The Kansas BHA Podcast

Kansas Backcountry Hunters and Anglers presents the Kansas BHA Podcast. An entertaining show about all things related to the preservation of the wild being wild.

Episode 122- Jan. 2025 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary 03/24/2025

Episode 122- Jan. 2025 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary Kansas BHA board members Marshal Loftus and Kurt Ratzlaff break down the most recent KDWP commission meeting on January 30, 2025. This was an interesting meeting to say the least! We have time stamps listed below for referencing the recording. If you want to skip our banter at the beginning of this episode, skip to the 8:50 mark. Time Stamps For referencing Commission Meeting Recording 21 min- Eyeworms in Quail 43 min- Trail Cam Ban Discussion 1:09- Thermal Coyote Hunting 1:39- Law Enforcement Perspective on Thermal Hunting 2:25- Back From Break 3:09 Commission Tag Drawing 3:11 Waterfowl Discussion 3:26- Levi Jaster Whitetail Populations and Antlerless Permits /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/35837090

Episode 121- Ryan Callaghan 03/18/2025

Episode 121- Ryan Callaghan Kansas BHA board members Marshal Loftus, Kyle Pokorny, and Kurt Ratzlaff sit down with BHA's North American Board Chair & Meateater's Director of Conservation Ryan Callaghan. We were short on time but we discussed a wide range of topics around BHA, keeping a positive attitude while hunting, and much more! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/35707630

Episode 120- Pheasants Forever with Bob St. Pierre 02/25/2025

Episode 120- Pheasants Forever with Bob St. Pierre Kansas BHA board members Marshal Loftus, Chad Woods, & Kurt Ratzlaff sit down today to discuss Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever and the upcoming Pheasant Fest Event in Kansas City with Bob St. Pierre. Bob is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for PF/QF. We hope to see you at Pheasant Fest! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/35388760

Episode 119- Kansas Outdoor Heritage Alliance- with Kansas Bowhunters Association 01/13/2025

Episode 119- Kansas Outdoor Heritage Alliance- with Kansas Bowhunters Association Kansas BHA board members Marshal Loftus and Kurt Ratzlaff sit down with Jamie Howater and Shawn Harding from the Kansas Bowhunters Association to discuss a new alliance of "Hook & Bullet" groups here in Kansas. Kansas Outdoor Heritage Alliance is a group of 14 (and growing) hunting and fishing based groups. The goal of KOHA is to make the voice of average hunters and anglers heard in Kansas both at the legislative and commission level. contact Kansas BHA at Check out the /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/34816440

Episode 118- Taking Kids on a Western Hunt- New Mexico Oryx 12/27/2024

Episode 118- Taking Kids on a Western Hunt- New Mexico Oryx This one is a little unique. KS BHA Board Members Marshal Loftus and Kyle Pokorny sit down to talk about their recent hunting trip to New Mexico. This isn't just a hunting story though. We wanted to provide a little perspective on taking kids along on a Western/Out-of-State hunt. It's not easy but we highly recommend taking your kids along any time it is possible. Enjoy! Check Out Our For Upcoming Kansas BHA Events /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/34626850

Episode 117- Nov. 2024 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary 12/09/2024

Episode 117- Nov. 2024 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary Kansas BHA Board Chair Marshal Loftus and Kansas BHA Legislative Chair Kurt Ratzlaff breakdown and summarize the most recent KDWP Commission meeting. These meetings can be long and exhaustive so we are summarizing these to keep our members and listeners engaged! If you want to jump past our rambling and story telling at the beginning, go to the 11 minute mark. KDWP Commission Meetings can be found /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/34354050

Episode 116- NDA Director of Policy Catherine Appling-Pooler 11/18/2024

Episode 116- NDA Director of Policy Catherine Appling-Pooler Today Marshal Loftus and Kurt Ratzlaff sit down with Director of Policy . NDA does a great job of monitoring wildlife legislation in each state and letting their members know what is going on. Catherine is a wealth of knowledge on wildlife commission issues and policy issues regarding wildlife. She has written some great articles which are linked below. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/33973987

Episode 115- October 2024 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary 10/23/2024

Episode 115- October 2024 KDWP Commission Meeting Summary Kansas BHA Board Chair Marshal Loftus and Kansas BHA Legislative Chair Kurt Ratzlaff breakdown and summarize the most recent KDWP Commission meeting. These meetings can be long and exhaustive so we thought this might be a good way to keep our members and listeners engaged! KDWP Commission Meetings can be found /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/33589897

Episode 114- 2024 Kansas Upland Hunting Forecast 10/10/2024

Episode 114- 2024 Kansas Upland Hunting Forecast Kansas BHA Chair Marshal Loftus sits down with Jeff Prendergast from KDWP, former KS BHA board member Jeff Hancock, and KS BHA board member Chad Woods. We discuss habitat conditions, and the forecast for hunting Pheasants, Quail, and Prairie Chickens in 2024/2025. Don't tell anyone, but it is looking pretty dang good folks! The Official KDWP 2024 Upland Forecast is now live as well! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/33404337

Episode 113- KDWP Commission with Lauren Queal Sill 07/29/2024

Episode 113- KDWP Commission with Lauren Queal Sill Kansas BHA board members Marshal Loftus, Kyle Pokorny, and Kurt Ratzlaff sit down with former KDWP Commission member Lauren Queal Sill. We discuss all things commission related including: How the commission works, misconceptions, rumors, changes to the commission, and much more! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/32337432

Episode 112- Extension Master Naturalists 06/17/2024

Episode 112- Extension Master Naturalists Arn Eccles and Amy Keigher join the KS BHA podcast today along with KS BHA board members Chuck Bartlett and Marshal Loftus. If you would like to learn more about the Extension Master Naturalist program, check out their website below. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/31760389

Episode 111 - Kansas Walleye Recruitment 05/06/2024

Episode 111 - Kansas Walleye Recruitment On this episode we join KDWP as they collect walleye eggs at Hillsdale Reservoir to rear at the KDWP hatcheries and redistribute around the state! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/31159903

Episode 110 - Mushrooms with Lyndzee Rhine 04/05/2024

Episode 110 - Mushrooms with Lyndzee Rhine Lyndzee Rhine drops some mushroom knowledge on us and discusses what is hot in the mycelial world. Pick up some hot tips on where to find them in the woods and understand what makes them pop! The pocket guide we used: Check out Lyndzee discussing mushrooms with pictures! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/30694343

Episode 109 - State of the Kansas Turkey 03/21/2024

Episode 109 - State of the Kansas Turkey Kent Fricke, the Small Game Coordinator for KDWP, gives us an update on all things Turkeys in the state of Kansas. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/30476018

Episode 108- Kansas Forest Service 03/06/2024

Episode 108- Kansas Forest Service Today we sit down with Chris Mullins from Kansas Forest Service to discuss the variety of services offered by KSFS and much more. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/30254158

02/23/24 UPDATE - ACTION ALERT Contact Legislators Part 2 - Feb 22nd, 2024 02/23/2024

02/23/24 UPDATE - ACTION ALERT Contact Legislators Part 2 - Feb 22nd, 2024 02/23/2024 UPDATE - HB 2671 & HB 2672 ARE DEAD. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS REGARDING HB 2582 & SB 347. Another short episode detailing 4 bills that are currently alive in legislation that would be bad for the Kansas Outdoors. Tune in to learn more about these and reach out to your legislator to oppose these bills! BHA Blog Post Discussing the Bills: Find your Legislator: SB 347 - Senate Confirmation of KDWP Commission Bill Link: HB 2582 - Changing the KDWP Commission Selection Process Action Alert: Bill Link: Hearing Youtube Video: Committee Passing of Bill Youtube Video: HB 2671 - Refunding Nonresident Hunting Licenses Bill Link: Hearing Youtube Video: Committee Passing of Bill Youtube Video: HB 2672 - Issuing Landowner Appreciation Deer Permits Bill Link: Hearing Youtube Video: Committee Passing of Bill Youtube Video: /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/30082388

Episode 106 - Kansas Legislation & Bills 101 02/16/2024

Episode 106 - Kansas Legislation & Bills 101 Important Episode for Kansas Outdoors! Marshal, Kurt, and Kyle sit down with Sean Miller, a Kansas Legislative Lobbyist to discuss how legislative bills work their way through the Kansas legislative system and what bills outdoorsmen and women need to be paying attention to in Kansas. We found this very informative and hope you do too! Please contact your legislators regarding the bills below! Contact us at for any questions or comments! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/29991038

ACTION ALERT- Contact Legislators 2_8_2024 02/09/2024

ACTION ALERT- Contact Legislators 2_8_2024 There are 2 bills in the KS Legislature that need your immediate attention, and another with a hearing scheduled for Feb 16th. Contact your legislators at the links below and lets get these bills killed! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/29868028

Episode 104- Hal Herring 01/24/2024

Episode 104- Hal Herring Today we are joined by well known writer, conservationist, and host of the BHA "Podcast and Blast", Hal Herring. Hal is a wealth of knowledge, especially in regards to public lands. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/29613798

Episode 103- Randy Newberg 01/03/2024

Episode 103- Randy Newberg On this episode we have the honor of sitting down with well-known hunter and conservationist Randy Newberg. We cover a wide range of topics, but primarily we focus on legislative issues that we face as hunters and anglers here in Kansas. We hope this episode motivates our listeners to get involved and stay engaged with the processess that affect us and our ability to enjoy the great outdoors. to stay up to date with our chapter, and be notified when impactful decisions are being made in the legislature or wildlife commission. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/29310033

Episode 102 - Flatlander Elk Hunts 12/22/2023

Episode 102 - Flatlander Elk Hunts Join the Kansas BHA board as they delve into this year's Elk hunts, exploring the extensive preparations undertaken for the adventure. While some members experienced success, everyone had a memorable journey. The discussion encompasses physical conditioning, gear selection, and e-scouting, highlighting the year-long preparation leading up to the hunt. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/29202873

Episode 101 - The ESA with the USFWS 12/06/2023

Episode 101 - The ESA with the USFWS We sit down with Laura Mendenhall of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and discuss how the Endangered Species Act works, ESA listed animals in Kansas, and lots of other stuff. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28883833

Episode 100 - The Century Mark 11/15/2023

Episode 100 - The Century Mark It's fitting that Episode 100 is probably one of the best we have ever done. I seriously mean that. This episode is so freaking good. We do a total recap or some of the more interesting and fun episodes with plenty of humor, commentary, and recollection of good and bad times interjected. Enjoy. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28636458

Episode 99 - Sandhill Cranes in Kansas 11/01/2023

Episode 99 - Sandhill Cranes in Kansas Ok, get your toxic free shells out, brush up on your fowl identification, and listen in as we talk about one of the most interesting birds in the Kansas airspace...Sandhill Cranes. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28474793

Episode 98 - The Annual Upland Forecast 10/18/2023

Episode 98 - The Annual Upland Forecast We sit down with Jeff Prendergast and talk about what the uplands will hold this fall. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28352483

Bonus Episode 97 - Deer Baiting Part 2 10/05/2023

Bonus Episode 97 - Deer Baiting Part 2 Everyone got to hear a light hearted rant against baiting in Episode 95. Here's a turn from another BHA KS Board Member presenting additional perspectives from the other side of the deer stand. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28232900

Episode 96 - The Trivia Championship 10/04/2023

Episode 96 - The Trivia Championship "The Elite...Best of the Best!" Trivia champions from the summer's various pint nights unite to find out who the Grand Champion is. Take a listen and find out what you don't know about all things Kansas hunting and fishing. This podcast even includes a snippet about what we THOUGHT we knew! /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28198250

Episode 95 - Baiting Deer 09/20/2023

Episode 95 - Baiting Deer So, in this episode three Kansas board members make an argument for why the baiting of deer is not needed in the great state of Kansas. Included in the show is an invite to anyone who is a BHA member to come on and make an argument for the baiting of deer. Not a member...sign up and come make your point. I'm an open minded guy. Just last week I tried sushi. I still don't like sushi and it will be an uphill battle to convince at least me baiting deer is deer hunting. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/28088744

Episode 94 - Lots of Doves 09/07/2023

Episode 94 - Lots of Doves In this episode we visit with the State's Dove bioligist on all sorts of stuff about Dove. Have a listen and enjoy. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/27968670

Episode 93 - Partnerships for Fish and Wildlife 08/16/2023

Episode 93 - Partnerships for Fish and Wildlife In this episode we talk with the USFWS and a southwest Kansas rancher about the Parternerships for Fish and Wildlife Program administered by the USFWS. Learn how this program is making better habitat for lesser pairie chickens, helping with water quality, and increasing ranching production. /episode/index/show/kansasbha/id/27746319

The Kansas BHA Podcast

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