1 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: is Cow's Week in Review with Ryan cow Calahan. Here's 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: cal and what is sure to cause some awkward interactions 4 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: around the water cooler. A Colorado man nearly died last 5 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: month after his coworkers left him alone on a mountain 6 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: height None of the parties have so far been named, 7 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: but Chafe County Search and Rescue officials say a team 8 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: building activity went horribly wrong on Mount Schavano in central Colorado. 9 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: San Isabel National Forest. Fifteen office workers began their trek 10 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: up the mountain at sunrise on August twenty third, but 11 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: only fourteen made it back down. That's because, for reasons 12 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: that remain unclear, one of the men was left to 13 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: hike to the fourteen two hundred and thirty foot summit 14 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: all by himself. The other members of the party made 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: it to the summit and hiked back down, but this 16 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: unfortunate gentleman didn't reach the top until eleven thirty am 17 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: that morning. Search and Rescue says that he became disoriented 18 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: when he tried to hike back to the parking lot. 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: That's because the trek involved working his way through a 20 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: steep boulder and screen field where the trail apparently became unclear. 21 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: To make matters worse, his coworkers had left some belongings 22 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: on a rock to mark the correct trail, but they 23 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: collected those belongings on the way back down. He had 24 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: to retrace his steps at least once, but still hadn't 25 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: made it to the bottom. When a strong storm hit 26 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: the area with freezing rain and high winds, the man 27 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: became even more disoriented and lost cell phone service, but 28 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: his colleagues didn't report him missing until nine pm that evening. 29 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: Search and rescue tried to find him that night, but 30 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: weren't able to and so he spent the night alone 31 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: on the mountain. The man says he fell at least 32 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: twenty times during his adventure, and he wasn't able to 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: pick himself back up after his last fall. Fortunately, he 34 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: had enough cell service the next morning that he was 35 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: able to call nine one one, and he was taken 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,559 Speaker 1: to the hospital and stabilized later that day. Two ways 37 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: to look at this situation, folks, Either this fella was 38 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: you know, quote unquote that guy at the company retreat 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: and that's why he was ostracized and left alone on 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: the Mountain, which is just incredibly poor form no matter 41 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: how you feel about somebody or big mistake, and this 42 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: guy's gonna have no problem getting his shifts covered for 43 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: the rest of the year. Big thanks to listener Bob 44 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: T for sending us that story. This week, we've got bears, elephants, wolves, 45 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: and keep your hands off our public lands, Utah. But 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: first I'm going to tell you about my week, and 47 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: as you may have guessed, I spent my time on 48 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: public land for the big Labor Day weekend. Don't think 49 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: you messed up the feed. Remember I'm recording these podcasts 50 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: ahead of time so I can get my butt into 51 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: the elk and deer woods. A friend of mine has 52 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: an incredibly hard to get elk tag and wyoming something 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: he spent fourteen or fifteen preference points on, meaning try 54 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: as he may likely be his only opportunity to ever 55 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: hunt this area. Point creep draws all that stuff that 56 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: just makes me nauseous thinking about will prevent him or 57 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: I for that matter, from ever drawn this tag again. 58 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: On top of that, it's mostly wilderness, so yes, as 59 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 1: I have lamented here before, we non residents cannot hunt 60 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: federally designated wilderness in the state of Wyoming without a 61 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: resident guide, which can be a friend or in my 62 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: good buddy's case, his cousin. But the intent is to 63 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: have non residents pay for the services of a Wyoming 64 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: wilderness outfitter. Now, I got to thinking on this issue, 65 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: and if you recall way way back when we talked 66 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: about North Dakota's rule about pike spearing for non residents, 67 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: which is based on reciprocity, meaning that non resident anglers 68 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: are only allowed to participate in spearing if their home 69 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: state also allows for spearing. If you come from a 70 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: state or province where spearing is not allowed, you can 71 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: angle in different ways within North Dakota, but you cannot spear. 72 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: So you see where I'm going right, I'm going to 73 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: introduce a bill in Montana that specifically prohibits Wyoming residents 74 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: from hunting in Montana wilderness areas. I think other states 75 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: should too. Anyway, we had a great time in the wilderness, 76 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: not hunting, did a bunch of cruising around. It was 77 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: super cool. I'm going to share my notes with you 78 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: in the spirit of group participation. I started my hunting 79 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: journal for the year. Remember to keep one this season 80 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: for yourself. I'll read you. You know what I have 81 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: so far. Labor d eight weekend stock got loose around 82 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: four am or so. Found them grazing in other campsites 83 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: about a quarter mile away. We did a big loop 84 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: through the high country. Found antelope at ten four hundred feet, 85 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: big bull moose, real nice one, folks. Dot bit me 86 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: on the ass name of the mule. Got a heck 87 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: of a bruise. Found two nine inch cutthroats in a 88 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: creek at ten thousand feet. Got back to camp well 89 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 1: after dark. Went up another river the next day more 90 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: awesome country. Asked clerk at the Matitzzi store about their 91 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: Labor Day festivities. She said drinking found. A US Forest 92 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: Service employee reported the location of cow elk that was 93 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: acting strange, possible CWD. We were informed about a plane 94 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: crash on Phelps Mountain that started a fire. Supposedly a 95 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: woman hired a plane to spread her husband's ashes. The 96 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: employee said she should have called, would have told her 97 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: it was illegal. Woman and pilot died on impact. There 98 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: was a third passenger. It was badly burned, broken back. 99 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: Flown to Saint Vincent's Hospital in Billing's, Montana. Somebody may 100 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: have made the MacB joke of so that was kind 101 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: of a two for one deal in regards to spreading 102 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: the ashes. My uncle Jeff died September first, that's a 103 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: story for a different time, had a nasty cancer. Sad deal. 104 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,239 Speaker 1: Anglers at camp explain that when our stock got loose, 105 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: the big mule Juughhead stuck his head into the back 106 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: of this guy's truck and woke him up, scared the 107 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: shit out of him. I'm gonna keep this going. I 108 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: suggest you do the same. But that's what I got 109 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: so far on this grand adventure. You take notes however 110 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: you want, but submit your evidence to me prior to 111 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: October thirty first, and I'll pick a winner for a 112 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: final rized bird vest and another winner for some fhf 113 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: ammo pouches. The spun out of the Michigan rough grouse 114 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: survey that's going on there asking for citizen science, which, 115 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: as you know, is something we we dig around here. 116 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: Everybody's a citizen science and hunters are tip of the 117 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: spear for so much of the year. It's amazing hunters 118 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: and anglers are. That's a reputation that people don't typically 119 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: slap on us. So let's remind them of where good 120 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: data comes from. Folks who get outside back off man, 121 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: I'm a scientist. In other news, I got a couple 122 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: of interesting responses I wanted to share regarding pants or 123 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: mechanical advantage in general. Cal the electric pants or any 124 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: mechanical assistance that may aid in hiking is a very 125 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: interesting topic. I think you bring up good points that 126 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: people who have quote aged out of the fitness level 127 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: required for backcountry hunts have missed their shot. The electric 128 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: bike argument, as you pointed out, is very similar. Technology 129 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: allowing people to go farther and stay longer will bring 130 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: undue stress upon the animal populations in the form of 131 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: higher hunter success. I have a question and another area 132 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: of thought on the subject. However, I don't currently hold 133 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: strong opinions on these particular pieces of gear. My question 134 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: being how is this vastly different from the prevalence of 135 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: atv U TV crowd that bring their entire home in 136 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: the form of a camper. These comforts allow people to 137 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: bring more gear, stay longer, and cover much more ground 138 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: than ever before. Of course, you can't drive a side 139 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: by side into true backcountry, but it has opened up 140 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: deeper levels of hunting for a more sedentary population, again 141 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: just asking. My other subjective thought is what happens when 142 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: technology advances human health to the point of not needing 143 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: mechanical assistance. If you extrapolate modern medicine advancements out fifty years, 144 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: it is not unreasonable to expect life spans to be 145 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: a bunch higher. More importantly than longer life spans will 146 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: be the level of activity people will be able to 147 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: maintain for more years. We could legislate out fancy electric 148 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: pants and weight reducing backpacks, only for those laws to 149 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: become obsolete when medical advancements allow a seventy five year 150 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: old to perform at the level of a forty year old. 151 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: I know a lot of hardcore wolf trappers here in Idaho, 152 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: and the most successful guys are in their forties and fifties. 153 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: They've had the time to gain experience, making them more effective, 154 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: and they are also at a fitness level where they 155 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: can compete with younger guys. Their only limit is age, 156 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: and if that is remedied with modern medicine, they will 157 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: continue to be very effective into quote old age. How 158 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: do you limit effectiveness when physical limitations aren't as severe? 159 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: That was Garrett who wrote in for Idaho assume great questions, right, Gang, 160 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: And I think the what ifs here, right is this 161 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: stuff's always advancing, and we know that we've covered this 162 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: at gajillion times different forms of this, so you know, 163 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: no new stuff comes out, and we can see game 164 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: laws written on the basis of technology. But really what 165 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: they're trying to get at is to somehow regulate fair chase, 166 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: which often is is kind of like a moral or 167 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: ethical choice wrapped up in laws, which you know, it's 168 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: like we want need laws if people would just you know, 169 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: mind their p's and ques. Right, so, and full disclosure, 170 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: I am sitting on a chunky US forest service ground. 171 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: I have a little bit of cell reception just enough 172 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: to send this last pod cast out, and I'm recording 173 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: it from a very fancy camper, a little toe behind 174 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: black series. And you know, I wouldn't be sitting here 175 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: enjoying nature through the window while I get my work 176 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:16,239 Speaker 1: done if it weren't for that technology, just the increasing 177 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: cell phone technology, right, being able to send this whole 178 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: podcast up into space or wherever the heck it goes. 179 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: To our main man, Phil. The other point that he 180 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: brings up right is a very good one. And it 181 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: goes back to that idea that ninety percent of people 182 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: pay the bills, ten percent take home the goods, as in, 183 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: there's a smaller percentage of truly effective hunters that make 184 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: up for the bulk of the take Right. So this 185 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: guy's saying he's got these super knowledgeable guys that are 186 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: only going to phase out and quit putting the hurt 187 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: on a wolf population in this case when they physically 188 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: can't go anymore. Right. And so that's another part of 189 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: like these mechanical advantage these aids, where it's like you 190 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: can get somebody who has all the knowledge, all the 191 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: hunting prowess, but they just physically can't get up to 192 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: that spot, and they're going to be more effective than 193 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: the people who can physically get in there, but they 194 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: haven't had the time in the woods the tow, that's 195 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 1: time on water, get my spear fishingly and go mixed up. 196 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: Next one. Thanks for covering the idea. Not all public 197 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: lands should be accessible to all people, regardless of physical ability. 198 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: All too often as humans, we forget that remote and 199 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: hard to access places are what make our public lands 200 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: in wilderness worth having. Not only that, but these places 201 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: will exist to many once we as individuals are long gone. 202 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: That's from Richard. Next one, Mike says, I wouldn't be 203 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: too concerned about older folks invading the landscape. I'm worried 204 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: about obese folks. Take a pill to stay slim, but 205 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 1: no muscle mass, buy robopants to replace actually having to 206 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: get in shape. And lastly, Fella rights in from Florida. 207 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: I want to give you a great, big Hallelujah for 208 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: your recent at a time too about bionic pants. We 209 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: have a woeful lack of huntable public land in the 210 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: southern half of Florida. The majority of the public land 211 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: that is huntable is contained within wildlife Management areas with 212 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: typical and much needed draw systems. Those draw systems generally 213 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: revolve around either Dove's big game turkeys or waterfowl. A 214 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: few of the WMAs are open a small game during 215 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: non draw hunt days. The one closest to me is such. 216 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: For the last twenty years or so, the hardest reached 217 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: portions of the WMA have been my favorite places to chase, snipe, 218 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: quail and occasionally ducks during wetter years. I even take 219 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: the occasional pig with the introduction of e bikes, I 220 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: no longer have those tough spots five to six miles 221 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: in to myself unless I want to walk in at 222 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: two o'clock in the morning and sit until hunting light. 223 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: I now get passed on the trail by a half 224 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: dozen old dudes on e bikes. I'm forty eight. I'll 225 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: be an old dude pretty quick here and when that happens, 226 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: much like you said, I will spend the rest of 227 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: my days on the bow of my flats boat. I 228 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: could go get in, but getting there is a big 229 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: part of the draw to those areas. I love the 230 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: walk in. I can't imagine the things that those guys 231 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: miss while zipping through the woods at twenty five miles 232 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: an hour. I can't tell you how often I've walked 233 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: up on deer, pigs, and turkeys, not to mention all 234 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: the non game critters that I get to observe. Just 235 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: like every dude in late middle age, I have inadvertently 236 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: found myself to be an amateur birder. And let me 237 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: tell you what, there isn't much cooler than seeing a 238 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: loggerhead shrike impale a lizard on a barbed wire spike 239 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: and slowly dismember it. I'll stop and watch that every 240 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: single time. We enjoy the hard to get to areas 241 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: because they are hard to get to as much for 242 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: what they contain once we're there. Kind of butchered your 243 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: sentence there, But yeah, getting there's part of the adventure. 244 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: It's a challenge. That's what makes it fun. Oh you know, 245 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: I should say, you know, if you're like a big 246 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: fan of robopants and stuff, please write in. I'll read 247 00:13:55,080 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: your letter here without judgment, I promise. Moving on to 248 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: the Africa Desk. Faced with a historic drought and the 249 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: threat of starvation, Namibia's government has announced plans to kill 250 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: more than seven hundred animals, including elephants and hippos. But 251 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: this isn't a desperate move being made without regard for 252 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: wildlife populations. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says 253 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: the harvest will occur in areas where game numbers are sustainable, 254 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: including national parks. They will contract with professional hunters to 255 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: kill eighty three elephants, thirty hippos, sixty buffaloes, fifty impalas, 256 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: one hundred blue willed debaese, three hundred zebras and one 257 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: hundred elands. Meat will be distributed to the country's residents 258 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: through the drought relief program, which has already given out 259 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: fifty seven thousand kilograms or about one hundred and twenty 260 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: five thousand pounds of game meat. You might say that 261 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: meat from seven hundred won't do much to help a 262 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: population of two and a half million, but this isn't 263 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: just about harvesting food. The drought is hurting crop yields, 264 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: but it's also leading to more human wildlife conflict over 265 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: the shrinking supplies of food and water. Animals will be 266 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: culled from areas that wildlife officials believe will have trouble 267 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: supporting both wildlife and domestic livestock. Quote. This will assist 268 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: in managing the current grazing pressure and water availability by 269 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: reducing wildlife numbers in some parks and communal areas where 270 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: we feel numbers exceed available grazing and water. Of course, 271 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: animal rights activists have criticized the decision as short sighted. 272 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: We urge Namibia to reconsider these actions, Peter Senior Vice 273 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: President Jason Baker said in a letter to the country's 274 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: Prime minister. The plan is not only cruel, but also 275 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: dangerously short sighted and will have no long term impact 276 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: on these complex problems. He argues that killing even a 277 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: few animals from these herds will destabilize the entire population. 278 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: But as we've covered in previous episodes, Southern African countries 279 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: like Namibia and Botswana have struggled in recent years with 280 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: having too many elephants on the landscape. They've rejected calls 281 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: from animal rights activists in Europe and America to never 282 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: kill an elephant, and this latest initiative will both serve 283 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: needy residents and address some of the country's human elephant conflicts. 284 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: Moving on to the public land desk, the state of 285 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: Utah is asking the Supreme Court to force the Bureau 286 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: of Land Management to dispose of eighteen and a half 287 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: million acres in the state. I've mentioned this story on 288 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: a previous episode of the podcast, and we hit it 289 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: again with Patrick, the CEO of BHA. Those of you 290 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: who follow me on the socials have also heard me 291 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: talk about it, but I wanted to do a deeper 292 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: dive on this issue because it could have huge implications 293 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: for public land hunters and anglers out west. Some of 294 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: this info comes from a great article by Eli Fournier 295 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: over at the meadeater dot com, so shout out to 296 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: ELI on this one. Here are the basics. The State 297 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: of Utah has filed a petition with the US Supreme 298 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: Court because they don't believe it's constitutional for the BLM 299 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: to retain what they call unappropriated lands. They argue that 300 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: it's fine for Congress to designate federal lands pacific purposes, 301 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: such as national parks, national conservation areas, or National wildlife refuges, 302 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: but they want the Supreme Court to say that all 303 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: other land which is held by the BLM for the 304 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: most part, must be either given back to the states 305 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: who gave it away in the first place, or sold 306 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: to the highest bidder. And that's an important point. Utah 307 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: officials want the public to think that those eighteen and 308 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: a half million acres will be transferred to the state, 309 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: where wildlife officials would continue to manage it for resource 310 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: extraction and recreation. But in reality, Utah is asking the 311 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: BLM to dispose of the land. Per the BLM's Federal 312 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: Land Policy and Management Act of nineteen seventy six. Disposals 313 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: occur for the most part, under competitive bidding or at 314 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 1: auction preference. Is sometimes given to the state the land 315 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: is located in, or to local governments, but realistically most 316 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: of the land would likely be privatized if it were 317 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: to go to auction. Even more concerning, if the Supreme 318 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: Court rules in Utah's favor, it will don't just impact 319 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: federal public land in Utah, it would impact hundreds of 320 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: millions of additional acres of BLM land, mostly located across 321 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: the West. The BLM would be forced to dispose of 322 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: this land as well, which means either giving it to 323 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: the states or selling it off. This would no doubt 324 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: increase the tax base in these states, which is one 325 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: of the explicit goals of the public pushing this campaign, 326 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: but it would be a disaster for wildlife, habitat and 327 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: recreational opportunities. So where do things go from here? The 328 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: Supreme Court is in the process of deciding whether or 329 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: not they want to take up this case. If they do, 330 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: they'll hold oral arguments at the beginning of next year 331 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: and make a decision in June. If they decide to 332 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: pass on this case, Utah will still be able to 333 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: file it with a federal district court. From there, it 334 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: will have to work its way through the system until 335 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: reaching the Supreme Court. Once again, if there's a silver 336 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: lining here, it's that utah legal argument doesn't make a 337 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: whole lot of sense. Eli spoke with our buddy Dave 338 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: Wilms at the National Wildlife Federation, and he pointed out 339 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: that the lawsuit doesn't do a great job explaining why 340 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: the federal government needs to appropriate lands to own them. 341 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: Dave said, quote, why would the ability to own lands 342 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: be unconstitutional as to the BLM, but not as to 343 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: our national parks, monuments for us and everything else. Utah 344 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: claims that there was a federal purpose for those designations, 345 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: but somehow not for BLM land. But where's the legal 346 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: basis for that? They don't actually provide any legal rationale 347 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: for why those are okay for the federal government to 348 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: own but not these BLM lands. We'll see if the 349 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: courts agree, but one thing is for sure, this case 350 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: won't be going away anytime soon. I'd really like people 351 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: to think about what's happening here. Okay, this often gets 352 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: put under the lens of providing land for the people. Okay. 353 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: One thing that we're not making any more of is land. 354 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: We are ready under this system, whether you like it 355 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: or not, we already have land for the people, absolutely 356 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: fricking incredible. I'm sitting on it right now. Unreal. There's 357 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: grazing going on, there's hunting going on, there's all sorts 358 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: of recreation going on in this little spot that I'm 359 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: in right now, Okay, and we don't have much of it. 360 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 1: Right we have six hundred and forty million acres of 361 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: public land in the United States. That is next to nothing. 362 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 1: The private acres already far, far, far, surpass the public acres. Now. 363 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: Just as an example, we were driving by this absolutely gorgeous, 364 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: unbelievable ranch in Wyoming the other day and it happened 365 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: to be listed sixty seven million dollars. Okay, and they're like, 366 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: oh god, that's a lot of money. But if you 367 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: really consider what that ranch is, it's invaluable. There is 368 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: no price tag that you can put on it that's 369 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: really appropriate for what it is. You know, it's it's 370 00:20:55,680 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: whole ecosystems, it's habitat, it's water. And again, we're not 371 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: making any more of it. But what we are making 372 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: more of is billionaires. And when these billionaires get together, 373 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,719 Speaker 1: they form large buying groups, hedge funds, investment groups. Do 374 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: you think that you or I, the people who probably 375 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: cared a little bit too much about going outside and 376 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: playing versus making enough money to equal a billion dollars, 377 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 1: are going to get any chunk of that ground or 378 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 1: any access to it. With the money floating around out there, folks, 379 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: it is a pipe dream. On top of that, for 380 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: these people who are saying, oh, well, we need the 381 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: land in order to make affordable housing, that is just 382 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: a kick the can down the road argument. Look at 383 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 1: what you got in front of you right now. We 384 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: got plenty to make this stuff work by moving the 385 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: goal line out and saying no, no, no, I know 386 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: we didn't do a great job with what we had, 387 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: but we just need some more and then we'll do 388 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: better with it. I mean, that's not an argument that 389 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: I'd accept from anybody. Right Well, turn around, go back 390 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: to the drawing board and prove what you can do 391 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: with the land that you already have if you want 392 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: me to consider giving you more of it. Obviously, gang, 393 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: I'm on my soapbox here at the end of this. Okay, 394 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 1: that was a brief editorial opinion piece. You know where 395 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: to write in, Tell me where to stick it. Askcal 396 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: at the mediaor dot com love to hear your side 397 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: of it. What you can do at home, right now, 398 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: right is just you can write into the governor of Utah. 399 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: You can write into all the state representatives in Utah 400 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: and let them know what you think about this move. 401 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: That's not going to affect just Utah, but it's going 402 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: to affect all BLM lands. If it doesn't, it's also 403 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: just going to piss away a bunch of money in Utah. 404 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: The u Utah taxpayers through in there. Moving on to 405 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: the Colorado Desk aka the Wolf Desk, Colorado's transplanted wolves 406 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: haven't even been in the state for a year yet, 407 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: and they're already getting into trouble. Most recently, the newly 408 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: christened Copper Creek Pack is suspected of killing over a 409 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 1: dozen sheep and cattle in just the last few months, 410 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: so Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced plans to move the 411 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: two adults and three pups to a place they'll hopefully 412 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,880 Speaker 1: cause less trouble. The Copper Creek Pack should have been 413 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: a reason for wolf advocates to celebrate. It's the first 414 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: confirmed pack, which biologists define as a breeding pair, plus 415 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: at least three puppies. Since ten wolves were shipped in 416 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: from Oregon last December, two of those wolves mated and 417 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 1: the Copper Creek Pack was born. Now, the future of 418 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: those wolves is anything but certain. Since early April, there 419 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: have been sixteen confirmed livestock depredations in Grand County, which 420 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: is where the Copper Creek Pack resides, and that number 421 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: represents the bare minimum. Farmers and ranchers in the area 422 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: say the true number is much higher, they just haven't 423 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: been confirmed by state biologists. The problem has gotten so 424 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: bad that even though the CPW denied a rancher's request 425 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: to remove some of the wolves lethally, they chose the 426 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: unprecedented step of rounding up an entire pack and moving 427 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: them somewhere else. They say this decision quote is by 428 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: no means a precedent for how CPW will resolve wolf 429 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: livestock conflict moving forward, but they've decided to do it anyway. 430 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: You can see why they'd be hesitant to go down 431 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: this road. Moving the wolves makes almost no one happy. 432 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: Wolf advocates say that moving the pack risks their survival 433 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: because they might have trouble finding food for all the 434 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: puppies in unfamiliar territory. Farmers and ranchers who live near 435 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: the relocation site won't be happy about the development, and 436 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 1: even those who live in Grand County likely worry that 437 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: wolves will just walk back to their home territory. I'm 438 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: sure CPW biologists are choosing the pack's new home with 439 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: that in mind, but wolves aren't great map readers. The 440 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: animals have been known to travel great distances, so it's 441 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: hard to imagine any suitable habitat in Colorado that's far 442 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: enough from Ground County to keep the adults from walking 443 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: back homeward bound style. Colorado's wolf pack is considered an 444 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: experimental population, which is how state biologists are able to 445 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: appro of these kinds of drastic measures. That's a good thing, 446 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: but I'm sure Grand County ranchers would have preferred that 447 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: their lethal take permits were approved. According to a report 448 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: from local media outlet WTKR, state officials determined that the 449 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,719 Speaker 1: rancher who submitted a request for lethal take failed to 450 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 1: implement enough non lethal controls. Moving on to the money desk, 451 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: a Wisconsin legislative committee will be auditing the state's Department 452 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: of Natural Resources to make sure the agency is spending 453 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: hunting and fishing license fees like they're supposed to. The 454 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: Joint Legislative Audit Committee has ordered an audit of the 455 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: State Fish and Wildlife Account, which is funded by money 456 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: from hunters and anglers. State Senator Eric Wimberger told the 457 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: media outlet The Center Square that he's concerned that the 458 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: DNR might not be spending that money to benefit sportsman. 459 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: He pointed to the most recent audit in two thousand 460 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: and six that found that the dn R had spent 461 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: one point six million dollars on things that did not 462 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: directly benefit hunters and anglers. A spokesperson for a group 463 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: called the International Order of t Roosevelt said that hunters 464 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: should support an audit to ensure the DNR is not 465 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: using the funds to quote pad their budgets in other 466 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: areas or grow the bureaucracy on the backs of hunters 467 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: and anglers. Now, I did a little bit of research 468 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: on this group earlier. They might be doing good stuff, 469 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 1: but I will tell you one thing that they are 470 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:32,160 Speaker 1: completely crossways with the biological community is their real proponents 471 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 1: of stealing greater sage grouse chicks from successful adults and 472 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: hand rearing them. They're pretty alone in that category, but 473 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: they do say that their mission is to protect the 474 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 1: North American model of wildlife conservation that is so closely 475 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: tied to our namesake's legacy. The International Order of t. 476 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: Roosevelt will stand up against bad actors, protect our hunting 477 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: heritage and at risk wildlife habitats before they are gone. Now, 478 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: some lawmakers in the Wisconsin state legislature or pushing for 479 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:05,199 Speaker 1: an audit after the DNR announced that they were expecting 480 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:09,719 Speaker 1: a sixteen million dollar budget shortfall in the next two years. 481 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: By twenty twenty six, the DNR expects to draw in 482 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: around sixty two point three million in revenue, but it 483 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,959 Speaker 1: must meet a seventy eight point two million dollar spending obligation. 484 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: The DNR says that changing demographics and hunter participation numbers 485 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: are causing the drop in revenue, while the state's overall 486 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: population has increased, but by calling for an audit, some 487 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: legislators are suggesting that the DNR's own fiscal management is 488 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: responsible for the shortfall. Meanwhile, other legislators say that hunting 489 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 1: and fishing license fees need to be raised since they 490 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 1: haven't seen an increase in nearly two decades. One bill, 491 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: for example, would have raised some nonresident license fees, which 492 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: the DNR says would have helped address the deficit. While 493 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: the bill passed unanimously in the state Assembly, the proposal 494 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: never received hearing in the state Senate. State Senator Robert 495 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: Wirsch told Whisky consin Public Radio that it's quote shocking 496 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: that license fees haven't increased in two decades. He argued 497 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 1: that many hunters and anglers would happily pay increased fees 498 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: because they know that the money is necessary to conserve 499 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: the state's resources and make sure the DNR is fiscally solvent. 500 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: It's unclear whether that's actually true, and there will always 501 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: be a subset of hunters and anglers who make it 502 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: their hobby to complain about their state wildlife agency. Still, 503 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: a lobbyist with Hunter Nation told WPR that he thinks 504 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: hunters would be up for paying higher fees as long 505 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: as they knew the money was being well spent, Hence 506 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: the audit. Raising hunting license fees is never a popular proposal, 507 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: so I can see why legislators who serve rural communities 508 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: would be opposed to it. But it's tough to argue 509 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: that hunting licenses shouldn't at least match the inflationary rate. 510 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: For example, a resident combo hunt fish license for a 511 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 1: Wisconsin resident was set at sixty dollars in two thousand 512 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: and five, which is the last time license fees were raised. 513 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: According to the inflation calculator published by the Federal Reserve 514 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: Bank of Minneapolis, sixty dollars in two thousand and five 515 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: would be worth ninety six dollars to day. It's great 516 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: that Wisconsin hunters haven't had to pay more to get 517 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: out in the field, but the DNR isn't immune from inflation. 518 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: They've had to pay their employees more. Gas prices have 519 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: gone up, in real estate for offices has gotten more expensive. 520 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: Those are just three of the ways inflation has hit 521 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: the DNR. So it makes sense to me that license 522 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: fees should increase to at least partially make up for 523 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,239 Speaker 1: those rising costs. The good news is that whether you 524 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: agree with me or not, you have an opportunity to 525 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: get involved, and you should send a note to your 526 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: state legislators to let them know how you feel. They 527 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: may not agree with you, and they may not vote 528 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: like you when you want them to. But the only 529 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: way to guarantee your voice won't make an impact, is 530 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: to not use it in the first place. Last one 531 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: for you, This is another listener mail that I just 532 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: thought was too good. Overheard a conversation at a party 533 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: store while picking up supplies for my daughter's birthday. A 534 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 1: man approached the counter and asked the clerk what they 535 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: had for biodegradable balloons. The clerk was confused and threw 536 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: out a few options and asked why. The man said 537 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: he wants to use them somewhat like a water balloon. 538 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: The clerk said, well, we have water balloons and explained 539 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: how they are used. The man stated he didn't want 540 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: water balloons, he just wanted to fill balloons. Then a 541 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: manager got involved and the customer repeated the request for 542 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: biodegradable options. He stated he wasn't releasing the balloons in 543 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 1: the normal sense of releasing them. He is going on 544 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: a bear hunt in Wyoming, where baiting is legal. His 545 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 1: plan was to freeze bait and stuff the balloons so 546 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: he can throw bait balloons in the woods and have 547 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: them burst. The manager said he didn't think there'd be 548 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: enough pressure to burst the balloon, and the man said, well, 549 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: if it's frozen, maybe they'll just tear open. When I 550 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: heard the man's baiting plan by throwing balloons in the 551 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: woods to scatter around, I thought, I know someone who 552 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: loves finding balloon trash in the woods. So yeah, you're right, 553 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: love the story. Lots of biodegradable options out there that 554 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: you can spread sent around with. For sure. You can 555 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 1: get those organic tampons that have a string on them. 556 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: You dunk those in whatever scent that you're going to 557 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: use to attract a bear, like annis or honey or 558 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: cinnamon or all the things, and then you use that 559 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: little string to tie on on the branch that's been 560 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: used for a long time. The guy who wrote in 561 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: said maybe a cotton tube sock would be a better 562 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 1: biodegradable answer. Now, outside of the balloon debate, there's plenty 563 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 1: of products out there that boy, I just have a 564 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: hard time getting behind, right, because really, what you're buying 565 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: is trash that unfortunately does get left in the woods. 566 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: You're on public land, primarily gang I'll just bring it 567 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,479 Speaker 1: up healing stick targets. If I could snap my fingers, 568 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: they'd all go away. You're buying trash. It instantly becomes trash. 569 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: If you like handing over cash like that. I got 570 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: a long list of kick ass conservation works that needed 571 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: a lot more than you need that stick on freaking 572 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 1: thing you're that you're gonna shoot at. Just use a 573 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:14,680 Speaker 1: cardboard box and a sharpie. Gang, cardboards recyclable. You already 574 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 1: got it, I promise, super effective. Well seth Morrison. I 575 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: horde cardboard boxes that are gonna be awesome targets. Join us. 576 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 1: All right, gang, That's all I got for you this week. 577 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: I'm staring at the big old Elk Woods. I'm gonna 578 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: get out there. I'm just waiting on old Bradbrooks and 579 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: dirt to show up so we can get this party started. 580 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening. Remember to write in to 581 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 1: ask c A L. That's Askcal at the meeteater dot com. 582 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: Let me know what's going on in your neck of 583 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: the woods. You know I appreciate it. Thanks again. We'll 584 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 1: talk to you next week.