Fresh Tracks Weekly

This week we’re discussing transferring federal land to the states and in particular state land boards, what a state land board is, what their responsibilities are and the history of them selling off their land. The big news story from the week is president Trump's executive orders and what they might mean to public land users and hunters. Backcountry Hunter’s and Anglers released a statement deta...

This week, Randy and I are kicking off a series about public land transfer and how the same old ideas of selling and transferring public lands are popping back up. We’ll revisit how Utah has been pushing the idea of transferring federal land to the state and how the Supreme Court recently shut them down. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case was certainly a win for public land advocates, bu...

Hunting season is in full swing, but Randy is fired up! So we sat down for a quick conversation about selling or transferring federal public lands. JD Vance recently mentioned the idea of transferring federal land to the states to address housing affordability along with the Biden administration talking about building housing on federal land. Randy's series on Public Land Transfer is still very re...

This week, we’re discussing how wildlife and habitat are often used as currency to pay for our high standards of living and lower energy costs. We also discuss how issues are very often only evaluated economically and not biologically. In Montana, a judge just ruled in favor of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in a case in which a private landowner group sued the state for failing to kill enough...

This week, we’re discussing Wyoming’s recent ban on conservation groups bidding on oil and gas leases on state land and how, by doing so, they might actually be hurting the school system that they’re obligated to fund. A recently published study shows how human recreation and noise can negatively impact wildlife by displacing them and keeping them out of the area for extended periods. In Wyoming,...

This week, for our deeper dive, we’re talking about a new research project on Chronic Wasting Disease in Wyoming and how the best available science to slow the spread of the disease is likely not what hunters want to hear. In Wyoming, a ranch and family are attempting to close down a road that accesses a significant amount of public land. The road is also a primary access point for other landowner...

This week, we’re discussing how you might be a jerk on public lands and not even realize it. A few news stories from this week include the following: A quick update on Colorado’s proposal to do away with non-resident over-the-counter archery elk tags. In Montana, American Prairie just acquired 12,500 more acres of land, bringing its total between deeded and leased property to 475,000 acres. In Wyo...

This week, we discuss how Colorado might shift away from over-the-counter opportunities for non-resident archery elk hunting. In Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department killed off an entire herd of high-fence white-tailed deer after a severe Chronic wasting Disease outbreak and years of legal battles. In Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte is again in the spotlight after the New York Times published...

This week, we discussed some potential conflicts of interest within Fish and Wildlife commissions and how certain individuals could directly benefit from their votes as commissioners. In Montana, the statewide mule deer permit was recently raffled off by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, raising a record amount of money for mule deer conservation. Last December, the Duck Stamp Modernization Act was...

This week, we are talking about Wild Horses in the West. They’ve been overpopulated on public lands for years… but have finally seen the biggest single-year population reduction since 1985. Randy failed to mention last week that he received the Wallace Pate award at the RMEF celebration. This is the highest conservation honor that RMEF gives out! Link to video on the award: https://youtu.be/0MJ8wd...

Randy Newberg TAKEOVER!  Marcus and Michael are busy catching Walleye and Smallmouth so Randy stepped in to deliver this week’s news. On this week’s episode, we are celebrating Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 40th Anniversary. In the last 40 years, RMEF has amassed 12,000 members, conserved 8.9 million acres as well as improved or secured access for 1.5 million acres. The mission continues!  To si...

This week, we are talking about the overall decline of wildlife, shifting baselines, and the biggest factors that affect long-term population levels. Randy Newberg, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Congressman Bruce Westerman received Theodore Roosevelt’s Conservation Awards for 2024! We have a quick recap from last week’s episode. Michael, Jace, Kara, and I went to shoot in the NRL hunter compet...

This week we’re discussing a news series we're creating to become a better shot with a rifle but also how recreational shooters might contribute more money to conservation than hunters. A few news stories from this week include the following. In Alaska the Bureau of Land management has released their final supplemental environmental impact statement in regards to the construction of the Ambler Roa...

This week, we’re discussing what creates hunting culture and how it changes over time and by region. This week, we have just a few headlines, including a bill that, if voters approve it, could impose an additional tax on firearms and ammunition in Colorado. Boulder County implemented a hunting ban that the Forest Service argues is unauthorized, and researchers across the West have put out a new vo...

This week we’re talking about how there’s a potential threat to the public’s ownership of fish and wildlife as the Georgia Legislature passed a bill that stripped language from a law that had to do with the public trust doctrine. A few news stories that we also cover include; The Alaska Governor recently announced new appointments to the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game which included Fresh Tr...

This week, we are discussing how non-profits will sue federal agencies to stop them from managing land and how they use the Equal Access to Justice Act to profit from the lawsuits. Also, a few headlines we found interesting include; In Washington, the push to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades continues, with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishing their fi...

This week, we discuss how the Arizona Game and Fish Commission just voted to cancel its auction permits, which had previously raised millions of dollars for conservation. In addition to that, we touch on a few headlines and legislative updates. In Montana, a bill from the last legislative session is still in the air. SB442 is in headlines again, as the mail-out ballots are being sent out to determ...

This week, we are discussing putting more animals on the mountain, with bighorn sheep in Montana as the main example. We will also briefly cover the following headlines. In Kentucky, a bill has passed out of Committee and to the Senate that could have significant consequences for the Kentucky Department of Wildlife Resources and, ultimately, the hunters and anglers in the state. The Arizona Game a...

This week we are talking about screwing over the Non-resident hunter, how multiple states are adopting regulations that restrict numbers, restrict access, or raise prices for non-residents… along with a few news stories which include; In Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks plans to give out a free moose, sheep, or goat license to residents who purchase a general deer or elk tag early. Also, in Montan...

This week we are talking about YouTube and social media and why certain hunting content rises to the top, and why certain things come across your individual feed. We also have a few news stories to cover including: In Wyoming a bill is currently making its way through the state house of representatives that would pay private landowners who have elk grazing on their property. The bill would offer t...

This week, we have a special guest, Kara Landolfi, and we will discuss some misconceptions about wild game meat. In addition to that, we have a few news stories we found interesting. In Idaho, a bill was recently introduced that would allow outfitters to purchase an additional bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or moose tag IF said outfitter fills a wolf tag while guiding. Also, in Idaho, the Rocky Mou...

This week we’re going to talk about how hunting regulations impact wildlife populations and how people often over emphasize the impact hunters have on wildlife. In Nebraska, a bill was introduced that would transfer money out of the state game fund into the general fund along with transferring money from the Habitat fund and State parks fund into the general fund. In British Columbia the first cas...

This week, we are talking about the increase of hunters in the West, the increase in population in the Western states, and what it means for the future of wildlife and their habitats. Also, we talk about some of the friction between non-resident and resident hunters. In Washington, the bill to make hunting and fishing a constitutional right is making progress. The bill passed out of the Ag committ...

This week we are going to talk about a bill in Iowa which could have a rippling affect of displacing hunters, and the dangers of going down the road of privatizing hunting. The Bureau of Land Management recently released their roadmap for solar energy development on public lands in the west. In Montana a Judge recently ruled that lawmakers will have the ability to override Governor’s Gianforte’s c...

This week, our deeper dive is about recent proposals in Alaska that could shut down a ton of Caribou hunting for non-residents. Read Alaska Board of Game Proposals for upcoming meeting here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo&date=01-26-2024&meeting=kotzebue Submit Public Comment Here:https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/9af2ddc8fa584113a3d3d476ae9bef8b Read Outdoor Lif...