Latest episodes and posts
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149: Changes to Deer Hunting and Firearms Licensing in Ireland with Liam M. Nolan
There is a lot going on for Irish deer hunters at the moment. First, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a Public Consultation on the Management of Deer in Ireland. There are a lot of questions and worries about the potential outcomes of this consultation. The online survey published as a part of it only confirmed these concerns. There is a common perception that it was constructed to lead to a preconceived outcome rather than to solicit…
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148: Environmental Dialogue with Rob Yorke
Those of you who follow me on social media already know that last week I gave a presentation about the use of podcasting for communicating complex and nuanced ideas to non-experts. The presentation was part of the 7th International Journalism Symposium on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resources. The symposium was moderated by a well-known environmental dialogue broker, Rob Yorke. Having Rob right then and there I couldn’t miss the opportunity to sit down with him for a quick…
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147: Woodcock Research and Hunting with James O’Neill
The woodcock is one of the most interesting birds. It is a wader that adapted to the woodland habitat. It has a range of unique characteristics like 360-degree vision, a flexible bill and white tail feathers that reflect up to 30% more light than the feathers of any other bird. It is also a valued game bird, meaning it is a sought-after quarry for bird hunters. So much so that an entire breed of gun dogs, cocker spaniels, was created…
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146: Multi-Generational Outdoors Teaching with Emanuel Rose
Once again we are coming back to the subject of getting the young generation educated about nature and involved in experiences they might otherwise miss. It’s a theme that has been discussed on my podcast several times. It also comes back time and time again during my conversations about the state of nature and outdoor pursuits. Young people are just not getting outside that much anymore. There is a multitude of reasons for this. Today we touch on almost all…
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Seal Cull in Ireland
This is something I would like to share with you after recently attending the SeaMonitor-STRAITS conference. I’m predicting that in the coming months, or years perhaps, we’ll see a sanctioned seal cull in Ireland. Mark my words! The listeners who have been with me for some time might remember that a few years ago I talked with a trawlerman who was arguing that the seal population needs to be reduced. His argument revolved around the impacts that seal presence had…
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145: The Future of Hunting with Richard Prideaux
With declining wildlife populations, expanding urbanisation and dwindling social acceptance of hunting I often question whether this activity has a future. Add to the list the ageing population of hunters and the minimal recruitment of new hunters from young generations and the picture doesn’t look pretty. So is hunting fading into the history books together with the abundance of wild game and fish? To discuss this topic I sat down with Richard Prideaux, a wilderness skills and survival instructor, writer,…
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SeaMonitor-STRAITS Conference
Regular listeners might remember that two years ago I published a series of episodes about the SeaMonitor project and related research. So it was my great pleasure to accept an invitation to the two-day long SeaMonitor-STRAITS Conference, which marked the close of the SeaMonitor project and the launch of the STRAITS project. The speaker list included the cream of the crop of marine scientists, policymakers and representatives from governmental agencies. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with…
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144: How to Cut All Chemical Nitrogen on a Farm with James Foley
I always enjoy speaking with farmers, whether on my podcast or when I’m out in the fields hunting and fishing. Therefore, I welcomed an opportunity to not only talk with James Foley, a dairy farmer from Co. Waterford, but to visit him and spend the day on his farm. Yes, that means it’s one of those rare episodes where I meet my guest in person, like in the old days, shake his hand and sit down in the same room…
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143: Emergent with Miriam Kate McDonald
In conversations about nature and wildlife, we often observe an ideological divide between two groups: farmers and rewilders. This divide can be seen in their different approaches to conservation and land management. Farmers tend to prioritise the production of food and other resources, while rewilders focus on restoring natural habitats and ecosystems, with a focus on ecological processes. We often ask the question of whether farming and rewilding can coexist. Today we are going a step further and asking if…
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The NARGC Seminar on The Open Seasons Order and Sustainable Hunting
When I received the invitation to attend the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) seminar on the Open Seasons Order and Sustainable Hunting, I accepted without hesitation. The seminar featured an outstanding lineup of guests and speakers from Ireland and mainland Europe. The timing of the seminar was not coincidental. Ireland is obligated to comply with the European Union’s Birds Directive, and the latest data on the number of species under conservation threat suggests that some species may be…