Hello and welcome to Kentucky Afield.

I'm your host, Chad Miles.

Join us as we journey the Commonwealth in search of outdoor adventure.

This week, we're headed down the Ohio River in search of some cold water catfish.

Then we're hitting the field for a rabbit hunt with some former NFL players.

But first, we're hitting the deer stand with Commissioner Rich storm.

Well, this morning I'm out here in Nicholas County with a special guest.

None other than the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, Commissioner Rich Storm.

How are you doing this morning?

I'm doing good.

We we sure have been blessed this morning.

We we call the little fog coming up over the river here in Nicholas County.

And light winds.

What a what a day to be out and hunting during the rut.

So we're actually hunting on on a family farm.

This is property that your family has been on for a long time.

Yeah, better.

Better than 100 years and I think at some point I said third generation farmer.

But in fairness, I think we go way back beyond that, everybody was a farmer more than in more than 100 years ago.

For me, it's extra special because I get to enjoy time outdoors out here on the family farm.

this part of the state.

It's kind of the bluegrass region but it█s Eastern Kentucky.

This area has got a lot of opportunities for small game.

Deer, turkey.

You get a little bit of all of the right here don█t you?

We've got the Clay Wildlife Management area, which I truly believe is underutilized piece of property.

There's a small game initiative over there so a lot of warm season grasses, lot of good cover.

We've got all these great resources.

And so it's it's a Mecca for wildlife to thrive.

And and our team, they have done a tremendous job.

Hopefully we can run into a few deer, donate a few deer to Hunters for the Hungry.

Yeah.

If we can get a doe or two to show up that that's the plan.

That's a that's a spike.

A small buck.

I'll tell you what we're seeing.

We're seeing plenty of deer movement.

Already we've had a couple of small bucks.

Everything has had antlers and, not exactly what we're looking for.

They know they're protected among this bunch today, when they got small antlers.

So you been the commissioner now?

What?

What, what year did you become the commissioner?

In 2019.

I'm a big team player, so, I have to definitely say that I can't underscore the work that you guys have done and the work that our our leaders and everybody that works there, what they█ve been able to accomplish.

But for a period of time, we weren't able to buy land with our own money.

But what we've been able to do we█ve been able to modernize our agency, to continue to grow and look at the next movement.

I mean, we we've had the opportunity to procure 100,000 acres of public land.

Yeah.

And and in many cases, we didn't have to spend agency funds to do so.

Great partners and tax dollars.

Yes.

Huge wins.

I mean, I can't thank those partners enough.

And and then I would say the character of the people and I get to work with, I don't believe in luck.

I don't want to sound that way, but the character of these people is fantastic.

And so when you have that kind of team, good things happen.

There you go.

There you go.

That's a good sized doe right there.

Yeah.

I want to see where she goes?

Yeah.

That's a good sized doe right there.

Yeah that's a full grown deer.

She's like is that Chad Miles?

I got a bone to pick with him.

She's going to cross right here.

What do you think, Commissioner?

Do you think that's, Do you think that█d be a good deer for Hunters for the Hungry?

I think it could be for sure.

I'm going to guess we're probably in that hundred and 50 yard range.

There█s another one behind her.

I actually think that one might be bigger.

Oh, yeah.

Here we go.

All right.

She's hit hard.

I think we'll see some more.

Okay.

I was hoping that would drop.

Hey.

But I saw, right?

I saw the big spot hit right behind her.

So I think that was a great shot.

Yeah, that never gets old.

And I'll tell you what.

What God's created for us with renewable resources.

Like think about that for just a second.

You can have an animal that has a fawn or two each year, and if you can manage that, you can hunt for ages and generations.

And so it's just beautiful.

What creation provides for us.

And I'll tell you what, it's exciting to come out here and enjoy fellowship together.

But we get to hunt and, you know, and maybe donate to a good cause.

And that's that's what this is all about today.

Hunters for the hungry is a program that█s been around for a while, but you guys are making some changes here in the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to Hunters for the hungry that's actually growing the reach.

So in fact, our grant writers and our wildlife division had an innovative plan.

And they said, what if we decided to allocate some of our federal funding to food insecurity?

And it didn't take any time for me to say, that's a great idea.

So anyway, the Wildlife Division worked out a $300,000 federal grant that's available for for food insecurity in the harvest of white tailed deer.

And in addition to that, we've had people that say, I want to I want to partner up, you know, how can our church get involved or how can our community involved?

Who knows what we can do with this?

But it is going to move the needle.

The teachers know their students that struggle.

They know those students.

And so they can drop these meat sticks in their backpack and they can send them home with it.

And so it's not only a great agency and a great resource management, but it's a better Kentucky.

What challenges do you see with the agency and for hunters and anglers alike over the next, you know, ten, 15 years, what do you see in being some big challenges?

Who's going to fill our shoes?

Is that going to be, is it going to be our nephews?

Is it going to be our children?

And I think oftentimes when we think about kids to fill our shoes.

But I think we've got neighbors and we've got adults alike that that would enjoy the outdoors.

And so I think we need to be not only as conservationists.

We need to be mindful of who can replace us, but we need to we need to replace ourselves in multitudes.

As a conservation leader, I would I think we're always going to be in good shape as long as we have the users.

But when that starts to change and we start to chip away and we don't have people that are fishing, we don't have people that are that are hunting.

So I think those are big issues.

And, but our people are fantastic.

Our agency█s strong, our our legacy, our story.

It's humbling to get to be a part of.

I█ll say that.

it was a great morning hunt.

We got one down.

We think we have one down.

I don't want to jinx it looks like a perfect shot.

But I say we walk down there and, see how far that deer got in the woods.

What do you think?

All right, that sounds good to me.

Thank you guys.

Good company today.

And look forward to getting on the blood trail here.

Here's blood right here.

All right.

That's the first drop I've seen.

but as I'm looking.

It's I can see it.

You see it all down through here?

Yep.

Pretty constant all through here.

Nice little fresh scrape.

Look at that.

I think she's laying in here.

Well, there you go.

Congratulations.

That was pretty impressive.

That deer got got a little bit of ways, but, looks like it looks like she was hit right where she was supposed to be.

Double lung.

And she just took off.

Yep.

She had a little, little wind under sails and gravity on her side.

Yeah.

She did.

It was down hill.

Yeah.

Well, I think it worked out great.

Well, I appreciate it, man.

We've been wanting to get out and do some with you And I would like to get you out on a rabbit hunt someday.

Yeah.

Well, that puts a bow on a beautiful morning of hunting out here with you.

I can't tell how much I appreciate it.

Well, I enjoyed it.

To be blessed enough for us to go out today, see some deer harvest a deer, and then help people in need.

What a great day.

You leave here.

You see how they're processing it.

We got to talk to them.

They tell us a little bit about where this protein is going right here in the county.

It gives you a good feeling.

You know, you went out and you did something you love and you helped a lot of people in the process.

Thank you so much for having us out here in Carlisle.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming today.

I really do appreciate it.

The wintertime, when the Ohio River water gets cold, can be a great time to go out and target trophy catfish.

A beautiful January cold, brisk morning on the Ohio River.

I'm here with Ricky Eiselt.

You love to target big catfish and you've been sending me pictures of giant catfish, right?

Yeah.

We've we've caught some pretty good fish this month.

We've called a 80 pounder, I think three or four over 50 pounds.

We've had a couple of 60 pounds.

So it's it's been pretty good this month.

Wintertime is a great time to catch a giant.

Yeah.

A lot of people don't understand that.

I mean, we're out here today.

It's 24 degrees and this is a great situation, great conditions to catch catfish and potentially a big one.

Correct.

Hopefully, we put a good sized fish in the boat.

Yeah, we're going to try to.

I'll do my best.

Let's do it.

So I like to scale my bait, which where these have been sitting in there on that ice.

They're about half frozen here.

All right.

Perfect.

That's a catchable fish.

You want to get this one Chad?

Just take your time with them because they're kind of coming up out of deep water.

Let me take this reel down for me, I█m going to go over you.

Got it.

Feels like it could be a 12 or 15 pounder.

Yeah, feels like a pretty good fish.

I like those big fish.

A lot of times you'll get that big fish and he'll come toward you and once you get him under the boat, you just can't get him up off the bottom.

I'm gonna grab the bogas and we'll boga grip him.

We won't use the net.

That's about a 20 pounder.

It's not a bad fish.

Not a bad fish at all.

What a beautiful fish.

I'll tell you what, there's nothing like fighting one of these.

And I can't imagine- you caught a 92?

I caught a 92 in 2009.

We've caught a 89, an 80, a few in the seventies.

It's been a pretty good year.

There he goes.

We're off to a little bit of a start.

Here's a fish.

He's catchable.

Got another one.

That one there hit one of the steaks didn't it?

Yeah.

He took that little chunk I just put on there.

For guys that you know is looking to eat fish that size there that's the size you want to eat.

Oh yeah.

Them big fish, you know, turn them loose and let them grow.

Not to mention they're just better table fare.

Look at this.

Look at it.

Look at this.

This is a good one.

This a big one.

here Chad.

No, go ahead.

No.

Here, take it, buddy.

I catch him all the time.

That█s on that mega head.

You know, it's coming in a little easier than I thought.

He might not be as big as the other one.

I'm telling you right now, I think there's something about this sunlight.

I'm telling you, the sunlight come out all of a sudden.

I've seen it, days out there, you know, it█d change up.

He wasn't the big one.

I thought he was.

That's our best, well, that 18 pounder is probably under too, but that's our best under fish.

That's what you want.

If you was out here- Tournament fishing and you had your over, this is what you█d be looking for- a bunch of those.

Under is under what, 30?

35.

35?

In Kentucky.

Okay.

34 if you're on Tennessee River.

Okay.

I would say he's going to be about 30, 30 inches.

But that's only maybe a 10 pound, 12 pound fish.

So it's the inches is what, in tournaments, looking at.

that█s only about 28 inches.

So you are allowed one per person over 35.

And then you'd want your- three.

Three apiece for- Three unders.

Correct.

Yeah.

i█m going to throw this in the box too.

Watch your foot just one second.

That's a big fish.

Get it.

Get it.

Big fish.

Big fish.

Pull.

All right, baby, That's a good fish.

He's coming right at you like I said, you see him smoke the drag?

It's coming right at it.

He was pulling drag.

Keep pulling.

Keep reeling until you get caught up with him.

Okay.

This a good fish here.

It smoked it, Chad Didn█t it?

He's definitely on there.

Keep going, you aint caught up with him yet.

Yeah.

I haven█t really felt the weight yet.

Just take your time with it.

He didn't play around either, did it?

No, Just like I said, look at the bubbles.

Yeah.

That's about a 30 pounder.

Good job, buddy.

Yes, sir.

Awesome.

That was great.

We're looking for one about twice that size but That's our best one today.

Look at that fish.

You talked about fish running at you.

Yeah, that's exactly what he did.

I was like, this fish don't feel that big.

And he kept coming and kept coming and kept coming and then when he got under the boat, it was all of the sudden- Yeah.

Straight down.

If he'd have been double that size, once you got him here, he would have kept going up river.

You're just holding on at that point and that's when it gets fun.

But that's a good fish, man.

Awesome job.

Man, thank you so much.

That is a good fish.

I'll take that all day long.

About 31, 32 pounds.

What a fish.

Man, it's just incredible.

That's what we're after there.

When you█re fighting them, and they're in their element in the water and you're trying to pull them up.

You're going wherever they want to go until they get tired aren█t you?

Yeah.

Blue cats are some of the funnest fish you're going to catch.

You know, fresh water.

That█s a good fish.

That was awesome.

You know what?

I know for what you're used to, it wasn't the greatest of day but for most people to come out here- this is January.

Yeah.

And catch this type of quality fish.

That's a great day.

Yeah, I've had a lot worse days, so we didn't get what I come for but I'm satisfied.

You know, you listen to a country song, you think that you can only catch catfish in the summer sitting on a bank.

You showed me today that maybe the best time to come out and get them: Middle of the winter.

I think that's the best time for the bigger fish.

Yeah, well, let's get these back in.

Man.

It's been a great day.

Thank you.

Yeah, my pleasure.

Rabbit season is in.

And it's football season.

That means it's time to hit the field with a couple of fellows who like to play both.

Henry County has rabbits.

There are so many good spots in Henry County that I feel really comfortable, even though we've never been here before.

We're going to get some bunnies up Time to load them up.

Rabbit Number one is on the move.

You hear that one?

That's real high pitched squeal.

Scream that dog, when it barks, it's the rabbit's up.

It's Right in front of her.

we're out here in Henry County today doing one of my absolute favorite things, and that's rabbit hunting.

I've got a crew of people here that I've done some hunting with in the past.

A lot of football coaches and former football players but today is the day to get out.

They're going to talk a little football, talk about hunting and fishing and why they just love being outdoors.

Pat, Is that your first rabbit?

Fist right.

First one of the day to hey, hey.

Come here.

Hey, come here.

Come here, Come here, Come here, Look here Pat.

Look at we got here the dogs.

Dogs tried to claim that one first rabbit ever.

First one.

Can't beat that.

So we didn't.

We didn't see it.

So was it close to Is it in the woods?

It was running through and it was running down here in this creek kinda.

Okay.

And that's where I shot it.

First rabbit, hey you get three more today.

So, four is the limit you get you get plenty more shooting.

I must have some pretty good teachers.

First rabbit?

Yeah.

dropped my water down there.

All the thorns down there and I got a spray bottle now.

I started, I was a rookie free agent to Green Bay After I graduated in the spring of ‘04 I was there till the last cut and ended up getting released.

And ended up singing on the practice squad for New York Then I ended up making the roster.

I was there in ‘04 and █05 in New York.

Then I went to Saint Louis in ‘06.

And then Dallas in ‘07.

Ok.

So Pat was at Green Bay for a year.

Yeah.

We were actually talking about it for a little bit He was there a little bit before me.

But a couple of guys I played with when I was there He played with there as well.

Oh ok.

Whitetail.

There it is, right there We both missed?

Here he goes, here he goes.

Here he goes.

Hey, we got rabbits run everywhere Well, the dogs brought one rabbit down through here.

And they sight chased another one right out.

And I shot him right over here.

We got rabbits going every which Lookey there, double trouble.

ok, ok, you got em, you got em.

Here it goes, right here, right here.

Coming at you Nick.

Coming at you Nick.

Here you go Nick.

Right here buddy.

Nice.

Nice work.

Nice job.

Yes, sir.

Way to go, yes sir.

Yeah.

That thing.

Thing.

It's the same rabbit.

I do think it's the same rabbit.

Yeah.

Yeah, but I do think there's another one or two up here.

And then.

He said that dale saw four or five over there.

Really?

So we've got all kinds of more rabbits in here.

Well let█s go get them.

Yes.

Right.

Right there.

Right there.

That█s number two.

Got one!

You got the rabbit?

Yeah.

Sweet.

Nice job.

Yeah I missed that first shot.

I got a better aim.

On that second one.

Took my time and Aimed through it.

Did you get him?

Yep.

Dead rabbit.

The doges made it quiet.

And uh, I was kind checking through this ridge.

They haven█t been coming into the open field today as much.

They been kinda Staying in these creeks and these ridges.

Um so, I just I saw him going over top of this ridge.

And he kinda stopped.

When they heard the dogs barking a little bit more.

It crossed over this ridge, And over top of this creek.

And kinda came into a clearing When I had a clear shot I took it.

Pat, you got two bunnies today, too.

That's pretty good I hear.

Yeah, that is good.

You know what?

We kill a lot of rabbits today.

Had a lot of fun dogs.

They ran a lot and put a lot of miles on them.

I appreciate you guys coming out and doing this.

And hopfully we get out and get a chance to do it one more time.

Now let's check in and see who else has been out having fun.

And this week's ones that didn't get away.

Check out this nice buck that was taken by William Newton.

He took this deer using his great grandfather's 30-06 bear gun.

Congratulations.

Check out this impressive nine point buck that was taken by Devon Magnotta in Louis County, Kentucky.

Nice job here.

We have six year old Kinley O'Hara, and this was her very first time deer hunting.

And she was able to take this buck in Boone County.

Nice job.

Matt Taylor went fishing at Melville Dam and caught this tagged Sauger.

He was actually caught and released.

Nice job.

Here at Kentucky Field.

We'd like to wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving weekend.

And remember, hunting and fishing on private property is a privilege.

Always ask permission and thank the landowner.

Until next week, I'm your host, Chad Miles, and I hope to see you in the woods or on the water.