Hunting Matters

Hunting Matters is an award-winning podcast celebrating the wonders of the great outdoors.Join host Joe Betar, Executive Director of Houston Safari Club Foundation , as he delves into captivating discussions with a diverse array of guests. From hunting and fishing to sport shooting, conservation, policy, and even culinary arts, this podcast covers it all. Available on all major podcast platforms—subscribe, listen, rate, and review!

Hunting Matters is a leisure podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 87 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Hunting Matters, a leisure show with 87 episodes published.

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  Episode #266

  Episode 266: Global Waterfowl Conservation: From Texas Pintails to New Zealand Game Birds with Matt Garrick

  Aug 10, 20261h 9m

  In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Matt Garrick, Senior Field Officer at Fish & Game New Zealand and a former HSCF-Dan L Duncan Scholarship recipient. We dive into Matt's impressive international career in wildlife biology and waterfowl management, following his journey from a small farm in New Zealand to top research and state biologist positions across North America, and back home again to lead game bird conservation. The discussion details Matt’s extensive educational and professional journey, from his undergraduate work at Iowa State University to completing his master's degree at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, where he studied the nutritional ecology of northern pintails along the Texas coast. Matt shares how receiving the HSCF-Dan L Duncan Scholarship fueled his aspirations, reflecting on his seasonal field experiences spanning Alaska, Alberta, Alabama, Nevada, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. We explore his previous leadership roles as an Assistant State Waterfowl Biologist in Iowa and Waterfowl Program Manager in Nebraska, highlighting the critical science behind bird banding, satellite telemetry, and cross-border international agency collaboration within the Central Flyway. Finally, we explore Matt's current work leading habitat restoration, hunter surveys, and game bird management programs with Fish & Game New Zealand, comparing the hunting traditions, species, and regulation structures between North America and Australasia. Matt shares his lifelong passion for chasing waterfowl alongside his black lab, breaks down how biological research shapes hunting bag limits, and offers valuable advice for students looking to turn their love of the outdoors into a global conservation career. Learn more about Fish & Game New Zealand and Matt's work: Website: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/ Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/ [

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  Episode #262

  Episode 263: From Gridiron to Grasslands, Wildlife Research & Land Management with Carsten Groos

  Jul 20, 20261h 8m

  In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Carsten Groos, a wildlife biologist, hunter, conservationist, and proud former recipient of the HSCF Dan L. Duncan scholarship. We dive into his journey from growing up in Austin and playing collegiate football at the University of Oklahoma to pursuing his passion for wildlife and wild places. Carsten shares how early ranching internships and foundational scholarship support propelled his academic path, leading to his graduate research at Texas Tech University focused on natural resource management and the science behind sustainable land stewardship. The discussion details Carsten’s master's research in the unique landscape of the Texas Hill Country, where he investigated habitat selection and interactions between native white-tailed deer and exotic species like axis deer and blackbuck. Our guest breaks down how he combined multiple survey techniques into a practical, cost-effective monitoring system that everyday hunters and landowners can use. We explore how recent severe winter storms impacted exotic populations, whether native and exotic game can successfully coexist, and the single biggest mistake landowners make when managing wildlife on their properties. Finally, we address critical modern conservation challenges in Texas, including rapid land fragmentation, disease monitoring, and invasive species management. Carsten reflects on how his training as a biologist has reshaped his personal approach to hunting, his experience instructing the next generation of students at Texas Tech, and his perspective on long-term habitat investment. He leaves us with valuable advice for aspiring wildlife biologists and inspiring thoughts on what the HSCF motto "We Hunt. We Give." means for the future of Texas conservation. Learn more about Texas Tech Natural Resources Management and follow their journey: Website/Socials: @texastechnrm and @theconwaycoalition_ttu Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org

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  Episode #262

  Episode 262: From Scholarship to Stewardship, Restoring Texas Grasslands with Taylor Daily

  Jul 13, 20261h 1m

  In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Taylor Daily, a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist with Quail Forever and the Oaks & Prairies Joint Venture. We dive into his passionate journey through the wildlife conservation sector, focusing on his extensive academic and professional background in range and wildlife management. As a past recipient of the HSCF-Dan L Duncan scholarship, Taylor shares how this foundational support helped propel his educational path from Texas Tech University to Sul Ross State University, ultimately shaping his professional focus on conserving native temperate grasslands—the most endangered terrestrial biome in the world. The discussion details Taylor's hands-on work collaborating with private landowners across nine North Texas counties to develop sustainable habitat management plans. Our guest shares how he helps families balance cattle production, recreation, and hunting goals while addressing common habitat challenges. We explore the critical role of the northern bobwhite quail and other native species that depend on healthy grassland ecosystems, and Taylor breaks down common training and management misconceptions regarding native vs. non-native pasture systems. Finally, we explore the inner workings of specialized conservation tools, highlighting the vital importance of prescribed fire in grassland restoration. We discuss the complexities of navigating incentive opportunities, such as the Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP), which provides crucial cost-share financial assistance to landowners. Taylor shares powerful insights into overcoming the misconceptions surrounding prescribed burning, the rewarding habitat improvements seen after a successful burn, and inspiring advice for students considering a career in wildlife management to leave a long-term impact on the next generation of conservation stewards. Learn more about Quail Forever and follow their journey: Website: https://texaspfqf.org and https://opjv.org Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org

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  Episode #260

  Episode 260: Bridging Forestry, Law, and Hunting with Jake Hill of Orion Permit Co.

  Jun 30, 20261h 5m

  In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Jake Hill, a past recipient of the HSCF-Dan L Duncan scholarship, wildlife biologist, forester, hunter, and conservationist extraordinaire. We dive into Jake’s passionate journey across multiple disciplines in the wildlife, hunting, and conservation sectors, focusing on his extensive background that spans from research and field management to law and policy. The discussion details Jake’s extensive educational and professional background, from earning his B.S. in Forestry with an emphasis in Forest-Wildlife Management from Stephen F. Austin State University to obtaining his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Texas Tech University School of Law. Jake shares how his credentials as an Associate Wildlife Biologist® and Candidate Certified Forester have shaped his approach to conservation, alongside his experience working across the globe with private consulting firms, wildlife non-profits, and state agencies. We explore how his legal training complements his field experience as he prepares to sit for the bar exam in July 2026. Finally, we explore Jake's entrepreneurial venture as the founder and owner of Orion Permit Co., which provides wildlife and trophy permitting services for hunters seeking to import trophies back into the United States. We discuss the complexities of navigating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and CITES permitting processes, common pitfalls to avoid, and the biggest policy challenges facing wildlife conservation today. Jake shares powerful insights into the future of forest-wildlife systems, addresses misconceptions surrounding the hunting community, and offers inspiring advice for young professionals looking to build meaningful careers in natural resources. Learn more about Jake's work and Orion Permit Co.: Website: https://www.orionpermitco.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.hill.728531/ Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/

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  Episode #259

  Episode 259: The Return of the Texas Black Bear with Researcher Matthew Hewitt

  Jun 22, 20261h 8m

  In this episode of "Hunting Matters," we are joined by Matthew Olton Hewitt, a Dan L Duncan-HSCF Scholarship recipient, Black Bear Researcher, and Ph.D. Candidate at Sul Ross State University. We dive into Matt's passionate journey as a wildlife biologist and his vital research with the Borderlands Research Institute, focusing on the remarkable natural recovery and population dynamics of black bears in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. The discussion details Matt’s extensive educational and professional background, from growing up in Kingsville, Texas, to earning his degrees and working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk projects. Matt shares how his early exposure to the outdoors shaped his career path and how his master's work on kit fox distribution paved the way for his current doctoral research. We explore the fascinating history of black bears in Texas, including their total extirpation by the 1950s and their incredible, natural recolonization from northern Mexico starting in the late 1990s. Finally, we explore the cutting-edge methodologies and technologies Matt uses to estimate bear numbers across vast, rugged landscapes, including trail cameras, genetics, and GPS collars. We discuss the growing challenges of human-bear interactions as these populations expand, and how landowners, hunters, and local communities can practically co-exist with and support these magnificent predators. Matt shares powerful insights into the future of Texas wildlife conservation and offers inspiring advice for the next generation of wildlife biologists. Learn more about Matt's work and the Borderlands Research Institute: Website: https://bri.sulross.edu/ Instagram: @borderlandsresearchinstitute Houston Safari Club Foundation: https://wehuntwegive.org/

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