security. Many times, when you are on vacation, these are the times when you are most vulnerable and need to be most focused on safety. Depending on your destination there ar...
S7-E171: The Overlooked Rifles and Handguns
June 09, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesWhen I conduct a basic rifle class or lesson, I will get questions regarding trapdoor, rolling block, and falling block rifles. The questions will not be centered on the types or the operation of these rifles. Rather, the questions will be much more basic. Most of my students will have a puzzled look on their faces and ask, “What are these?” If a student likes old guns and history, he or she knows what I am talking about when I mention trapdoor rifles, rolling block rifles, or falling block r...
S7-E170: Trapshooting Started it All - Learn the History to Enjoy the Game
June 02, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesIn the shotgun world, trapshooting is a specific form of clay target shooting. Trapshooting is a game of movement, action, and split-second timing. It requires the accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break the 4 1/4" disc which is hurled through the air at a speed of 41 mph, simulating the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter. Shooters need to know that we have our roots in shooting. We have a responsibility to teach others we come in contact with, train or introduce to the shoot...
S7-E169: We All Deserve a Seat at the 2A Table
May 26, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutesThe 2nd Amendment is for all Americans, not just those who traditionally exercise their gun ownership rights. The 2nd Amendment was written by our framers to give everyone the ability to protect themselves from tyranny, and from those who seek to do them harm. There are many reasons why Americans own guns. Some of these reasons include hunting, recreational and competitive shootings, collecting, self-defense and for personal protection. But the most complete and thorough answer is because we ...
S7-E168: Now YOU Are the Aging Firearm Instructor: Tips for Continued Success
May 19, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutesAs we age, there are things that we cannot do as well as we could a few years ago. We all slow down, but it is the degree of that slowdown that affects how well we can instruct the next and younger generation. We all will, at some point, experience decreased strength, mental acuity, and stamina. This is just a fact of life! Firearm Instructors, Trainers and Coaches are no different from any other type of instructors. Not only do instructors become physically and mentally compromised, but t...
S7-E167: Taking Care of Your Senior Students
May 12, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutesAs an instructor, it is your responsibility to keep all your students safe, including those who may need a bit more special attention. Your responsibility of meeting the needs of your students begins long before the class starts. When you advertise a firearms training course, there is usually a way for potential students to register for the class or some type of communication between the individual seeking training and the instructor. One of the first things I look at what someone registers f...
S7-E166: Being Mentally Strong: Things to Avoid for Continued Success
May 05, 2023 10:00 - 33 minutesAccording to author Ms. Morin, there are 13 things mentally strong people do not do. By following each of these items, you can become a stronger person in your daily life. Each of these items can relate to the outdoors and shooting sports, as we teach, learn and are always on the quest for training. Not only must we train ourselves physically, it is equally important to train mentally as well. Do not waste time feeling sorry for yourself: Mentally strong people do not indulge in self-pity. I...
S7-E165: Knowing Your Dominant Eye Will Improve Your Shooting
April 28, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutesEye dominance is important when shooting a rifle or shotgun because it affects how the shooter aims and where the shooter places their shots. Eye dominance refers to which eye the brain primarily relies on for visual information, and it can be either the right eye or the left eye, and not necessarily the same as your dominant hand. When shooting a rifle, the shooter must align the front and rear sights with the target and maintain that alignment while pressing the trigger. If the shooter's do...
S7-E164: Responsibilities of a Good Trainer - Reducing Risks
April 21, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutesSafety is the #1 priority on and off the range. Everyone must do their part to prevent accidents. When properly trained, firearm incidents are rare. Those that happen are the result of ignorance (lack of knowledge) and/or carelessness (not following safe gun handling procedures). If we are trained and plan to instruct or coach others in the proper and safe use of firearms, we need to focus on Risk Management, which is a four (4) step process: Identify risks, Evaluate risks, Select an appro...
S7-E163: Wildlife Conservation Efforts for Future Generations
April 14, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutesThroughout history, people have depended on wildlife for survival: as a source of food, clothing, and even tools. Loss of habitat and other factors began to impact many species, and there were no limits on the numbers of animals that could be taken. Once abundant species dwindled, and some became extinct. By the early 1900s hunters and conservationists rallied to support legislation that would sustain North America's wildlife populations. Hunters, conservation organizations, and states worked...
S7-E162: How to Teach Youth All About Firearms
April 07, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutesIt is important that kids be taught the safe handling and rules regarding firearms, by removing the anomaly or the taboo surrounding them. The key to introducing kids to firearms is exposure. When kids were no longer exposed to firearms is when the mystic of guns took over. Not too long ago, it was common for firearms to be in nearly every home. That was back when more people hunted for food and sport. When you talk to people who were raised with guns in their home, their attitudes towards ...
S7-E161: Bagging Your Game Can Save Your Life
March 31, 2023 10:00 - 24 minutesThere are things that hunters, hikers, and backpackers can do in the backcountry to minimize the risk of bear and human encounters. Knowing how to handle food, meat, and other “smellables” is critical to staying safe while in the outdoors. It is also important to know the correct way to hang a bear when in bear country. Knowing these skills can be a matter of life and death. Preventing bear encounters can be essential to saving your life as well as the life of the bear. This begins dur...
S7-E160: The ABCs of Ballistics
March 24, 2023 10:00 - 34 minutesWho would have ever thought that you could do all that we can now do, right on the comforts of your phone. As our life gets easier, we have all become spoiled when it comes to research and communications. A technological type of shorthand is developing right before our eyes. In the past, written documents, papers, or articles would have the acronym in parentheses after the formal phrase was spelled out such as National Rifle Association (NRA). Now when we read technical or information article...
S7-E159: Armed Women and the 2nd Amendment
March 17, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesOur Founding Fathers had the vision to give us the 2nd Amendment. Giving citizens of the United States the power to resist tyranny, the 2nd Amendment allows for security and safety in our society. The United States was founded on the belief that a good citizen is responsible for their own security. The time it takes Law Enforcement to respond to a crime has dramatically increased over the past few years. Peace Officers cannot be everywhere, and criminals know this. This means if a crime is ha...
S7-E158: How to Draw From Concealment
March 10, 2023 11:00 - 29 minutesMany times when we visit the shooting range, we only are practicing our marksmanship and trying to get a nice and tight grouping on the target. What about stepping up our training and practicing real potential situations. How many times have you actually practiced drawing your firearm from a concealed position and then shooting for consistency and accuracy? This is a skill that is learned through practice, and a lot of it. Just like any skill that is learned, you must first learn the basics a...
S7-E157: Your Powerful Mindset - Training Determines Your Outcomes
March 03, 2023 11:00 - 35 minutesMindset is the habitual mental attitude that determines how you will respond to a situation. How you train is a good indication of how you should react to any situation you might encounter. Develop an individual personal protection plan to suit your particular needs, including a plan of what to do to avoid a confrontation. Visualize scenarios you may encounter outside of your home and mentally practice how you will respond to them. Get into the "When-Then" way of thinking. This puts you in th...
S7-E156: Youth Hunting Adventures by Luke (age 13)
February 24, 2023 11:00 - 40 minutesFirearms have always been a part of our lives, and we raised our four boys to respect them and know how to use them. Listen to 13-year old Luke share his upbringing around firearms, the training and safety he learned, and introduction to hunting from as far back as he can remember. "It's just something we've always done." Luke talks about youth hunting opportunities in Texas and how to go about taking advantage of them. He'll share some of his successes when he was drawn for some of these hun...
S7-E155: Training in the Levels of Mental Awareness
February 17, 2023 11:00 - 33 minutesSituational awareness is keeping your head on a swivel, checking, and assessing your surroundings at all times. You never want to be in a position where your "guard" is let down, making you a "soft target" and not being mentally or physically prepared for a potential attack or encounter. It is important to know the four levels of awareness: UNAWARE AWARE ALERT ALARM Unaware: These are the people who are so distracted, head down and eyes glued to their phones, they walk into poles or fall...
S7-E154: Having the Proper Skills and Attitude to Carry a Firearm
February 10, 2023 11:00 - 30 minutesWith our 2nd Amendment right to own firearms come responsibilities. It is our responsibility to store, operate and maintain his or her firearms safely. It is our responsibility to ensure that unauthorized or untrained individuals cannot gain access to our firearms. It is our responsibility to learn and obey all laws related to the purchase, possession and use of a firearm in the area in which we live. It is also our responsibility to know the laws when traveling across our state and into othe...
S7-E153: Our Place in Nature - Wildlife and Huntable Species
February 03, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutesWhy do we hunt? What is it that lures us into the woods, fields and waters each year during hunting season, and throughout the "off-season?" Not only is hunting a lifestyle - it is also a state of mind. But where did it all come from and how did we get where we are today? To be where we are today requires an understanding of where we've been. We as hunters and outdoor enthusiasts must recognize that: _the natural environment creates and eliminates plant and animal life each year; _human being...
S7-E152: Tips to Help You Bag Your Feral Hog
January 27, 2023 11:00 - 14 minutesWith so many hogs, you would think that every time you head to the field, you can count on bagging a hog. It is just the opposite. Feral hogs are considered an invasive species. There are an estimated 9 million hogs nationwide doing about $2.5 billion worth of damage annually. The reason why feral hogs are such a problem is because of how fast they reproduce. Sows can breed as young as 3 months of age. They can breed 2-3 times a year and have 1-14 piglets per litter. They come into “season”...
S7-E151: 3 Tools You Need For Game Recovery
January 20, 2023 11:00 - 13 minutesAnyone who has ever been hunting will tell you, it is after you take your animal that the real work begins! Game recovery is not only taking possession of game animals, but field dressing and legal quartering. Depending on the state, legal quartering is how far you can cut up the animal in the field. Legal quartering is usually two shoulders, two hams, two backstraps, two tenderloins, and boned-out rib and neck meat. The right tools make the easy and efficient recovery of game possible. Fail...
S7-E150: Increase Your Late Season Deer Hunting Success
January 13, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutesThere are things that you can do to help you fill your tag during this time of year. You must take advantage when deer, especially trophy bucks, drop their guard and make a mistake. That does not mean that they are just going to throw caution to the wind and prance around in a meadow, presenting the best broadside shot for you. This means that the odds are still in the deer’s favor, but you can take advantage of any mistakes made by late season wary deer. From brushing-in your hunting blind,...
S7-E149: Guitar Pickin' with Matthew - my Singing Cowboy
January 06, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutesI just can't get enough listening to Matthew play his guitar. He picked it up while recovering from a knee injury during football his Junior year of high school. While recovering, he began picking away. It wasn't long before he became really good at it! Enjoy some of his progress... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
S6-E148: All About Cutting Horses with Matthew (age 18)
December 30, 2022 11:00 - 29 minutesLearn all about the world of cutting horses through the eyes and experiences of Matthew. Since he graduated high school in 2022, he moved to Northwest Arkansas and became a Razorback, attending the University of Arkansas. His degree is in Animal Science with a focus of large animals and equine, and possibly as a pre-vet student. During the first week of school the Animal Science college had a career fair and Matthew attended. He met some other students and professors and was encouraged to vis...
S6-E147: 5 Musts When Taking a New Shooter to the Range
December 23, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutesTeaching is a skill. There is an entire industry and profession dedicated to being a good communicator through teaching. This also applies to a firearms instructor. I have encountered many beginner shooters who were reluctant to go to the range a second time because of their first experience. Unfortunately, I think we have lost many individuals that otherwise would be part of the shooting community because of bad instructors. When we lose a new shooter, we not only lose an addition to our com...
REPOSTING: S6-E146 -- (S4-E92): Being Situationally Aware - Mindset, Alert and Prepared
December 16, 2022 11:00 - 39 minutesWhat does it mean to exist in "Level White?" What does it mean to be "Situationally Aware" and what are some examples of being alert and prepared? Each and every time you step foot outside the comforts of your home, you should be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. From the moment you enter into your vehicle to the moment you park, how long do you sit in your vehicle and look around, assessing the environment? How many vehicles are around you? What color are they? Is anyone ins...
S6-E145: Ethical Hunting: Doing the Right Thing When No One is Watching
December 09, 2022 11:00 - 26 minutesWhat does it mean to be a courteous and ethical firearm owner? Most all of us were raised to follow the “Golden Rule” of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This same rule applies to all those who own firearms. It is our duty to maintain a high level of responsibility and respect any time we are around firearms or are handling them. We have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to all those who are around us. An ethic is an unwritten rule for the way we behave ...
S6-E144: Teaching a New Gun Owner: Safety Rules are Universal
December 02, 2022 11:00 - 27 minutesAlways keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; Always keep your firearm unloaded until ready for use; Always treat every firearm with the same respect as if it were loaded; Always use proper ammunition for the firearm; Always be sure of your target and what is beyond; Always handle your firearm in a safe manner; Always pay attention and control your emotions; Always wear hearing and eye protection while shooting; and ...
S6-E143: Matriarchs Run Montana -Two Strong Women Living in the Wild
November 25, 2022 11:00 - 20 minutesWe all have an image in our heads of what a strong woman is. Especially NRA Women who are empowered to take charge of their lives and provide for their own safety by exercising their Second Amendment rights. I consider myself a strong NRA Woman. Like most other strong modern women, I rely upon all the conveniences of a large city. My day-to-day issues include misplacing my smart phone, being stuck in a traffic jam or waiting for hours for a service technician...Not having to face a grizzly be...
S6-E142: Watch Your Firearm Clichés and Terminology
November 18, 2022 11:00 - 22 minutesAs firearms instructors and trainers, we all use several common phrases when teaching others. These include: Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction Keep your firearm unloaded until ready to use Your firearm should "surprise" you when it discharges All of these statements are correct, but when teaching others about firearms, you need to be able to explain what these mean as well as the applications of each to ensure that when your students leave, they have learned the correct behavio...
S6-E141: Beware of the Expert
November 11, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutesHave you ever attended a meeting, presentation, or listened to a speaker who was a self-proclaimed "expert" on a particular subject? Worse yet, if you as the listener have knowledge of that particular subject matter and the speaker is completely off-topic, off-track, or just giving wrong information? What does that do to your opinion of that speaker? Have you completely turned "off" and stopped listening to his or her message? Or maybe now you are listening more intently realizing he or she h...
S6-E140: A Ladies' Guide to Hunting Pack Essentials
November 04, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutesAbove and beyond the hunting backpack basics, such as binoculars, a range finder, extra ammo and knives, there are other items you may not think about until you are deep into the field and realize you may need them. These items include extra pens, ziplock and trash bags, duck tape, toilet paper and a haul line. But on top of all of these items, there are even a few more necessary items that I find essential to keep in my hunting backpack. Not only my hunting pack, but everywhere I go where I...
S6-E139: Essential Items to Keep in Your Hunting Backpack
October 28, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutesIf you hunt, you probably have a hunting backpack that stays packed year-round. Every hunter I know keeps their pack filled and ready to go in case a hunting opportunity presents itself. The items every hunter should keep in their hunting pack are things needed for a successful hunt. These include binoculars, range finders, extra ammunition, and skinning and field dressing knives. What about the items you do not think about ahead of time, until you need them? These are the items that when ne...
S6 - E138: Finding the Right Firearms Instructor for YOU
October 21, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutesFirearms instructors everywhere will tell you that business has never been better. With crime increasing in nearly every city in the United States, gun owners are looking to become responsible for their own security and protection. The National Rifle Association’s efforts in defending our Second Amendment rights is working, and more people are getting the message out that responsible gun ownership includes proper training.But, firearm training can be expensive. Remember you are paying for ...
S6 - E137: Situational Awareness While Carrying
October 14, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutesFrom the moment you get up and ready for your day, you should have a plan. Have an idea of where you will be traveling, the stops and errands you will be running, and if you will be carrying your firearm on your body - where you can and cannot go.Based on your answers, this will determine what type of clothing you will be wearing for the day. Ladies - will you wear a belly band to conceal your firearm? Or a sports-bra that doubles as a carry bra to neatly tuck away your compact firearm? W...
S6 - E136: Your Home is NOT an Easy Target!
October 07, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutesYour home is your safe space. It's a place for you to relax, unwind, and let your guard down. Until it isn't...Are you in the proper mindset...not "IF, THEN..." IF this happens, THEN I will...but "WHEN, THEN..." WHEN this happens, THEN I will...Are you always aware of your surroundings, even in your safe place? Is your home an easy target? Are there places leading up to your front door that an intruder can lay in ambush and quickly make you a victim? Shrubs, lighting, places to hide?W...
S6-E135: 5 Things to do When Being Checked by a Game Warden
September 30, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutesThere is a specialized law enforcement department that has the sole responsibility of protecting our natural resources. Collectively referred to as game wardens or conservation police officers, these men and women are the ones who interact with hunters and fishermen to make sure those taking our natural resources are following the rules. Ensuring that hunters and fishermen are following the laws regarding the hunting seasons, bag limits, means, and methods, are just some of the duties game ...
S6-E134: What is a Baited Field?
September 23, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutesWhat is baiting and what is considered a baited field? These are the most common questions I get from migratory bird hunters. The first thing you must remember is that hunting migratory birds over bait is both a federal and a state violation in every state in the U.S. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), “Baiting is the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could lure or attract waterfowl to, on,...
S6-E133: 4 Dangerous Pitfalls to Avoid while Training with Firearms
September 16, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutesIf there is an accident involving a firearm in your class or firearm training session, it is the instructor who is ultimately responsible. This includes any firearms training course being taught, either an NRA or non-NRA Course. The level of the instructor’s liability is dependent upon several factors. By allowing the wrong firearm and ammunition combination, not adequately knowing the different types of firearms out there, and lack of safety protocol are examples of potential accidents th...
S6-E132: Bird Season Means Shotgun Season
September 09, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutesChoosing the right shotgun is more than personal preference. Different types of hunting call for different types of shotguns. When bird hunting, you need to know if the game birds you are hunting are classified as an upland game bird or a migratory game bird. You also need to know what type of environment you will be hunting in. Is it open prairie, coastal marsh, timberline, or forest?You need to take into consideration the weight of the gun, recoil, shell capacity, and the laws related t...
UPDATE!! S6-E131: Are You Ready for DOVE Season?
September 02, 2022 11:00 - 28 minutesDove Season is the unofficial start of the hunting season. You can see the excitement and anticipation on the face of every hunter, regardless of if they hunt dove or not. This is because dove season is the official count down to all the other types and species of hunting. If you do participate in dove hunting, you want to make sure that you have the right equipment and accessories to be both successful and legal. There is only one way to describe dove hunting – FUN! Especial ...
S6-E130: What Is HIP Certification
August 26, 2022 05:00 - 12 minutesThere are many laws you need to follow when you are waterfowl hunting. Many laws address equipment, such as using a shotgun that is not capable of holding more than three shells. There are laws that address when and where you can hunt, such as the prohibition of hunting over a baited field. There are also laws that address licensing requirements, such as hunting with a valid hunting license, the required state endorsements, and a valid federal waterfowl stamp. Lastly, there are laws that ...
S6-E129: 3 Rules for a Stress-Free Firearms Class
August 19, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutesAs a firearm instructor or trainer, it is important to do everything you can to keep safety at the forefront. By following simple three rules, you can ensure you have a stress-free class. The three rules are: ALWAYS ask questions ALWAYS anticipate emergencies ALWAYS inspect firearms These rules will help you, the instructor, to create a safe and enjoyable learning environment. After all, it is the instructor who takes credit for the class being good or bad, safe or unsafe, or enjoyable ...
S6-E128: Raising Strong Boys
August 12, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutesAs we are driving north to start a new chapter of our lives, Matthew will soon be a University of Arkansas Razorback. Reflecting on these past few weeks as we pack him up, and sort through his bedroom of 18 years, what is a MUST to bring along, what can be passed onto his brothers, and what can head to Goodwill - it dawned on me that I have raised some pretty strong and independent boys.Family is the nucleus of all we do together. We've always made it a point and priority to be involved in ...