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In this episode (188) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy visits with Adam Foss to talk mountain hunting and wild sheep conservation.  Adam explains a rare opportunity to win a sheep hunt with him in the McKenzie Mountains, a hunt he will film or photograph thanks to the Wild Sheep Foundation. Randy's Montana goat hunt with Adam and friends gets a day-by-day recite. Other diversions include growing up hunting mountains, commitment to conservation, telling stories, risk management, allure of sheep hunting and sheep hunters, and many other perspectives from a man immersed in hunting the mountains.

In this episode (187) of Leupold's Hunt Talk radio, Randy visits with Terry Meyers, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, a prior guest who exemplifies citizen-conservation.  Topics covered on this early March conversation include the policy issues facing bighorn sheep on public lands, when multiple use becomes conflict, disease as a constraining factor for wild sheep, local groups making a difference at the state level, what is m.ovi, wild rams no longer allowed to wander, simple answers don't solve complicated problems, paying for grazing retirements, converting from domestic sheep to cattle, Federal land policy conflicting with state agency wildlife policy, compromising to zero, incentives provide good outcomes, and many more complications related to wild sheep management and the future an iconic species.

In this episode (186) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Shane Mahoney wrap up their five-part series on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. This episode does a quick summary of where wildlife conservation is today, the challenges we face, and explores what adaptations will be necessary to meet the needs of a growing world population, shrinking habitat base, changing climate, and pressure to expand  funding and representation beyond hunters and anglers.  Are the values expressed in the Model able to accommodate the changes ahead? Who and to what expectations will wildlife be managed and allocated?  The path ahead has more questions than answers.

In this episode (185) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy and Shane Mahoney continue with Part 4 of 5 in their discussion of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, detailing the next three tenets 1) Public Trust Doctrine, 2) Democratic Allocation of Opportunity, and 3) Allocation by Law. Issues explored start with the Public Trust Doctrine as applied to wildlife policy and allocation.  From there we examine how law is the basis for all wildlife allocation and applied in a democratic manner, discussing ideas of commerce around wildlife, responsibility of Public Trustees, respect for Property Rights, legislation and policy to provide the "greatest good," along with many other interesting tangents.

In this episode (184) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy and Shane Mahoney continue with Part 3 of 5 in their discussion of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, detailing the next two tenets 1) Eliminating Commercial Markets and 2) Legitimate Purpose for taking wildlife. Issues explored are the commerce around dead animals and the value of life wildlife, intended exceptions, what is legitimate purpose and what is not, what contradictions exist, how the tenets evolve from recovery to sustainability, subsistance and indigenous priorites, the history of how these tenets were critical for wildlife recovery, and many more interesting paths.

In this episode (183) of Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Shane Mahoney continue their discussion on the concept known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  In Part 2, they start an in depth discussion on the seven tenets that support this Model.  This episode focuses on 1) science as the foundation for wildlife management and 2) wildlife considered an international resource.  Shane explains that the Model is a set of principles that express the values we have in how we want wildlife to be held, managed, and allocated. To support management we must use the best information, mostly scientific information, a long history of which got us to where we are today.  Many species span multiple countries, requiring an international perspective in management and allocation.

In this episode (182) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Shane Mahoney discuss the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  Shane is an expert on the Model, having shared many works with Dr. Valerius Geist, the person most credited with this Model's current description.  In this first episode topics covered include what this Model represents, the history of wildlife in North America, the seven tents that comprise the foundation of this Model, why Dr. Geist defined how our Model works, what the Model is/isn't, disruptive events that helped form our conservation ethic, and a host of other relevant history to explain the context of how the tenets of this Model were developed and the relevance of the Model today.

In this episode (181) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with three members (Justin Schaaf, Nuridia Nulliner, and John Sullivan) of the Montana Citizens Elk Coalition, a grassroots group focused on elk management in Montana.  Topics covered include how to be effective at the local level, understanding process, showing up matters, learning by listening, finding values to support, changing landscape of wildlife politics, when policy becomes politics, be at the table or be on the menu, and a lot of other ideas for effective advocacy.  Go to https://www.montanaelk.org/ for more information.

In this Episode (179) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, two attorneys bring their legal expertise to the discussion of private and public property rights where properties adjoin or intersect.  Tom Stonecipher and Nick Vandenbos have been researching this topic and share their findings, along with an explanation of how law is not static and application of law is dependent upon facts and circumstance, responding to the practicality of the situation.  A Wyoming court case is ongoing that addresses this topic in both a criminal and civil context.  Lots to think about here.  Enjoy!

In this episode (178) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy lays the groundwork for the upcoming legal analysis in podcast episode 179 that will dive into the complexities of property law in instances where private and public property intersect.  This podcast explains what to expect in the series, a history of how these lands became a "checkerboard," trends that have us focusing on public land access more than ever, contributing factors that have merged in the corner crossing debate, and an overview of the Wyoming case currently being litigated.  This podcast is important background for the next podcast where a deep legal analysis is provided by attorneys.  For a good legal background, download this article - Professor Shelby Green Public Land Analysis

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with renowned ecologist, Arthur Middleton, PhD.  Topics covered include the complexity of large systems, the danger of over simplifying science, urgency of habitat conservation, migration corridors at risk, elk are tough critters, the dangers of being a predator, observing wolves, there are no simple answers, communicating science to advocate for conservation, new ideas for private land conservation, deeper discussions on rapid changes to critical landscapes, Yellowstone as a petri dish, and some sidebar discussion about Dr. Middleton's time as a falconer.

In this episode (177) Randy has a return guest, Ed Arnett, CEO of The Wildlife Society, the leading professional association of wildlife scientists, biologists, and managers. Topics covered include using communications to create advocacy for the causes of wildlife and conservation, the Wyoming Migration Initiative example, tell your own story, outreach will build support for science, disincentives for communicating science, background on TWS, great hunting information created by scientists, and a continued focus on making the great scientific work consumable and digestible for the general public concerned about wild place and wild things.

In this episode (176) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Lydia Parker and Alex Harvey from Hunters of Color.  Topics covered include a history of the organization, outdoor experiences of BIPOC hunters, Randy as the "gray-haired white dude," the tragedy of Peter Spencer's murder while hunting, making the outdoors more inviting and safe for everyone, the fact that not all people get the same treatment in outdoor experiences, what can we do to support the efforts of HOC, and other topics that might cause some discomfort for the traditional hunter who assumes the outdoor experience is the same for all Americans.

In this episode (175) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares a mic with Montana FWP Director, Hank Worsech, to discuss dramatic changes to proposed elk seasons. From a list of talking points, the discussion gives the Director the opportunity to explain the rationale for these proposals and the vision he has for elk management in Montana. Topics covered include; science or social, elk plans, managing inaccessible elk, whose problem is it, too many elk or too little access, problem contributors or problem solvers, who are the Trustees, incentives, bull elk permits as currency for incentives, killing the wrong elk, trust between agencies and hunters, does public comment get considered, and lots of other topics in the complicated issue of managing elk on diverse landscapes. P.S. - Sorry for the audio issues caused by Randy's broken mic (didn't realize it until we started editing).

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy goes over the details of the Arizona 2022 application process for elk and pronghorn.  Topics covered include deadlines, fees, upfront costs and sunk costs, bonus points, how the draw works, non-resident quotas and limits, how to gain extra points, youth opportunities, tag refunds, and all other details as you make your applications to Arizona.

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives an overview of the Wyoming draw system and how it works for non-resident elk applicants in 2022.  The deadline is January 31, 2022.  Wyoming is a great state. If it works for your time and budget, apply.  For more details, go to goHUNT.com and sign up for their INISDER. Use promo code Randy and get $50 credit in their gear shop.

In this episode (174) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Carolyn and AJ from Matson's Lab, the leader in wildlife aging.  Topic covered include the process of tooth aging, aging in other manners, cementum, annuli, the importance of aging, surprises, how teeth tell a life story, age versus size, using aging for management and season structures, how to get your animal aged, and other topics that connect the equation of hunting+science=conservation.

In this episode (173) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy talks with Tim Hepworth, an EMT, fishing guide, and operator of the most family friendly Instagram channel in hunting, @TimandWren.  Topics covered include commitment to an outdoor family lifestyle, making it fun for them, using social media positively and carefully, being a bright light on a dark day, letting kids fail, the value of mistakes, learning while doing, teaching food responsibility, using the outdoors to teach life lessons, and a lot of other good topics for family fun in the outdoors.

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy's guest is Jess Johnson, Government Affairs Director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation.  Jess brings her extensive policy experience to explain how to make a difference with people of all political stripes, staying in your lane, focusing on what you can improve, playing the long game, co-founding the Artemis Sportswomen, how to use communications for the good of hunting, explaining the privilege we have and the obligations that come with those blessings, and a lot of other random topics related to policy, hunting, and conservation.

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Marcus give a season wrap.  It has been the most disrupted of all seasons, requiring the Fresh Tracks crew to fill in a lot of the content Randy normally films.  Such is life.  And such is the story of 2021.  Stories of elk hunts, deer hunts, a mountain goat named "Grubby" and stories from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Montana.  We are now back on track and hoping to keep rolling without disruption.