History of the Hunt

Host Keith Crowley talks with Randy Zarnke, President of the Alaska Trappers Association, about his project to record oral histories of the old-timers in the Alaska backwoods. Zarnke has spent the last 23 years tracking down these old hunters and trappers to preserve their stories. As you might imagine, there are some real characters out there in the Alskan bush. For example, one of Randy's interviewees began his career by live-trapping brown bears using a bucket of ether as a sedative! Zarnke has put many these exciting and incredible stories into a book called "Alaska Tracks."Show Notes:Alaska Trappers AssociationJim Rearden books on Alaska_______________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Host and MacQuarrie biographer Keith Crowley talks with Editor Dave Evenson about two new Gordon MacQuarrie compilations taken from his newspaper columns in the Milwaukee Journal between 1936 and MacQuarrie's premature death in 1956. In these new books, titled "Right off the Reel" and "Dogs, Drink & Other Drivel", both published by the Barnes Area Historical Association, we learn more about MacQuarrie the person and MacQuarrie the reporter than we do through the Old Duck Hunter trilogy of books produced in previous decades. Many of the newspaper columns served as prequels for the more famous ODHA stories which ran in the national hunting and fishing magazines of the Golden Age. In many of these newspaper stories we first meet great MacQUarrie characters like Mr. President, Gus, Hank, Fred, Norm, and a host of others. Crowley and Evenson also discuss the infamous "Richard's Lakes" mystery as well as the upcoming MacQuarrie Pilgrimage to MacQuarrie Country. Show Notes:Right off the ReelDogs Drink & Other DrivelMacQuarrie PilgrimageGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter_______________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Host Keith Crowley talks with writer Ken Blomberg about the impact Art Hawkins had on wildlife science in the mid-20th Century. Hawkins was one of Aldo Leopold's students at the University of Wisconsin, and he went on to establish many modern methods of surveying wildlife populations including the invention of transects. Hawkins, along with Frank Bellrose  saved the American Wood Duck and Hawkins was a founding member of the Wood Duck Society. Hawkins and Bellrose designed the first wood duck houses and experimented with locating and design. Ken Blomberg continued a correspondence with Hawkins through many years and his new book "Letters from Art: Standing Tall in the Shadow of Aldo Leopold" is full of insights into Hawkins, Leopold, and many other giants of conservation. We also discuss Ken's German Shorthairs and how Aldo Leopold's famous dog Gus has direct blood ties to Blomberg's GSPs.Show Notes:Letters from Art: Standing Tall in the Shadow of Aldo LeopoldKen Blomberg BioEau Pleine Kennels Wood Duck Society_______________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Show NotesHost Keith Crowley talks with author Roger Pinckney about "The Greatest Hunting Trip Ever"...The Lewis and Clark overland expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1804-06.Roger explains why grizzlies were the Corps of Discoveries least favorite animal, and why bison were their favorites.Our guest discusses the guns of the L&C expedition, including the famous Girandoni Air Rifle.Related information:More writings of Roger PinckneyLewis & Clark: The Greatest North American Hunting Trip Ever Garden & GunBooks_______________________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and ThunderheadsBooks by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Host Keith Crowley talks with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Historian Mark Madison about J.M. "Ding" Darling, the creator of the Duck Stamp and the Director of the Bureau of Biological Survey (predecessor to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.) Darling was a Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist who had a knack for getting the most out of people when it came to conservation. Because of his leadership, his forethought and his political skills, billions of dollars have been raised for conservation over the past 80+ years through the Duck Stamp Act and the Pittman-Robertson Act. Darling also created the artwork for the first Duck Stamp in 1934 as well as the flying goose symbol found at National Wildlife Refuges across America. Darling was a passionate hunter and passionate leader fighting for the preservation of the outdoor life he loved. Madison and Crowley discuss Ding's relationships with both Teddy Roosevelt (whom he admired as a personal friend and as the President) and Franklin Roosevelt (who he disliked politically, but grew to respect,) as well as his close friendship with President Herbert Hoover. Our host also explains his love of the Ding Darling Refuge on Sanibel Island in FloridaRelated Information:Ding Darling BioHistory of the Duck StampDarling Editorial Cartoon ArchivesBye Now, It's Been Wonderful Knowing You (Ding's Farewell Cartoon, published posthumously.)Images from Ding Darling National Wildlife RefugeDarling's Comic which won his first Pultizer_______________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Show NotesHost Keith Crowley interviews the creator and administrator of Robert C. Ruark on Facebook. Mike Walker turned his passion for all things Ruark into a successful social media page. Walker explains where he gets his content and why Ruark is one of the best Golden Age writers. He also explains why he believes Peter Hathaway Capstick is not one of the best!Related information:Archive.orgHorn of the Hunter by Robert RuarkThe Old Man and the Boy by Robert RuarkDeath in the Long Grass by Peter CapstickTigrero by Sasha Siemel______________________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and ThunderheadsBooks by Keith Crowley:Pheasant Dogs: Stories from the Field - Hunters, Trainers & TrialersGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Host Keith Crowley talks with Ashley Hlebinsky, Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.  Subjects include:Buffalo or Bison?Which guns really "won the west."The history of big-bore buffalo rifles.Long range shooting.The total remodel of the Cody Firearms Museum.Retiring at 30? Related information:Firearms Historian Ashley Hlebinsky - BioAshley on InstagramCody Firearms MuseumBuffalo Bill Center of the WestFirearms Policy CoalitionElmer Keith on Big Bore Buffalo Guns_______________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the FieldGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Show notes:Legendary outdoor writer Gene Hill captivated readers with his wit and humor for decades. Host Keith Crowley interviews publisher, editor, and writer, Steve Smith, about his close friend Gene Hill and their adventures hunting - and writing - together.Hill's words about hunting dogs were the best and may be in part the result of Hill's WWII experiences. Related information:Gene Hill BooksPointing Dog JournalRetriever JournalLook for Steve's new ebook on sporting travel called Going There, coming soon on Amazon.  ________________________________________________________________________Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and Thunderheads_______________________________________________________________________Books by Keith CrowleyPheasant DogsGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Host Keith Crowley interviews Aldo Leopold scholar and biographer, Dr. Curt Meine from the Aldo Leopold Foundation.We talk about the legendary conservationist's roots in hunting, Leopold's historic book, A Sand County Almanac, and how he changed the world of wildlife management. We also talk about Leopold's love of bow-hunting with traditional, hand-made bows and arrows. We put to rest the famously misattributed "quote" about ethics in hunting.Related topics:Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work by Dr. Curt MeineA Sand County Almanac (2020 Edition!) by Aldo LeopoldGame Management by Aldo LeopoldSilent Spring by Rachel CarsonAldo Leopold Foundation Gordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter by Keith CrowleyTheme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and ThunderheadsBooks by Keith CrowleyPheasant Dogs: Stories from the Field - Hunters, Trainers & TrialersGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck HunterWildlife in the Badlands Keith Crowley's published wildlife and sporting photography can be found at CrowleyImages.com

Outdoor writer and historian Keith Crowley introduces you to this new type of hunting podcast. He explains the purpose behind History of the Hunt, who and what we will talk about, and what we definitely WON'T talk about.Theme Music: Grip of the Black GoldSongwriter: Steve BlexrudPerformed by Steve Blexrud and ThunderheadsBooks by Keith CrowleyGordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter Pheasant Dogs Wildlife in the Badlands More information can be found at CrowleyImages.com