The National Wildlife Federation has worked with hunters and anglers since 1936 to tackle the biggest natural resource challenges. The NWF Outdoors Podcast explores the most important conservation issues and the people who do the hard work to safeguard our fish, wildlife, lands, and waters. Hosted by Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy at NWF.
Episodes
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
In this special episode Aaron sits down with three Westerners with extensive experience working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the nominee to lead the agency, Tracy Stone-Manning. We discuss the ins and outs of the BLM's mandates and mission, and how it affects hunters and anglers. We also cover Tracy's leadership style and some of our collective experiences working with her and witnessing her leadership capabilities.
Info about the Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/
NWF press release on Tracy's nomination: https://www.nwf.org/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2021/04-22-21-Stone-Manning-BLM-Nomination
Press release from NWF and affiliates supporting Tracy's nomination: https://www.nwf.org/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2021/06-04-21-NWF-Affiliates-Urge-Senate-to-Confirm-Tracy-Stone-Manning
Butte, MT's MT Standard newspaper editorial board letter in support of Tracy's nomination: https://mtstandard.com/opinion/editorial/standard-view-stone-manning-merits-daines-support-to-lead-blm/article_55bd1eae-e547-51ab-a47e-548a490a223a.html
Show notes:
2:30 – intro to guests
4:50 – a good hunting story from BLM lands
10:15 – the BLM mission and multiple use mandate and what is means for hunters and anglers
14:12 – the main things sportsmen and women should be paying attention to with respect to BLM lands
17:45 - how having the right leader makes a huge difference
21:25 – what the BLM’s multiple use mandate means for a grazing permitee
23:45 – what happens when conflict arises between user groups on BLM lands
27:15 – more overlap of public lands users and the necessity of a new way of thinking
29:45 – results of not having a BLM director for the past four plus years
32:30 – the honor and pride of being a career agency person back in the 80’s
33:30 – how Resource Management Plans (RMPs) suffered without a BLM director
37:15 – how a career stop for Tracy Stone-Manning that involved superfund cleanup and dam removal points to her abilities to effectively lead the BLM
45:55 – Jess’s experience with Tracy when she was Chief of Staff for then MT Governor, Steve Bullock
48:55 – what Tracy did to win over ranchers when she was working with Jess on sage-grouse conservation
51:40 – Gaspar’s experiences working with Tracy on an energy development proposal near the Great Sand Dunes National Park
57:45 – how Tracy can act as a public servant for the land, water, wildlife, and people
59:00 – the diverse people and experiences that led us to this podcast
1:01:00 – the concept of collective ownership of public lands and how it brings us together
Friday May 28, 2021
Friday May 28, 2021
We sit down with Ted Koch, Executive Director of the North American Grouse Partnership to discuss the recent proposal on 5/26 to the list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. We cover how we got here, what we can do to bring the bird back from the brink, and some of the tools that can help get the job done.
Show notes:
1:10 - Intro to Ted Koch
2:25 - Ted and Aaron’s latest outdoor adventures
3:50 – what is the Lesser Prairie-Chicken
6:25 – how did we get to the need to list as an endangered species
9:10 – why the Lesser Prairie-Chicken was proposed for listing now
11:00 – what are next steps and what should we be paying attention to
16:18 – when the Lesser Prairie-Chicken was last hunted
17:50 – the various tools we can use to help recover the Lesser Prairie-Chicken starting with the Farm Bill’s Conservation Reserve Program
22:00 – The Grasslands Act and how it can help
25:10 – a big shout out to Aviva Glaser, NWF’s Director of Agriculture Policy, and her amazing work on prairie conservation
27:23 – what are the implications of climate change on the prairies and the Lesser Prairie-Chicken
32:10 – what we know we can do right now to help
34:00 – the state of America’s prairies – how much we’ve lost
37:00 – a great story about grouse in Ted’s family
42:10 – the gift Ted gave his son later from that original hunt
43:10 – what can an average person do to help the prairies and the Lesser Prairie-Chicken
46:30 – the grasslands need our help
47:45 – Lew Carpenter’s, NWF’s Director of Conservation Partnerships for NM, AZ, CO, and NE, role at the North America Grouse Partnership
Resources:
The North American Grouse Partnership:
http://www.grousepartners.org/
USFWS Press release on listing proposal:
Description of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Prairie-Chicken/media-browser/163988331
Recent op-ed on Grasslands from the CEOs of National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation:
Link to NWF's Farm Bill work:
Friday May 14, 2021
Friday May 14, 2021
We sit down with Collin to talk about the recently released, "Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful" plan, formerly known as 30x30. We cover the plan's aim, its genesis, what we hope it does, how it can benefit hunters and anglers, and how average folks can get engaged.
Find the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful Plan here:
More hunting and fishing specific info on 30x30 here:
Show Notes:
3:45 - 30x30/Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful – what it is and why we need it
6:30 - Where did the 30x30 concept come from
9:37 - “protection” compared to “conservation”
12:30 - What the plan does for hunters and anglers
16:00 - how the plan intersects with other initiatives from the Biden administration and examples of how they benefit habitats, hunting and fishing
19:45 - Economic development and job creation restoring degraded landscapes
23:25 - A Cooper’s Hawk interrupts the show!
24:18 - The six principles of the plan
27:53 - What an average hunter/angler can do to get engaged
30:58 - Resilience – what it is and why it matters
38:08 - The non-partisan nature of conservation and restoration
39:14 – an unprecedented opportunity
42:00 - Collin out to Colorado in the near future for some hunting?
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Montana Outfitter Tags and MeatEater Musings with Ryan "Cal" Callaghan
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Aaron sits down with Cal from the MeatEater crew to talk about a recent bill in the Montana legislature that would allocate as much as 60% of non-resident big game tags to outfitters. We also talk about Cal's latest hunts, his job at the MeatEater, and his podcast "Cal's Week in Review".
Cal's podcast:
https://www.themeateater.com/listen/cals-week-in-review
The MeatEater site:
For more information about SB 143 and conservation in Montana head to Montana Wildlife Federation's site here and their Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/MontanaWildlife/posts/10157622249191643
Show notes:
2:28 – Ryan’s recent waterfowl hunt in the Sacramento River Valley
6:05 – Aaron thinking spring fishing and helping his son pick out his first bow
7:47 – Senate Bill 143 in MT, what it does, why it's in the news
11:00 – How the bill would impact nonresident hunters
12:30 – A study that says all types of outfitting accounts for 10% of MT’s recreational income
13:50 – Outfitted recreators spend five times more the DIY folks but it’s only one study
15:50 – Tag guarantees for landowners
16:44- Many private landowners are great partners
17:25 – what do these issues mean for the average hunters
21:20 - Over 10% of checked deer in the Ruby Valley tested positive for CWD
22:00 – MT Ballot Imitative 161
28:55 – Incentivizing folks who already have access to tags for use on open market
30:53 - VRBO style hunts
33:57 – Similarities to Montana bill in New Mexico
37:05 - How to stay respectful, outfitters love the land too
40:41 – What happens next for SB 143
43:40 – The world’s most beautiful shoveler
44:45 – What Ryan does at MeatEater
51:19 – How does MeatEater determine conservation priorities
53:40 – Ryan asks what’s going on at NWF
59:59 – Cal a big appreciator of the National Wildlife Federation