Ep. 730: Dispatches from Africa - So You Wanna Be A Professional Hunter?

Summary

The MeatEater Podcast
Episode 730: Dispatches from Africa - So You Wanna Be A Professional Hunter?
Release Date: July 10, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 730 of The MeatEater Podcast, host Steven Rinella delves into the intricate world of professional hunting in Africa. Titled "Dispatches from Africa - So You Wanna Be A Professional Hunter?," the episode features an in-depth conversation with George Dodds, a fifth-generation Kenyan rancher and aspiring professional hunter. George shares his experiences managing a ranch in Laikipia, Kenya, navigating wildlife conservation challenges, and undergoing a formal apprenticeship to become a licensed hunting guide.

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Guest Background: George Dodds

George Dodds introduces himself as a fifth-generation Kenyan whose family has been in Kenya since the early 1900s. Raised on a ranch in Laikipia, a region slightly north of central Kenya, George's upbringing was steeped in both farming and hunting traditions.

George Dodds [03:29]: "I'm a white Kenyan. Fifth generation Kenyan. My great grandfather came to Kenya in the early 1900s and yeah, we've been born and bred every generation since."

His family operates a ranch that primarily raises Baran cattle, an indigenous breed, and engages in small-scale crop farming. The ranch is also a hub for diverse wildlife, mirroring the rich natural environment of the surrounding wilderness.

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Wildlife and Conservation Challenges in Kenya

George elaborates on the primary challenges faced by ranchers in Kenya, emphasizing the significant impact of elephants and leopards on their livestock and crops.

• Elephants:
  Elephants are cited as the principal culprits in crop destruction due to their sheer size and intelligence. They can devastate acres of maize crops within hours and have learned to circumvent electric fences.

  George Dodds [04:40]: "Elephant would probably have the biggest impact just because of sheer size... they can think about how to get into it."

• Leopards:
  Leopards pose a threat to both calves and adult cattle, with their stealth and strength making them formidable predators.

  George Dodds [05:16]: "Lions mostly. Lions and leopard. Leopard will take out our calves, but lion take out our big, our big fully grown animals."

Additionally, George mentions the cuelea, a bird species known for causing extensive crop damage, highlighting the multifaceted nature of wildlife challenges in the region.

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Professional Hunting Apprenticeship

A significant portion of the episode focuses on George's journey to becoming a professional hunter, outlining the formal process required by the Kenyan government.

• Apprenticeship Program:
  George is in his second year of apprenticeship, a mandatory two-year program under recognized hunting outfitters like Robin Hurt Safaris. This period combines hands-on experience with theoretical studies.

  George Dodds [15:13]: "It's a government thing. I think that's a standard for all wannabe professional hunters. You've gotta do an apprenticeship with one of the recognized hunting outfitters or hunting companies like Robin Hurt Saf. And then once you finish that, then you've got a theoretical exam which is pretty heavy."

• Examination and Certification:
  Upon completing the apprenticeship, candidates must pass a comprehensive exam covering laws and regulations related to hunting. A recommendation from the outfitter is essential to qualify for the exam.

  George Dodds [15:25]: "You have to get recommended to actually sit the exam. So if you've done your apprenticeship and the outfitter thinks, oh, he's not up to the task. You just won't be recommended to sit the exam."

• Language Proficiency:
  Proficiency in Swahili is critical for professional hunters in Tanzania, where George is training. Although Kenyan and Tanzanian Swahili share similarities, George notes subtle differences that require careful attention.

  George Dodds [16:22]: "Our Kiswahili is very different to Tanzanian Kiswahili... you can converse with anyone back home in Kenya and they'll understand me, but I need to think a bit and sort of use the correct words."

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Hunting Season and Practices

George outlines the hunting season in Western Tanzania, typically spanning from July to October. During this period, professional hunters engage clients primarily from American and European backgrounds, ensuring that hunts are conducted ethically and sustainably.

George Dodds [17:49]: "So typically in Western Tanzania, where we are now, it'll be from July up to October... The majority is American clients or European clients."

He emphasizes that hunting is seasonal and often managed alongside his ranching duties, allowing him to maintain his family's ranch while pursuing his professional hunting aspirations part-time.

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Fishing Adventures in Kenya

Beyond hunting, George shares his passion for fishing in Kenya's pristine lakes, particularly Lake Tucana, renowned for its beauty and abundant fish species like the Nile perch.

• Fishing Techniques:
  Recreational fishing is popular, with anglers targeting large Nile perch that can reach up to 250 pounds. George describes the use of hefty tilapia as bait to lure these formidable fish.

  George Dodds [08:36]: "Probably some of the most popular be null perch. Which is a really big, I mean they used to get up to sort of 200, 250lb freshwater fish."

• Fishing Location:
  Lake Tucana offers an adventurous fishing experience, requiring multi-day off-road travel, which adds to the allure and exclusivity of fishing trips.

  George Dodds [09:11]: "Where we catch them is a place of absolute beauty. Most guys fishing in a place called Lake Tucana... it's a bit of an adventure just getting there which makes it really special."

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Cultural and Environmental Insights

George provides a nuanced perspective on the interplay between conservation efforts and hunting traditions in Kenya. He discusses the historical context of hunting bans in the 1970s, primarily driven by conservation motives, a move that has shaped the current landscape of wildlife management in the region.

George Dodds [06:40]: "They banned all large game hunting. They kept bird hunting for a long time. I think that was banned in the sort of mid-2000s... it was definitely a big conservation move."

Furthermore, he highlights the symbiotic relationships within the ecosystem, such as the mutually beneficial association between termite mounds and local flora, demonstrating the complexity and interconnectedness of African wildlife habitats.

George Dodds [02:41]: "Termitalia is the termite mound. And then all these trees have what's called termitelia association... a symbiotic change in the soil relationship that's created by the kind of moisture and humidity that's going on inside that termite mound."

---

Future Aspirations and Closing Remarks

As George approaches the completion of his apprenticeship, he expresses optimism about his future in professional hunting. His goal is to establish himself as a reputable hunting guide, attracting international clients and promoting sustainable hunting practices.

George Dodds [20:10]: "So the next trick is, is to get your name out there and, and start getting some trips."

The episode concludes with a light-hearted exchange about recent hunting successes, reinforcing the camaraderie and shared passion for the wild that defines the hunting community.

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Notable Quotes

• George Dodds on Conservation and Hunting Bans:

  "I think that was a conservation move. Really." [06:12]

• On the Impact of Elephants:

  "Elephants hate bees... they really helps them keep them away from their crops." [04:16]

• Regarding Language Barriers in Hunting:

  "Our Kiswahili is very different to Tanzanian Kiswahili. So the first couple of months for me, every time I get back down here is quite a challenge." [16:25]

• On Professional Hunting Standards:

  "When you do come out here, you’re hunting with someone who knows what they're doing." [20:41]

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Conclusion

Episode 730 of The MeatEater Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of professional hunting in Africa through the lens of George Dodds' personal and professional journey. From managing a ranch in Kenya to navigating the rigorous process of becoming a licensed hunting guide in Tanzania, George provides valuable insights into the delicate balance between hunting traditions and modern conservation efforts. His experiences underscore the profound connection between humans and the natural world, embodying the podcast's mission to deepen understanding and appreciation of wildlife and conservation.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded to maintain focus on the core discussion.

Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Host 3]

Welcome to Africa Dispatch Flop three. And first, before we even introduce who we're talking to right now, we got to address the elephant in the room, which is this.

[George Dodds]

Tell my mount.

[Host 3]

Yeah, this is for you. People watching, not listening. This is one of the most. This is like a major feature of the landscape is. This is a termite hill. They're everywhere.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

And they got a little bit of an iceberg kind of thing going on. What you see above ground is much less than what's underground. So that's maybe a third of what's actually going on.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And this thing is. It's a mound. Looks like a mound of dirt. Probably nine, maybe nine feet high, eight or nine feet high, riddled with holes. But they're all over out here. And there's even a fancy term for this because we're in a big. We're near a big lakeshore and so we're in a big, like big open grass flat. It's kind of reminiscent of. It'd be reminiscent of like oak savannah in the US or in. In Florida. You get that grassland with the. Am I trying to think of Seth? The. Yeah, the. The grassland with the oak hammocks. But these hammocks are often based around these giant termite mounds which have a name. It's Morgan. Say again?

[Host 1]

The.

[Host 3]

The little territory made by the termite mound.

[George Dodds]

Termitalia.

[Host 3]

Termitalia.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, is the termite mound. And then the. All these trees have what's called termitelia association. So they like the. Got a bit of a symbiotic change in the soil relationship that's created by the kind of moisture and humidity that's going on inside that termite mound.

[Host 3]

Yeah. So if you were here scanning around, it's all grass. If it's standing up, it's like six foot grass with all these little clusters of trees here and there, and they're built around These giant termite mountains. With that said, George, is it Dodds. George Dodds. Who we're gonna talk to him today because he is doing his second year apprenticeship to become a professional hunter.

[Host 1]

Correct.

[Host 3]

And you are what's known as. You have to explain this to people. You're a white Kenyan.

[George Dodds]

I'm a white Kenyan.

[Host 3]

Yeah, explain. Explain that to everybody.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, Fifth generation Kenyan. My great grandfather came to Kenya in the early 1900s and yeah, we've, we've born and bred every generation since. Yeah, out of a small, small farming area in Kenya called Laikipia, which is sort of slightly north of central, central Kenya.

[Host 3]

And you guys farm and ranch there?

[George Dodds]

Yeah, yeah. Correct terminology would be a ranch. Yeah. So an indigenous cattle breed called the Baran cattle. And it's just a bit of a ranch and a small bit of crop farming, but yeah, full of game. Yeah, much like what we got going on here. Just wilderness really.

[Host 3]

Tell people why elephants hate drones.

[George Dodds]

Sound like bees. Elephants hate bees.

[Host 3]

I didn't know elephants hated bees.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, a lot of small scale farmers actually put, put beehives up around their crops because the elephants just hate that noise and it really helps them keep them away from their crops. Yeah, it's incredible.

[Host 3]

So when you guys, what is the number one things that do crop damage in, in, in, in Kenya? The number one, like farm and ranch hassles.

[George Dodds]

Elephant would probably have the biggest impact just because of sheer size. So you know, they, they get into a small, small piece of land, they do a huge amount of damage. They can, they can, you know, a group of elephant can clean out acres in, in a matter of hours of a maize crop. So yeah, they, they probably do the biggest damage. And then we've got the, the bird species, the quelea, which also do a massive amount of damage, but sort of large, large mammals would definitely be, would be elephant. And they're also so clever. They know how to break electric fences. Yeah, they can think about how to get into it.

[Host 3]

And what kind of stuff kills your cattle?

[George Dodds]

Lions mostly. Lions and leopard. Leopard. Leopard will take out our calves, but lion take out our big, our big fully grown animals.

[Host 3]

On your, like on your ranch at any given time. There could be African lions, elephants and leopards could be like on, in among your livestock or on your.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, we, we've usually got about four resident lions on the, on the farm, on the ranch and anywhere up to 60 elephant at one time. They move a lot depending on season and water availability as well as, you know, the cropping season for small scale farmers around us. So they'll move into an area when they, when the crops are and yearly ripening and they'll come in and eat it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

And then a lot of leopard. It's quite thick bush where we are. And then, yeah, we've got buffalo, eland and all the, all the antelope species as well.

[Host 3]

You know, a peculiarity of Kenya, or maybe it's not so peculiar in terms of all African countries, but the thing that always has surprised me as I've tried learning a little bit about Africa and reading books about Africa, is that Kenya, years ago, in the 70s, I believe, banned hunting. Yeah, I mean just like banned hunting across the, across the board. What was that conversation like? Why did that occur?

[George Dodds]

I can't speak much to why. You know, I wasn't around then. But yeah, they banned all large game hunting. They kept bird hunting for a long time. I think that was banned in the sort of mid 2000s. But yeah, they banned all sort of plains game, dangerous game hunting In I think 76, 77. And yeah, no chance of it opening anytime soon again.

[Host 3]

Was it like when it happened, was it regarded as a conservation move or just a cultural move?

[George Dodds]

I think a conservation move.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[George Dodds]

I think there was a lot of pressure to sort of move with the times. I think that was sort of the driving force and. Yeah, so definitely a big conservation move. Really.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

So even though you grew, so growing up in Kenya, you've come to like, you would go elsewhere in Africa and do big game hunting. Yeah, kind of like, like, I imagine would it feel. You're probably not that familiar with the States, but I mean, is, is it fair, fairly easy and fluid to. To bounce around and hunt?

[George Dodds]

It is, it is, it's. It's definitely. We can, we can access areas. I mean, southern Africa is probably the most popular and most accessible, but definitely Tanzania, Uganda, Central and central Africa, Cameroon.

[Host 3]

There's.

[George Dodds]

We can, you know, you can get to these places and you're.

[Host 3]

But you're. Prior to the band you were from, you were, you guys were a hunting family?

[George Dodds]

Yeah, yeah, we. My sort of great grandparents and great great grandparents were all, were all hunters. And yeah, I've been doing it, doing it for a long time and still shooting. We do a lot of sort of sport shooting. A lot of sport shooting is big in Kenya and that's. Yeah. So it's. There's no hunting, but there's still a lot of. Lot of sport shooting.

[Host 3]

And you fish there a lot.

[George Dodds]

A lot of fishing, great fishing. Some really interesting species as well.

[Host 3]

Like what? Like Describe the fishing to me. Like what kind of fishing does a person do in Kenya?

[George Dodds]

Sort of recreational fishing. Probably some of the most popular be null perch.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[George Dodds]

Which is a really big, I mean they used to get up to sort of 200, 250lb freshwater fish.

[Host 3]

Oh, I thought a Nile perch was a tilapia.

[George Dodds]

No, no. So Nile perch eat tilapia.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[George Dodds]

That's, that's a really good bait that we use. Live bait.

[Host 3]

So Nile perch, that's not the same thing.

[George Dodds]

No, totally different. Much bigger. Yeah. I mean when we're fishing for big, big Nile perch, we'll use up to a 2 pound size tilapia to, to catch a nal perch.

[Host 3]

Oh, no kidding.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, they, they, they're big and they're, they're a bit like bass in, in the way they, they sort of ambush and love structure. So it's really fun fishing. Yeah. And you, you, you guys eat those? We do, we keep the little ones. I mean they're, they're, they're getting a bit rare now the numbers, there's a lot of pressure on them, fishing pressure. So we release a lot of the big ones but they're, they're very good eating and where we catch them is a place of absolute beauty. Most guys fishing in a place called Lake Tucana which is I think the one of, if not the longest desert lake in the world, which is northern Kenya. And it's what we would call a safari, not a hunting safari, but a safari just getting there take you two or three days all off road driving, no access to sort of shops or anything like that. So yeah, it's a bit of an adventure just getting there which makes it really special.

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[Lake Pickle]

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[Host 2]

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[Lake Pickle]

Together we'll seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people.

[Host 2]

Who dedicate their lives to conserving both. After all, you can't love what you don't understand. Search Bear grease on Apple, iHeart, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast and.

[Lake Pickle]

Hit that follow button to enroll in Backwoods University.

[Host 2]

Now.

[Host 3]

I want to refer real quick to the to the very familiar uniform that people might see with with people from Africa that hunt.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You guys run the shorts.

[George Dodds]

Yep.

[Host 3]

You know you're getting mauled all day by Tatsi flies.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, I, I, I, I hate hunting and or sort of cruising around in in trousers. I just get too hot. I run hot.

[Host 3]

Oh yeah. But then the flip side is you get mauled by flies.

[George Dodds]

Get more by flies. I I kind of look at it that you know, you kind of just let them eat you for two weeks and then your body gets used to it.

[Host 3]

Does it?

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 3]

Because I'm kind of like a few of us, a few of us Americans are having some like having some reaction body feelings.

[George Dodds]

Yeah. No we all, we all get those. Yeah. I first week is always tough.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Like a tingly poison ivy kind of Feel from too many Tatsi fly boys, some welts.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

So that's. That fades away.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[George Dodds]

After one or two weeks it goes.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And you run those cute little gators.

[George Dodds]

Yep, run the gators. Keep the birds and everything out of the socks.

[Host 3]

Yeah, that's keeping your socks clean.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, keep the socks clean. Nothing worse than itchy socks.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

And then just some good, quiet leather boots.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You want to like. I understand you got your ranch responsibilities, but you're doing an apprenticeship to become a professional hunter.

[George Dodds]

Indeed.

[Host 3]

To work. To hunt in Tanzania and be a hunting. What would professional hunter being like? What we would recall a, you know, a hunting guide in Tanzania.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Does that mean you're going to walk away from ranching?

[George Dodds]

No, I'll do it part time.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[George Dodds]

You know, hunting is very seasonal and it also depends on how many trips you can do. So I'll definitely sort of stay on the farm, run the farm, and then when I get a trip, I'll come down and do the work.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

What draws you to doing the professional hunting?

[George Dodds]

I just grew up a bush kid on the farm, you know, just being outdoors. Both my parents were. Were photographic guides as well. My mom was a botanist. So.

[Host 3]

Yeah, she described some species of plants.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, described a few. She specialized in aloes, so, you know, aloe vera, sort of African species. So she's described a couple of. Couple of aloes. So my. My childhood was sort of spent traveling across Kenya and into Ethiopia searching for different species of plants, which took us to some incredible places. Far out places that most people don't go to off the beaten track and just fell in love with being in the bush and just. Yeah, it just gelled with me. And this is. This is as close as I can get to that.

[Host 3]

Is the process formal? Meaning you have to do two years of apprenticeship. Is that because of who you want, because you want to work for Robin Hurt Safaris, or is that a government thing?

[George Dodds]

It's a government thing. I think that's a standard. Standard for all wannabe professional hunters. You've gotta do an apprenticeship with one of the recognized hunting outfitters or hunting companies like Robin Hurt Saf. And then once you finish that, then you've got a theoretical exam which is pretty heavy. And you've got to get all the law and everything. It's quite extensive. Yeah. So you finish your two years of apprenticeship. I think, obviously, you know, you have to be recommended to actually sit the exam. So if you. If you've done your apprenticeship and the outfitter thinks, oh, he's not up to the task. You just won't be recommended to sit the exam. And then you can't sit the exam without a recommendation.

[Host 1]

Got it, yeah.

[Host 3]

Morgan mentioned to me, like, I was kind of marveling how he was born in Australia, came here and learned the Swahili language. Ki Swahili, as he always says. And he said, you can kid yourself and think you can do it without, but you gotta have some language.

[George Dodds]

Absolutely.

[Host 3]

But Kenya. In Kenya, the national language is English.

[George Dodds]

It's also Kiswahili.

[Host 3]

I was, okay, all right.

[George Dodds]

Our Kiswahili is very. Is very different to Tanzanian Kiswahili. So the first couple of months for me, every time I get back down here is quite a challenge. I would describe Tanzania and Swahili as sort of a very, very correct, very polite language. Whereas. Sorry, which one is the Tanzanian? Whereas our Kenyan SW is quite colloquial. A lot of other languages thrown in there. So I can converse with anyone back home in Kenya and they'll understand me, but I need to think a bit and sort of use the correct words and not sort of use all these colloquialisms that we use in Kenya.

[Host 3]

Got it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

So it's tricky. And yeah, I think if you don't speak Swahili. Yeah, I mean, most of our guys don't speak English, so, yeah, language barrier is a big thing.

[Host 3]

So did you grow up. You grew up bilingual?

[George Dodds]

Yeah, Yeah. I actually spoke Swahili before I spoke English. My. My mum and dad said, well, he's obviously going to speak English. You know, I went to an English English boarding school. So they just said, okay, everyone, don't speak to these kids in English speak. And they spoke to us in Swahili until we were fluent in Swahili. And then once we were fluent, then they spoke. Spoke to us in English.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

Which has been a godsend.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

So you'll. You'll finish apprenticing this year?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And then next season. And we should clarify. Season is. What do you guys think of as a season? The hunting season.

[George Dodds]

So typically in. In Western Tanzania, where we are now, it'll be from. From July up to October.

[Host 3]

Okay.

[George Dodds]

So, yeah, so hopefully by. By next. Next July, I'll be. I'll be fully qualified if all goes.

[Host 3]

Well, and you might come here and hunt.

[George Dodds]

That would be. That's the goal. Yeah, this is. This. Yeah, this is the standard for me. This, this Luganzo tonguewe game reserve is. Yeah, it's unbelievable. It's pure, pristine wilderness.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[George Dodds]

As you've Seen.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Host 3]

Best thing, you know, prior to coming here, I went out to Masai land.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You know, and that was so cool in its own right, where you're, you know, you're out in. In that like, very desert, like open grassland. And, you know, every couple hours or whatever you see, you're seeing, I mean. Well, one you can never look around and not find out in the open. You can never look around and not find animals.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

[Host 3]

There's always something there. But every couple hours or whatever, there's like a group of Maasai kids coming through with some goats. Their parents, you know, they make water runs with donkeys loaded with jugs of water. So you'll see a string of, you know, women with, you know, a dozen donkeys low, with water going across. And it's like a working landscape. And mixed within this is all this wildlife. And it's, it's stunning. It's like, amazing. But here you are in like one of the pure, pure more vast chunks of wilderness I've ever been in.

[George Dodds]

Yeah, absolutely. I think we've got different sort of classes of land use in these, in these wildlife areas in Tanzania. And this, this area is a game reserve. So there's no, there's no permanent settlement. There's no semi permanent settlement. The only access guys will have is permitted honey harvesting, which is. You'll see. You've seen all those beehives.

[Host 3]

Yeah, no, I'm fascinated by it.

[George Dodds]

Incredible. So we get guys coming in about twice a year to come and check on their hives, harvest their honey, but other than that, it's. It's pristine wilderness. Yeah, there's no one here. There's nothing here.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And then when you start, you'll, you'll engage with clients.

[George Dodds]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Now do you imagine, like, do you imagine that you, you'd probably have clients from off the continent, right?

[George Dodds]

Yeah, absolutely. I think the, the majority is, is. Is American clients or European clients. So. Yeah, that's the, that's the next trick is, is to get your name out there and, and start getting some trips. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll hopefully get some, get some trips for the company if I, If I make the cut. Yeah. So it's, it's a long, it's a long, slow process, but it's. I think that's what it's all about. That's, you know, at the end of the day when you do come out here, you. You're hunting with someone who, who knows what they're doing.

[Host 3]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I don't want to interfere in it, but good luck on getting the okay.

[George Dodds]

Thank you.

[Host 3]

I feel like you might be gonna. Yeah, I feel like you're maybe gonna get the okay.

[Host 1]

I haven't.

[Host 3]

I feel like somehow if you weren't, we wouldn't be talking to you. I just feel like it'd be awkward.

[George Dodds]

But fresh is on.

[Host 3]

I feel like you might get the okay.

[George Dodds]

Better do some studying.

[Host 3]

All right, last note. When we ended the last the last flop edition, we're heading out back on the trail of some buffalo. And that night, we got one. I'm not gonna give you any more detail than that, but we got one. We've been eating them.

[George Dodds]

Yep. And he's a beauty of specimen.

[Host 3]

Three times yesterday and two times today.

[George Dodds]

Yeah. Indeed. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we're doing.

[Host 3]

All right. Thanks, man.

[Host 1]

Cool.

[Lake Pickle]

Ever wonder what happened to the hundreds of thousands of buffalo that used to.

[Host 2]

Call the eastern United States home?

[Lake Pickle]

Or what caused the rise and fall of bobwhite quail? Backwoods University, hosted by me, Lake Pickle, is the latest addition to the Bear.

[Host 2]

Grease Feed on Meat Eaters Podcast network.

[Lake Pickle]

Together, we'll seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people.

[Host 2]

Who dedicate their lives to conserving both. After all, you can't love what you don't understand. Search Bear grease on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast, and.

[Lake Pickle]

Hit that follow button to enroll in Backwoods University.

[Host 1]

Now, this is an iHeart podcast.