The MeatEater Podcast - Episode 637 Summary

Title: MeatEater Radio Live! The Doe Derby, Fishing Crappie, and Riding Buffalo
Host: MeatEater (Steven Rinella)
Release Date: December 13, 2024

1. Doe Derby: Managing Deer Populations and Combating Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Guests: Doug Durkin and Pat Durkin
Timestamp: [04:28] – [15:26]

Doug Durkin and Pat Durkin introduce listeners to the Cazenovia Doe Derby in Wisconsin, an event aimed at reducing deer populations to manage the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Derby encourages hunters to harvest antlerless deer, primarily does, and mandates submitting harvested animals for CWD testing.

Key Points:

• Population Control: Harvesting antlerless deer helps maintain a balanced deer population.
• CWD Testing: Participants are incentivized to submit harvested deer for testing, with Doug sharing, "we have five that have tested positive out of 11 that we've gotten back so far" ([07:11]).
• Expanded Participation: The event has grown from approximately 50 submissions to over 250, thanks to the introduction of five kiosks across the area ([08:41]).
• Community Engagement: A celebratory party is organized for hunters to gather, share stories, and enjoy prizes, fostering camaraderie and reinforcing conservation efforts.
• Prizes and Sponsorship: Generous sponsors like MeatEater, Vortex, and Can-Am provide enticing prizes, including rifles, scopes, coolers, and signed MeatEater books.

Doug emphasizes the significance of community involvement in conservation efforts: "It's been gratifying to see this grow... we're excited about that." ([08:41])

2. Throwback Thursday: Sharing Hunting and Fishing Memories

Hosts: Randall Williams, Cal Callahan, Brody Henderson
Timestamp: [15:26] – [30:29]

In the Throwback Thursday segment, the hosts delve into their personal archives, sharing nostalgic photos and recounting memorable hunting and fishing experiences.

Highlights:

• Early Experiences: Randall reminisces about his first whitetail buck shot in Kentucky, highlighting the use of a Marlin model 1895 G guide gun ([16:11]).
• Photo Sharing: The crew shares various photos from their youth, including hunting trips, fishing adventures, and candid moments, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared history.
• Humorous Anecdotes: Cal shares a poignant story about his first elk hunt, capturing the emotional complexity of hunting a cow and her calf ([21:37]).

Cal reflects on his first elk experience: "It was like, oh my God, somebody else could get this calf... a kind of conflicting young man experience." ([21:37])

3. One Minute Fishing: Crappie Challenge for Conservation

Participant: Kyle Libarger
Timestamp: [30:29] – [35:11]

The One Minute Fishing segment challenges anglers to catch a fish within sixty seconds, with successful attempts resulting in a $500 donation to a conservation group. This week, Kyle Libarger from Wheeler Lake, Alabama, attempts to catch crappie for Conservation Fisheries, Inc.

Contest Highlights:

• Setup: Kyle uses a Fluger spinning reel, Fenwick rod, and live minnows as bait ([32:10]).
• Challenge Outcome: Despite his expertise—with Kyle fishing effectively all morning—he narrowly misses catching a fish within the allotted time, prompting friendly banter about extending the time limit.

Kyle shares his persistence: "Hoping there's some crappie on it... pressure's on." ([32:35])

4. Listener Questions and Community Engagement

Topics Covered:

• Home Decorations: Discussions on how hosts decorate their homes for Christmas, highlighting personal preferences and humorous exchanges about interior design.
• Hunting Dry Spells: Randall shares his experiences with hunting dry spells, emphasizing persistence and the unpredictable nature of hunting.
• Pronghorn Conservation: Cal addresses questions about the lack of dedicated conservation organizations for pronghorn, explaining the overlap with existing habitat and connectivity initiatives. He states, “But don’t feel like that work isn’t being done.” ([39:04])
• Bow Choices: Listeners inquire about preferred bows, with Cal highlighting his new Rob Lee bow and its superior performance ([79:07]).
• Exotic Meats: The hosts discuss their experiences with eating bobcat and mountain lion, comparing flavors and textures.
• Beer Preferences: Cal shares his affinity for both light and dark beers, mentioning local craft options like Jubal and Ninkasi ([80:26]).

Cal responds to a question about pronghorn conservation:
"There's a lot of overlap in that space... habitat is king habitat and connectivity." ([39:04])

5. MeatEater Movie Club: Analyzing "Buffalo Rider" (1978)

Segment Introduction:
Timestamp: [57:52] – [85:54]

The MeatEater Movie Club segment features an in-depth review and analysis of the 1978 low-budget exploitation film "Buffalo Rider." The hosts explore the film's plot, production techniques, and its reflection of the cultural landscape of the 1970s.

Film Overview:

• Plot: The film follows Jake Buffalo Jones, a frontiersman who tames a buffalo named Samson, using it as his primary mode of transportation while battling natural elements and human adversaries.
• Production: Characterized by its rough editing, excessive narration, and unconventional scenes, the film exemplifies the low-budget exploitation genre of the era.

Discussion Highlights:

• Cultural Context: The hosts draw parallels between the film's chaotic structure and America's tumultuous 1970s, citing events like the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War's aftermath.

Randall remarks on the film's reflection of societal disillusionment:
"Buffalo Rider's unconventional construction... is representative of the low budget exploitation filmmaking of the 1970s." ([60:00])

• Technical Shortcomings: They critique the film's technical aspects, such as inconsistent tone and lack of narrative coherence, humorously attributing some odd scenes to "chemically altered logic."

Cal comments on the narrative choices:
"They took that axiom and flipped it on its head. We're actually just going to tell you things that are happening that you won't see happen." ([68:32])

• Real-Life Incidents: The hosts reveal that some of the film's dramatic moments, including a mountain lion attack and accidental stunts, were genuine, adding a layer of authenticity to the otherwise disjointed narrative.

Cal shares an insider story:
"The fact that that buffalo comes out of Missouri is very telling... That's good." ([66:22])

• Humorous Observations: The discussion is peppered with humor as the hosts dissect improbable plot points and the film's attempt to blend documentary and adventure genres.

Brody humorously notes the film's realism:
"It's a beardalo." ([66:47])

Conclusion:
Despite its flaws, the hosts appreciate "Buffalo Rider" as a cultural artifact, offering insights into the 1970s' societal shifts and the era's filmmaking trends. Randall concludes with a nod to the film's enduring curiosity:
"Buffalo Rider becomes more than just a badly made movie. It serves as an inadvertent cultural artifact." ([72:35])

6. Final Announcements and Upcoming Events

Timestamp: [82:35] – [85:54]

As the episode wraps up, Randall and the crew share several announcements:

• American Venison Jerky Competition: Details to be revealed in the new year, encouraging listeners to perfect their venison jerky recipes. Randall notes, "The inbox has been overwhelmed with interest from prospective contestants." ([83:42])
• Holiday Orders and Merchandise: Reminders to place holiday orders for timely Christmas delivery, including the popular “fucked up old shitters” calendars.
• MeatEater Kids Podcast: Expansion of their kids' show with new episodes launching on November 25th, featuring educational segments and interactive activities for young listeners.

Cal enthusiastically promotes the Kids Podcast:
"It's a kids show. You listen to it with your kids... building up a little pot of money to donate to kids focused conservation organizations." ([85:54])

Notable Quotes

• Doug Durkin on Doe Derby Success:
  "We're up to about 25... We have five that have tested positive out of 11" ([07:11])

• Cal Callahan on First Elk Experience:
  "It was like, oh my God, somebody else could get this calf... a kind of conflicting young man experience." ([21:37])

• Randall Williams on "Buffalo Rider":
  "Buffalo Rider's unconventional construction... is representative of the low budget exploitation filmmaking of the 1970s." ([60:00])

• Cal Callahan on Pronghorn Conservation:
  "There's a lot of overlap in that space... habitat is king habitat and connectivity." ([39:04])

Conclusion

Episode 637 of The MeatEater Podcast combines engaging discussions on wildlife conservation, personal anecdotes from seasoned hunters and anglers, interactive segments that foster community involvement, and a thoughtful analysis of a cult classic film. Through its blend of education, humor, and camaraderie, the episode underscores the podcast's commitment to enriching listeners' understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

Listeners are encouraged to participate in upcoming events, share their own stories, and continue supporting conservation efforts through active engagement in initiatives like the Doe Derby and the MeatEater Kids Podcast.