The Wild Dispatch

Elizabeth Kligge is the Director of Hunter Recruitment for the National Deer Association, and oversees their Field to Fork and Deer Hunting 101 programs. Many adults don’t get to grow up around hunting, but thankfully there are folks like the NDA, who can make that process simpler. Both being ‘Adult onset hunters’ Robin and Elizabeth chat about their experiences learning to hunt, the difference between real barriers and perceived ones, deer overpopulation, venison donation, how to deal with ticks... but perhaps the most surprising detail about Elizabeth: Before she even picked up a weapon, she spent years learning tracking skills from one of the world’s best – the legendary Tom Brown Jr. So naturally we talk a bunch about tracking, bird language, and awareness in wild places.A huge thank-you again to Elizabeth for her time today!There's a bunch of resources available at the National Deer Association – Field to Fork and Deer Hunting 101for beginners… Thinking of mentoring new hunters? Sign up hereGive Elizabeth a follow on Instagram and Facebook,Give the NDA a follow on Instagram, Youtube and Facebook too ---Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube

Founder of Dryad Bushcraft, Andrew Thomas Price has been sharing his skills from the Gower Peninsula in Wales for over two decades. When the casting directors from History Channel's 'Alone' gave him the green light, He put those skills to the ultimate test. And what a performance he delivered! In this episode we cover a bunch of topics: Andrew's Alone experience, including prep and recovery, but also many other important life moments that shaped him into someone willing to face such a difficult challenge. Suffice to say there's a bunch of great stories in this one – lovely to get some extra context from the cheery Welshman with a GoProAgain a huge thank you to Andrew for sharing his time and fantastic stories with us today!Learn more about Andrew and book a course at dryadbushcraft.co.ukWatch Andrew on YouTube, and give him a Follow on Facebook, Insta and TikTok.Be sure to check out Bushcraft Magazine too!---------------Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube

More good times hearing stories at Ejler's fish shack. In this episode Robin and Ejler give a little post-match analysis on another incredible day on the ocean, along with a little history lesson from wild ocean times past.As always a huge thank you to Ejler for the entertainment.-----Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube

Growing up in New South Wales, Nero Buys had no idea he'd one day be representing Australia in the Alone World Championships. But, big life changes are not unusual for Nero... It's only through exploring many different careers, persistently searching for the right fit, and the right people, that he found himself alone, standing above three feet of ice in the Canadian wilderness. This is Nero's story – we find out what happened on Alone 13, and perhaps more importantly, why he even wanted to go in the first place.A huge thank you again for your time and stories Nero!Give Nero a follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... and check out Nerobuys.com too.Help kids connect with nature through Nero's NaturePost kits.Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.Chapters:0:00 Cold Opener0:37 Episode introduction2:57 Welcome and Possum Stick8:31 The path to Alone16:22 Lure of the North26:21 The journey to Canada28:32 Australian and Canadian cold33:00 Sourdough pizza and expedition meals38:30 Eating well on Alone45:23 The polar plunge lesson01:03:34 Preparing for Alone01:10:13 Beaver hunting and fieldcraft01:20:25 Axe craft and efficiency01:27:33 Gear, bows and hunting01:31:56 Fishing weir and adaptation01:45:14 Early life and schooling02:05:58 Military service and meaning02:21:58 Nature Post and time outdoors02:32:55 Episode closing

Growing up in New South Wales, Nero Buys had no idea he'd one day be representing Australia in the Alone World Championships. But, big life changes are not unusual for Nero... It's only through exploring many different careers, persistently searching for the right fit, and the right people, that he found himself alone, standing above three feet of ice in the Canadian wilderness. This is Nero's story – we find out what happened on Alone 13, and perhaps more importantly, why he even wanted to go in the first place.A huge thank you again for your time and stories Nero!Give Nero a follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... and check out Nerobuys.com too.Help kids connect with nature through Nero's NaturePost kits.Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

The only female In this season... Jacks not only represented the US, but the entirety of womankind for the Alone World Champs. As expected, in this episode Jacks shares her story with that trademark mix of brutal honesty combined with laugh out loud humor. A huge thank-you again to @wildcardjacks for sharing your time with us!Follow Jacks on Instagram @wildcardjacks and @wildcardwildernessBook survival courses, and learn more about Jacks at wildcardwilderness.com and jacksgenega.comGive Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

James Eastman is more than just a shark story. A family man, a teacher, and passionate lover of outdoor spaces both on land and ocean... the hefty label of 'shark attack survivor' is not one he'd choose. But, It's definitely the most unexpected challenge he's faced since a quick afternoon surf took a horrifying turn. In this episode James shares the whole story, and we're so grateful he didn't hold back, both in the detail of that moment, and his brutal honesty about the mental and physical toll an event like this takes.There is however one silver lining: James' wife Chloe Parris – an ER nurse at the hospital where James was rushed – has since founded The Minutes Matter Project. Their goal is to supply life-saving medical gear to remote surf beaches. Many of these beaches are zero-cell-service areas, so supplying something as simple as a tourniquet, will help give shark victims the minutes they need to survive.A huge thank you again to James for sharing his story today!Check out the Minutes Matter site and be sure to follow on Instagram too.Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

Some say Brendan Becker grew his enormous beard to soften the dangerously sharp wit that lurks beneath... Having worked as an international fly-fishing guide for many years. Brendan has taken clients and chased monsters in some incredibly wild places. Having hung up his guiding waders, he now passes on his knowledge and incredible stories to customers visiting the Johannesburg brand of Mavungana fly fishing - South Africa. Now we get to hear some too. Hang on folks, we've hooked a big one here.A huge thanks again to Brendan and Mavungana for allowing us to record in your space.Give Brendan a follow on Instagram, Follow the Mavungana site and Instagram while you're at it too.Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

Originally a journalist from the city, twenty years ago Holly stopped chasing copy deadlines, and started chasing wild game. Now an obsessed hunter of waterfowl, she's making up for lost time, by helping other latecomers to the hunting world. Simply sharing best ways to prepare for a hunt, AND how to make the most of the protein you harvest.A huge thank you to Holly for sharing her stories and knowledge with us today!Follow her on Instagram, YouTube and check out her linktree with a bunch of tips you never knew you needed.Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.00:00 — Welcome and podcast intro5:00 — Becoming an Adult-Onset Hunter7:20 — Growing Up Around Food10:43 — How Hunting Started12:04 — The Duck Dinner Moment13:25 — Holly's First Pig Hunt17:48 — Thinking About AI and Convenience19:14 — Why Animals Deserve Respect25:28 — Pushing Too Hard at Work30:07 — Why Duck Hunters Use Gear38:34 — Hunting Ducks Alone42:25 — Learning to Shoot Well53:15 — Bird Bands & Training Dogs69:24 — Why She Waited to Get a Dog80:37 — The Dog Training Journey

In this Episode Robin visits Doug Cockroft –founder of Splitting Image Taxidermy– in his incredible factory and studio space. The conversation delves into the journey of taxidermy, It's origins, the unknown passion involved, and the future of the industry. It explores the impact of importation rules and its evolving solutions to new challenges. Amongst Doug's own fascinating stories we also cover the evolution of 3D printing technology, the art of taxidermy and anatomy, tanning techniques, ethics and principles in taxidermy, and the discussion of hunting, conservation, and responsibility. We also couldn't tip our hat to the future of taxidermy without giving a comical nod to taxidermy 100 years ago.A huge thank you to Doug for the thought provoking chat, and to the Splitting Image team for their help setting up the space.Check out the Splitting Image websiteFollow them on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook tooGive Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.This episode dives into the fascinating world of taxidermy, guided by Doug Cocroft, founder of Splitting Image Taxidermy. We explore the history, technological advancements, ethical considerations, and the profound connection between hunting and conservation.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and the importance of respecting wildlife in taxidermy00:44 - Doug Cockroft’s entrance into taxidermy01:30 - The origin of taxidermy practices02:16 - The transformative role of hunting and conservation in Africa04:10 - The relationship between taxidermy and wildlife storytelling05:16 - Personal reflections on connecting with nature06:40 - The importance of patience, observation, and respect08:07 - Hunting versus non-hunting – A spectrum of attitudes09:13 - Memorable experiences and mishaps10:52 - The story of a vehicle mishap14:50 - The role of hunting18:49 - Transition from guiding to taxidermy20:00 - How 9/11 reshaped Doug’s career path into taxidermy21:40 - Early training and challenges in taxidermy25:12 - Doug's true passion for the craft and conservation’s role28:49 - The history and cultural roots of taxidermy in Africa and beyond38:31 - 3D printing, scanners, and chemical advancements42:17 - Evolution of techniques and technologies48:44 - Handling ethical considerations 53:01 - Taxidermy and creative, respectful expressions56:46 - The influence of legislation and poaching60:39 - The connection between hunting, storytelling, and societal perception64:18 - The importance of authentic outdoor experiences a65:33 - Resources and inspirations for those interested in taxidermy