Episode 81 Pursuing the Himalayan Snow Cock with Matt Hardinge
It never fails that I learn about a new function of backpacking at least a few times a month. While watching a few YouTube videos a while back, I came across a film detailing a backpack hunt that wasn’t like something I’d seen before. It all looked familiar, but the game pursued was a bird and that bird was the Himalayan Snow Cock.
I’d never once heard of someone backpacking into the backcountry specifically for a bird hunt, but because of the nature of the Snow Cock, there’s really no other choice. As I watched the film I became enamored with this new idea of pairing bird hunting and backpacking together. Once the video ended, I researched who made it and voila, Episode 81 was born.
On this episode I interview Matt Hardinge, one of the hunters in the film and who also happens to be a representative of the organization Pheasants Forever. We cover everything from what the Snow Cock is, how it was introduced, why it’s so difficult to hunt, and what Pheasants Forever is doing to protect birds of all species so they can flourish as their natural habitat becomes increasingly damaged.
By Land,
Emory R. Wanger
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Show Notes
Introductions
Matt’s background
Accessibility to public lands
Introduction to the Himalayan Snow Cock
How Matt found his way to pursuing this bird
What makes the Snow Cock so difficult to hunt?
How to hunt these Snow Cock’s
Transitioning from the standard bird hunt to a backpacking bird hunt
Why the bird was introduced into North America
Conservation in the world of birds
What habitat upland birds need to survive
How hunting plays a role in the conservation of a species
The general feel for how bird populations are currently doing
Intro to the Pheasants Forever Organization
How acquiring land works with the Org.
How Matt came to do what he does
Why Matt is attracted to the outdoors
Recruiting new hunters
Matt’s favorite way to cook game birds
How to reach Matt or learn more
