Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Podcast

Anglers are hitting the nation's waters in big numbers already this season, but before they do, they're going to need to gear up. Host Rob Keck runs down the latest boating trends and products, with the help of Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and Rob Ferris, fishing pro and the MAKO Ops Support Manager for White River Marine Group.

Hear from two of the fiercest Geico Bassmaster Classic competitors; 4-time Bass Master Classic Champion & 7-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Kevin VanDam, and 11-time Bass Master Elite Series winner & the 2016 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Edwin Evers, who share the tips and secrets they used to get to the Classic, and how they intend to win it again.

With turkey seasons opening throughout the month of March, it's time to focus on America’s greatest Big Game bird, the wild turkey. George Thornton, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation, discusses the many milestones, opportunities, and achievements of this outstanding conservation organization, as well as how you can learn to shoot like a pro at the Palmetto Shooting Complex on the NWTF campus, and continue your outdoor education at their Hunting Heritage Center.

Walter Parrott, 5-time Grand National Wild Turkey Calling Champion and a member of the RedHead Pro Hunting Team, shares his wisdom and insight into some helpful tips for the upcoming spring hunting season. Parrott started turkey calling competitively in 1978, and is the only person to win every major turkey calling contest. He’s a 5-time Grand National Champion, 2-time Team Calling Grand National Champion, Grand National Champion of Champions, World Champion in Open and Friction Divisions, and a World Team Champion. Additionally, he is a 16-time U.S. Open Champion, and won the Masters Mid-America Open, as well as many state and local competitions. He is also one of the original members of BPS RedHead Pro Hunting Team. Additionally, Bass Pro Shops Communications Manager Katie Mitchell, provides some important updates on activities happening at Bass Pro Shops stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Hit the track in Daytona, Florida for the "Great American Race", at the site of the Daytona 500, with Ty Dillon, Clint Bowyer, and Martin Truex, all members of the Bass Pro Shops racing family. These men are not only winners on the track, but all are passionate and accomplished outdoorsmen, and they'll be talking about their love of speed, the great outdoors, and how they're preparing for the biggest race of the year.

This week, the show is broadcasting from the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, the joint national conventions for both the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, with the heads of both of those organizations; Troy Justensen, the President of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, and Miles Moretti, the CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation, discussing the Expo, the huge amount of money generated there from special hunting permits, and which species are most threatened in the West. Then, Greg Sheehan, Director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, shares how his state is addressing predator populations, and wildlife challenged by harsh winter conditions in the Rockies.

National Archery in the School's Program Vice President Tommy Floyd, and the International Bowhunting Organization's Ryan Bass, talk about the growth of N.A.S.P. and how youth, as well as the technology of shooting sports, are transitioning from old-school targets to 3-D animal targets to build the next generation of hunters.

Take a look at the image of the North American hunter and the future of hunting with some friends from the Boone & Crockett Club; Director of Marketing, Keith Balfourd, and the editor of B&C’s award-winning magazine “Fair Chase,” Doug Painter. They'll be discussing how hunters are viewed by the public, what the new administration in Washington means for the future of conservation and wildlife policy, and what hunting means to millennials and upcoming generations. Additionally, Bass Pro Shops Communications Manager Katie Mitchell, provides some important updates on activities happening at Bass Pro Shops stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Hear more from the 2017 Archery Trade Association trade show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Nick Pinizzotto, the President and CEO of the National Deer Alliance, and Mitch King, Director of Government Relations for the Archery Trade Association. In addition to the latest in archery and bowhunting, they'll be discussing the latest advocacy and policy developments for the shooting sports, as well as chronic wasting disease, a condition threatening deer populations in the U.S. like never before.

Head to the Archery Trade Association's trade show in Indianapolis, Indiana, with two leaders of the archery industry; President and CEO of the Archery Trade Association, Jay McAninch, and ATA's Director of Government Relations, Dan Forster. They'll be talking bows and arrows, changes and trends in the archery industry, the increase in popularity of crossbows and bowfishing, and much more.