S4 E4 - Jason Matzinger Talks Shed Hunting, Off-Season Prep, and Hunting with Your Kids

Mule Deer Foundation - Talking Mule Deer Podcast

Jason Matzinger Talks Shed Hunting, Off-Season Prep, and Hunting with Your Kids – Season 4 Episode 4 – March 12

On this episode, we are talking with Jason Matzinger, host of Into High Country and an ambassador for the Mule Deer Foundation. Spring brings the chance to get back into the field looking for shed antlers and Jason describes how he uses shed hunting as a way to scout and learn about behavior. But we also talk about how spending time out on winter range when the deer and elk are already stressed from a tough winter can be a significant challenge for their survival. Some states have created shed hunting seasons or set restrictions on when people can get into the winter range, but personal ethics and awareness of the stress it can cause are critical. Jason gives us some tips about what he does in the off season to get ready for the next hunting season, and he tells the story about how a nice buck gave him and his son the slip this past season. We then talk a bit about how hunting with our kids and beginning hunters becomes a new motivation after years of hunting. We wrap up hearing about what projects Jason has on the horizon, his role in helping Conservation Continue at MDF, and what some of those conservation efforts are looking like in the coming year.