I live in a part of the US with much opportunity to wing-shoot close to home - I usually have to travel to hunt. This being the case - my hunting is usually done in multi-day blocks. Besides the logistics and added cost, I have to say that I do love getting away on a hunting trip. Exploring new towns, comparing fields and covers from one year to the next, staying in quaint houses, cottages, and hotels and just getting to spend extended time with buddies and dogs - what’s not to love?
Most often, the destination changes for me but for some, there is a consistent and familiar place that calls them back year after year. Whether the accommodations are more primitive or high-brow, the concept of a hunting camp, or specifically for this episode a bird camp, is one that I have been familiar with for years but hadn’t experienced firsthand. Recently, I got an opportunity to change that. Joe Schwenke hosts the aptly named podcast 'Bird Camp'. Joe's podcast focuses heavily on grouse and woodcock hunting and conservation in his home state of Michigan.
After spending a few days with Joe at his camp and in a few of the grouse and woodcock covers in his area - I wanted to bring him on to discuss what their camp experience is like and to discuss how Joe focuses on protecting and giving back through local, I am going to call it micro- conservation throughout the year. It is always rewarding to see the money you give to large, national organizations being used for good conservation work but that isn't the only way to make an impact with your time, talents, and resources.
Required listening for every grouse/woodcock hunter:
Bird Camp podcast, 'A Bird Camp editorial' on Apple Podcasts
Bird Camp podcast, 'A Bird Camp editorial' on Spotify