American Roots Outdoors w/ Alex Rutledge
Join Alex Rutledge along with Co-Host Wayne Lach & Mike "Redbone" Crase as we cover a variety of topics from Deer Hunting, Turkey Hunting, Fishing and today's top headlines...... all while Sharing our Faith! We will also have Special Guest appearances from some of the Hunting Industry's biggest names and Country Music Stars you all love!
American Roots Outdoors w/ Alex Rutledge
Paul Campbell - Path to the NWTF
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
How looking for a new hat online changed his life and career! Paul Campbell shares his story of luck and now living a dream making a difference in the outdoors!
To follow Paul Campbell:
https://instagram.com/paulcampbell322?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
To follow American Roots Outdoors Podcast:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/448812356525413
To learn more about American Roots Outdoors:
https://americanrootsoutdoors.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRootsOutdoors/
To follow Alex Rutledge:
https://www.facebook.com/americanrootsalex/
To follow Wayne Lach:
https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lach.5
To follow Mike Crase:
https://www.facebook.com/mike.crase
To learn more about TideWe:
https://www.tidewe.com/
Just type our code.... AMRO18 .... at checkout to receive your 18% discount off your TideWe order!
Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation:
https://www.mhhf.us/
To follow American Roots Outdoors Podcast:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/448812356525413
To learn more about American Roots Outdoors:
https://americanrootsoutdoors.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRootsOutdoors/
To follow Alex Rutledge:
https://www.facebook.com/americanrootsalex/
To follow Wayne Lach:
https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lach.5
To follow Mike Crase:
https://www.facebook.com/mike.crase
two there are two ways to impact wild turkey right so that's local and local I mean literally what you see in your backyard you know the area that you hunt whether it be private property or public property so that's local impact and so as humans we and all of us and I say this every single one of us on this planet a lot it's it's what have you done for me and so if I don't directly see that impact in my backyard literally insignificantly the perception is reality well they haven't done anything and so when you talk about uh you know impact 20 million acres wallet has that hand like me but that's a fun that's spread out over camel boots on my feet bow in my head welcome in early down the climate hey red bow deer but that new deer fruit what new deer food hey bug grits boys you ain't heard of that yet but grits but grits.com what makes it better than any other deer fruits well but grits it's got the protein it deer needs it's got the fat it deer needs it's got the amino acids it's got the energy it's got it all brother it's gonna bring them back after the rest it's gonna put a rack on their head it's gonna help the last thing too we're gonna have the bonds that's right keep the bonds going and get them for the next crop or where can I get bug grits?
SPEAKER_04Buggritz.com you can get a sample you can order it directly from the website or someone to a retailer near you if you want to help it do her use bug grits we can take it to a hot old big old pair of hot boots passed on down planted deep in the ground wise eye hunt control presents American Roots outdoors welcome to the show everybody I'm calling via my lodge cabin here in Birch Tree Missouri and Redbone is in the studio Wayne Locke will not join us today because he has other things going on taking care of his foster children etc but uh guys we got severe thunderstorms coming through the Ozarks right now and Redbone uh it's been pretty rough.
SPEAKER_02Yeah and as we're recording and again we're recording on Wednesday I don't want anybody to think if they're listening Saturday morning that uh oh no we got a severe thunderstorm we we we're recording on Wednesday around noon and we did have we had some winds uh some sustain well actually some uh uh substantiated winds at 55 miles an hour a part of the area and of course you know anything about wind in our part of the woods Alex you get wind like that trees start snapping off and all kinds of bad things happen exactly exactly Redbone and uh that being said getting into our show our topic this week is a follow-up of the NWTF National Convention 50th anniversary and our special guest this week is Mr.
SPEAKER_04Paul Campbell he is the director of operations for the southeast regions of the NWTF and I got to meet Paul Campbell in person at the NWTF. He greeted me as I was coming in taking stuff in to help set up the booth for Wiseye and I must say Wiseye and Buckritz had an absolute fabulous show there at the NWTF Redbone.
SPEAKER_02Well I noticed from all the videos and pictures I saw it seemed like y'all were awfully busy for most of the time you were there.
SPEAKER_04Yes we was Wayne Locke come along with me I asked him to come along and help and he did and he done a fabulous job uh we sold a lot of wise eye cameras and people's finally catching on and we sold a lot of buttrits you know butt grits isn't only for deer it's for turkeys too and it helps keep them healthy as well but uh we had great uh results from people coming in asking about the cameras buying the cameras and the butt grits for their turkeys and uh it's finally taken off for these two brands really really well.
SPEAKER_02All right so Alex yeah uh and I would like to ask a little bit about the NWTF and I know we'll probably talk more about this with Paul but uh you you've been there many many many many times over the last 30 35 years or so how this year's show stand up to some of the shows of the past and and I guess I asked that because for the last two or three years you know there were a couple of years there was no show because of the pandemic and then kind of came back a little bit a year ago I think and so how how are things I mean are the people coming back and are the vendors all coming back?
SPEAKER_04Redbone it was probably the busiest show I've ever attended and I expected 50 to 60 thousand people to come through the doors it was just so congested it was arm to arm uh shoulder to shoulder throughout the show and we stayed busy the only time I got to leave the booth was one time that was actually on setup day the first day uh Wednesday uh we were crazy that Thursday I got to go for lunch for a little bit and go to the bathroom just a few times so it was that busy people were so interested in the Wiseye Hunter Trow and the Butritz so the tennis was fabulous uh people were buying stuff and it really made me feel good to be back there. Even though I did not have my American Roots booth there I was there on behalf of Wiseye and Butritz and again just what a great show.
SPEAKER_02Alright so and and I know people you know those kind of things seem to be as they start coming back you know well attended because people you know especially the hunters and fishermen I think tired of not getting together. So uh and with that said you know were you able to see a lot of your friends I mean it seems like most everybody in the outdoors ascended on Nashville over the weekend.
SPEAKER_04Yeah they did. I got to reunite with a lot of old friends and I think that was part of success if people just wanted to collaborate again and be together again as a fellowship as a turkey hunter. And uh you got to commend the NWTF. They've done a great job this year with everything. I didn't get to attend any of the banquets or or the ceremonies or anything because we had other things going on but uh they done a great job and and I was truly impressed with uh some of the booths man we was as I was walking to the bathroom or coming into the show uh they was sold out of booth space they had to put other booths and vendors in the other building uh which is five minutes away. Wow that's really good and of course the national wild turkey uh calling competition was going on and our old buddy JR took uh what uh runner up Grand National is that what I saw I think he did and and our friend uh uh uh uh the beast man I always call him the beast is uh I'm brain dead right now uh man he's won it eight times oh wow so you know who it is yeah yeah I can't think of the name either we've actually had him on the show a couple of times uh we have yeah but I want to say I but I want to say grant uh congratulations to JR Lantham uh Latham yeah to JR yeah yeah congratulations to JR that I mean that's quite an honor you know first runner up in the national calling contest that it doesn't get a whole lot better than that well JR's going to win it one day I really I really uh predict that I think he will I'll never forget the first time JR come to me wanting to learn about calling here on the front porch of my cabin and me uh cutting some calls with him and stuff and him find he was starting I I was back in the I think it was the early 90s when he came down him getting started. He's accomplished more than what I did at that level there as far as the open division. He uh runner up the best I ever done was six. So my hats off to JR man but I guarantee you JR come back next year even stronger. He's figuring things out. He's got that he'll build a mentality and he's he's woods wise and he's competitive. I think he'll win that thing one of these days.
SPEAKER_02Well sometimes you you might mistake JR for a turkey if you Yeah he's very good man.
SPEAKER_04He he's one of the best I've ever heard for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah and Alex with that with that in mind those guys that do those big competitions like that I mean it really is I mean it becomes a way of life for those guys.
SPEAKER_04Well it is it's kind of like playing an instrument when you learn to run a turkey call and you practice every day for hours and hours and I used to do it and it it's an addiction it really is. Like when you pick up a guitar once you learn to make great sounds on that guitar you want to continue to play and play and play and get better and better. And that's the same way it is with with calling and uh it takes hours and hours to become very proficient with that trade at bone.
SPEAKER_02Yeah it does and I know Alex I know we got a special guest going to be joining us here in just a little bit so uh let's let's take a break here and we'll continue and and uh Paul Campbell from the NWTF Southeast region is going to be joining us here in just a few minutes. You're listening to American Roots Outdoors radio with Alex Rutledge and friends we'll be back in just a moment.
SPEAKER_08This is Brenda Valentine and you're listening to American Roots Outdoors with Alex Rutledge and friends I've been on a bit more like a load of my throat we can take it out just kill a button there's no way for this button how do I find smart you go to wide i smartam dot com I'm using you should make your hunt easier use the ammunition presents welcome back to American Roots Outdoors everyone we are via phone here Mr.
SPEAKER_04Paul Campbell our guest uh Mr. Paul Campbell and I as I said earlier in the first segment I met him for my first time in person we've been communicating through Facebook a messenger etc and and I must say Red Bone and to all our listeners what a true true gentleman uh Paul welcome to the show Alex thank you for having me thank you for those those uh those kind words i'm excited I'm excited to be here I'll say that so Paul tell us who Paul Campbell is uh tell us where you were born where you went to school uh did you play sports tell us all that real quick yeah so I I'm I'm born and raised in central ohio uh I grew up in a little town Johnstown Ohio just east of Colomba so I am uh I'm a black guy and I know there's probably a lot of SEC folks listening to uh particular program so don't don't hold that against me but I am a Wall Ohio State fan uh yeah so I I'm just uh just a guy that that uh I still live here in Ohio I got three kids my wife Ashley and and and our two daughters live with us I got an older son Mason who about five hours ago landed in Argentina he's doing a bunch of fly fishing and and uh rock climbing down there for for about six weeks so he's been working hard for that trip so yeah man I'm just a guy that likes to hunt turkeys and just uh I dummed right back from Central Ohio. So that's beautiful. Now you went to school there in Central Ohio a small community school and did you go to college?
SPEAKER_02I did I went to went to went to Ohio State um didn't didn't play any sports in college I played I I played football and and and wrestled when I was in high school uh but I got I got blessed with terrible knees at uh at a young age so that uh yeah couldn't couldn't couldn't think for wrestling or playing football after the age 18 I'll tell you that so I didn't yeah red bowed this guy's about 6'4 he's a big old guy oh wow well he probably wrestled probably wrestled heavyweight then were you were you heavyweight or or where did you wrestle? I did yes I yes I wrestled I wrestled 215 uh the first half and then and then you know you start growing about what 15 16 years old and I wrestled heavyweight uh after that so there's some big boys in that heavyweight class I mean once you hit that 220 pound mark you better you better be ready uh there's some big boys especially here in central oh yeah one of my one of my best friends yeah one of my best friends in high school have a I have a great respect for high school and and even college wrestlers uh and my best friend in high school uh my name was Kurt Fisher uh Kurt was a two-time state champion in Illinois and uh he wrestled like at uh oh one oh seven one ten I think a senior maybe up to two twelve or two or or one twelve and one fifteen and it was a job just making weight before every wrestling meet. So I got a lot of respect for those guys because they get up in the morning and weigh Alex and be two pounds overweight and they can lose that two pounds before the end of the day getting weighed in for the match that night.
SPEAKER_04Wow that's yeah it's it it is it's it's amazing what some of those guys you know on once you get to those elite levels of wrestlers what they put their bodies through like you said just to just to make weight I I respect them for that. I mean that's uh it's quite the ordeal for sure. Yeah yeah I want to share with you one of the highlights of my career uh with wrestlers and I say this in a sense braggingly but in a good bragging way is that I got to take Tom Brands Olympic gold medalist and he shot his first turkey with me. Oh no kidding yeah in the HS days cutting videos and what was so touching and minimal we're about to hunt Mr. Paul is that uh after he shot his gobler, I did not know this, but our cameraman, our producer Mike Balangotti and him planned this because we had pre-meetings and they didn't tell me this he brought his Olympic gold medal with him in the woods and had it in an old sock and after he shot his turkey he put his gold medal around my neck and you get he said today you're the you're the gold medal winner because you called me in a big goblin touching man I ate that's a special moment right there.
SPEAKER_02And that is a special moment. I'm surprised you didn't put it around his turkeys man.
SPEAKER_04So you went to college there and your business degrees and I'm sure tell us about how you landed your job with NWTF you know so uh the night before Thanksgiving 2021 I was on their website I was looking for I was looking for a a hat an NWTF hat and I look on their website there's a big red button that said now hire and and just purely out of curiosity red button I click on that button and just to see what the NWTF was hiring for. And they had a job that I was kind of qualified for wasn't real qualified for it's the job that I have now it was it was it's it was remote and cover uh Ohio and Kentucky and some of the other areas around my home state and and I about fell out of my chair and told my wife that I I have to apply for this job. And so I wasn't qualified for like I said I wrote a really passionate cover letter about what Wild Turning Hunt means to me what the MWTF means to me. I applied for it and generated uh an interview down in Atlanta Georgia a few weeks later flew down there had an interview with my boss Al Clark uh and then right after the new year they they they offered me the job and I'll I'll never forget when I got that that you know that offer letter and my email how excited I was and how honored I was to just say yes to that letter. So that's how that's how I got the job I was looking for a new hat. And I didn't even buy the hat I forgot to buy the hat.
SPEAKER_02I was hard for the job so well I'm not sure maybe maybe when you got the job yeah I was gonna say when maybe when he took the job maybe they gave him one. But uh so Paul I mean they did yeah I got a few of them. Okay. So uh uh a full-time position is this I mean did you have to leave the job that you were in to to go to work for the NWTF or is it something that you do on the side?
SPEAKER_04It is yeah it is and you know it's uh it was something that you know the job that I had I I really enjoyed I worked for a great company I had a great job I built you know a a a solid reputation there and you know I I I I wanted I was so passionate about turkey hunting and the conservation of wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage the mission of this of this organization that you know I there was no way I would say no to it. And you know quite honestly it was a pay cut from where I was at but it it was something that I had to do and I'll I'll I'll I'll be honest with you I'm real glad I did it. So I was able to talk to my wife and to let me take this job and you know we work it out you know in the household and I'll never look back.
SPEAKER_02So I'm curious too Alex Yeah before we take the break I'm I'm curious what when you told your former employees uh you know that you were going to be leaving and what you were going to do what did they say?
SPEAKER_04They they you know they they they they knew they knew that I'm a turkey hunter through and through and when I told them that I was taking a job with the National Wild Turkey Federation my boss uh Kevin he was out in in Maryland he laughed he's like well we can't argue with that can we know so they they knew I mean it's you know the the turkey hunting is woven into who I am as a person and uh yeah they were they were real happy for me. Panicked you know and and asked me to stay on for a little longer than I wanted to you know to to help them get my replacement in but I was willing to go now that's you know people helping people type of stuff you know that is beautiful. And before we go to the bread again tell us your job description. What is your job description of development for the central east portion of the country. So I cover Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee West Virginia New York New Jersey a little bit up into New England so my my role within the organization is I work with our major donors to the Federation. So anyone that's uh cumulative over their lifetime has reached $5,000 or above so I'm in I'm in fundraising uh my boss likes to say that we're professional beggars. I found that that joke works a little better below the Mason Dixon line so I feel like I can use that use that here but yeah professional beggar that's what I am that's awesome. Well we're gonna go to a break when we come back we're gonna have more with Paul Campbell we're gonna talk about the NWTF show and talk about all the cool things that you and I can do to help the NWTF. Don't go away we'll be right back with more American Roots Outdoors right after this.
SPEAKER_03Hey everybody this is Michael Watting with Bone Collector and you're listening to my buddy Alex Rutledge on American Roots Outdoors man don't miss an episode.
SPEAKER_08Hey guys it's food plot planting time here in the Ozarks and all across the country what are you planning this year Wayne?
SPEAKER_06I'm gonna put a smorgasbord in with a whole lot of clover. Wait wait wait wait clover what a mortgage for what a smortgage board man it is a variety of annuals and perennials that'll get you through fall time wintertime and all winter spring.
SPEAKER_08It's awesome you want to put a healthier food plots that have all kinds of games go to www.eaglestreet.com it's a smort you know we all get power card but the smorts board has everything your deer will love it eagle street.com Alex Thursday a company in the outdoors that want to provide quality hunting gear at affordable prices for the everyday hunter that's there is a red bonus tideweed these guys are a blue collar company that makes excellent products that's very affordable for everybody and these guys want to help every outdoorman live out their passions in the outdoors and to find out more about this company just go to www.tideweed.com that's t-i-d-e-w-e.com around your heart so you never gotta worry with the wind Eagle Seed and Tide Wee present welcome back to American Roots Outdoors everybody again our special guest is Cecil Regent Director of Communications for the NWTF Mr.
SPEAKER_04Paul Campbell he was talking about his American Roots where he was born in the second segment of our show and how he landed the job and his true passion for the wild turkey and and and his passion to help the NWTF grow and accumulate funds to help it my first question for you on back segment three then a red bug's going to ask one is uh what does it mean to you to do what you do we didn't go in depth with it in the second segment but what does it mean to you to be a representative for the NWTF and what does it mean for the future of the wild court that's that's that's a good a good question. And you know I I I heard a quote the other day from from Mark Mark Rick, Georgia football coach he said that you know the trophies and the rings those collect us it's the relationship with the people that you meet that that are meaningful. And you know so for me I mean I work for an organization that you know the conservation of an animal the wild turkey is the reason we're there but it's the people it's the Members, the volunteers that that make this mission move forward. That's what makes it special for me. You know, I meet guys like you, you know, that that have been involved in helping promote wild turkey, promote the people that you know, the turkey hunters that hunt that. So the fact that I get to represent an organization and work with you know with the members and the volunteers that give their time, treasure, and talent to this organization, that's what that's special, you know. And I understand that, I recognize that, and I appreciate what I do. I respect the hell out of the organization. Um and I'm honored to be to be a part of it. So the people that make up this organization, that's what's really special. And when we look at the positive impact with the work that the members and volunteers, the employees of the NWTF accomplish across the landscape and across this great country, you know, I have to pinch myself and I'm I'm a I'm a small part of that. And you know the honor and and just the reverence that I have for you know for the organization and the people that make it up and the and the bird. I mean, I I feel like I'm dreaming sometimes. Uh and you know, I wake up every day, and I mean you you you saw me last week, Alex. I was a thousand miles an hour. I try to do the best I can for everyone that's a part of this organization, big or small, and treat everyone the same, uh, and just and just move this mission forward. And that's a special, it's a special role, and I'm honored to have it.
SPEAKER_02So uh probably is a typical part of the NWTF. Um how do you think the NWTF going forward? Is it is it is it getting stronger uh as we go forward? What's your take on where the NWTF is headed for the future?
SPEAKER_04You know, I think the I think the mission of the National Wild Turkey Federation, you know, the conservation of wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage, it's never been more important than it has been in 50 years. At this moment, right now, it's more important now than it has ever been. And that's because of the pressures that we've seen uh with with population stress, with population decline across a lot of the country. Um, I think that that as the NWTF comes into this new phase where, I mean, so so think about it. So the mission of the wild turkey fed, natural wild turkey feders, but for sure, was to establish population in all of the areas in this country that could sustain horrible turkey populations. We did that. The members did that, the volunteers did that, the organization did that, we accomplished that in the late 90s. So I think there was some, you know, what do we do now? Right? So now it's let's figure out what the population issues are, let's figure out you know the research, let's figure out the conservation work. You're kind of the next phase. So I can tell you, you know, internally, the the employees of this organization have never been more focused on keeping wild turkeys, you know, wild turkeys on the landscape, positively impacting turkey hunters, positively impacting turkeys. We've got our two new co-CEOs, Jason and Kurt. Those are two of the sharpest guys in conservation. I mean, they are just unbelievable leaders, uh, unbelievable communicators. So I think that we as an organization, we've never been more needed, and we are more focused on figuring out what we need to do on the landscape level to keep wild turkeys there and to keep populations healthy, you know, to look at you know how we can assist our agency partners across the country as best as we can. We just signed a huge service, you know, forest service agreement with uh U.S. Forestry Department, you know, to do work that's going to originate out west and then move its way east and southeast. So I think the organization we are we are laser focused on on accomplishing the goals that we've set going forward in this 50th year. Uh, but I I can tell you we are we're dialed in, we're efficient, and and we are ready to just to continue the next 50 years of impact uh you know for the wild turkey and turkey hires. That's cool. That that's that's very informative to our listeners. I have a question for you here, and I and I'm kind of switching ears and in a different subject matter. Uh, to our listeners, you know, we have a lot of positive, positive, faithful followers that's passionate for the NWCF, but then we have some that are not. So my question to you, how do you answer to those that are are negative towards the NWCF that says, well, no money comes to our area, it all goes somewhere else, or they say, Well, they're capturing uh trading our turkeys for rattlesnakes, uh, or they're trading our turkeys for uh grouse, or they're trading our turkeys for river art, whatever. What what is your favorite? Yeah, so I think I think when you the the first thing that people need to really focus on is the mission, right? And that's the conservation of the wild turkey. So when so there are two there are two ways to impact wild turkeys, right? So that's local, and local I mean literally what you see in your backyard, you know, the area that you hunt, whether it be private property or public property. So that's local impact. And so as humans, we and all of us, and I say this, every single one of us on this planet, a lot of it's it's what have you done for me. And so if I don't directly see that impact in my backyard, literally and figuratively, then perception is reality. Well, they haven't done anything. And so when you talk about uh you know impact, 20 million acres of wildlife have that enhanced since 1985. That's a ton, and that's spread out over this massive country that we live in. So I think when people say, well, you know, well, they're doing this or doing that, they're not helping me. And when you have when you have a loss of turkey population in your area, that's personal. And it hurts. It hurts you as a person and as a turkey hunter. And I love when people are frustrated with me or the frustrated, that means they care. And if people didn't care, they're like, that doesn't matter. Those aren't the people the turkey hunters are, right? So when we're frustrated with the organization, it's because they want to be heard and they're passionate about law turkey. So I think when you look at the impact, what we've done as an organization across 50 years, and we're talking half a billion dollars back into the mission of the conservation of the law turkey. That's dollars in the dirt, right? That's your your money that we have put back. But if it's not right in front of you, it's hard for people to grasp that and say, well, they're not helping me because it's not in my WMA or it's not you know my property. I've got a loss. And and so I think it's I think it's it's a very personal issue for people. Um, I think turkey hunters is a group, and I'm I'm I'm as turkey hunter, you know, as passionate turkey hunters as anyone. I I think it I think it hurts people when we see the population decline. And so when we trade and and you know, trade in critters or critters, I'm not a biologist, you know, I don't understand how a lot of that works. I'm I'm and I and so I'm not gonna speak on that honestly, uh, because I don't want to be wrong, you know, I don't want to put my foot in my mouth. But you know, the the relationships that our conservation staff has across the country with the agencies, you know, the DNRs, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Fish and Game, whatever it may be in your state, those those relationships are decades long. They're built on trust, they're built on respect, they're built on getting things done. So, you know, we have we have to take that landscape perspective a lot of times, where it's okay, what can we do in the southeast? What can we do in big sky territory? What can we do in the colonial forest? You know, to where we as an organization, let's impact a massive section and really help our volunteers start to dial that in, you know, at that local level. So, you know, I know here in Ohio, the speech after the NWTF, uh, they they gave $100,000 to buy 1,500 or 1,400 acres of private property that they turned into public access.
SPEAKER_09Oh wow.
SPEAKER_04So our conservation staff took some money, went in, and did the same thing. They they they they they did the you know the timber work, they did, you know, let's plant some you know, made of brasses and all of these things. They so they do the conservation work. So that's local impact. I can go hunt that. I was there last year, turkeys all over, it's great. Indiana, we did the same thing. We just bought you know a couple hundred acres of private property that we're turning into public access, Tennessee Arizona. We're doing it all over the country. So so that local impact is there. And I think as an organization, we're doing a better job about talking about that local impact to show people where your money is going because it is there. I promise you, it's there. We've got to look at it. It may not be literally right in your backyard, but that local impact, it really is there.
SPEAKER_02All right, Alex, go ahead.com, C Fund presents American Roots Outdoors.
SPEAKER_04Welcome back to the show. This is segment four. And again, if you're just joining us, we've got the Midwest, not Midwest, but Central Region uh director of the NWTF, Mr. Paul Campbell. He he's talked about his American roots, he's talked about his love of the wild turkey, his his uh background and getting the job, and and talking about answering questions that may interest some of you, like uh, why do we trade turkeys for otters or or rattlesnakes, etc.? And I think you had a very good answer, Redbone. Your thoughts.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I do too. I do too. I like to uh and you know, you mentioned a while ago, uh Tide Wii. And those tide wee uh 350-degree see-through blinds are gonna be great for the turkey spray.
SPEAKER_04That's the 270. We call it the 270. Yeah, 270, yeah. The back wall on it, have you seen it, Paul? The Tide Wee blind yet? I I have. I wanted to chime in on that. I sat inside of that thing and my head exploded. I'm like, are you kidding me? This is this is real. The tide we're the destiny product. Then they got a new turkey dust out with a back brace with adjustable legs. You gotta check it out. And if anybody's listening, if you use our code capital A, capital M, capital R, capital O eighteen, you'll get 18% off. So think about that. And PC Fund, real quick, PC Fund's a fishing company, which is a brother or sister company to Tide Wee. It's all under the same umbrella. If you love the fish, you gotta check out PC Fund, P-I-S-C-I, F-U-N fishing. Back to the subject matter. Yeah, they do. So, you know, the just just real quick, I'll touch on local impact of the property in Tennessee that we bought, uh, that we helped purchase. Uh one of our local chapter presents, Jeremy Odom, uh a really good guy from Tennessee, called me. This property came up and he said, We as the NDF, we need to get this. We need to make this happen. And so, you know, I just started bird jogging that and making and and and helping uh you know facilitate fundraising for that. So without that local input from a chapter president, I would have never, you know, we would have never been able to participate in that. So when we look at the the banking system, that's a big generation or generator of funds for the mission. And uh, you know, one thing that's that you know, this organization's been around for 50 years, Alex. A lot of our members, a lot of our instrumental volunteers have been in this organization for 40 plus years. And as they get older, you know, they want to stop being as active, you know, with the volunteer. They want to they want to spend time turkey hunting and spend time with their families and and you know, relax a little bit. So it really falls on the next generation, those 20 to 40 year olds, to step up and help and volunteer your time and your talent to keep those banquets active, those chapters active, the fundraisers active. I mean, we rely tremendously on the volunteer input at the local level, and the impact that happens out of a lot of our chapters is amazing. It really is. It is, it is. Uh, I want to say this. Uh, I guess I've been a member of the NWTF since 1980. I believe it's 1980. And the MWTF was founded and created, I believe, in 1973. Am I correct? Oh, yeah. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So it's amazing what it's going into, and where I want to go with this, they recently we just attended the 50th anniversary of the NWTF, the National Water Church Federation. I want to hear your comments and maybe you have the actual numbers. What was it, the attendance? It really appeared to me that, man, it was probably one of the greatest turnouts I've ever been. It was quite the show. And as far as is numbers, we haven't uh we haven't seen those. Our staff in Edgefield is is busy compiling those. The email that we got was uh it's safe to assume that we not only broke every record, every metric possible, we shattered every metric possible. And I mean that's exciting to hear. There's a lot of energy behind turkey hunting, there's a lot of energy behind uh the National Wild Turkey Federation, and I think it was on full display last week with I mean the number of vendors that we had. I mean, that show was packed. I I mean, you tell me, Alex, you were there from the moment they opened the gates on Thursday. It seemed like it was pretty, pretty active, a ton of energy. So yeah, the aisles were so packed. I was telling Redbone the first segment of the show that it was elbow to elbow. And the only time I got to leave, I got to leave one time to go get a sandwich. If I wouldn't have left, I wouldn't have got to leave in the three days I was there. Go to the bathroom just a few times. But that was the other time I didn't get to go visit anybody that was so busy as Booth and Buckritz was people constantly there visiting, talking. But uh again, uh the NWTF is a great organization. My roots really are deep within WTF. And the the days, and I just want to reflect back, Redbone and Paul with you guys, traveling 200 some days a year uh from the 1980s up until about 20 uh 12, 2013, doing seminars and recruiting new members. Uh I don't have any idea how many members I've helped recruit and how many banquets I've spoken at except for banquets, but I I thank God and I thank uh the NWTF for letting me be able to do that. And uh it'll always be a part of my life and my memories that I'll share with my grandkids someday. Yeah. You talk about you know hunting heritage. I didn't grow up hunting. You know, I I started hunting when I was 25 in 2007. And you know, you being on TV and and and in the magazines, I mean you're a part of my hunting heritage, you know, watching watching you grab turkeys in between your legs off of a you know a hen decoy, you know, and that's something used to be, I still get to be fired up just thinking about it. And it's it's it's neat in the NWTF, that show in Nashville, it really is a big family. You know, we may not do everything right, we may make you mad. That's just being part of a family, right? And it is. And I the and and the one thing I think that that uh you know is really it was kind of a a a rebirth of of this organization and everything that we've been through through COVID. I mean, it really took its soul on us, and everything that we've had to deal with with the decline of the turkeys, you know, in the country. I I I I it was just like a kickoff party, but it's 50 years in the making, you know, and that's special to be a part of it. Man, I'm real glad that you were you were down there to see it.
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Well, I hadn't been there in a couple of years, and we talked about that. But anyway, I just want to say this in southern Missouri, and I've already shared this with you, but I'm gonna share it on the show, uh, there's very huge concerns in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri with our turkey numbers, and uh some areas in southern Missouri they had good hatches, some are and uh people are really concerned about that. And and what I would like to see, and I'm suggesting this to you, and you take it back to the headquarters, is you know, more money spent in our region here to help us try to get turkeys back. And and I don't say this to be mean, Brother Paul, uh, but when you see other states doing turkey restoration programs, uh it makes you think, man, have they forgot about us? And I know they have. But we go to we wrap it up. Yeah. Yeah, and that's and that's one of those we talk about, it's it's it's deeply personal, you know. And I I think that if just from a personal standpoint, you want to do it all. And you know, I I I think it's one of those that you know, if you see an issue, you bring it up with your state agencies, bring it up with you know, like what you just did with me and you all your personal. I hope you know me by now. I'll bark up that tree for sure. Oh yeah. Uh I can't I can't promise anything, but um, you know, I I I want to see I want to see the engagement. You know, I don't want I I I for one won't back away from criticism. I like to have good constructive conversations like we did today. Uh and you know, I'm I'm willing to field those calls, even if it's not my area, just to hear what people have to say. I take it seriously. I want people to be heard and and and you know, that's uh I heard you. That's what that's what I'm gonna say. I want to say this too before we wrap it up. Uh in the 1990s, uh, Mr. Larry Neal, our direct regional director, uh legends, yeah, legend, they asked me to help put together a chapter, and I did. I I helped start our our chapter, and it's now called the Current River Collars. And I believe they had over 50 sponsors at the banquet this year. I didn't get to make it. Oh wow. 15 sponsors in our little old Shannon County Redbone. And I figured that out that $400 apiece, that's $20,000. Well, and not all but anyway, I was an intricate part of that, and and I kind of you know got out of the loop of that, and we talked about that. But uh NWT's doing great things, and and you know, there's always things that MDC or other uh departments uh uh wildlife that we don't agree with. But again, you you hit the nail on the head just because you don't if you say you don't agree with something because you're passionate about it, most people, you know. So that being said, I'm passionate about the wild turkey and and passionate about the NWTF. I love the NWTF and I hope that it goes, continues to grow enormously. And I can't leave this out. This is not a competitor, but it's somebody that wants to help the National Artist Confederation. That's Turkey's for tomorrow. These guys are doing great things, and I believe they're working in partnership and helping each other. They're not trying to do anything to hurt the NWTF, they're just approaching at a different level. So yeah, yeah, go ahead. Sorry to say, you know, you you it's with what we've got in the country and in regards to uh you know Turkey decline issues. I mean, the more I'm looking at it, the more focus, the more energy, the better. So yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02All right, Alex, we really yeah, need really uh uh wrap things up here.
SPEAKER_04Okay, well, Paul, you've been a super great guest, and we're gonna do one more segment, and uh it's for our podcast. If you're a podcast listener, you go to your favorite podcast and you type in American Roots Outdoors with Alex Rutley. You will find us on every material available. And we're gonna do a bonus segment with Paul. And what we're gonna do, we're gonna hear Paul's favorite turkey range story of his American roots and the bonus segment. Again, Paul, thank you for being a great guest. My pleasure. Thank you for having me, guys. I really appreciate it. Yeah, you're a great mentor to the outdoor industry and a great example of what we all should be doing. And you know, we have an old saying, Paul. Uh, we want everybody to share the outdoors with every child that they can. It's God's creation. And our old saying is this when your roots runs deep and strong, there's no reason to fear the wind.
SPEAKER_07So you never gotta worry. What the wind means.
SPEAKER_02Accurate, deadly, dependable, quantity ammunition. From a two-man operation in 1949 to a world-leading innovator of bullet ammunition reloading tool accessories designed and manufactured today. Hornity. Each piece is hand inspected to ensure consistency and quality. Ammunition engineered to perform flawlessly, simply put, the best. Hornady ammunition. Find Hornady Ammunition at a retailerdear you and at Hornady.com.
SPEAKER_04Amp Outdoors. Apex Ammunition presents American Roots Outdoors Bonus Segment. If you're listening to this, you're listening on your favorite podcast carrier, probably. All we ask you is please leave us a review. When you leave us a review, your name will go into a drawing and we're going to give away a prize. Again, our guest today is Mr. Paul Campbell of the NWTF. This guy is a true professional, a true gentleman, and we've entirely loved having him on the show. He's got so much knowledge, and I love the fact, Redbone, that he loves challenges. He wants to hear criticisms because he understands those are things you need to conquer to help make communications even better within the organization.
SPEAKER_02Well, yeah, exactly. And and I mean there's nothing wrong with criticism. I mean, uh, you know, I've I I do a radio show, and you know, people say, Hey, I love your show, and I'm like, great. And but I heard you say that's the other thing. I don't know if those are the people that you really want to hear from. And that's kind of what Paul's speaking to. Or even on the American Outdoors Radio Show. Alex, uh you know, if we say something or uh you know address an issue that people don't like, we need to know about it because the only way we can make it better is to know what we're not doing correct.
SPEAKER_05Exactly, exactly.
SPEAKER_04Well, again, Paul, uh this segment is about Paul and the NWTF. I want you to share a story with our listeners here that you feel will touch their hearts uh of one of your most memorable turkey hunts that will make somebody want to become an NWTF member. You know, I'll um I'll I'll share I'll share a story that just happened this last week in Nashville, and there's no hunting involved, there's no turkey calling, there's no camo. Uh I got over the summer, I got a call from one of our employees, Tim Yates, down in Tennessee, and he said, Hey, there's this couple, their son, Austin Knight, passed away at the Chuck Swan Wildlife Area and in southern Tennessee uh a couple years ago, who's scouting for turkeys, and he said they want to do some work uh at this wildlife management area, and they want to go through the NWK. So uh I I finally get to meet with him on Saturday, and and Alex and Redbone, we the way that money moves within wildlife agencies, you can't just write a check to a government agency other than the IRS, right? It doesn't work that way. So you have to give money through a foundation or through a nonprofit organization like the NWTF, and then we can pair that with matching dollars for Pittman Robertson. So uh I I meet with these folks and we we kind of work it out with the DNR or the PWRA that we're gonna use the money that they give us um we'll work at Sucks One. So so we talked about how we you know we got that part done, and the first question that I asked him, uh BJ and and Amanda and I said, Tell me about your son. And he just he he tears up. We're sitting, we're we're at the convention, we're behind registration, it starts to tear up, and it was and uh on Saturday when we were talking, the convention, it was the five-year anniversary of his son Austin passing. His son had been out at the Shuxquan Wildlife area scouting for turkeys. Killed his first turkey there the year before, killed his first buck that ball, and he tells him about his son, he's 18 years old, and lost control of his car, lost control of his truck, wrecked, and and and was killed there at the scene. And so his parents had started this foundation, the Austin Knight Foundation, and it they they they raised money through the sale of really neat clothes and hats and apparel, and they donate money to things that were important to his son during his life. So his wrestling team, they buy all the outfits, all the uniforms and everything for the team, and and and different charities throughout. And they they they wanted to make a positive impact in that wildlife management area through the NWTF because he he was he was a member, he was passionate about it. They used to him and his dad used to go to banquet, and so they wrote us a really big check, and and you know, we're able to pair that and just create just a massive impact in that wildlife management area. And we're gonna they're gonna do this every year. Every year that there's a Federation you know, the convention, they're gonna they're they're gonna donate money to do work, you know, in the state of Tennessee to positively impact Bob Turkeys. And it's w it was one of those when I wanted to dry eyes the table, Alex, when when his when when BJ was talking about his son and and the hat that he bought for him at the at the at the convention and and brought it back to him, and that's the last conversation he had with him, was talking about this hat that he bought him, you know, at the National Wild Turkey Federation convention and the banquet that they've just been to. And you know, so when when you see turkey hunting, how close it and how it brings people together, brings families together, how important the National Wild Turkey Federation is to continue and protect that hunting heritage and protect the wild turkey and how willing they were to say we're gonna do everything we can to help this organization because you're important to us, the turkey's important to us, and it was important. And I was crying like a baby. I I mean it it hit me like a ton of bricks, and it moved me to the point where I just I I I was I was so excited to be a part of that and to just sit there and listen to this family. That's impact. And that's emotion, that's passion, that's love, all wrapped up into one you know pursuit, and that's the you know hunting wild turkeys. And I mean that's a special, it was a special moment in my life, and you know, if if I get you know, if I retire tomorrow or get a new job tomorrow, I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life. Beautiful red bone.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, well, and and that's the same kind of things that we run into. And I mentioned earlier uh uh through uh uh St. Jude and the country cares for St. Jude, uh, you know, those families that have been impacted. Uh uh they be they become loyal and and and they become great people and and and their son Austin. I mean, he will be remembered forever.
SPEAKER_04That's beautiful. And if it's you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna work my tail off to get a sign up there to commemorate him, his life, and and the impact that that he has uh you know after you know after he's gone from this world. And I'm gonna do everything I can to you know to honor that kid.
SPEAKER_09Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Well, again, I believe in the NWTF and I and I love the story. It makes a person think, you know, what can we do to help the NWTF and help the wild turkey? That being said, I'm gonna say something. Uh I would like to extend uh myself to help you with some of your banquets in these areas in these states. If you ever need help and we can get together on it, I'll support you any way I can and uh support you. You know, I appreciate you being so yeah, I appreciate you. I gave me chills, man. Just thinking of that. And and I mean that's just that's uh that's that's powerful, you know, and that's the passion that we talked about. You know, it it runs deep in you and it runs deep in a lot of a lot of listeners, and you know, uh I'm easy to find on the internet. People want to have a conversation. As uncomfortable as it may be, you know, you just let me know. Yeah, how can people find you and how can they support the NWTF? Let's talk about that real quick. Yeah, so so the the the biggest thing is you know, attend a banquet, you know, become a member of the National Wild Charity Federation $35 a year is an annual membership. The the biggest thing that that that that that that helps us, I mean, when we go to these agencies across the state, we go to the federal government and and we've got a ton of members behind us, a ton of impact behind us, that helps. That that's more effective and more powerful than what anyone knows. You get a magazine uh four times a year, six times a year, I believe, uh Turkey Call magazine, which is just a fantastic publication. The most recent one had a really great article about uh Fox Hayes and and uh Colonel Tom Kelly. I mean, it's just a really the guys do a really good job with that. Um get involved with your local chapter. That's the grassroots foundation that this organization is built on. That's the impact. That's where it starts, it starts with you guys, you know, uh it's at the grassroots level. Beautiful, beautiful. There you have it, folks. Again, Paul Campbell, NWTF, Central Region, Eastern Region, director of the NWTF. This guy does a lot to help the wild turkey. And I encourage all of our ladies to listen to his podcast. Again, what are your podcast shows? So the podcast, uh, so I've got the How to Hunt Turkeys podcast, which is obviously it's all about turkey hunting uh you know, for a beginner or an advanced turkey hunter, a lot of you know, collection of just really interesting, awesome turkey hunters, some of the best minds. You guys are going to be on there. Can't wait for that. The other one I do is the OTU podcast if you're in Ohio, it's Ohio Outdoors Podcast with my buddy Andrew Munt. Uh, and and so that's like I said, we we cover all things Ohio, uh hunting in the outdoors. So that's beautiful. Let's support Paul Campbell, everybody. Again, Paul, thanks for being on the show. Remember, share the outdoors. Get a kid involved in the outdoors. It's God's creation. You know, it's biblical. Mankind takes dominion of the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, and all living and walking creatures. Remember that. And remember, when your roots runs deep and strong, there's no reason to fear the wind.
SPEAKER_08How many of you are tired of your bad? Let me take a few out of doors.