Sheep Fever

What can we say about J. Alain Smith? Hunter, conservationist, adventurer, acclaimed author of articles, hunting books, and novels, musician, comedian, farmer, Rugged Expeditions show host, podcaster, emcee extraordinaire, Conklin Award winner, Weatherby Award winner, WSF's Chris Klineburger Mountain Hunter Hall of Fame inductee, and a successful businessman in commercial painting, real estate, an...

Colorado has become a proving ground for ballot-box wildlife management, from wolf reintroduction and efforts to ban mountain lion hunting to recent pushes targeting trapping and predator management. In this episode of  Sheep Fever , we welcome back Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management to break down what's happening in Colorado, who's behind these initiatives, and why the la...

We often hear the phrase "for future generations" as one of the purposes for wildlife conservation and the long-term stewardship of game populations. But what about hunting itself? In this episode, Shane Mahoney joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of hunting in North America and beyond. What will public hunting look like 10, 20, or even 50 years from now? As science-base...

The reestablishment of bighorn sheep in North Dakota was nearly shelved after numerous translocations of bighorn not suited to the terrain and harsh winters which hampered lamb recruitment. A phone call from WSF's Kevin Hurley, then with Wyoming Game & Fish Department to Brett Wiedmann, North Dakota Game and Fish Department's Bighorn Program Lead and Biologist, turned the tide when Hurley advised...

The 91 st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference recently concluded in Columbus, OH, hosted by The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). Why a podcast about a conference? Because this is where the rubber meets the road as far as wildlife and natural resource conservation is concerned, for everything from whales to hummingbirds. Sheep Fever sits down with WMI President & CEO, Tony...

For decades, the hunting and conservation community has advocated—through organizations, programs, and initiatives—for educating the non-hunting majority on the value of hunting to wildlife and habitat conservation. This need is even enshrined in the Wild Sheep Foundation mission: to educate the public and youth on sustainable use. But have we succeeded? Is this focus still critical? And how do we...

Matt Besko—Executive Director of the Hunting and Fishing Branch with Alberta Forestry and Parks—joins Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton for a conversation on modern wildlife management. Besko oversees hunting and fishing regulations, allocation, trapping, carnivore management, and human-wildlife coexistence across Alberta. With more than 30 years working as a wildlife, fisheries, and habitat biolo...

In this episode of Sheep Fever, Gray Thornton sits down with Ricardo Olivieri of Beretta to explore what it means to represent a brand with over 500 years of history. Olivieri shares insight into Beretta's enduring philosophy, from its deep-rooted commitment to craftsmanship to the generational knowledge passed down through its workforce. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a f...

Bighorns in Nebraska? When one thinks of bighorns, you'd likely get a pass if you do not first point to green and yellow fields of corn as far as the eye can see. But there are mountains and excellent bighorn sheep habitat in the cornhusker state. In fact, before their extirpation in the early 1990s, about 1,000 bighorns and particular Audubon bighorns thrived in the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills r...

Whether on a multi-day campaign or day hike hunt, if we're not fueling the machine properly, are we still hunting at a high level, or just out on the mountain, or worse? A fascinating discussion with Kyle Kamp and Valley to Peak Nutrition and Julie Tripp, WSF's Director of Awards & Publications, on the realities and nuances of how nutrition and hydration play key roles in an often overlooked or mi...

More maulings, deaths, and livestock losses. More lawsuits, political posturing, and ballot initiatives. More misinformation and fundraising over what should be a conservation story, turned into a tragedy. Are we asking the US Fish & Wildlife Service to make decisions based on science or values?  We visit with WSF's Legislative Affairs expert and consultant, Greg Schildwachter, who has had these i...

When Chelsea drew a coveted Alaska sheep tag, she knew it would require everything—physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this episode, she walks listeners through the full journey: months of preparation, the doubt and determination that shaped her mindset, and the pivotal moments on the mountain that tested her limits. Hunting alongside another woman added a unique layer of support and camarad...

In this episode of Sheep Fever, we sit down with Gunwerks founder Aaron Davidson—an innovator and engineer who's helped redefine precision shooting and modern rifle systems. Davidson shares the philosophy behind Gunwerks' "Unrivaled Shooting Experience," a concept built around integrating advanced technology, smart design, and real-world performance to create better shooters and more ethical hunte...

In this special episode of Sheep Fever, we sit down with the candidates for the 2026 Wild Sheep Foundation Board of Directors—four passionate individuals with deep roots in conservation and a shared commitment to wild sheep and the hunting heritage that sustains them. At 02:49, Jann Demaske shares how her connection to wild sheep has shaped her life and leadership. She focused on the importance of...

In this Sheep Fever – Kicked Out episode, host Maddie Richards catches up with John Hubbard to hear the story of his recent sheep hunt in the Yukon. For John, the trip represented more than just a hunt—it was the culmination of years of dreaming, planning, and preparing for one of the toughest adventures in North America. He walks listeners through the entire journey, from gearing up and training...

In this episode of Kicked Out stories, Maddie Richards sits down with Mike Aiazzi to talk about his journey to drawing a coveted sheep tag in Nevada. Together, they explore the emotional weight of the hunt, the preparation it required, and the meaningful role of family and memories in the experience. Mike shares insights on the challenges he faced in the field, the beauty of Nevada's landscapes, a...

Celebrating its 80th year of manufacturing some of the finest, fastest, accurate, hardest-hitting, and most innovative firearms and rifle cartridges in the industry, Weatherby, Inc. is not letting the recent downturn in the firearms and ammunition community slow them down. The post-pandemic surge in sales of both firearms and ammunition, as well as recent tariffs and the uncertainty they have spaw...

Recent data from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) estimates that there are ~100,000 free-roaming aoudad west of the Pecos River. To put that in perspective, that is more than the entire bighorn (Rocky Mountain, California, & desert) population in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Texas was home to more than 1,800 desert bighorn sheep just a decade ago – a historical high and a suc...

Fresh on the heels of a record July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 fiscal year for the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), record convention proceeds to WSF ($4+ Million), record contributions to the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation Endowment Fund ($2.2 Million), and a record directed to wild sheep conservation and other WSF Mission Programs (a staggering $11.53 Million), Sheep Fever co-host and WSF President & CEO...

Celebrating 20 years of suppressor/silencer sales and manufacturing, and most notably making the once onerous BATF application process simple, painless, and seamless, Silencer Central is an award-winning partner of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd visit with Founder and CEO Brandon Maddox to celebrate Silencer Central's successes and discuss changes...

EP77 Save The Hunt – A conversation with Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management   Of the Rocky Mountain states, Colorado has been ground zero for animal rights and anti-hunting, trapping, and science-based wildlife management extremists bent on challenging more than 100 years of successful and sportsmen funded wildlife restoration and management. After a stingingly narrow vict...

This week on Sheep Fever we visit with Eric Dippold, Secretary for the newly formed North American Pronghorn Foundation. A uniquely North American goat species often referred to as being in the antelope family, the pronghorn is a cherished big game species by sportsmen from around the world and an out-the-window wildlife viewing favorite of travelers indicating they are now "out west." As celebrat...

Sheep Fever co-hosts Keith and Gray visit with WSF Chairman, Charlie Kelly (AZ) and COO Corey Mason (TX) about the Foundation's raffling of the 2025-26 Arizona Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Raffle tag, auctions tags, conservation funding, and where the money goes. Sometimes celebrated, sometimes hated on, auction tags do get a lot of attention. Some cry for more raffle opportunities to be "fair", w...

Launched in 2015 with financial support from WSF and others, the Wild Harvest Initiative sought to calculate, for the first time, the total amount in pounds or tons of healthy, wild protein humanely harvested by sportsmen every year in the US and Canada. Keith caught up with Conservation Visions President and CEO Shane Mahoney to go over the numbers documented thus far and most importantly, how th...

Artist, film producer, television host, outdoor communicator, ambassador, hunter, conservationist, father are just a few descriptives of Montana native Jason Matzinger. In this episode Jason and Gray cover a broad range of topics from Jason's roots, what makes him tick, outdoor media, where it came from, where it is going, and its benefits and burdens. Jason is the real deal and this episode cover...