Fresh Tracks Weekly

In this episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, we discuss a renewed threat to Wyoming’s famous mule deer migration. New oil and gas leases on BLM land are near critical winter ranges and migration corridors for the Sublette mule deer and pronghorn herds. We discuss how the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan is being bypassed and why "energy independence" is no longer a valid excuse for poor conservati...

In this episode, we break down how Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) money generated from offshore oil and gas revenues and intended to permanently protect public lands is likely being diverted away from approved conservation projects. One of the projects in jeopardy is the 46,000-acre La Jara Basin land sale in Colorado, which is eight years in development, has broad public support, and alr...

Buy the Elk Conservation Stamp here (proceeds donated to RMEF) https://shopfreshtracks.com/products/2025-elk-conservation-stamp?srsltid=AfmBOorlsI5T-OHN5wvqK1ZU72s6EISgCuMItcxQQxYBMWOvkWb2fxjs In this episode, we sit down with Jesse DeVoe from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, to discuss an elk research project in Northwest Montana. Jesse shares insights into this large-scale collaborative effort to...

This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we break down what’s in the “Big Beautiful Bill” and how it impacts hunters and public land users—even without the controversial land sale provision. We also look ahead to next week’s launch of Elk Week, where we’ll be rolling out elk-focused content daily. News Stories Covered: – Wall Street Journal Opinion Piece: The WSJ Editorial Board criticized the removal of...

In this episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, we cover a major win for public land advocates: Senator Mike Lee was forced to removed the controversial public land sale language from the "Big Beautiful Bill." While it's a victory for now, Randy Newberg breaks down why this issue isn't going away and where to watch for future attempts to sell off public lands. We also cover several key conservation and pu...

Link to Mike Lee's updated language: https://www.hunttalk.com/attachments/lee-senr-06-24-2025-pdf.376000/ Call your Senators: (202) 224-3121 Email your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Find and Contact your Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Call your Senators: (202) 224-3121 Email your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Find and Contact your Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representativeBuy Arizona Bighorn Sheep Raffle Tickets: https://wildsheep.fanthem.io/give/sheep/online-raffles/bhs?referralCode=wsfweb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Link to Mike Lee’s 69 page bill: https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096 Members on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee https://www.energy.senate.gov/members Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Andrew McKean’s Outdoor Life Article https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/senate-proposes-selling-public-land/ Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Contact Mike Lee: https://www.lee.senate.gov/contact Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 This week, we're talking about recent changes to the federal budget reconciliation bill and what they mean for hunters and public land users. Some updates and news include: The Wyoming corner crossing case could be heading to the Supreme...

Find your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative In this episode, we cover troubling developments in the latest budget reconciliation bill, including a proposed amendment that could lead to the sale of over 500,000 acres of public land and the formation of the new Public Lands Caucus. We also look at potential impacts on the USGS Cooperative Wildlife Researc...

Capitol switchboard number: (202) 224-3121. This week we’re taking a closer look at why states are legally allowed to discriminate against non-resident hunters. Randy joins to explain the legal and historical background of this system and what it could mean for the future of hunting access. We also cover some major news stories affecting public lands and hunters: A controversial budget amendment f...

This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we bring you updates from across the West—even while Randy's out chasing turkeys! New Film "UNWIRED" – A must-watch on Wyoming pronghorn, GPS tracking, and how fencing is evolving for wildlife migration. https://thewyldlifefund.org/unwired/ Montana Legislative Wins – Two competing bills (HB 932 & SB 537) could shape the future of conservation funding from marijuan...

This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we're switching gears from our usual deep dives into public land policy and instead catching up with the crew to talk about springtime plans and upcoming hunts. But don’t worry—we still have the news segment covering some updates on wildlife and conservation across the country. In this episode: Montana Wildlife Crossings – A new bill is one step away from becoming...

This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we're exploring our ideas for improving government efficiency in the outdoors – D.O.G.E. style. Randy shares some ideas on how the government could improve its functionality when managing public lands and questions why these efficiency tools aren’t already being used. But first, a few news stories: Mossy Oak Turkey Stamp Learn how you can support wild turkey conse...

This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we follow up on last week’s budget reconciliation deep dive and talk about the push to sell off public lands. A failed amendment revealed which lawmakers are backing this controversial move — and who’s fighting to keep our lands public. We also cover the latest outdoor and conservation news: The U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on federal employee firings, impacting 1...

This week, Randy checks in from Washington D.C. where he’s meeting with lawmakers and staffers to get the latest on public land policy—and sound the alarm on new efforts to sell off public lands. With major decisions looming, we break down what’s at stake and how it could impact access and conservation across the country. We also cover a wide range of wildlife and land management stories from arou...

This week, we have Jared Frasier from what was previously 2% For Conservation. They are relaunching as Fish and Wildlife Volunteers, and Jared explains why the relaunch was necessary and how businesses and individuals can get involved. A few news stories also include. A few weeks ago, the Alaska state supreme court ruled that the Department of Game and Fish needed to halt its intensive predator ma...

This week, we are discussing the recent announcement from the Department of Interior to use Federal Land to help with the Housing Affordability crisis. Also, some news stories from the week include Big news for corner crossing in multiple states. The U.S. 10 Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling for the four hunters sued by a private landowner for corner crossing in Wyoming. Department of Int...

This week, we are discussing the land and water conservation fund, how it’s one of the greatest conservation tools we have, and how, with all the chaos of trying to pass a budget, some LWCF projects could fall through the cracks if Congress doesn’t release funds. Some news stories also include. In Colorado, several ranchers were granted compensation for damages to their livestock herds caused by n...

This week, we’re discussing how a significant amount of Bureau of Land Management land has already been identified as suitable for disposal and would not require Congressional approval to sell. There is still much uncertainty about the status of the federal employees who were fired in the last month. A judge did, however, rule that the Office of Personnel Management should rescind the memos that f...

This week, we’re discussing the drastic changes we’ve seen over the last month within our federal agencies and how thousands of people have been fired. Randy details his idea of Government Efficiency. A few news stories are also included. A Montana bill has been introduced that would take money generated from the tax on marijuana that currently goes towards funding wildlife habitats, parks, and no...

In this episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, we take a deep dive into Alaska’s board of game with Jim Baichtal.   Then, we dive into Colorado's controversial HB 1258, which could shift wildlife management from mandatory hunting and fishing to optional, opening the door for litigation. We also cover Colorado's successful bighorn sheep translocation project, funded by hunters, and discuss concerning CWD...

In this week's episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, Randy and Marcus dive into the ongoing debate over federal land management. They discuss potential solutions that would allow Congress to manage our public lands properly—without resorting to selling them off to state land boards. From funding challenges to policy changes, they explore ways to keep these lands accessible for future generations. Tune i...

In this episode of Fresh Tracks Weekly, Marcus and Randy break down the harsh reality of federal land transfers and what they mean for recreational shooters. If federal lands are handed over to state land boards, millions of acres currently open to target shooting could be lost forever. They discuss real-world examples, the differences in land management policies, and why public land advocates sho...

This week, we are continuing the series talking about transferring federal land to the states and, in particular, how Congress has the ability to fix a lot of the issues with land management; they just refuse to do so. Some other news stories include; Trump’s executive order to pause federal grants and funding led to panic and confusion amongst many in the conservation world as billions in funding...