Great Outdoors with Charlie Potter
Environment
Charlie Potter discusses hunting, fishing, wildlife and conservation issues in the Great Outdoors Podcast from WGN Radio 720 in Chicago
Location:
Chicago, IL
Genres:
Environment
Description:
Charlie Potter discusses hunting, fishing, wildlife and conservation issues in the Great Outdoors Podcast from WGN Radio 720 in Chicago
Language:
English
Episodes
Sand County Foundation leads the way in helping save grasslands
4/12/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explores how the Sand County Foundation is leading the charge to protect vital grasslands—and previews the arrival of crane season in Wisconsin.
Duration:00:18:35
Farm Bill controversy hits hunting traditions as Western water crisis deepens
4/5/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter examines how a controversial Farm Bill amendment could impact dog training and bird hunting traditions, while also exploring the growing water crisis threatening the future of the American West.
Duration:00:19:34
Saskatchewan hunting restrictions and Farm Bill stalemate
3/29/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter welcomes Kerry Luft of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation to explain how Saskatchewan is restricting American hunters with new regulations, plus the latest on the stalled Farm Bill.
Duration:00:18:56
America The Beautiful in IMAX and remembering Orion Samuelson
3/22/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter discusses the upcoming IMAX documentary America The Beautiful, celebrating the United States of America’s 250th anniversary, featuring narration by Kelsey Grammer, along with a tribute to Orion Samuelson, a man Charlie was lucky to have known.
Duration:00:17:51
Songbird decline, invasive species, and the need for wildlife management
3/15/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explains why songbirds are declining while some invasive species continue to thrive, and how a Michigan effort highlights the importance of active wildlife management.
Duration:00:17:53
Plastics, Paper, and Sports Show Season
3/8/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter discusses plastics and their legacy environmental costs, whether paper products could help clean up our environment, and why it’s the heart of sports show season.
Duration:00:17:55
Why villagers want hunting and Endangered Species Act reforms
3/1/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explores why local villagers support hunting and what proposed Endangered Species Act reforms could mean for conservation.
Duration:00:17:53
Can hunting save elephants, rhinos and African big game?
2/22/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter questions whether hunting can help save elephants, rhinos, and Africa’s iconic big game. Plus, a look at the battle over mining in the Boundary Waters.
Duration:00:17:54
End of an era for Eddie Bauer
2/15/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter reflects on Eddie Bauer’s closing, marking the end of an era, and asks whether the NRA can find its relevance again.
Duration:00:17:53
Federal duck stamp winner breaks his own record
2/8/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explains how the Federal Duck Stamp winner broke his own record and why deer hunter numbers nationwide are down more than 35% from 40 years ago.
Duration:00:17:48
Oregon proposed ballot measure is a disaster for wildlife management
2/1/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter explains why a proposed Oregon ballot measure is raising alarms among conservationists, as well as a closer look at polar bear populations and why recent data shows they’re thriving, despite years of dire predictions.
Duration:00:17:54
The biofuel bet that didn’t pay off
1/25/2026
This week on The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter breaks down why large-scale biofuel projects using Midwest grasslands and prairies failed to gain traction—and why those ideas might still work for our forests. Plus, an update on wolves out West.
Duration:00:17:53
Calls to stop flooding corn fields could harm waterfowl
1/18/2026
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter welcomes Kerry Luft of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation to explain why efforts to halt flooding corn fields for Louisiana waterfowl lack scientific backing and may threaten bird populations. Plus, a look at the future of hunter recruitment.
Duration:00:17:55
Venezuela’s wetlands, ECO Hunting Alliance and a fish disco
1/11/2026
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter dives into the damage threatening Venezuela’s wetlands, updates us on the ECO Hunting Alliance’s forest restoration efforts amid rising deer populations, and explores a surprising “fish disco” off the coast of Great Britain.
Duration:00:17:55
Wind farms put on hold and bird flu is rampant in snow geese
1/5/2026
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter discusses how the construction of wind farms is being put on hold across the U.S., as well as the disturbing effect of bird flu on the snow geese population.
Duration:00:17:52
The Farmer’s Almanac: A year in retrospective
12/28/2025
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter reflects on the 2025 Farmer’s Almanac. Plus Charlie talks about the needed partnership between agriculture and conservation.
Duration:00:22:35
Everglades to receive billion dollar Christmas present
12/21/2025
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter shares details surrounding the billion dollar Christmas present the Everglades are set to receive. Plus Charlie talks about the loss of bird habitat in the Mississippi Delta.
Duration:00:17:21
Traveling with a puppy can be a messy affair
12/14/2025
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter shares why traveling with a puppy can be a messy affair and how poachers’ snares in Africa are devastating wildlife.
Duration:00:17:53
Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones call in the ducks
12/7/2025
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter shares the story of how Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones called in the ducks, plus Florida bear hunters are being paid not to hunt.
Duration:00:18:19
The day ‘Ma shot a duck’ on air with Spike O’Dell and kids need nature
11/30/2025
On this episode of The Great Outdoors, Charlie Potter shares the story of when “Ma shot a duck” while on air with Spike O’Dell, and the many reasons why kids need nature.
Duration:00:17:55