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If you've ever wondered what it takes to manage wildlife and fish across two thirds of a continent, this episode has your answer. In Season 3, Episode 20 of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation sit down with Zach Lowe, Executive Director of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). WAFWA represents 23 states, provinces, and territories stretching from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic, encompassing more than 1,500 species and roughly 18,000 fish and wildlife employees. Zach brings a unique perspective to the conversation, having started his career as a prairie habitat specialist and Farm Bill extension biologist before spending 13 years at the McGraw Foundation leading the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program, and ultimately landing in the executive director's chair at WAFWA five years ago.
The conversation covers the full sweep of what makes western wildlife management genuinely different from the rest of the country, from the scale of federal land ownership and the politics of multi-jurisdictional management to the quirks of shed hunting regulations and the lottery-level odds of pulling a float permit for Hells Canyon. Zach and Jon dig into how harsh western winters drive boom-and-bust cycles in pronghorn, mule deer, and elk populations, why tag quotas are a biological necessity and not a punishment for non-residents, and how WAFWA's big game migration and connectivity initiative is working at a biome scale that most conservation organizations can't match. On the fisheries side, Zach walks through three of WAFWA's fish habitat partnerships, including the Western Native Trout Challenge, the Desert Fish Habitat Partnership, and the newly expanding Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership, and introduces one of the most innovative fisheries tools in the conservation toolbox: the Trojan Male Fish program, which uses genetically conditioned hatchery fish to crowd out invasive brook trout and, potentially, carp from western watersheds.
Whether you're a hunter chasing elk tags in Wyoming, an angler working to check off native cutthroat subspecies, or simply someone who wants to understand how the vast, complicated, and spectacular American West is managed for wildlife, this is a conversation worth your time. WAFWA may not be a household name, but the work it does shapes hunting seasons, fish populations, and habitat conservation across the largest wildlife management jurisdiction on the continent.
To learn more, find us at:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies: https://wafwa.org
#wildlife #wildlifeconservation #wildlifemanagement #fishing #flyfishing #hunting #westernwildlife #publiclands #habitatconservation #nativetrout #biggame #muledeer #elkhunting #pronghorn #fishandwildlife #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #connectingwithconservation
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Water, fire, sagebrush, and the vast open landscapes of the American West are at the heart of this week's conversation. In Season 3, Episode 19 of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation welcome two guests from the Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV): Hannah Nikonow, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, and Charlie Holtz, Field Delivery Capacity Coordinator. Together, they pull back the curtain on one of the largest, and least talked about, conservation partnerships in the United States, one that spans 11 states, roughly half a billion acres, and three of the West's most critical habitat types: sagebrush rangelands, working water and wetlands, and dry frequent-fire forests.
Hannah and Charlie walk listeners through what the IWJV does on the ground, from helping multi-generational ranching families implement conservation practices on their working lands, to placing conservation professionals within BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, and NRCS offices to deliver habitat programs where they're needed most. The conversation ranges from the mechanics of beaver dam analogs and low-tech stream restoration to the challenges of invasive annual grasses, encroaching conifers, big game migration corridors, and the West's intensifying water scarcity. Hannah also shares the IWJV's innovative approach to public outreach, including hands-on journalist field workshops that take reporters into sagebrush country and along the Bear River corridor to see conservation work firsthand rather than just reading a press release.
Whether you're a wildlife professional, a western landowner, a hunter chasing sage grouse and pronghorn across public lands, or simply someone who wants to understand how the vast open spaces of the Intermountain West are being protected and restored, this episode delivers. The IWJV is one of conservation's unsung institutions, and this conversation is a compelling reminder that the people, partnerships, and funding mechanisms behind the work matter just as much as the work itself. Learn more and explore their stories at IWJV.org.
For more Information, Visit Us at:
• Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute •
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
• Intermountain West Joint Venture: https://iwjv.org
#wildlife #wildlifeconservation #wildlifehabitat #conservation #sagebrush #sagegrouse #westernwildlife #hunting #huntingconservation #publiclands #intermountainwest #habitatrestoration #wildlifemanagement #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #connectingwithconservation
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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What's happening to mule deer, and why should anyone west of the Mississippi care? In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation sit down with Greg Sheehan, President and CEO of both the Mule Deer Foundation and the Blacktail Deer Foundation, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the West's most iconic, and quietly troubled, big game species.
Greg brings one of the most distinguished careers in American wildlife and land management to the table. After 25 years with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, including five as its director, he served as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before returning west as Utah State Director for the Bureau of Land Management, overseeing roughly 22.8 million acres of public land. Today, leading both the Mule Deer Foundation and the Blacktail Deer Foundation, he's channeling that experience directly into species he's hunted and cared about his entire life. The conversation covers the multi-decade decline in mule deer populations, an estimated 50 to 60 percent drop across western states, and why there's no single simple answer. Habitat fragmentation, invasive plants like cheatgrass, suppressed fire regimes, migration corridor loss, surging road traffic, predator-prey dynamics, and severe winters all play a role, and Greg makes a compelling case that solutions require the same complexity as the problems themselves.
The episode also touches on the North American Model of Conservation and what makes it unique globally, the importance of treating Pittman-Robertson excise tax revenue as an investment rather than a burden, the growing challenge of wildlife ballot initiatives bypassing science-based management, the lesser-known Blacktail Deer Foundation and the species' coastal rainforest habitat from California to Alaska, and why nonprofit conservation organizations can say things in public that government agencies simply cannot. Jon draws a thought-provoking parallel between mule deer declines and the emerging turkey population struggles in the East and raises an important question about whether the wildlife management profession has the right experience base to manage declining species after a century focused almost entirely on restoration success.
For more information, reach us at:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
Mule Deer Foundation: https://muledeer.org
Black-Tailed Deer Foundation: https://blacktaildeer.org
#muledeer #muledeerfoundation #blacktaileddeer #publiclands #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #conservation #wildlifeconservation #pittmanrobertson #westernwildlife #huntingisconservation conservation
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What does a firearm importer have to do with healthy deer herds, turkey populations, and public shooting ranges? More than most people realize. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation sit down with Neil Sanders, VP of Sales and Marketing at SDS Arms, to pull back the curtain on how the outdoor firearms industry quietly funds one of the most successful conservation models in the world.
Neil brings more than two decades of experience in the outdoor industry — from his early days with Peterson's Publishing titles like Guns & Ammo and North American Whitetail, to long tenures at Thompson Center and Mossy Oak, to his current role growing SDS Arms and its portfolio of brands including Spandau Arms, MAC (Military Armament Corp.), Inglis, and Tokarev. Based in Texas, Neil is an avid bird and big game hunter who has built his career around connecting consumers with products they actually want — and making sure those products carry their share of the conservation load. Under his leadership, SDS Arms has grown more than 70% in four years, importing over 200,000 firearms annually, each one generating Pittman-Robertson excise tax revenue that flows directly to state wildlife agencies for habitat, access, and public shooting infrastructure.
The conversation covers how the Pittman-Robertson excise tax works for importers, why firearm companies rarely get public credit for the conservation dollars they generate, how SDS Arms supports organizations like NWTF, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and Quail Forever at both the national and chapter level, and what the outdoor industry needs to do differently to tell its conservation story. Jon and Jim also make the case that wildlife agencies need to do a better job recognizing their industry partners publicly, and Neil shares the story of how a novel pump-action shotgun nicknamed the "Butt Pump" went viral with 50 million social media views seemingly overnight.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE FIND US AT:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
SDS Arms: https://sdsarms.com
#wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #pittmanrobertson #huntingisconservation #wildlifeconservation #conservationfunding #conservation #SDSArms #firearmsconservation #wildlifefunding #nwtf #ducksunlimited #hunting #wildlifeconservation
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On this episode of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Jimmy Bullock, Senior Vice President of Forest Sustainability at Resource Management Service (RMS). A self-described "recovering deer biologist," Jimmy earned his stripes in the private forestry sector with Anderson-Tully Company, Union Camp Corporation, and International Paper before joining RMS — a Timber Investment Management Organization (TIMO) that today manages roughly 2.2 million acres across eight southern states and Brazil on behalf of institutional investors. Jimmy also serves on the board of the Wildlife Management Institute and is active with Boone and Crockett Club and the National Conservation Leadership Institute.
The conversation explores how working forests are quietly becoming one of the most important conservation tools in the American South. Jimmy walks through RMS's role in reintroducing the federally endangered reticulated flatwoods salamander to private land in Santa Rosa County, Florida, the largest conservation easement ever closed in South Carolina (nearly 50,000 acres in the Pee Dee River Basin), and the shift from short-rotation pulpwood management to longer sawtimber rotations that create the open-canopy, herbaceous-ground-cover conditions many declining species need. He also explains how longleaf pine restoration, long considered economically unviable, has been made workable through an innovative easement structure that accounts for opportunity cost and perpetual management.
A major thread of the episode is the NAFO Wildlife Conservation Initiative and its Working Forests for Wildlife program, a collaborative model with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that covers 44 million acres of NAFO-member land nationwide. Jimmy details how programmatic agreements and species-specific annexes have turned regulatory liability into conservation opportunity for the northern long-eared bat, Red Hills Salamander, gopher tortoise, and alligator snapping turtle. His closing message — that trust between private landowners, state agencies, and federal partners is the foundation of modern conservation — is a theme any listener working in this space will recognize.
For More Information, Visit us at:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
Resource Management Service: https://www.resourcemgt.com
#wildlifemanagementinstitute #forestry #conservationfunding #wildlifeconservation #workingforests #sustainableforestry #longleafpine #privatelandconservation #endangeredspecies #gophertortoise #nafo #outdoorstewards
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What does it actually cost to keep wildlife on the landscape and who's paying for it? In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Luke Thorkildsen, Chief Operating Officer of Weatherby, one of America's most iconic and longest-standing firearms manufacturers. Weatherby is an 81-year-old, still family-owned company that made the move from California to Sheridan, Wyoming in 2018–2019, a transition that, as Luke describes it, "almost broke" them but ultimately more than doubled their revenue and workforce. Luke walks through how Pittman-Robertson Act excise taxes work from the manufacturer's side: built into the first sale price, paid quarterly, and totaling millions of dollars annually from Weatherby alone. It's a tax the industry effectively imposed on itself and the conservation infrastructure it funds reaches far beyond most people realize.
Beyond the factory floor, Luke serves as chairman of the board at the Mule Deer Foundation and brings a candid perspective on where mule deer stand right now: one of the few big game species in the U.S. that is genuinely declining. Habitat loss, weather patterns, and landscape fragmentation are all in play, and the conversation goes beyond slogans to look honestly at the challenges ahead. The episode also covers the history of the Weatherby Award, a prestigious lifetime achievement recognition in hunting that predates most people's awareness of the brand itself. It also discusses the company's full product line from the .224 Weatherby to the .460 Weatherby Mag, and the new ultralight Backcountry Capra rifle coming in at just four pounds. For anyone who's ever wondered where conservation money actually comes from, or who's behind the numbers cited in policy discussions, this episode provides a clear, grounded answer from someone who writes the check.
For more information, visit us at:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://www.wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation: https://www.stewardsofconservation.org
Weatherby Inc: https://www.weatherby.com
#connectingwithconservation #Weatherby #WeatherbyFirearms #pittmanrobertson #wildlifeconservation #muledeerfoundation #muledeer #publiclands #huntersforconservation #hunting #wildlifemanagement #wmi #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #excisetax #conservationfunding #backcountryhunting #FirearmsIndustry #SelfReliantHunter #WyomingHunting #biggamehunting #CapeBufalo #MarkV #BackcountryCapra #65RPM #300WeatherbyMag
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What does the timber industry have to do with hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation? More than most people realize. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Darren Miller, Vice President of Forestry Programs at the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to explore how private forest lands, responsible timber management, and science-based research are quietly driving conservation outcomes across the country.
Darren brings a career that bridges academia, corporate environmental stewardship, and applied wildlife science. After earning his graduate degree at Mississippi State studying black bears and wild turkeys, he spent more than 20 years as a wildlife scientist and research program lead for Weyerhaeuser Company, managing environmental research across millions of acres of southern timberlands. He joined NCASI in 2018, where he now leads a team of wildlife scientists, forest hydrologists, and carbon and climate specialists serving the forest products sector. The conversation covers the often-overlooked role of large private forest ownerships in supporting biodiversity, from game species like white-tailed deer and wild turkey to pollinators, songbirds, bats, gopher tortoises, and rare aquatic species. Darren explains how the Wildlife Conservation Initiative, a collaborative partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Alliance of Forest Owners, has documented 25 species of conservation concern on actively managed industrial forest lands in a single South Alabama landscape, and how that work is now opening doors to endangered species reintroduction on private lands.
The episode also digs into practical topics: how sustainable forestry certification standards (SFI and FSC) protect wetlands, vernal pools, and unique ecological sites; how forest thinning and regeneration cycles benefit pollinators; how eDNA technology is revolutionizing rare species surveys; and the remarkable recovery of the Louisiana Black Bear — a story that started with Darren's own master's research and came full circle when a bear showed up on his Mississippi property last November. This is an episode about the science, the partnerships, and the private landowners who are making conservation work on working lands.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://www.wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://www.stewardsofconservation.org
National Council for Air and Stream Improvement: https://www.ncasi.org
#wildlifeconservation #PrivateLands #forestmanagement #sustainableforestry #hunting #fishing #conservation #NCASI #LouisianaBlackBear #pollinators #esa #endangeredspecies #wildlifemanagement #sfi #fsc #HunterFunding #pittmanrobertson #connectingwithconservation #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards
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The northern bobwhite was once a fixture of the American countryside — heard on nearly every farm, fence row, and field edge from Texas to New England. Today, populations have collapsed across most of that range, and bringing them back requires more than good intentions. It takes habitat, scale, and a lot of people willing to change how they manage their land. In this episode, Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with John Morgan, President and CEO of the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative Foundation, to dig into what's driving the decline, what recovery actually looks like on the ground, and why quail conservation matters far beyond the bird itself.
John Morgan brings 20-plus years of on-the-ground experience to the conversation, from managing wildlife areas in Florida to running Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's small game program before joining NBGI. He traces the initiative's 30-year history, from a 1995 meeting of southeastern state wildlife agencies who recognized the problem was too big for any single state to solve, to today's 25-state network spanning federal agencies, state wildlife agencies, universities, and nonprofits. The conversation covers what quail actually need to survive (more edge, less mowing, and a lot more connected habitat), why five to ten percent of the right landscape can make a real difference, and how a CREP-driven restoration effort in central Kentucky once had hunters taking bag limits of wild bobwhite for the first time in two decades.
The episode also tackles some of the harder questions: Why can't a small landowner just fix their own ten acres and call it done? What role does the Farm Bill play — and where does it fall short? And perhaps most importantly, how does restoring native grassland habitat connect to clean water, pollinator health, and even human wellness in ways that can build conservation support far beyond the hunting community? Whether you're a quail hunter, a wildlife professional, a farmer, or just someone who wants to understand what healthy working lands should look like, this one is worth your time.
For More Information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://stewardsofconservation.org
National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative: https://nbgi.org
#wildlifeconservation #bobwhite #habitatrestoration #farmbill #quail #connectingwithconservation #hunting #conservationfunding #NativeGrasslands #outdoorstewards #wildlifemanagementinstitute
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation welcome Sue Tidwell, award-winning author of Cries of the Savanna. Sue came to Africa not as a hunter but as a skeptic — a Western Pennsylvania deer hunting family background gave her an understanding of the North American model, but hunting lions, leopards, and zebras felt entirely different. What she discovered on the ground in Tanzania changed everything. Through her friendship with Lillian, a female government-assigned game scout, and her immersion in the daily realities of remote African communities living alongside dangerous wildlife, Sue came to understand that regulated hunting is not just compatible with conservation — in many areas it is the only thing making conservation economically viable. Her debut book, honored with a Reader's Favorite Gold Medal, the Professional Outdoor Media Association's Pinnacle Award, and The Wildlife Society's Conservation Education Award, tells that story through adventure, humor, and hard-won perspective.
The conversation tackles some of the most contentious issues surrounding African hunting head-on including the photo tourism versus hunting debate, the bastardization of the phrase 'regulated hunting' following the Cecil the Lion controversy of 2015, and the devastating consequences that hunting bans have had on lion habitat, anti-poaching capacity, and local communities across Tanzania and beyond. Sue shares a deeply troubling case study involving the International Fund for Animal Welfare's elephant relocation project in Kasanga, which resulted in human deaths, destroyed crops, and shattered livelihoods, while the organization declared it a success and continued fundraising on it. Jon and Sue agree that well-meaning donors need to research conservation organizations carefully, comparing mission spending ratios before writing checks to groups that may be using donations to fund lawsuits against the very wildlife agencies that manage the animals they claim to protect. The episode closes with a practical discussion of how regulated hunting keeps money, meat, and anti-poaching presence in remote African communities — and why removing hunters from the equation exposes those landscapes to the exact threats conservation donors say they oppose.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://conservationstewards.org
Sue Tidwell — Author of Cries of the Savanna: https://www.suetidwell.com
Cries of the Savanna is available on Amazon, Spotify, and Carbon TV (free audio by chapter).
#wildlifeconservation #AfricanWildlife #RegulatedHunting #CriesOfTheSavanna #SueTidwell #HuntingInAfrica #ConservationAfrica #antipoaching #NorthAmericanConservationModel #huntersforconservation #wildlifemanagement #SustainableUse #PhotoTourism #africasafari #humanwildlifeconflict #outdoorpodcast #conservationstorytelling #huntingcommunity #WildlifeAdvocacy #CecilTheLion #ethicalhunting #conservationfunding #wildlifemanagementinstitute #ConservationStewards #AfricaConservation
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Charles Whitwam, Founder and President of Howl for Wildlife. Charles traces the origin of Howl to a grassroots effort he organized with co-founder John Stallone to stop a California Senate bill that would have eliminated black bear hunting in the state. The rapid success of that campaign, fueled by hunters mobilizing nationally, not just locally, convinced him that the hunting community desperately needed a permanent, tech-driven infrastructure to match the organizational sophistication of anti-hunting groups. Launched four years ago, Howl for Wildlife has since built an action platform that generates personalized, AI-assisted messages to legislators and commissioners, moving well beyond the form letters that legislative staffers have learned to ignore. Charles explains how that same model helped hunters show up in force, over 400 strong, to a recent Colorado wildlife commission meeting, and why he believes face-to-face engagement with non-hunters in everyday settings is ultimately more powerful than any digital campaign.
The conversation takes a deep dive into the Catalina Island mule deer controversy and Howl's documentary film Killing Catalina, which has surpassed 200,000 YouTube views in its first 40 days. Charles details how he became skeptical of the Catalina Island Conservancy's plan to eradicate all deer on the island using sharpshooters from helicopters. He deployed thermal drones to survey actual deer densities and uncovered significant inconsistencies between the Conservancy's claimed management programs and what the island's outfitter, fired after 26 years, reported actually happened on the ground. The episode closes with a powerful message about coalition-building: the Catalina fight has united hunters, LA County supervisors, social media influencers, and even a representative of the Catalina Humane Society, all calling for ethical hunting as the management solution over eradication and waste.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://conservationstewards.org
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org
Howl for Wildlife on social media: @howl_org
Killing Catalina Documentary: https://www.howlforwildlife.org
#wildlifeconservation #HowlForWildlife #KillingCatalina #catalinaisland #muledeer #HunterAdvocacy #ballotboxbiology #sciencebasedmanagement #wildlifemanagement #HuntingRights #NorthAmericanConservationModel #conservationstorytelling #outdoorpodcast #huntingcommunity #WildlifePolicy #huntersforconservation #CaliforniaHunting #PublicTrustDoctrine #WildlifeAdvocacy #antipoaching #outdoorstewards #HuntingAndConservation #wildlifemanagementinstitute #ConservationStewards #HowlPack
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Shane Meisel, President of Christensen Arms — the Utah-based company that pioneered carbon fiber rifle barrels in 1995 and has grown into one of America's premier precision rifle manufacturers with approximately 200 employees. Shane traces his career from early outdoor experiences outside Eugene, Oregon through 11 years at Leupold — where he rose to head of marketing — followed by a stint as president of Field Ethos Journal, before landing at Christensen Arms.
The conversation covers what carbon fiber does for a hunting rifle (weight reduction without sacrificing rigidity or accuracy), why a sub-6-pound mountain rifle is a game changer for backcountry hunters, and how Christensen Arms has expanded beyond its bolt-action roots into carbon fiber stocks, MSR platforms, and a new walnut-stocked safari line in 375 H&H. The episode takes a deeper look at the financial backbone of American wildlife conservation — specifically the Pittman-Robertson excise tax, which requires firearms and ammunition manufacturers to contribute 11% of revenue to conservation funding. Shane and the hosts connect that tax directly to the $1 billion annually that flows from the firearms and ammunition industry into state wildlife agencies, alongside another $1 billion from hunting license sales. Jon shares the origin story of the Wildlife Management Institute, founded in 1911 by the firearms industry precisely because manufacturers understood that without healthy wildlife populations, there would be no hunters to sell to. The group also discusses Christensen Arms' conservation partnerships with organizations including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Safari Club International, and Ducks Unlimited.
The conversation rounds out with a look at emerging trends in the firearms industry — ammunition and caliber innovation, suppressor growth and potential NFA reform, the modern sporting rifle market, and the troubling rise of ballot-box biology in states like Oregon and Colorado where anti-hunting initiatives bypass the science-based wildlife management system entirely. Shane and the hosts agree that lowering barriers to entry for new hunters and shooters — access to land, tags, ranges, and education — is as important to the future of conservation funding as any policy fight.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://conservationstewards.org
Christensen Arms: https://www.christensenarms.com
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#wildlifeconservation #ChristensenArms #CarbonFiberRifle #pittmanrobertson #conservationfunding #huntingindustry #precisionrifleseries #FirearmsInnovation #boltactionrifle #mountainhunting #huntersforconservation #NorthAmericanConservationModel #wildlifemanagement #outdoorindustry #longrangeshooting #Suppressors #HuntingAndShooting #RMEF #MuleDeerFoundation #ducksunlimited #outdoorpodcast #BallotBoxBiology #wildlifemanagementinstitute #ConservationStewards #ScienceBasedManagement
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Kevin Paulson — founder of HuntingLife.com, creator of the Outdoor Hive newsletter, and Executive Director of AGLOW (Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers). Kevin traces his career from litigation work in Washington, D.C. through outfitting in Idaho and Montana, to building one of the outdoor industry's most recognized media platforms. He discusses how storytelling has shifted from newspaper columns and legacy print magazines to blogs, podcasts, YouTube, and digital newsletters — and why that evolution is critical to growing hunting and fishing culture in a country where fewer than 10% of the population hunts.
The conversation covers the outsized role outdoor media plays in shaping public perception, including a focused discussion on the Boone and Crockett Club's poaching research led by Jon and his wife. The hosts and Kevin agree that public attitudes toward poaching must shift the same way drunk driving did over the past 40 years — from tolerated to socially unacceptable — and that effective storytelling is the primary tool to drive that change. Kevin also breaks down the trade show circuit, explaining how events like SHOT Show, the Archery Trade Association show, SCI, and the Western Hunt Conservation Expo serve as essential networking hubs where he runs up to 65 meetings in a single week across his three organizations.
Finally, Kevin introduces Outdoor Hive, a free weekly newsletter now in its 77th issue that lists outdoor industry jobs from the factory floor to the C-suite — filling a gap that LinkedIn and other general job platforms have never addressed for the hunting, fishing, and shooting industries. He also previews AGLOW's upcoming annual conference in Lewiston, New York near Niagara Falls, which will feature a fishing tournament on the Niagara River — one of the premier freshwater fisheries in North America.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://conservationstewards.org
HuntingLife.com: https://huntinglife.com Outdoor Hive : https://outdoor-hive.com
Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers: https://aglowoutdoors.com
#wildlifeconservation #huntinglife #outdoormedia #ConservationStorytelling #HuntingIndustry #OutdoorHive OutdoorJobs #OutdoorCareers #aglow #OutdoorWriters #huntingandfishing #NorthAmericanConservationModel #PoachingAwareness #wildlifemanagement #huntingcommunity #outdoorpodcast #conservationfunding #wildlifeprotection #HuntersForConservation #outdoorindustry #OutdoorNetworking #SHOTShow #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards #OutdoorStorytelling
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Scott Linden, creator of Wingshooting USA and host of the Upland Nation podcast, joins Jon and Jim to explore the cultural, economic, and conservation impact of upland bird hunting. With decades of experience across radio, television, and outdoor media, Scott shares stories about his start in journalism, his transition into outdoor broadcasting, and how bird dogs became the central passion that shaped his entire career. From pointers to Labradors, he discusses why dogs are the top reason many hunters take to the field and how they both attract newcomers and keep long‑time hunters active.
The conversation also examines how hunting fuels the broader conservation economy through licenses, excise taxes, and the lesser‑recognized budgets tied to dog ownership, gear, and travel. Scott reflects on years of promoting R3 principles, creating content that inspires hunter recruitment, and advocating for a broader outdoor‑recreation “funnel” that welcomes newcomers at every level. Whether you love dogs, upland hunting, or the business side of conservation, this episode offers an insightful look at the traditions and motivations that continue to shape America’s outdoor community.
For more information
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org
Wingshooting USA: https://findbirdhuntingspots.com
#uplandhunting #birddogs #wingshooting #hunting #outdoors #huntingdog #gundog #huntinglife #outdoorlife #whatgetsyououtdoors #wildlifeconservation #huntingisconservation #nature #wildlife #pointerdogs #retrievers #huntingseason #dogtraining #outdoorstewards #wildlifemanagementinstitute
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, Jon and Jim welcome Jenifer Wisniewski, Chief Marketing Officer at the National Deer Association and long-time leader in conservation communications. Jen shares her unique background in state agency marketing and R3 efforts—recruitment, retention, and reactivation—and explains how thoughtful marketing strategies can generate millions in license revenue and boost federal conservation funding. With 11 million deer hunters in America, she highlights the incredible influence of deer hunting on conservation.
The conversation explores the evolving challenges facing deer managers and hunters, from overabundance and habitat pressure to shifting cultural attitudes and the rise of adult-onset hunting. Jen also explains NDA’s Field to Fork program, new hunter education initiatives, and groundbreaking research on the true nutritional value of wild venison. This episode provides powerful insights into how deer hunting, food culture, private lands access, and smart communication strategies are shaping the future of conservation in the U.S.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org
National Deer Association: https://deerassociation.com
#hunting #deerhunting #outdoors #hunter #hunt #huntingseason #huntinglife #whatgetsyououtdoors #outdoorlife #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #conservationthroughhunting #huntingisconservation #conservationfunding #outdoorstewards #bowhunting #nature #wildlifemanagementinstitute #connectingwithconservation
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Kids & Clays Executive Director Zac Lemmon joins Connecting with Conservation to share how charity sporting clays events across the country are raising millions for Ronald McDonald Houses while introducing thousands of new shooters to the outdoors. He traces the program’s growth from a single Chicagoland event in 1999 to more than 40 million dollars raised, 40+ annual shoots in over 20 states, and a waiting list of houses eager to participate.
The conversation walks through a typical event day, from Egg McMuffins at registration to raffles, auctions, and “loaner gun” stations designed for first-time shooters, while explaining how corporate teams, the firearms industry, and McDonald’s owner-operators all play a role. Jon and Jim also highlight the conservation angle: every shell fired supports excise-tax funding for wildlife agencies, making Kids & Clays a win for sick kids, new participants, and fish and wildlife conservation.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute/
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org/
Kids & Clays: https://kidsandclays.com/
#kidsandclays #sportingclays #ronaldmcdonaldhouse #wildlifeconservation #conservationfunding #shootingsports #newshooters #outdoorindustry #clayshooting #pittmanrobertson #mcdonalds #nonprofit #fundraisingevents #corporateevents #outdoorstewards #wildlifemanagementinstitute #wildlifeconservation #outdoorstewards #shootingcommunity
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Amanda Wuestefeld, the Director of the Indiana DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Nature Preserves. The discussion highlights the success of wildlife restoration projects for species like elk, turkeys, and deer, which are funded through Pittman-Robertson (PR) dollars and sportsman's excise taxes. Amanda provides an in-depth look at the 12-year process of establishing Indiana’s first sustainable Bobcat trapping season, explaining the balance between scientific modeling, legislative involvement, and public trust.
The conversation further explores the "business" of conservation, including the management of public shooting ranges and the diverse fishing opportunities provided by Indiana's hatcheries and public access sites. The episode concludes with a focus on R3 (Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation), with Amanda and the hosts emphasizing that modern conservation is as much about "people management" and earning public credibility as it is about managing wildlife populations.
For further information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation: https://outdoorstewards.org
Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife
#Conservation #Hunting #Fishing #Trapping #IndianaDNR #WildlifeManagement #Bobcats #OutdoorLife #R3 #PublicLands #NaturePreserves #ElkRestoration #ConnectingWithConservation #Podcast #WildlifeScience #SustainableHarvest #Angling #TargetShooting #OutdoorEducation #PittmanRobertson #WildlifeManagement #WildlifeManagementInstitute #OutdoorStewards
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Bryant White of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies joins Connecting with Conservation to unpack modern trapping, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and why regulated trapping remains a critical wildlife management tool. From river otter and beaver restoration to managing human–wildlife conflicts and protecting infrastructure, he explains how agencies use trapping for conservation, public safety, and habitat health.
The discussion covers AFWA’s decades-long BMP research, rising trapper numbers, the North American Trapper Education Course, and a new video series aimed at hunters and the public. The hosts and Bryant also tackle persistent myths about trapping—addressing regulation, humaneness, and the broad conservation benefits funded by hunters, anglers, trappers, and shooters.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies: https://fishwildlife.org
#wildlifeconservation #trapping #furbearers #hunting #fishing #humanwildlifeconflict #wildlifemanagement #conservation #BMPs #afwa #trappereducation #furbearers #otters #beavers #coyotes #raccoons #publiclands #outdoors #huntingcommunity #conservationfunding #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Corey Mason, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Conservation at the Wild Sheep Foundation. Corey shares his extensive background—from his time at Texas Parks and Wildlife to international conservation work—while explaining the unique challenges facing wild sheep across North America and beyond. Listeners get an insider’s look at the habitat, natural history, and incredible resilience of these iconic mountain species.
The conversation digs into the major threats wild sheep face today, including disease transmission, predation, habitat degradation, climate impacts, and human disturbance. Corey explains how the Wild Sheep Foundation has invested over $110 million into conservation projects, supporting agencies and partners across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central Asia. From innovative disease‑management strategies to prescribed fire and water distribution improvements, this episode highlights the passion, science, and partnerships driving modern sheep conservation.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https:// wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https:// conservationstewards.org
Wild Sheep Foundation: https:// wildsheepfoundation.org
#WildSheep #SheepConservation #wildlifeconservation #mountainhunting #bighornsheep #DallSheep #StoneSheep #habitatrestoration #wildlifemanagement #DiseaseResearch #conservationfunding #WesternWildlife #outdoorstewards #BackcountryWildlife #sustainablehunting #connectingwithconservation #WildSheepFoundation #wildlifemanagementinstitute #wildlife
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In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Dr. Julie Thorstenson, Executive Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. Julie shares her remarkable journey from wildlife habitat restoration on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation to leading a national organization dedicated to supporting tribal conservation efforts. Her insights reveal the complexity of managing fish, wildlife, and ecosystems across tribal lands and the importance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation strategies.
The conversation explores pressing issues such as invasive species management, climate adaptation, and funding inequities that tribes face. Julie highlights innovative projects like beaver relocation, feral horse management, and youth education programs aimed at growing the next generation of Native conservation leaders. This episode is a powerful reminder that conservation is not just science—it’s culture, resilience, and collaboration. Tune in to learn how tribal voices are shaping the future of wildlife management in North America.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society: https://nafws.org
#wildlifeconservation #nativeamerican #indigenousleadership #fishandwildlife #habitatrestoration #climateadaptation #invasivespecies #BeaverRestoration #FeralHorses #conservationeducation #tribalsovereignty #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #outdoorstewards #wildlifemanagementinstitute #wildlifemanagement #connectingwithconservation #conservationfunding #sustainableecosystems #YouthInConservation #environmentalstewardship #IndigenousConservation
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Dive into the business of conservation with Tom Willingham of Range USA, discussing the recent opening of their 50th indoor range, welcoming 350,000+ new shooters yearly, and how the excise tax from firearms and ammo sales helps to support wildlife conservation. Hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto explore how indoor ranges cure cabin fever while supporting wildlife, habitats, shooting opportunities, and other outdoor-related recreation.
Learn how recreational shooting bolsters the billion-dollar conservation efforts, and how every round fired helps.
For more information:
Wildlife Management Institute: https://wildlifemanagement.institute
Outdoor Stewards of Conservation: https://outdoorstewards.org
Range USA: https://rangeusa.com
#wildlifeconservation #rangetalking #shootingranges #excisetax #newshooters #RangeUSA #targetpractice #hunteradoption #firearmsafety #conservationfunding #indoorranges #wildlifemanagement #shootinglessons #huntingprogression #pittmanrobertson #cabinfever #gunretail #wildlifefunds #outdoorsports #wildlifemanagementinstitute #outdoorstewards
- Visa fler
