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The Kentucky Afield Podcast allows you to explore Kentucky’s wildlife and learn new fishing or hunting techniques or outdoor opportunities from the convenience of your mobile device or computer. Join host Chase Wininger and co-host Lee McClellan as they sit down with a variety of guests to discuss a wide array of topics that relate to outdoors enthusiasts across the Bluegrass state. Tune in, subscribe, and stay in the loop when it comes to everything Kentucky outdoors!
Chase is an executive producer for the Emmy Award-winning TV show Kentucky Afield and is an avid outdoorsman himself. He enjoys hunting everything from small game and turkey to deer, coyotes, and bears. In the warmer months, you can also find him wading or kayaking streams and rivers across the state in pursuit of smallmouth bass, musky, and every species in between.
Lee is the associate editor for Kentucky Afield Magazine with a strong passion for fishing. He is the author of the award-winning Blue Water Trails series of articles profiling fishing and paddling opportunities across Kentucky. He is the author of dozens of stories for Kentucky Afield magazine, ranging from how-to stories on fishing or hunting as well as historical and wildlife-focused pieces.
Turkey season is right around the corner in Kentucky, and there’s no better way to get prepared than hearing straight from the source. In this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, we sit down with Zak Danks, the Turkey Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, to break down what hunters can expect this spring.
With Youth Season set for April 4–5 and the General Statewide Season running April 18 through May 10, Zak shares why optimism is high heading into 2026. Thanks in part to strong cicada hatches over the past two years, turkey numbers are looking solid across much of the state. Hunters in western Kentucky can expect a great crop of 2-year-old gobblers, while central and eastern portions of the state should offer a healthy mix of jakes and mature toms.
We also dive into the science behind the season. Zak walks us through ongoing research efforts—including banding studies, GPS-tracked hens, and audio monitoring of turkey vocalizations—and explains how this data is shaping management decisions and ensuring sustainable hunting opportunities for years to come.
Whether you're a seasoned turkey hunter or gearing up for your first season, this episode is packed with insights to help you hit the woods with confidence.
This week’s episode takes a storytelling approach to fisheries management with Jay Herrala of the Rivers and Streams Research Branch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, we sit down with KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm to talk about the path that led him from a passion for the outdoors to leading the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Rich shares how his early hunting and fishing experiences shaped his interest in conservation and influenced his career and leadership style.
On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast we're joined by David Baker, KDFWR Central District Fisheries Biologist! We're talking about what's "hot" right now in regards to fishing, and some of the best-eating species that the state has to offer are currently on the menu. We'll discuss how and where to target them for wintertime fishing success! Fisheries crews across the state are also preparing to install a massive amount of habitat in lakes across the Commonwealth, made possible by Christmas tree donations that are coming in from the public right now. We'll tell you how and why these habitat sites are built, as well as where you can find locations for them online.
On this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, we're joined by Dr. John Hast, Bear and Elk Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, for an in-depth conversation on black bears and bear hunting in the Commonwealth. With Kentucky currently in the middle of its rifle season for bears, we're breaking down why the season is timed the way it is, the long-term goals of Kentucky’s bear program, and how season dates help meet those management objectives.
Modern Firearms Season kicks off this weekend, and deer hunting doesn’t get much better than this! In this episode of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, we’re joined by Deer Program Coordinator Joe McDermott to talk about the latest deer research shaping management decisions across the Commonwealth — including a GPS collar study that’s shedding light on how deer move as the rut approaches. The results point to great conditions for hunters hitting the woods this weekend.
This week, we’re joined by Rachel Crume, KDFWR’s R3 Program Coordinator, and Megan Bagby from the R3 Branch. We kick things off with early season deer hunting strategies, and Rachel—who’s also an experienced deer tracker—shares valuable post-shot advice every hunter can use this fall.
In this episode, we’re joined by Tommy Apostolopoulos, Wildlife Biologist with the KDFWR Deer Program, to talk all things early season deer hunting in Kentucky.
We sat down with KDFWR R3 Coordinator Rachel Crume to talk about the importance of recruiting, retaining, and reactivating outdoor enthusiasts—for the future of conservation in Kentucky. From Learn to Hunt and Fish classes to Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops and Annie Oakley Range Days, there are more ways than ever to get involved. Plus, we dive into some of our own hunting and fishing experiences, and learn a bit about big-game tracking from an expert in the field!