Ahi Va

“Whether you say you can or say you can’t – you’re right.” While Henry Ford is credited with saying those words, Kalef Dile has lived them his entire life. Born without a left hand or forearm, Kalef learned at a very young age that the only limitations he has are those he allows himself to believe. After enjoying tremendous success as a youth athlete in multiple sports including football, marksmanship and jiu jitsu, Kalef discovered archery.

Like many things, the act of shooting a bow is a process that at first glance appears to require two hands and two ar...

Two long-time friends reconnect on this episode of the Ahi Va Podcast. Land Tawney once worked for the National Wildlife Federation. From there he went on to be the original CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. He led that organization for a decade. During that time he met Jesse Deubel and the two of them immediately became friends. While they've been working "in the arena" together for many years, this is the first in-depth conversation the two have had in quite some time. Follow along as Land explains what  motivated him to found his new organization, American Hunters and Anglers Ac...

A little white lie ultimately led to Joe Wilson becoming a national hunting celebrity. As humble as he is, Joe would never agree to being referred to as a celebrity. Even so, hunters, anglers, chefs and backyard barbecue fanatics around the country know Joe Wilson as the man who founded the World Champion Squirrel Cookoff [WCSCO]. Held every year in Springdale, Arkansas this event attracts thousands of curious minds from all around the world. In this episode of the Ahi Va Podcast, Jesse Deubel sits down with Joe to discuss the creation story of this unique and inspiring annual gathering. J...

The future of hunting depends on those who show up. Nate Serlin shows up. Just a few years after harvesting his very first deer, Nate found himself leading a collegiate chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

Despite having no prior experience working in professional conservation, Nate’s leadership resulted in huge success. In addition to permanently protecting critical wetland habitat, his collegiate chapter of DU raised an impressive sum of money. T

hat exposure to the world of protecting wild places and the activities he loves inspired Nate to pursue a career in hunting and fishing advocacy. In th...

In his book, "The Comfort Crisis," author Michael Easter writes, "Doing physically hard things is an enormous life hack. Do hard things and the rest of life gets easier and you appreciate it all the more.” In the book, he goes into great detail as to what a Misogi challenge is and what differentiates it from the plethora of other challenges we all face on a regular basis. The first rule of a Misogi is that it has to be really, really hard. In fact, when choosing to embark on a Misogi challenge there should be at least a 50% chance th...

This episode's guest, Andy Neal, is an outdoor and fashion model, filmmaker, producer, and content creator who has built a powerful presence across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Threads. His work has reached tens of millions of people, and he has gone viral numerous times through his nature focused storytelling, his honesty about mental health, and his signature Stupid Hike for My Stupid Mental Health series. With more than two hundred forty thousand followers on Instagram, fifty thousand on TikTok, ten thousand on YouTube, and eighty thousand on Facebook, Andy has become a trusted voice for people who want to...

From the roughest, driest deserts, to our towering, high-alpine peaks, Senator Martin Heinrich has explored the most remote public lands in New Mexico. As an avid hunter, angler, birder and forager, New Mexico's Senior United States Senator cherishes every opportunity to spend time outdoors. Sen. Heinrich is not shy about expressing his tremendous love for the state he proudly chooses to call home. His unwavering love for New Mexico and its wild places is always on clear display as he tenaciously represents the interests of all public land lovers while he carries out critical work in Washington, D.C. Conservationists from...

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance [DBA: NM Wild] is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and continued enjoyment of New Mexico’s wildlands and wilderness areas. Founded in 1997, they achieve our mission through administrative protection, federal wilderness designation, and ongoing stewardship. NM Wild has a membership of individuals from all corners of New Mexico and across the nation. Their organizing efforts span the state and involve many diverse groups, including ranchers, sportsmen, land grants, acequia communities, tribal and religious leaders, scientists, youth, and community leaders. They have a proven track record of building diverse coalitions to pro...

For this 55th episode of the show, it seemed appropriate to bring on the man responsible for starting the Ahi Va Podcast. In February of 2021 Brandon Butler was in New Mexico hunting over-the-counter barbary sheep with NMWF's executive director Jesse Deubel. As the two men drove to and from hunting spots they intermittently listened to a variety of hunting/conservation podcasts. As the owner of Driftwood Outdoors, Brandon was no stranger to podcasting.

In fact, following a successful hunt Brandon and Jesse actually recorded an episode of the Driftwood Outdoors Podcast.If you're interested in listening to that...

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is proud to announce our recently formed partnership with Legacy Ranch, a shooting range for everyone. At Legacy Ranch, their mission is to provide an exceptional experience for every customer and member while committing to quality across all aspects of their operation. Their focus remains on professionalism, safety, and innovation, ensuring that each venture enhances rather than compromises the overall experience. They strive to build a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. By supporting local churches, non-profit organizations, and youth programs, they aim to give back and make a positive impact beyond...

Less than 1% of hunters in the United States will ever harvest a bighorn sheep ram. One of the guests on this episode of the Ahi Va podcast talks about the disbelief he felt when he learned that he drew a very coveted tag for a Desert Bighorn Sheep in New Mexico's Fra Cristobal Range.

Garett Hayes joins the show to talk about his recent experience and share the story of the hunt and the harvest with our listeners. Accompanying Garett on that hunt and on this episode is his good friend and hunting partner TJ Montoya. Our host, J...

When Chrissy Streit met and later married an avid hunter she made it clear that she was never, ever going to hunt. As a very conscientious eater of animal protein, her opinions about hunting shifted over time. When the young couple began a family and the thought of both the origin and the content of the food they would feed their children came into play, Chrissy really began to experience a change of perspective. Now, a very accomplished hunter, gardener, forager and cook, Chrissy shares her journey with others online through her various "Forest and Farm" platforms. 

In th...

Andy McLaughlin joins the show from a remote island in Alaska where he lives off the land enjoying a true subsistence lifestyle. Having grown up with grandparents who were passionate about the outdoors, Andy became interested in nature at a very young age. Spending much of his childhood on farms in the Midwest, his early connections to the land ranged from farming to hunting, fishing and foraging. 

Well respected for his culinary skills and creativity in utilizing wild game in the kitchen, Jesse Deubel first met Andy on the “Hunt, Gather, Cook” Facebook page. This page was created by and...

On this very special episode of the Ahi Va Podcast listeners will have the opportunity to meet District 15; State Representative Dayan Hochman-Vigil. Having served as the Chair of the House Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee, Rep. Hochman-Vigil was instrumental in helping New Mexico become the very first state ever to develop a statewide Wildlife Corridors Action Plan. Now serving as the House Majority Whip, Rep. Hochman-Vigil continues to leverage her leadership and influence to advance New Mexico's conservation priorities. Joined by Judy Calman from Audubon Southwest, Rep. Hochman-Vigil and podcast host Jesse Deubel all discuss the behind the scenes...

New Mexico became a national leader in providing equitable opportunity to experience the outdoors when the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund was created in 2019. Now, more than five years later, the impact this program has provided to communities across New Mexico is undeniable. Listen in as Jesse Deubel speaks with Karina Armijo, the director of New Mexico's Outdoor Recreation Division. Karina Armijo has 27 years of experience supporting small businesses and events in Northern New Mexico in both the public and private sectors. After receiving a B.S. in Design from the University of Cincinnati, Karina spent time at Los Alamos N...

Senate Bill 5 [SB5], The Wildlife Heritage Act recently passed the NM State Legislature and was signed into law. SB5 provides a wholistic approach to updating the systems in place for wildlife management in New Mexico. This bill was supported by one of the largest and most diverse conservation coalitions ever to be assembled in the state. Each organization who worked tirelessly to help this necessary bill become law approached the goal from a unique perspective. The values, priorities and mission statements represented by the more than twenty groups who formed this united team are often quite different. One core belief...

Jesse Deubel invites David Willms, Associate Vice President of Public Lands for the National Wildlife Federation onto the show. Before joining the National Wildlife Federation, David served as a natural resources policy advisor to Wyoming Governor Matthew H. Mead, and a natural resource attorney in both the public and the private sector. He also teaches a graduate course on the Endangered Species Act at the University of Wyoming, and writes frequently on various wildlife and land management issues. A regular guest on many national hunting podcasts including Meat Eater and Hunt Talk Radio, David is well respected as a national...

Hunting is conservation. That phrase was popularized by David Allen while he was the CEO at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. David is a marketing genius. That phrase went viral and hunters continue to use it at every opportunity. There is a lot of truth to those words. For about the last 100 years hunters have been the primary source of conservation funding. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is an enterprise agency. The roughly $50 million dollars per year they operate with is not provided by tax dollars or other general fund appropriations. Instead, their budget is a result...

At Zulu, they believe that everything is better in hiking boots. Zulu Archery & Outdoors is a veteran-owned business that supports all local outdoor communities and provides outdoor experiences that can accommodate any explorer. Their outdoor services provide life-skill experiences through hiking, land navigation, camping adventures, and guided hunts. They specialize in creating outdoor experiences that help their customers grow in their physical abilities, confidence, problem-solving skills, and ability to adapt to different situations in nature. Zulu also provides Level 2 USA Archery Instruction that helps elevate the shooting skills of all ages and experience levels. In this episode, Jesse Deubel sits...

URGENT: The very existence of public lands in the United States of America is under the greatest threat conceivable. What would the loss of public lands mean for you, your family and the activities you enjoy? What if the road leading to your favorite trailhead or camping spot was gated and locked? What if you were blocked from your favorite hiking or fishing spot by "PRIVATE-NO TRESPASSING" signs. Whether you enjoy visiting National Parks, wildlife refuges, lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the United States Forest Service, all of these places are currently a...

Seek Outside designs and manufactures performance-built backcountry products in Western Colorado. The mission of Seek Outside is founded in their passion for the outdoors, wild places and the experiences they provide. The company exists to improve the all season backcountry experience, and to help protect and conserve the wild places we all love. In mid-October, Jesse Deubel had the opportunity to put some Seek Outside gear to the test during a muzzleloader elk hunt in the Gila. After the hunt he sat down with Kevin Timm, the founder and owner of Seek Outside to discuss the origins of the company, th...

Anyone who has driven through New Mexico recently has seen the large installations of wind turbines popping up across the landscape. If you've been next to a semi-truck carrying a single blade for use on one of those turbines you can appreciate the massive size of these windmills. These modern structures are drastically different from the old, rickety, wooden stands that might stretch 40' into the air and support a metal bladed pinwheel designed to pump water from the ground. These modern, power-producing, engineering marvels have caused concern for wildlife enthusiasts since their introduction. Pattern Energy is one of the...

Join NMWF's executive director Jesse Deubel as he talks with the president and president-elect of NMWF's board of directors. After spending his career with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, John Crenshaw has invested twelve years leading NMWF as a board member and perhaps as the longest serving president of the board. John shares some very interesting history about the organization and numerous issues that hunters and anglers in New Mexico care about. As John prepares for his second retirement, Jason Kerkmans has been elected to lead NMWF as the new board president. Jason recalls his first interaction wi...

Mandela Leola van Eeden sits down with Jesse Deubel to discuss "The Trail Less Traveled" and a wide array of global conservation topics. "The Trail Less Traveled," hosted by Mandela, is dedicated to documenting humanity & planet earth by gathering stories & sounds from the most remote locations around the world. 

Growing up, Mandela spent a season in South Africa, a season in Montana & various seasons traveling the world with her flight attendant mother & vagabond father. At an early age Mandela fell in love with juxtapositions between cultures, music, food & weather of the northern & southern hemispheres.  Mandela was raised on a n...

On June 3rd, 1924 the Gila Wilderness became the world's first ever administratively designated wilderness. Forty years later when the Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson the National Wilderness Preservation System was established and the Gila became a congressionally designated wilderness. Remarkably, even four decades before the United States Congress had the ability to designate wilderness, a U.S. Forest Service employee by the name of Aldo Leopold had a vision for the idea of wilderness protection. Leopold's unwavering commitment to protecting the Gila in its natural state led to the original designation. That initial, administrative...

On this special episode, Jesse Deubel talks with Brandon Butler about all things conservation including Brandon's newest film, "SHIRAS: A Nonresident Montana Moose Hunt."

Brandon Butler is a syndicated outdoor newspaper columnist and freelance magazine writer. His column, Driftwood Outdoors, has appeared in over 50 different newspapers and magazines, and currently runs in over 30 publications. He has won many awards for his outdoor communication work.

Butler has established himself as a conservation and outdoor media leader of his generation. He is currently the chief executive officer of Retrieving Freedom, Inc. Retrieving Freedom, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit...

On this very special episode of the show Jesse Deubel sits down to have a candid conversation with his good friend and mentor, Kent Salazar. Kent worked for 20 years as a director of environmental health for the City of Albuquerque. He was appointed by NM Governor Johnson to the Western Governors Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission to develop regulations to improve visibility in Class 1 wildlife areas; and Governor Richardson to serve on the NM Climate Change Task Force and develop transportation CO reduction programs. In 2009, he was appointed by NM Senator Jeff Bingaman to serve on the U.S. Senate's O...

The Arizona State Game Commission recently passed a rule to eliminate the practice of auctioning off select tags for big game species as a tool to raise money for conservation. Many people are concerned the reduction in conservation dollars will have a negative impact on wildlife in the state. Some advocates commend the commission in Arizona for their ongoing commitment to adhering to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and respecting wildlife as a public trust resource. In this episode, Jesse Deubel talks with Michael Cravens of the Arizona Wildlife Federation to discuss the nuances surrounding this recent rule c...

If one wants to learn to play the guitar, a quick search on Google will likely reveal a variety of instructors in your state willing to provide lessons. If you have a guitar, and maybe even if you don't, the process of beginning to learn how to pick the strings is relatively easy. A quick internet search, a couple phone calls and a few dollars later, one will likely be receiving professional coaching on how to produce music on that instrument. Overcoming the barriers to entry when it comes to hunting, and especially Western hunting is far more challenging. Generally...

Join Big Addison and Jesse Deubel as they discuss the history and magnificence of Columbus, NM and the vast public lands surrounding this quaint community. Today, most visitors to Columbus are there for a short stop while en route to Old Mexico. Situated just a few miles north of the port of entry to Palomas, MX visitors often stay on the US side of the border and walk over to Mexico for shopping, dining and reduced price medical care. The treasures of this region are plentiful and one of New Mexico's best kept secrets. A visit here wouldn't be complete...

"I'm only one person so I can't make a difference...said eight billion people." "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit."

Both of these quotes came up during this great conversation between Jesse Deubel, Matthew Monjaras, Justin Trussell and Anthony Lucero. This dynamic group discusses a variety of topics including waterfowl hunting, water management, habitat conservation and the importance of educational outreach. All four of these friends have shared time working in the conservation space and all four have enjoyed the fruits of their labor pursuing game...

Description: There are numerous barriers to entry for new hunters and those returning to the activity after a long absence. Recruiting a good mentor can help shorten the learning curve. Access to knowledge provided by a mentor can provide guidance regarding when, where and how to pursue our quarry. It's also important to be equipped with the right gear when entering the field, especially in remote, backcountry hunting situations.

In this episode Jesse Deubel talks with Sam and Natasha Wallick as they unpack the process they recently followed to get ready for their very first mountain...

In the last episode [episode 30] Jeremy Romero and Jesse Deubel covered the pre-hunt planning and preparation that ultimately contributed to confidence and success during the hunt. In this episode, the conversation turns to the series of events that occurred in the backcountry while pursuing the bull of a lifetime. The conversation continues on to discuss meat care, the pack-out and an array of other topics that will benefit any elk hunter. Combined, Jeremy and Jesse have roughly 50 years of experience chasing elk in the backcountry. Whether you are planning your first elk hunting trip or just fine-tuning skills you've spent...

In spring of 2023 Jeremy Romero, Regional Connectivity Coordinator with the National Wildlife Federation received the news that he had drawn a coveted public land elk tag through New Mexico's big game public draw. Jeremy immediately went to work on building a plan so he could make the most of this tremendous opportunity. Hall of fame automobile racer Bobby Unser said, "Success is where preparation and opportunity meet." With immense appreciation, Jesse Deubel, NMWF's Executive Director accepted an offer by Jeremy to accompany him on this hunt.

There is A LOT to cover from how the pre-hunt planning and...

In this episode Jesse Deubel interviews his good friend Matthew Monjaras about the tremendous work Matt is doing as the founder of Impact Outdoors. The mission of Impact Outdoors is to impact communities through education, conservation, and meaningful outdoor opportunities. Their team achieves this mission through strong relationships, community involvement, dedicated volunteers, and a strong passion for the outdoors. Jesse has had the privilege of participating in outings with Impact Outdoors focused on youth education and also on hunts designed to provide our nation's veterans with powerful and transformative outdoor experiences. You'll be amazed as you listen to Matt describe...

In the summer of 2022 the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish successfully acquired nearly 55,000 acres of previously private land and added it to the Marquez Wildlife Management Area. This public land expansion has already proven to provide significant benefits to wildlife and to New Mexico's human residents. This property was purchased by a willing buyer from a willing seller. In this episode, Jesse Deubel speaks with Jon Graham about Jon's recent hunting experience on the newly expanded Marquez Wildlife Management Area. Jon is a New Mexican resident currently serving in the United States Air Force and stationed in Missouri...

Dr. Blair Wolf is a professor of biology and as an ecological physiologist-animal ecologist is interested in how animals cope with challenges of desert environments. He is also a long-time member of the board of directors of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Recently, Blair Wolf helped to recruit the newest member of NMWF's board. Blair refers to Dr. Carlos Martinez del Rio as one of his mentors. Carlos recently retired from his position as a professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. He now serves on the board of NMWF from Silver City, NM...

In this episode Jesse Deubel shares a conversation recently had by Randy Newberg and Shane Mahoney. Herein, these two conservation leaders begin a deep dive into Conservation Vision's "Wild Harvest Initiative." This discussion is the first in a five-part series.The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is a proud partner of the Wild Harvest Initiative. We are honored to introduce you to the most comprehensive explanation of the Wild Harvest Initiative ever to be articulated. Enjoy the listen!

For more info:
Randy Newberg Website
New Mexico Wildlife Federation

New Mexico has become the poster child for the privatization of wildlife in the United States. The privatization, commodification and commercialization of wildlife, which is supposed to be managed as a public trust resource has countless consequences to the future of hunting. How is it that this state, with such a deep hunting culture and tradition allowed the opportunity to pursue wild game to become increasingly available to the wealthy regardless of residency status at the expense of New Mexicans?

In this episode, Jesse Deubel and Adrian Angulo sit down with a man who was selling hunting opportunities...

In this episode Jesse Deubel and John Stallone talk about the importance of reclaiming the wolf. As apex predators, human hunters and wild wolves have much in common. Over the years though, many hunters have perceived wolves as competition for the prey species that human hunters also pursue to feed our families. Perhaps because of this relationship that some hunters view as adversarial, the image of the wolf has been embraced and adopted by many organizations who use it to portray an anti-hunting agenda.

Nothing is more pro-hunting than the wolf. No sound in nature is a more...