The MeatEater Podcast, Ep. 759: It’s September! (Again!) | MeatEater Radio Live!

Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Randall Williams
Guests/Panel: Ryan Callahan (“Cal”), Seth Morris, Mark Kenyon, Ben Batten, Producer Phil
Theme: Outdoor life in September—hunting, fishing, conservation, public lands policy, wild foods, and listener interaction. This live MeatEater Radio episode mixes humor, advice, field stories, and expert interviews for a lively start to fall.

Episode Overview

Kicking off September and the fall hunting season, this episode brings a blend of personal outdoor updates, deep dives on conservation policy, hands-on advice, and interactive listener segments. Highlights include an in-depth discussion of the Roadless Rule controversy, the critical role of interstate resource commissions, practical backcountry tips, and light-hearted fare like show & tell and food talk. There’s a live audience, big gear giveaways, and lots of friendly ribbing.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Segments

1. Fall Outdoor Prep & Personal Updates

[02:04–07:59]

• Hunting Season Anticipation:
  • Cal is about to depart on an Alaska brown bear hunt—his first as a hunter, previously only a packer—sharing how balancing “adult responsibilities” makes preparing mentally tough.
    • “It's huge. And I'm just trying to get in a mental place with all the adult responsibilities where I can just focus on nothing but that.” – Cal [02:53]
  • Seth is more excited for fall fishing (walleyes/smallmouths/rifle hunting) than archery season.
• Nostalgic Local Fishing Encounters:
  • Randall details a visit to his Ohio childhood fishing spot, noting increased regulation and lost freewheeling access.
    • “We used to have Fight Club down there. You know, it used to be the Wild West.” – Randall [05:18]
  • Cal shares efforts introducing kids to antelope camp and classic catfishing—emphasizing outdoor mentorship.

2. Roadless Rule Debate: Conservation at a Crossroads

Interview with Mark Kenyon, Wired to Hunt Podcast Host

[08:05–19:56]

• What is the Roadless Rule?
  • A 2001 Forest Service regulation protecting 58.5 million acres of national forests from new road construction, with exceptions for fire management and wildlife improvement.
  • “These are really, really special places…some of our last, best backcountry elk hunting spots, mule deer hunting spots, high country trout spots…” – Mark Kenyon [10:32]
• Why the Rule is in the News:
  • The current administration proposes rolling back roadless protections, citing the need for timber production and forest management.
• Arguments from Both Sides:
  • Rollback rationale: Increase timber yields, address perceived management shortfalls, reduce wildfire risk.
  • Support for maintaining rule: Preserves rare unfragmented habitat; exceptions already allow for fire/habitat management; roads themselves are correlated with fire ignition; rollback enables large-scale mineral extraction.
  • “This wholesale rollback… seems the wrong way to go about this, at least my 2 cents…” – Mark Kenyon [16:09]
• Geographical Stakes:
  • While roadless areas exist in 39 states, the largest impacts would hit the Western U.S.—especially Alaska's Tongass National Forest (9 million acres protected).
• Action Steps for Public Involvement:
  • 21-day public comment period is open—hunters, anglers urged to submit feedback before September 19.
    • “This is the democratic process. This is our opportunity… to ask our elected officials… to do what's best for the public and the long term future of these places.” – Mark Kenyon [19:17]

Memorable Segment:

• Cal gives a nuanced “color commentary” on roadless: “There is a history of litigation by certain groups when the roadless rule is used, as it should be, to try to build roads for the purposes of habitat and things like that. Like there’s a lot of suing that goes on...” – Cal [21:00]

3. Show & Tell: Found, Read, and Essential Gear

[26:24–34:01]

• Seth: Bison skull discovered in Montana while hunting with his wife—a spontaneous find highlighting “buried treasures” on the landscape.
• Cal: Book recommendation: This America of Ours: Bernard DeVoto and the Fight to Save the Public Lands, a conservation history with current relevance.
• Randall:
  • “Deuce #3” trowel for burying waste in the woods (“imagine a long-haired border collie rolling in your feces”)—PSA on responsible backcountry ethics. [32:20]
  • Recovering a lost rifle bipod days later thanks to GPS tracking—a plug for backtracking tools and preparedness.

4. Q&A and Hot Tips from Listeners

Food, Gear, and Hunting Advice

• Favorite Dove Recipes: Cal: Don’t overcook, try ground sausage-stuffed jalapeños; Seth: Dove in spaghetti sauce [34:20]
• Fishing for Huge Walleyes: Seth encourages checking survey data, not just famous lakes.
• Boot Insoles: Cal: Try in-store, test for arch fit, comfort [39:01]
• October Elk Tactics: Cal: Herds are vocal—cow calls bring in satellite bulls [40:18]

Hot Tip Off: Live Voter Contest

[41:52–50:18]

• Tip 1 (Nick): “Self-progressing workout”—train for hunting while hiking with kids in carrier/backpack. “Gets you some points with the wife 'cause she's got a couple hours to not have anybody hanging off of her.” [43:13]
• Tip 2 (Chad): Use waxed 9-strand string for hanging elk quarters—super strong, lighter than paracord. [44:01]
• Live vote winner: Chad and the waxed string tip.

5. Conservation in Action: MICRA and the Mississippi River Basin

Interview with Ben Batten, Arkansas Game and Fish [52:26–60:53]

• What is MICRA?
  • 28 states, federal agencies, and tribes coordinate to manage the vast, multi-state fisheries and habitats of the Mississippi River Basin.
  • “A fish can swim from the Gulf 1200 miles without ever running into anything…” – Ben Batten [55:07]
• Top Issues:
  • Scale/scope of the basin; invasive carp; need for coordinated resources.
• Push for Commission Status:
  • Would allow direct congressional recognition and $30–50 million in funding for fisheries management, modeled after existing commissions (Great Lakes, Flyway Councils).
• Bear Attack in Arkansas:
  • First in 25 years—a rare event, involved a yearling bear; authorities responded swiftly.

6. Trail Cam Photo Contest (Presented by Moultrie)

[62:11–70:34]

• Four user-submitted elk trail cam photos in contention for a major prize package (trail cams, gift cards, knives).
• Live Vote Winner: “Brothers” trail cam photo—two bulls together in wild country.
  • “None of these animals are guaranteed to be there when you show up. Number one's like, man could be anywhere. Look at this country. But I know they're here somewhere.” – Cal [68:55]

7. Final Q&A – Favorite Encounters, Field Tips, and Rituals

[71:00–82:41]

• Non-target Animal Watching: Squirrels, bugs, bears, birds—panel shares why watching wildlife never gets old.
• Pre-Season Rituals:
  • Get home obligations squared away so you can focus on hunting.
  • Some start practice shooting 11 days out (jokingly).
• Meat Safety After Long Tracking:
  • “Smell test… salvage every edible thing you can.” – Seth [73:41]
• Wild Game Pizza Toppings: Duck, goose salami, or just classic sausage.
• Scent Cover for Hunting: “Walk into the wind… [scents sprays] overcomplicate life.” – Cal [74:32]
• Food Storage in Predator Country: Always hang food, even for rodents.

Notable Quotes & Lighthearted Moments:

• Skyline Chili/Ohio Tour Recap
  • Randall celebrates eating spree: “I had five [cheese coneys] plus [a] three way. And then the next day I went to the Reds game. ...I wanted more, but time didn't allow.” [36:56]
• Chad’s Hunt Photo Update: “If I were you, I'd just roll around on that underside of that bull so you can take that smell home with you for months.” – Cal [61:51]
• On trail cams: “It takes some of the mystery out of the woods. But at the same time, I also am jealous of not getting constant email updates…” – Cal [63:45]
• On field defecation: “Just grab the deuce and release the deuce, as I like to say.” – Randall [33:25]
• On conservation swings: “I for one, [am] very sick and tired of a Democrat administration coming in, swinging the pendulum extremely one way, and then a conservative administration coming in and swinging it completely the opposite way. When I feel like most Americans are like, 'oh, this thing in the middle makes sense.'” – Cal [24:22]
• On public land theft: “The reason that folks were [able to] take all this awesome stuff away from us is because folks weren’t paying attention.” – Cal [31:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:14–02:04: Show open, guests assemble
• 02:04–07:59: Personal outdoor stories, pre-season plans
• 08:05–19:56: Mark Kenyon on the Roadless Rule controversy
• 21:00–24:22: Cal’s commentary on conservation policy
• 26:24–34:01: Show & Tell: field finds, book recs, and essential tools
• 34:10–41:52: Listener Q&A (recipes, gear, hunting tactics)
• 41:52–50:18: Hot Tip Off contest (winner: Chad and wax string hack)
• 52:26–60:53: Ben Batten on MICRA and interstate fisheries management
• 62:11–70:34: Trail cam photo contest (winner: “Brothers” photo)
• 71:00–82:41: Final audience Q&A, animal watching, rituals, safety tips, and closing banter

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, unscripted—plenty of self-deprecation, playful teasing, and authentic camaraderie.
• Irreverent and practical—mixing deep issues (public lands, conservation funding) with offbeat field tales and quirky listener advice.
• Interactive—the live audience is deeply involved, voting and commenting, and the crew riffs off chat input.

Final Thoughts

This episode perfectly captures September’s spirit for hunters, anglers, and outdoorspeople: anticipation for the season, serious concern for public land access and conservation policy, and a light touch that never takes itself too seriously. It weaves together expert voices, grassroots tips, live contests, and memorable field stories—delivering an engaging, informative hour-plus for anyone who cares about wild places and wild pursuits.