Blazin' Grazin' And Other Wild Things

You don’t have to be applying for cost-share money to ask NRCS for help with your land. Whether cedars are crowding out grass, a pond isn’t meeting your needs, or you’re wondering how many cattle a pasture can support, a conversation with your local office can be a useful first step.

Duel Brown, Oklahoma’s State Grazing Lands Specialist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, joins Oklahoma State University Extension hosts John Weir, fire ecologist; Laura Goodman, rangeland management specialist; and Mark Turner, wildlife specialist. Together, they explain how technical assistance, grazing plans, soil inf...

A pronghorn running across the Oklahoma Panhandle is a familiar prairie sight, but its future in the state deserves a closer look. In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, Oklahoma State University wildlife professor Sue Fairbanks joins John Weir, Laura Goodman, and Mark Turner to unpack a five-year research project investigating the population’s decline. By combining field research with aerial survey data, researchers estimated an average annual decline of about 15% over the period discussed. GPS collars also helped answer an important question: the monitored animals were not simply migrating out of Oklahoma and escaping the count...

Fall migration is underway across Oklahoma, but the millions of birds moving through the Great Plains face challenges that aren't always easy to see. In this episode of *Blazin' Grazin and Other Wild Things*, Oklahoma State University wildlife ecologist Scott Loss Ph.D. joins John Weir, Laura Goodman Ph.D. and Mark Turner Ph.D. to explore the remarkable movement of migratory birds and what those birds can tell us about the landscapes around us. Loss explains why cold fronts and north winds can trigger major fall movements, how tools such as Merlin Bird ID and BirdCast are changing the...

The traditional spring burn window may be keeping land managers from accomplishing as much as they could with prescribed fire. University of Nebraska professor and rangeland ecologist Dirac Twidwell Ph.D. joins John Weir, Laura Goodman Ph.D. and Mark Turner Ph.D. to examine how fire behavior, burn-unit design, wind, drought, fuels and season interact—and why a calendar date or simple weather threshold does not tell the whole story about whether a burn can be safely and effectively completed.

The conversation also tackles eastern redcedar and woody encroachment from a different direction: manage the seed so...

Eastern redcedar can take productive grazing land out of production surprisingly fast, and Nebraska ranchers in the Loess Canyons have learned that prescribed fire can be one of their most powerful tools for taking that country back.

Nebraska rancher and Nebraska Prescribed Fire Council President Scott Stout and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Prescribed Fire Coordinator Brian Teeter join John Weir, Laura Goodman and Mark Turner to talk about the evolution of prescribed fire in Nebraska. They explain how landowners built prescribed burn associations, improved cedar mortality with cut-and-stuff techniques, expanded to larger burn units and learned...

Eastern red cedar is no longer just a brush-management problem—it is affecting Oklahoma’s wildfire risk, water, wildlife, forage and rural landowners’ bottom lines.

Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director Trey Lam and Oklahoma state Rep. Mike Dobrinski join OSU Extension specialists John Weir, Laura Goodman Ph.D. and Mark Turner Ph.D. to explain how Oklahoma moved from decades of talking about cedar encroachment to putting money, research and management on the ground. They discuss the Terry Peach watershed effort, prescribed fire and cedar-removal assistance, research on water and soil response, and why landowners may pay a much...

Summer deer nutrition can shape what hunters and landowners see in the fall.

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, John Weir, Laura Goodman Ph.D., and Mark Turner Ph.D. explain what white-tailed deer really eat and why forbs, fresh browse, sunlight, and prescribed fire matter for deer health. The crew talks through practical habitat management for Oklahoma and the Southern Great Plains, including cedar control, canopy thinning, seasonal burning, food plots, and why feeding wildlife often falls short compared to growing better native forage.

Key takeaways:

Stocking rate is the grazing decision that affects nearly everything else on the land — cattle performance, native pasture health, wildlife habitat, prescribed fire options and long-term ranch profitability.

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, John Weir talks with Laura Goodman Ph.D. and Mark Turner Ph.D. about what stocking rate really means, why timing matters, and why grazing density is not the same thing. They explain how heavy stocking can reduce cow breed-up, calf weaning weights and individual gains, while also weakening the plant community and shrinking future forage production.

Key ta...

Wild turkey numbers rise and fall for a lot of reasons, but better brood habitat may be one of the most practical things landowners can influence right now.

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, Dr. Mark Turner, Oklahoma State University Extension wildlife specialist, joins John Weir and Dr. Laura Goodman to talk through what turkeys need after nesting season. They cover poult survival, forb-rich brood cover, cedar encroachment, roost trees, grazing, fescue control, prescribed fire, predator pressure, and why landowners can have a bigger impact than regulation changes alone.

Key takeaways:

Eastern redcedar control is becoming one of Oklahoma’s biggest land, water, and wildfire issues—and this episode explains how the Oklahoma Conservation Commission is turning concern into action. John Weir, Laura Goodman Ph.D., and Mark Turner Ph.D. visit with Trey Lam and Trampas Tripp about the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Pilot Project, a program designed to reduce invasive woody species, protect rural communities, improve rangeland health, and put more water back into Oklahoma soils and streams.

The conversation covers how cedar control moved from years of talk to funded work on the grou...

What does the Oklahoma Conservation Commission actually do, and how does it work with local conservation districts across the state? In this episode, Trey Lam and Lisa Knopf-Owen join the Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things crew to explain how Oklahoma’s conservation system grew from Dust Bowl-era roots into a locally led network supporting landowners, communities, and natural resources.

The conversation covers flood control, water quality, soil health, prescribed fire, brush management, and cost-share programs that help producers put conservation into practice. It’s a practical look at how voluntary conservation, strong partnerships, and local leadership keep Okl...

This episode is made possible by support from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

Wildfire preparedness isn’t just a checklist — it’s a resilience plan for your ranch, your family, and your community. In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, hosts John Weir and Dr. Mark Turner talk with OSU Extension Agriculture and Food Policy specialist Amy Hagerman, Ph.D., about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire or other disaster.

They cover practical steps that reduce loss (parking equipment on bare ground, shutting buildings to keep embers out, splitting hay into multi...

Dr. Karen Hickman sits down with John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner to talk invasive plants across the Great Plains—what’s here, what’s coming, and why our best defense often starts with a clean pickup, a better plant choice, and a tighter contract. 
We walk through Callery/Bradford pear’s “overnight” takeover, Old World bluestem’s misnamed reputation, and how sericea, Johnson grass, privet, kudzu, honeysuckle, tree-of-heaven, Siberian elm and others move from roadsides to rangeland.

You’ll hear field-tested tips: early detection/rapid response, where to scout first (gates, pens, ditches), what to...

Dr. Esben Kjaer joins the Blazin’ Grazin’ hosts to talk fire, forage, and the fine art of managing rangelands for both cattle and wildlife. 
His work from Kansas to North Dakota reveals how prescribed fire and strategic grazing shape biodiversity—from plant and insect communities to nesting birds. 
He shares what happens when conservation meets production, and how landowners can use grazing without losing habitat.

The conversation also dives into fire aversion, Kentucky bluegrass invasions, and why fire still beats grazing when it comes to restoring native prairies. 
From the challenges of burning in the froze...

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, Noble County rancher Grady Parmley joins the team to share how prescribed burn associations empower landowners to use fire as a powerful tool for grassland management. Grady recounts his own journey from being intimidated by fire to leading burns on thousands of acres through the North Central Range Improvement Association. With insights from OSU Extension experts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner, the episode explores how local PBAs foster neighborly cooperation, reduce wildfire risks, and improve both livestock and wildlife habitat.

Listeners will hear...

What do grasshoppers, prescribed fire, and peer pressure have in common? 
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jason Harmon, the new head of Oklahoma State University’s Natural Resource Ecology and Management department, to find out. 
From his early days counting insects in Wisconsin to leading research on pollinators and rangelands in North Dakota, Dr. Harmon brings a wide-lens perspective to land management—one that blends ecology, culture, and community.

Hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner chat with Dr. Harmon about everything from cattle grazing and monarch migration to how la...

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, we hear from Kayla Moss, Extension Assistant at Oklahoma State University, about her groundbreaking research in Oklahoma. 
Moss shares how she tackled the invasive sericea lespedeza using a combination of fire, herbicide, and grazing. 
She discusses how growing-season burns, when followed by a well-timed herbicide application, delivered the most effective long-term control—reducing sericea cover from 35% to under 1%.

The episode also explores the unexpected return of native legumes after treatment, the resilience of sericea seedbanks, and the practical trade-offs producers face when balancing cattle gains with eco...

The New World Screwworm, once thought gone from U.S. pastures, is creeping north again—and it’s bad news for both livestock producers and wildlife enthusiasts. 
In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, Dr. Jonathan Cammack of OSU Extension walks listeners through the pest’s history, the landmark sterile fly eradication program, and the sobering reality that it’s now only 300 miles from the U.S. border. 
We explore how the insect’s gruesome feeding habits devastate livestock and deer populations, why winter weather offers only partial protection, and what producers can do to spot and trea...

In this episode, John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner sit down for a conversation about Forest Stand Improvement (FSI) and how it plays a big role in shaping better wildlife habitats for deer, turkey, and quail—especially right here in Oklahoma. 
They swap stories and share how FSI differs from Timber Stand Improvement (TSI), and why even folks without marketable timber can still benefit from these management techniques.

You’ll hear plenty of real-world advice—how to get more sunlight to the forest floor, which trees to keep or cut, and what tools make th...

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner dig deep into the value of growing season burns. 
They discuss how summer fires, often underused due to misconceptions about safety, can be the most effective tool for land managers dealing with eastern redcedar, poor forage quality, and wildlife habitat degradation. 
Drawing on years of OSU Extension research and firsthand experience, they reveal how fire during the warmer months can be slower-moving and safer than many think.

Listeners will learn how these burns enhance plant nu...

Oklahoma’s public lands don’t stay healthy by accident. In our latest episode, Jeff Pennington—Central Region Supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation—details how his team shepherds more than 125,000 acres of WMAs with a heavy dose of prescribed fire, targeted grazing, and common-sense biology. 
Deer now headline the habitat bill, but everything from quail coveys to moist-soil wetlands benefits when fire keeps brush in check.

Jeff shares what it takes to ignite 16,000-plus acres a year on a three-year rotation, why summer flames can be gentler than winter ones, and how ODWC’s burn crew...

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, Josh Richardson from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation unpacks the challenges and triumphs of managing wildlife habitat on the state’s overwhelmingly privately owned lands. 
With a background in both private and migratory species work, Josh brings a wealth of experience to the table—from quail tracking with GPS to helping landowners realistically match goals with land capacity. 
He highlights the importance of passion, persistence, and partnerships in building thriving ecosystems.

Listeners will hear stories of grassroots conservation in action—friends clearing cedars, landowners creating fir...

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we travel through the story of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve with Bob Hamilton from The Nature Conservancy. 
Bob shares how this iconic Oklahoma landscape transitioned from a failed federal park plan to a flagship private conservation project. 
He recounts the acquisition of the land, the reintroduction of bison, and the development of a dynamic management model that utilizes fire and grazing to simulate natural prairie processes.

Joining Oklahoma State University’s John Weir and Dr. Laura Goodman, Bob discusses how fire behaves on the prairie, how...

In this fiery new episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we bring the heat with special guests from Quail Forever—Tanner Swank and Adam Ray. 
They join host John Weir and Dr. Mark Turner to discuss how fire, community collaboration, and science-based management are revitalizing Oklahoma's native grasslands and Cross Timbers. 
Learn how Quail Forever's landscape-level work benefits not only game species like bobwhite and pheasant, but also pollinators, deer, and the entire ecosystem.

From confronting cedar invasion to empowering landowners through prescribed burn associations, this episode dives deep into practical strategies and insp...

In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, we’re honored to host Dr. Dave Engle, Regents Professor Emeritus at Oklahoma State University and a pioneer in fire ecology. 
From wildland firefighting in New Mexico to building OSU’s fire program with just two torches and a vision, Dave shares an incredible career rooted in science, stewardship, and some good ol’ fashioned trial and error. 
His stories are vivid, his impact undeniable, and his passion still burns bright.

We dive into the origins of patch-burn grazing, the challenges of managing the Cross Timbers, and why east...

What do a gas can, a helicopter, and a barrel of napalm have in common? 
They’re all part of Dr. Terry Bidwell’s wild (and true) stories from decades of rangeland management in Oklahoma. 
In this episode ofBlazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, Dr. Bidwell — emeritus professor and longtime OSU Extension specialist — shares how prescribed fire, patch grazing, and a deep understanding of native plants can turn overgrown pastures into thriving, profitable landscapes. 
From chasing helicopters to chasing quail, his experience is equal parts science and grit.

We dive into the real-world application of fire on the...

In this episode, we're joined by Cole Fagen, the coordinating biologist for the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture, and Ken Gee, a conservation delivery specialist. Together, they work with landowners to implement wildlife habitat management, focusing primarily on upland and grassland birds in southern and northern Oklahoma and central Texas.

In this episode, we dive into how technical and financial assistance is helping landowners across Oklahoma and Texas implement prescribed fire and other habitat management practices that restore native grasslands and improve wildlife habitat. The Oak and Prairies Joint Venture plays a vital role by providing boots-on-the-ground...

We discuss Ken's extensive background, from his early experiences with prescribed burns and wildlife research to his insights on deer behavior and habitat management, offering listeners a blend of practical knowledge and entertaining anecdotes.

Key Insights

- The importance of Bois d'Arc or Osage Orange as a year-round deer food plant, with dried leaves maintaining high protein content even in winter.

- The limitations of the Severinghaus method for aging deer, suggesting it's only reliable for categorizing deer into fawns, yearlings, and adults.
- The value of prescribed burns as a wildlife...

Turkey populations are not doing as well as we would like. 
Many states have noticed declines in various metrics, including poults per hen. 
Oklahoma has seen similar trends, with reduced poults per hen numbers and some evidence of reduced harvest.

Five Essential Key Takeaways

Turkey populations are declining: Across the southeastern U.S., turkey populations are not thriving as they once did, prompting extensive research efforts to identify the causes and potential solutions.

Habitat changes impact turkey populations: Subtle landscape changes, such as cedar encroachment in western Oklahoma, can significantly reduce th...

Key Takeaways From This Episode

- Fire is Essential for Healthy Grasslands: I realized that without fire, grasslands transition into woodlands and eventually forests. Fire is a natural and necessary component for maintaining these ecosystems.

- Oklahoma's Plant Diversity is Astounding: I was fascinated to learn that Oklahoma is the second most diverse state in the nation for plant species, ranging from Ponderosa pine to loblolly pine, creating a unique environment for land management.

- Integrating Livestock and Wildlife Management: It struck me how the synergy between livestock and wildlife management is growing...