Hunt Talk Radio

In this episode of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio, host Randy interviews his longtime podcast editor, Joe Johnson. Joe talks about his background as a professional musician and circus performer, and how he eventually found his way into hunting. They discuss the "dark art" of audio editing, their shared commitment to public land advocacy, and the importance of fostering an "abundance mindset" to build c...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Hal Herring. Hal was the host of BHA's podcast for several years and now he's setting out on a new project - Carrying the Fire. Carrying the Fire podcast features the voices of writers and thinkers, homesteaders and conservationists, explorers, historians and futurists-it is about reconnecting us to nature, and to each other. Randy a...

On this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy joins MTNTOUGH coaches Sarah and Nick to discuss their new "Always Ready 50+" fitness program, a course designed to help older adults improve their mobility, strength, and overall quality of life. Randy talks about his own experience navigating injuries, and the value of having structured accountability to keep him hunting for years to come. Lear...

In this episode of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio, Randy Newberg meets with Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management to discuss an effort to protect hunting and fishing in Colorado through a constitutional amendment. Dan explains how years of defending against ballot initiatives, legislative challenges, and wildlife policy battles have led Colorado’s conservation community to take a...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy hosts longtime public land advocates Bob Dennee and Kurt Alt, reflecting on decades of work to improve access to public lands in Montana. They share behind-the-scenes stories of major land conservation efforts and cover how collaboration between agencies, nonprofits, landowners, and engaged hunters helped secure millions of acres for public use....

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy interviews Ted Koch, Executive Director of the North American Grouse Partnership, about the rapid decline of prairie grouse, particularly the Lesser Prairie Chicken, due to large-scale grassland loss. They discuss how most remaining habitat is on private land, where economic pressures often discourage conservation even among landowners who value...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Ian Wargo (Montana FWP Fish and Wildlife Commissioner) talk about the challenges of wildlife management, particularly declining elk populations in northwest Montana. A major topic is how habitat quality, largely influenced by federal land policies, is one of the most critical factors in population dynamics. The conversation highlights how com...

In this episode of Hunt Talk Radio, Randy welcomes back independent journalist Todd Wilkinson, co-founder of Yellowstonian, for a deep dive into the complex intersection of conservation, policy, and the future of the American West. Todd has a unique perspective on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a 24-million-acre landscape that remains the only region in the lower 48 states to retain all the or...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy hosts Alison Fox, CEO of American Prairie, and Mike Kautz, AP's VP of Access and Infrastructure. They talk through some of the misconceptions and realities of AP's role in conservation, the impact of the BLM's proposed rule changes, how ranching and wildlife conservation can coexist, and how AP facilitates public access. Learn more about your ad...

On this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life's Hunting and Conservation editor. They discuss the history, purpose, and future of outdoor media, talking through how media has been beneficial to conservation, as well as some of the struggles and dangers of modern platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Randy sits down with ODFW's Wildlife Division Deputy Administrator Brian Wolfer at the PNW Sportsman's Show in Portland, OR to answer your questions. Topics cover the full range of wildlife population strategies, habitat, predators, and even why state agencies are often limited in what they are legally allowed to advocate for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by two of the lead minds behind Leupold's legendary gold ring: Tim Lesser and Dustin Miller. In a rare, deep-dive technical conversation, the trio explores what it really takes to build world-class optics in Beaverton, Oregon, and why American manufacturing remains the backbone of the brand. From the high-stakes "Moment of Truth" at SHO...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy has returning guest Dr. Kevin Monteith from the University of Wyoming. In this episode, we dig into Kevin's knowledge and research to connect healthy mule deer herds to how fat the mothers are. Fat does have big fawns that grow to be bigger bucks. All of that depends on premium habitat availability, which Kevin explains in great detail. A great e...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by long-time friend, Ryan Callaghan. Topics covered include their work to improve public lands and protect the conservation infrastructure necessary for habitat and hunting, the mirage of political parties being concerned, the importance of speaking up, how you can make a difference, challenges ahead, and Ryan's new role as CEO of Backc...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy and Marcus put a wrap on the 2025 seasons. Topics covered range from a mountain goat hunt resulting in a broken leg to a season disrupted by many policy changes that represent broken promises by our elected officials. Lots of good topics in between to describe what was the toughest season Fresh Tracks has ever had. Learn more about your ad choices...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by returning guest Theodore Roosevelt IV, the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. Following a successful elk hunt in Montana, they dive into a critical and urgent conversation about the future of hunting, conservation, and public lands. Ted brings a unique, non-partisan perspective forged by his family's legacy and his own l...

The Wyoming corner-crossing case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy Newberg is hosting the lawyer who made it happen. Attorney Ryan Semerad details the story of the four Missouri hunters he defended and the high-stakes legal battle that followed. They dissect the landowner's arguments, the potential outcomes, and why this case is so critica...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is at the HQ of Silencer Central to catch up with the CEO, Brandon Maddox and talk about the many updates since the last podcast six months ago. Topics covered include funding conservation, Silencer Central's effort to reform the National Firearms Act and pass the Hearing Protection Act, the difficulty of getting changes in DC, the benefits of si...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy talks with Robert Mahaffey of the South Dakota Antelope Foundation. They discuss the background of the SD Antelope Foundation, antelope herd history in South Dakota, impacts of human expansion into pronghorn habitat, and a bit of trivia. You can learn more about the South Dakota Antelope Foundation at https://www.sdantelopefoundation.org/. Learn...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, host Randy Newberg is joined by Dylan Soares, an attorney and conservationist with the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), to dive deep into the legal and practical implications of corner crossing—a hot topic in public land access. The discussion begins with an overview of the high-profile Wyoming corner-crossing case, where four hunters w...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Pete Brownell, President of Brownell's. Brownell's has been a family name in hunting, shooting, and gunsmithing since 1938. Pete is the third Brownell generation to lead the company from its headquarters in Iowa. Topics covered include the history of Brownell's, Pete's volunteerism and commitment to shooting sports, Pete's mor...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy talks with Leupold CEO, Bruce Pettet, about leading an American company with 700+ amazing employees and dominating the rifle scope business by sticking to the core values of the company. In addition to the launch of the new VX5HD GEN2, topics covered include manufacturing in America, growing talent from within, the need for ingenuity, listening t...

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy spends a day with one of his friends and most admired mentors, Jim Zumbo. Jim needs no introduction, having introduced so many of us to the world of western big game hunting. Topics covered include Jim using his platforms to promote conservation, his lengthy career as a writer and advocate for wild things, his commitment to elk and RMEF, Jim's me...

After over a dozen years of shooting Howa rifles, Randy convinces them to join him on a podcast to talk about Howa rifles, their support of shooting and conservation, and why neither value or accuracy will ever be part of a compromise. Darren and Chad join in to explain why they support a public land-centric platform and want Fresh Tracks to be out advocating for their customers. And like all epis...

In this episode (#266) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with an old friend and world class wild game chef and cooking author, Hank Shaw. In addition to some old stories of hunts together in the Borderlands of Arizona, Randy and Hank discuss Hank's newest cookbook, Borderlands. Hank explains the roots of this unique food culture and its connection with native food sources, much of...