1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: Cal's Weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: dot com. Now Here's Your Host. Ryan cal Callahan, the. 5 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: Host of a popular hunting show in Canada, has pleaded 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: guilty to multiple wildlife crimes and has been fined more 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 2: than thirty thousand dollars. Michael bow Yu or bow Lou 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 2: Michael Blue. Let's gonna go with Blue Like Blue the 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: Bear is the host of the Alpine Carnivore TV show, 10 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 2: and you may also know him from a popular Instagram 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 2: account I assume by the same name. According to law 12 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: enforcement officials, Blue and his wife committed these crimes in 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty and twenty twenty one in both Alberta and 14 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: British Columbia. Search warrants of their home and office uncovered 15 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: tons of evidence, including sheep and moose parts that were 16 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: matched with kill sites in Alberta. Shellcasings from the sheep 17 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 2: killed in Alberta also matched the firearm officer seized in 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: British Columbia. What did these two admit to doing in 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: British Columbia? Blue admitted to allowing his hunting license to 20 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: be used by another party and was fined forty five 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: hundred dollars. His wife, Lynn, admitted to hunting without a 22 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: license and received a two thousand dollars penalty. They will 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: also be banned from hunting in the province for one year. 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: Their crimes in Alberta were even more serious. There, they 25 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 2: admitted to hunting without a license, hunting in a closed season, 26 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 2: unlawful possession of wildlife, unlawful export of wildlife, providing false information, 27 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: as well as abusing license requirements in relation to the 28 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: killing of big horned sheep, antlered moose and antlered elk 29 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 2: within a protected wilderness area. The pair was fined twenty 30 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: five thousand dollars. In addition, all wildlife seized was forfeited 31 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: to the government. For his part, Blue posted a video 32 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: online apologizing to his fans for his actions and admitting 33 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 2: to the violations for which he was convicted, but he 34 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: claims that he never meant to break any laws on 35 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 2: any of the three hunts in question. On the sheep hunt, 36 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 2: he says he entered into an area he wasn't allowed 37 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: to hunt without realizing it. On the moose hunt. He 38 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 2: says he didn't realize that in Alberta, unlike in Ontario, 39 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: the province he grew up in, it's illegal for either 40 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: of two hunters to shoot at an animal with only 41 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: one tag. On the bear hunt, he says he let 42 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 2: his wife use one of his bear tags again without 43 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: realizing that that was illegal. Now, there's a lot of 44 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 2: unknowns when you're talking about the actions of another person 45 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: that you don't know, and you weren't there and you've 46 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: never met. So I'm not going to take that on. 47 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: But Giannis ptell Us a meat Eater fame, a man 48 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: who has Yanni, how many episodes have you produced? 49 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: Yeah? 50 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: Fifty? He has produced around fifty episodes of the Meat 51 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: Eater Show himself. He also runs his own show that 52 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: you can see acrossultiple channels. The guy's got a lot 53 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 2: of experience, and so I'm gonna dip off and let 54 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: you listen to Jannis Pitelisa's subtle tones on what he 55 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,839 Speaker 2: thinks could be the motivation for stepping outside the law 56 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: or maybe just not knowing what you're doing when you're 57 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: out there running a TV show. 58 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 3: Okay, that's right. 59 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 4: Cal fifty episodes approximately of Meat eater and I don't 60 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 4: know how many more of my own. And yes, we 61 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 4: have learned over the years that all of the United 62 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 4: States different states, and we've traveled, you know, into Canada 63 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 4: and Mexico as well. Regulations do differ greatly from place 64 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 4: to place. But I feel like, as as you know, 65 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: the maker of hunting television, you have to stay on 66 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 4: top of all those regulations. We would spend a lot 67 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 4: of time not only researching them, but also you know, 68 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 4: having other people sort of be the fallback and check 69 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 4: and make sure that, you know, our licenses were in order. 70 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 4: That being said, we're not one hundred percent clean. We 71 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: have had some minor infractions, and when we figured out 72 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 4: that that stuff happened, we would turn ourselves in and uh, 73 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 4: you know, take care of whatever issue it was. It 74 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 4: was always minor, nothing major. Like this guy. It seems 75 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 4: as though this fella Blue stepped over the line big time. 76 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 4: And uh, what his motivations are, I don't know, but 77 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 4: it'd be hard for me just to uh to accept 78 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 4: his apology and accept that he just didn't know what 79 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 4: he was doing and didn't understand it. I mean, he's 80 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 4: literally the definition of professional hunter. Professional hunter needs to 81 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 4: know what the rules and REGs are there you have 82 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 4: uh you know, if you disagree with Yanni, you can 83 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 4: write into ask c a L. 84 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: That's Ascal at meater dot com where we're gonna put 85 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: the pro back in Professional Hunter. 86 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: But just. 87 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 2: This week we do have a real life no Joe 88 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: pro on the show. Very special episode, Sarah Parker Paully, 89 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: the director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, is going 90 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: to talk about her impressive thirty year career in conservation, 91 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: what makes Missouri a leader in wildlife management, and why 92 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: she supports the agency's latest controversial move to change the 93 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: turkey hunting regulations. If you care about conservation and state policy, 94 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: as I know you do because you're listening to this podcast, 95 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: it's not a conversation you want to miss. All right, 96 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: friends and neighbors, we are on the line with Sarah 97 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: Parker Paully, who is about to retire after a thirty 98 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 2: year career at the Missouri Department of Conservation. She spent 99 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: the last eight years as the director of the agency, 100 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 2: which is a really big deal. I also see that 101 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 2: you are the first female director in the history of 102 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 2: the Missouri Department of Conservation. 103 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 5: True, are you asking are you asking me if that's true. 104 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: I just gave you some appropriate pause to see if 105 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: you wanted to jump in. 106 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 5: Hey, that sounded like that sounded like a question. 107 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 6: No, I am the first female director, kel And just 108 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 6: to correct you, I started my career more than thirty 109 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 6: years ago with an apartment and I had a moved 110 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 6: around a bit to other organizations as well, and then 111 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 6: came back as the director, as you note, almost eight 112 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 6: years ago. 113 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 5: So anyway, said delight to join you today. 114 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, thank you so much. 115 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: And I think it kind of a couple of reasons 116 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 2: I really wanted to get you on the show. One 117 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: is a conservation topic that we'll talk about a little 118 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: later on. But the other is just Missouri. Missouri is 119 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: talked about in conservation circles everywhere in very envious tones 120 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: because Missouri does things a little bit differently on the 121 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: funding side, because there's attacks that everybody contributes to that 122 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: goes to conservation in Missouri. And I was wondering if 123 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: you wouldn't mind letting our listeners know how that works 124 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 2: and maybe how that came to be. 125 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 6: You bet, that is as I go around the country 126 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,239 Speaker 6: and certainly as I talk to colleagues who are heading 127 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 6: up other state fishal life agencies. I often hear from 128 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 6: them how kind of in wistful tones, how they wish 129 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 6: they had the same sort of funding source, And so 130 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 6: I certainly understand that. But are what we call the 131 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 6: Missouri model of conservation. It really dates back more than 132 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 6: eight decades ago, and it's when what we call Amendment 133 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 6: for Amendment four of the Constitution came about through initiative petition. 134 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 6: And you know, that's an important feature that our agency 135 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 6: was really founded by our Missouri public. And then several 136 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 6: decades later, in the nineteen seventies, once again it was 137 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 6: our Missouri public, through initiative petition that voted for and 138 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 6: passed the Designed for Conservation, which does provide that one 139 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 6: act of one cent sales tax that is sixty percent 140 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 6: sometimes higher of sixty percent of our revenue source. So 141 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 6: that you know, the Missouri model for us is grounded 142 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 6: in citizen support throughout from beginning until now, and it's 143 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 6: the most important feature of what we do here in 144 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 6: Missouri in the way of Missouri conservation. 145 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: That's that's amazing. 146 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: And currently are there any threats to that funding model 147 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: in Missouri? Because I know in years past that there's 148 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 2: attempts to get some of that cash for other programs 149 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 2: and take it out of wildlife and habitat. 150 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 6: So you know, we always kind of reminisce, you know, 151 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 6: nineteen thirty six Amendment four passes, which does create this 152 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 6: independent Commission, a four member commission that I report to. 153 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 6: That's governor appointed, confirmed by the Senate, and you know. 154 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 5: So that model is pretty important. 155 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,719 Speaker 6: That commission has the authority for fish and wildlife regulations, 156 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 6: passes our budget, passes major policies, hires the director, so 157 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 6: they'll certainly they're in the process of looking for my replacement. 158 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 6: So they have very important responsibilities. The very first attack 159 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 6: by the legislature of that independent commission authority was the 160 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 6: year after the commission came into being, so nineteen thirty 161 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 6: seven they're finally in place. Nineteen thirty eight comes the 162 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 6: first attack. It was with the sales tax in the 163 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 6: nineteen seventies. We've seen legislative legislative attempts to tweak or 164 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 6: divert some of. 165 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 5: That funding, but they have not been successful. 166 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 6: I think our citizenry, our public feels very strongly about 167 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 6: conservation here. And I might add we're the only state 168 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 6: that I'm aware of, we really have. 169 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 5: Two different constitutional taxes. 170 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 6: One is the one we just talked about, the one 171 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 6: eighth of one cent that goes to the Missouri Department Conservation. 172 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 6: But there is another tax that was passed maybe a 173 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 6: decade after that, one a one tenth of one cent 174 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 6: that goes to our state parks, which is part of 175 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 6: another agency and soil and water efforts. So you know, 176 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 6: Missourians held very very strongly about their natural resources, and 177 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 6: you know both are significant funding sources for our agency 178 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 6: and for the Department of Natural Resources. But to answer 179 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 6: your question, throughout time, there have been slight of attempts 180 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 6: non attempts through initiative petition or you know, attempts through 181 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 6: through our public but the legislature always ripe with good ideas, 182 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 6: so to speak, and none that have really moved. 183 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: That's right, because not all good ideas are thought through 184 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 2: all the way, right. 185 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 5: That's right. That's exactly right. 186 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 6: So I should have put idea good ideas for a 187 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 6: podcast in air quotes, but so you know that, and 188 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 6: legislature certainly has their right to to throw out some options. 189 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 5: But we we. 190 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 6: Have a legislature too that is pretty committed to the 191 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 6: Missouri model of conservation, and they know that we are 192 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 6: recognized nationally, that the model is recognized nationally. 193 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 5: So the vast. 194 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 6: Majority of our members of the legislature strongly support what 195 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 6: the agency does and you know, supports conservation in Missouri. 196 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: I do want to tell based on the citizenry of 197 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: Missouri and being so proud of this. And back when 198 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 2: I was living in Idaho, had a friend who was 199 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 2: from Missouri and and didn't really know what all I 200 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 2: was involved in. And when he found out that I was, 201 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: you know, active in a lot of conservation efforts and 202 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 2: working with different groups conservation groups, he showed up my 203 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: doorstep with his entire life collection of the Missouri Conservation 204 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 2: magazine that you put out and made it very very 205 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 2: clear that those were just on loan, which I thought 206 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 2: was a pretty serious testament to Missourians and their relationship 207 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 2: to conservation efforts in the state. 208 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 6: So we're pretty proud of that magazine. And by the way, 209 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 6: you can now there's an a the mo con mag 210 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 6: app so nowadays you can download it on any smartphone 211 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,359 Speaker 6: and so, but we're pretty pretty proud of that magazine. 212 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 2: Heck, yeah, well, I think it's just it's awesome that 213 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 2: that's open to everybody there in the state and give 214 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: some more insight as to what the department's doing. So, yeah, 215 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 2: thirty plus year career, and we have as you're setting 216 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 2: your sights on retirement, we have all sorts of interesting things. 217 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 2: I was just in Missouri hunting birds, hunting waterfowl. But 218 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 2: we just had, you know, as one of the more 219 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 2: serious spikes of avian influenza roll through last year and 220 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 2: it seems to be not as severe this year. Chronic 221 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 2: wasting diseases on the landscape, all sorts of things. Now, 222 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 2: what have been kind of the biggest topics of your career, 223 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: the things that the departments had to get involved with. 224 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 6: Well, maybe I'll hitch just a couple under a couple 225 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 6: of different categories. And so you mentioned some of the 226 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 6: just resource challenges, So the challenges to our fish force 227 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 6: and wildlife here in Missouri and cal you named a couple. 228 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 6: We are seeing emerging diseases that we've not seen in 229 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 6: the past. You mentioned chronic wasting disease. We spend a 230 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 6: lot of our focus and resource on trying to minimize 231 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 6: the spread of that, to really keep that prevalence right low. 232 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 6: But that's not the only disease we're seen here, and 233 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 6: so it is concerning. And so we have added a 234 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 6: lot of additional capacity at the department to really focus 235 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 6: on the health side of our fish and wildlife populations, 236 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 6: and in fact have a brand new section under our 237 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 6: science branch and have added some additional capacity there to 238 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:09,359 Speaker 6: really do our best to determine what are those existing 239 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 6: and emerging threats to healthy, sustainable fish and widlife populations, 240 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 6: and then how do we mitigate harm to them once 241 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 6: they're on the landscape. So there is definitely those are 242 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 6: new challenges that maybe my predecessor certainly didn't. They had 243 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 6: their own challenges over the last eighty some years, not 244 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 6: necessarily those challenges, but we've also seen a lot of 245 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 6: opportunities as well in my tenure, certainly the opening of 246 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 6: elk season, the opening of a black bear season, and 247 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 6: so always trying to increase opportunity for those who hunt 248 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 6: and fish in our state. Maybe under another category of 249 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 6: just connecting people to the outdoors. I think one of 250 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 6: the on the challenge side, you know this very well, 251 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 6: just how society is changing, and it's a generational thing. 252 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 6: It's just also a combination of many other things and 253 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 6: other priorities. You know, we're competing for a time in 254 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 6: many other ways, but we're just seeing a society that 255 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 6: has become more and more disengaged from the out of 256 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 6: doors and that is brought with concerns for somebody like 257 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 6: me heading a conservation organization. So under the opportunity category, 258 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 6: we've really tried to remind people of their conservation areas. 259 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 6: We have about a thousand conservation areas around this state, 260 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 6: about a million acres that we manage. We're trying to 261 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 6: open our areas to new opportunities. Maybe you don't hunt 262 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 6: and fish, but maybe you like to bike, or bird, 263 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 6: or rock climb or do other things. We have a 264 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 6: brand new branch of the agency that is focused on 265 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 6: ensuring that we are relevant to new audiences and so 266 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 6: that's a generational thing, but it's also urban. Whatever your 267 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 6: background may be, we want you to see yourself as 268 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 6: the Missouri Department of Conservations serving you, and so we've 269 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 6: added new capacity there as well. We're focused on communities 270 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 6: that we'll call them underserved communities, because without the Department 271 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 6: Conservation coming to them, I'm not sure they would even 272 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 6: know we exist quite honestly, or would know the programs 273 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 6: and services. So we've really refocused our efforts on community 274 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 6: conservation as well. 275 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 5: So biggest challenges. 276 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 6: Probably in my tenure, as you noted just you know, 277 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 6: continued loss of habitat, decline and species. Missouri alone has 278 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 6: about seven hundred species that are in decline. You know, 279 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 6: there's at least twelve thousand nationwide increase in disease. You know, 280 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 6: certainly a disconnected society. So plenty of challenges face during 281 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 6: my tenure, but we have really tried to reinforce all 282 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,239 Speaker 6: of the opportunities and to re enforce all of the 283 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 6: benefits that conservation provides, not only for recreation, but I 284 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 6: would say for our very quality of life. So it is, 285 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 6: it has been daunting, but it has been such a 286 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 6: privilege to serve alongside my team here at the Missouri 287 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 6: Department of Conservation. 288 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 2: Wow, so on the access side of things, that's one 289 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 2: good story that made me think that we really need 290 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 2: to get you on the on the podcast. So I 291 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 2: want to hit that. But absolutely have to recognize the 292 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: challenges of how these game agencies that they're really started 293 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: as a game agency, the expectation is now to serve 294 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: these broader constituencies. And and then there's always this concern 295 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 2: of if we start to say this is for everybody, 296 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 2: are we going to lose the hunting and fishing part 297 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 2: if the other parts decide that they don't want that anymore? 298 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: So how does Missouri handle that so far? Like what 299 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 2: are the are there guardrails in place that say this 300 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 2: is first and foremost a game agency? Do you see 301 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: it as a threat. I'm piling this on you because 302 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: I know you can handle it, But do you. 303 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 3: See this as is it a threat. 304 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: To fish and wildlife management and the continuation of the 305 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 2: hunting and fishing of species that we've enjoyed by serving 306 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 2: non hunting and fishing recreation interests. 307 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 6: So cal that's probably not a new question opposed to me, 308 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 6: And so I'm not sure how much time you have, 309 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 6: but I'll try to hit some high points on that one. 310 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 6: You know, first of all, I'm going to go back 311 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 6: to our history and our mission. You know, even back 312 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 6: in the nineteen thirties, certainly the first focus of our 313 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 6: first director. 314 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 5: It body longest serving director. 315 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 6: I think he served like at least fifteen years. But 316 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 6: though his first focus was absolutely game, species if you 317 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 6: go back to the original records of who those citizens 318 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 6: were who brought about proposition for that turned into Amendment for, 319 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 6: it was all sorts of people. It was certainly sportsmen 320 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 6: and women, but it was also members of garden clubs 321 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 6: in Saint Louis and Kansas City. It was a pretty 322 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 6: wide swath of constituencies that understood that if an agency 323 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 6: could really be more independent than the existing agency, and 324 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 6: had the law enforcement, had the science, had a little 325 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 6: bit of the autonomy to make the right decisions to 326 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,959 Speaker 6: ensure sustainable of fish and wildlife and forest for us 327 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,640 Speaker 6: forced resources in the state, then that would benefit all Missourians. 328 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 6: And so I'm going to tell you, even from the beginning, 329 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 6: our mission statement has probably been a little broader than 330 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 6: many state fish and wildlife agencies, where we have focused 331 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 6: on sustainable and healthy populations and connecting people to those resources. 332 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 6: Then with the Design for Conservation in the seventies, that 333 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 6: promise to our citizenry in that campaign was really to 334 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 6: offer resources to a much broader constituency than we'd even 335 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 6: serve in the past. So the sales tax and large 336 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 6: part past because we were promising those in the urban 337 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 6: areas that they would have the opportunity for nature centers 338 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 6: and fishing, lake accesses and new trails. So I feel 339 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 6: like we've maybe had a longer go at this at 340 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 6: serving a broader array of constituencies. Now it's you know, 341 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 6: I think it's easy to kind of get in that 342 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 6: binary discussion of hunting and fishing or and you and 343 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 6: I know that those aren't the options. They're not the 344 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 6: only options. So we say, do we want to broaden 345 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 6: the tent? We do, and in part to ensure that 346 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 6: a citizenry understands the value of hunting and fishing. If 347 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 6: we have a citizenry that doesn't even know the name 348 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 6: of the Department of Conservation, doesn't even know that we 349 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 6: provide opportunities for people to hunt and fish, how in 350 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 6: the world are they going to support hunting and fishing 351 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 6: into the future, let alone other conservation related causes that 352 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 6: we want them to support. So, for us, the biggest 353 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 6: concern is a disengaged citizenry that doesn't even understand or 354 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 6: know or care. That's the biggest concern for us. And 355 00:22:57,720 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 6: so we are a yes, and do we want to 356 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 6: continue to provide ample opportunities for our hunters and anglers 357 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 6: you bet. 358 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 5: They are our first there. 359 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,360 Speaker 6: It's like our first born there are you know, there 360 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 6: are traditional stakeholders and we care about them deeply. But 361 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 6: what we need to understand is in order to protect 362 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 6: what they love and care about, they've got ensure we've 363 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 6: all got ensure that the citizenry cares about what they 364 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 6: care about. So that is a big step for us 365 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 6: to get in. I guess my more detailed response is 366 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 6: on each of our conservation areas, we have an area 367 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 6: plan and area priorities. So if an area was intended 368 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 6: to be primarily a waterfowl area, then we're going to 369 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 6: protect that use as a primary use. Then if we 370 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 6: want burners and others to come along, they'll be you know, 371 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 6: there'll be a secondary We still want them to see 372 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 6: it as their area. We still want them to benefit 373 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 6: from that, but we try to ensure that our uses 374 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,719 Speaker 6: really minimize those conflict of uses, and so sometimes it 375 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 6: means establishing primary uses on our areas. Now another conservation area, 376 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 6: the primary use may be critical habitat for species in 377 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:17,239 Speaker 6: decline or at least a portion of that area, but 378 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 6: that's the importance of area planning, so we know if 379 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 6: the primary use is hunting or fishing. Then we do 380 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 6: everything we can to protect that as a primary use 381 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 6: during the appropriate seasons, but that we don't shut the 382 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,199 Speaker 6: rest of the public out to that helps support that 383 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 6: area well. 384 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 2: First of all, bin areas is very hip right now. 385 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: We need to be able to put our groups in 386 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: tidy little boxes. But I think that was a fantastic 387 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 2: response because out here in the West, you may identify 388 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 2: more as a mountain biker. 389 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 3: But you also ski, you also hike. 390 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 2: You also probably have a family dog, and if you're 391 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 2: not hunting, you probably have somebody who at least gives 392 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 2: you some elk meat during that time of year. 393 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 3: So it. 394 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: Is pretty comical when we get very defensive of the 395 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: borders that we put around people. Right Furthermore, when you're 396 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 2: doing habitat work because you want to shoot a quail 397 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 2: or a pheasant out of that habitat that's only a 398 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 2: small part of the year, and if you're doing the 399 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 2: habitat work correctly, it supports a lot more life than 400 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 2: just the quail in the pheasant, And that's messaging that 401 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 2: we need to make sure people understand too. 402 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 6: Absolutely cal Maybe one other thing I want to mention 403 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 6: just about Missouri in the Midwest, perhaps it's a bit 404 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,960 Speaker 6: different than the Western states, and that is just a Missouri. 405 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 6: Ninety three percent of our lands are in private land ownership, 406 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 6: so we cannot accomplish anything really. I mean, we've got 407 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 6: a footprint of a million acres and there's some additional 408 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 6: public land here. But if we're going to be successful 409 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 6: at all, we have to have the support of our 410 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 6: private landowners and always have and so even with the 411 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 6: creation of the department, really one of the first areas 412 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 6: that was focused on was our private land work. I 413 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 6: think we're one of the few state fishal life agencies 414 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 6: that has an entire branch of private land specialists who 415 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 6: really focus on that engagement relationship with our private landowners. 416 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 6: But we spend a lot of time and effort focusing 417 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 6: on private land cost share, technical assistance. But that also 418 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 6: then goes to our capacity internally, where we have a 419 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 6: pretty healthy social science group of folks who I think 420 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 6: are very first social scientists for State Ficial Life Agency 421 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 6: was with the Missouri Department of Conservation doctor Dan Whitter 422 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 6: back in the late nineteen seventies. Because back to that 423 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 6: founding of the of the agency by the citizen ry. 424 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 5: It's been always. 425 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 6: Important for us to ensure that we are hearing from 426 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 6: our public. Often over two hundred thousand surveys a year 427 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 6: go out to republic. We do a Conservation Monitor, which 428 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 6: is a quarterly survey of random Missourians to ensure that they, 429 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 6: you know, that we are being successful in maintaining the 430 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 6: public trust. So I think I just want to ensure 431 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 6: that you hear from me. Gauging the public's interests. Gauging 432 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 6: the public's attitudes, whether it's about a wildlife regulation or 433 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 6: about an area, has been a key part of our formula. 434 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely hear you loud and clear, there's our wildlife doesn't 435 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 2: understand that they can't cross the three strand barbed wire fence. 436 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 2: Would you would you like to talk about Swan Lake refuge. 437 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: I know that's a federal refuge, but I hear that 438 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 2: you were very helpful in getting the hunt program over there, 439 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 2: that the area of public hunting back up and running right. 440 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 5: So I think. 441 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,239 Speaker 6: One of my roles is to make sure that we 442 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 6: are communicating with our colleagues and other state and federal agencies, 443 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 6: and so you know, I do think that was That's 444 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 6: why relationships are so key cal relationships are key in 445 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 6: your industry. They're key among you know, government to government. 446 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 6: And I will just say that I really appreciate the 447 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 6: responsiveness of the Fish and Wildlife Service, I think in 448 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 6: that situation. I know they certainly were limited and staffing capacity, 449 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 6: but it was important for the Fish Life Service higher 450 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 6: ups to understand just how important Swan Lake is to 451 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 6: our waterfowl hunters and and I really appreciate their responsiveness 452 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 6: in that instance. 453 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 4: Yeah. 454 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, interesting coalition there, because I had spoken with some 455 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 2: public land hunters through back country hunters and anglers, and 456 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 2: then on the other side of the fence, I spoke 457 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 2: with Tony vandmore a habitat flat which is you know, 458 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 2: world famous private outfitter and in a pretty darn good 459 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 2: size private land footprint, and you could see how your 460 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 2: public hunters and your your private hunters could not align on. 461 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 3: Odd some of this. 462 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 5: Sorry about that. 463 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 3: I have one that is the exact same. 464 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 6: Eight months old, and he was told to stay in 465 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 6: the other part of the house and he found a 466 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 6: way in. 467 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 3: So I fought that's great. 468 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 2: Yes, for those who can't see it, Sarah was just 469 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 2: a viciously attacked by her black lab it's a good, 470 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 2: good looking bird dog from what I can see. But 471 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 2: on this access issue, it was a pretty good overlap 472 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 2: of interests that wanted the same thing. So the public 473 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: hunting program, due to a lack of funding, was shut 474 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 2: down at Swan Lake Refuge. The public folks wanted to 475 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 2: be out there physically hunting it, and some of the 476 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 2: private uh, you know, generational hunting, recreational properties, plus the 477 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 2: outfitting properties wanted it open as well because they want 478 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 2: people to have places to go and it helps move 479 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 2: some birds around on on days when they need a 480 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 2: little bump. So I thought that was that was a 481 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 2: pretty good little project that we could point to for again, 482 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: as you pointed out, it's not always buying area, It's 483 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 2: not not always one way or the other. 484 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 3: So that was. 485 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 6: Again absolutely and you know, it probably is also an 486 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 6: example and a little bit of defense of the official 487 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 6: Live Service because I understand where they're at where with 488 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 6: you know, we still have limited resources, and there's something 489 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 6: about you know, infrastructure in uh, infrastructure that depends upon 490 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 6: mother nature. We spend more time trying to resurrect infrastructure 491 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 6: in floodplains or maintain infrastructure in our waterfowl areas hatcheries. 492 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 6: We spend a big chunk of change just trying to 493 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 6: maintain those opportunities, and sometimes mother nature wins out. I'm 494 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 6: thinking of a couple of areas that we have fought 495 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 6: repeated floods and we finally said, okay, maybe we need 496 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 6: to recognize mother nature wins in this case and rethink 497 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 6: how we offer those opportunities. So you know, it's it's 498 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,680 Speaker 6: never perfect, but I will say what I appreciate about 499 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 6: backcountry hunters and anglers and Ducks Unlimited and other organizations 500 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 6: is you know, when we all can come together and 501 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 6: identify where we have that shared priority, a lot can happen. 502 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and thank you for bringing up Ducks Unlimited as well. 503 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 2: I believe they had ten million dollars into some habitat 504 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 2: restoration and I think some blind work there at Swan Lake. 505 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 2: So definitely a key player. And then do you do 506 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 2: some hunting, you said. 507 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 6: I'm an avid turkey hunter of an avid angler. I 508 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 6: think I mentioned to you my husband's been a professional 509 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 6: best fisherman for more than thirty years and headed to 510 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 6: the to the snow goose. 511 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 5: Blind here in a little while. 512 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 6: So yeah, when I absolutely I wouldn't be in this 513 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 6: business for over thirty years if I am. I am a 514 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 6: bow hunter as well do the traditional things here in Missouri, 515 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 6: but we are blessed with a diversity of opportunity. 516 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 3: And is that going to be ramping up for you 517 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 3: now that uh is season? 518 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 6: That is I'm trying to finish my World Slam turkey wise, 519 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 6: so headed to Mexico right about my departure time, and 520 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 6: you better believe it's gonna ramp up. 521 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 5: It's going to ramp up everybody. I You know, I've. 522 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 6: Seen who's retired from the Department of Conservation, you know, 523 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 6: a few months out. They look about twenty years younger 524 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 6: because they've been spending time afield and away from the office. 525 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 5: So I'm hoping the same outcome for me. 526 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: Oh that's fantastic. Uh do you do joint to talk turkey? 527 00:33:59,640 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 5: Sure? 528 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 2: So Missouri just changed their turkey regulations and it's a 529 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 2: big talking point. From stepping foot into Rogers Sporting Goods 530 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 2: there to hanging out with Tony for a few days 531 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:19,839 Speaker 2: and everybody wants to know why the big change in 532 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 2: turkey regulations in Missouri. 533 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:28,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, so nothing like talking turkey. 534 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 6: Yeah, on the show me state where we care deeply 535 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:34,360 Speaker 6: about our turkey population. 536 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 5: And you know, probably none more than than me. 537 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 6: I care a lot about sustaining healthy populations into the future. 538 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:46,720 Speaker 5: You know, this is something. 539 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:48,920 Speaker 6: First of all, I will tell you that we've got 540 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 6: just a top notch regulations committee. It's chaired by one 541 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 6: of my deputy directors, Jason Sumners. 542 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 5: Who. 543 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 6: Certainly is is regionally an actionally known as an amazing 544 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 6: biologist and just a great leader in the conservation space. 545 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 6: He chairs our regulations committee. And so this really had 546 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 6: been a while in the consideration. 547 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:14,480 Speaker 5: I mean, I will tell you. 548 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 6: All day turkey season is a hot topic internally and externally, 549 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:23,359 Speaker 6: and as long as I've been at the department, you 550 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 6: want to throw out an issue with our staff that 551 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 6: passionate people on both sides of that discussion, and the 552 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:37,560 Speaker 6: same thing externally of can our populations really sustain the 553 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 6: added opportunity? 554 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 5: And so. 555 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:46,279 Speaker 2: And I'm sorry, Sarah, can I just to succinctly put this, 556 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 2: and I should have done this at the beginning here, 557 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 2: But we're moving from and we is Missouri is moving 558 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:58,360 Speaker 2: from more of a conservative set of hunting regulations for 559 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 2: turkeys to a more liberal all set of regulations for turkeys, 560 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 2: and would you mind just defining that so our non 561 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 2: Missourians know what we're talking about. 562 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 6: Cal you say, we've gone from a conservative model to 563 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 6: a more liberal model, and so I would maybe beg 564 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:18,279 Speaker 6: to redefine that just a little bit. Missouri's always had, 565 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 6: I think, a pretty conservative model, and I would say 566 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:25,400 Speaker 6: we still have a pretty conservative model. But what we 567 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 6: have done is, you know, we've kept the season the 568 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:33,440 Speaker 6: same in the spring. We've kept the total bag limit 569 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:37,800 Speaker 6: the same. It's just we've gone from a one o'clock 570 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,560 Speaker 6: on private land only, from a one o'clock stop time 571 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 6: to an all day season on private land only. 572 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:46,879 Speaker 5: So it's still a one o'clock stop time on public land. 573 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 6: So as our brilliant scientists have modeled and modeled and 574 00:36:52,360 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 6: modeled and calculated, they really believe strongly that the East 575 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 6: opportunity and the spirit of relevancy and the spirit of recruiting, retaining, 576 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 6: reactivating hunters in everything that we talked about at the 577 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:14,359 Speaker 6: beginning of how do we ensure this next generation is 578 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 6: engaged in the out of doors, including and hunting. Had 579 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,160 Speaker 6: we heard from a lot of our stakeholders that you know, 580 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:26,479 Speaker 6: they're kiddos. You know, yes, the retirees could get out there, 581 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 6: and you know some adults could get out there. But 582 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,719 Speaker 6: if we're really focused on this next generation, that the 583 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:39,360 Speaker 6: one o'clock stop time was a barrier. And so after 584 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 6: a lot of really discussing with our scientific team and 585 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:53,359 Speaker 6: modeling that they do not believe that adding the all 586 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 6: day component on private land is going to have an 587 00:37:57,360 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 6: impact on populations at. 588 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 5: This same time in the fall. 589 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 6: Whereas prior, if you were both an archer, if you 590 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:12,720 Speaker 6: participate in archery and in the fall firearms turkey season, 591 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:17,919 Speaker 6: you could get to it with archery to birds either 592 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 6: sex with archery, and two in the gun season. So 593 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 6: potentially it was a very small population that actually harvests four, 594 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 6: but it was still a possibility. We did limit that 595 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:35,919 Speaker 6: to two birds in total. So regardless of method, whether 596 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:41,960 Speaker 6: you're bow hunting, whether you're firearm hunting, you have a 597 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,080 Speaker 6: total of two birds you can take in the fall. 598 00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 6: So in some cases we became you know, a little 599 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:54,280 Speaker 6: more prescriptive or conservative fall season in which either sex 600 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,919 Speaker 6: can be harvested. So I believe it was a very 601 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:01,760 Speaker 6: balanced approach. As you may know, Missouri does a lot 602 00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 6: of turkey research. Certainly, in partnership with n WTF and 603 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,960 Speaker 6: other partners, we do a lot of turkey research. We've 604 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,680 Speaker 6: got I think three different turkey research projects going on 605 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 6: right now, and we certainly would do nothing in the 606 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:17,840 Speaker 6: way of changing regulations that we think would negatively impact 607 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:22,359 Speaker 6: populations of our wild turkey. But you can imagine that 608 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 6: we will stay very focused on how any changes to 609 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:30,600 Speaker 6: regulations might impact the populations, and if we see an 610 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:35,640 Speaker 6: impact that we have concerned about, then we'll certainly change 611 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 6: the regulation back. 612 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,120 Speaker 5: But I do think this we found a sweet spot. 613 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:44,560 Speaker 6: Here where we are at least allowing not an extension 614 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,840 Speaker 6: of the season or an increase in bag limit, just 615 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 6: the opportunity for all day on private land will be 616 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 6: more conservative in the fall. 617 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 5: So we think we found a sweet spot. 618 00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,840 Speaker 6: But you can be sued we will be vigilant in 619 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:02,920 Speaker 6: in determining any potential impacts. 620 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:06,440 Speaker 2: I get the impression that this is a hotter topic 621 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 2: than chronic disease in Missouri. 622 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 6: Oh. Chronic waste and disease is also hot, especially if 623 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:17,279 Speaker 6: you're in one of the core areas. But well, you 624 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:20,720 Speaker 6: know what I've I've always said, cal is I would 625 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 6: much rather have a passionate public that we may disagree 626 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:31,480 Speaker 6: with than a disinterested public. So bring on the passionate 627 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:36,080 Speaker 6: constituents who feel who have very different opinions on different topics. 628 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 5: I'll take that any day. 629 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:39,360 Speaker 3: That's fantastic. 630 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 2: And or do you have any passionate topics that you're 631 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:47,360 Speaker 2: going to stay on top of here in retirement. You 632 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,600 Speaker 2: said you are going to be joining a few boards 633 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 2: or working with different conservation groups. 634 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:57,360 Speaker 6: Maybe I will be staying engaged with a couple of 635 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,520 Speaker 6: boards at the national level. And you know, again R 636 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,239 Speaker 6: three is an important topic for me, ensuring that we 637 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 6: are doing everything we can to protect our hunting heritage, 638 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:14,640 Speaker 6: and still will stay engaged there. You know, there are 639 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:17,160 Speaker 6: a lot of topics that are of interest to me, 640 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 6: and I think one of them too, is just in 641 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 6: the spirit of relevancy. We started this discussion cal we're 642 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:25,320 Speaker 6: kind of talking about wildlife. 643 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 5: Disease and. 644 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:29,600 Speaker 6: What's happening to nature, And I would say, what's happening 645 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 6: to nature is probably akin to what's happening to us, 646 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:36,399 Speaker 6: right is just we see that it really is as 647 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:39,120 Speaker 6: our public becomes more and more unhealthy, it's kind of 648 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:42,880 Speaker 6: reflective of nature too. And yet I know that, you know, 649 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:46,120 Speaker 6: quality of life means that we're all thriving, that we're 650 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 6: all flourishing, that our resources are flourishing, that our people 651 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,759 Speaker 6: are flourishing, the environment's flourishing, and so that connection, it 652 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:57,000 Speaker 6: kind of goes back to Leopold's land ethic of how 653 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:00,279 Speaker 6: do we better understand this interconnection between all of us 654 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 6: and ensure that we are starting the land and our 655 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:07,439 Speaker 6: resources in the way we should and it probably leads 656 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 6: to us taking better care of ourselves as well. But 657 00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:13,239 Speaker 6: that interconnection, in that spirit of the land ethic, it's 658 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:18,200 Speaker 6: certainly a passionate topic of mine. And however, I figure 659 00:42:18,239 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 6: out a way to ensure that my voices continued to 660 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:26,279 Speaker 6: be heard and continue to exert effort and focus where 661 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 6: I can. 662 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 2: That's great, great to hear if you wanted to point 663 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 2: anyone in Missouri into areas where their voices could be heard. 664 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:42,319 Speaker 2: What is the best way to be involved in conservation 665 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:43,799 Speaker 2: in the state of Missouri? 666 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,279 Speaker 6: You know, I think one of them is the Conservation 667 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:50,840 Speaker 6: Federation of Missouri. And so we talked about our founding 668 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:55,399 Speaker 6: back in the nineteen thirties. It really was that organization, 669 00:42:55,640 --> 00:43:00,680 Speaker 6: the Conservation Federation in Missouri that was instrumental in bringing 670 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:03,600 Speaker 6: people together to create the agency that is still our 671 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:09,920 Speaker 6: umbrella organization here represents you know, hundreds of different organizations 672 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:14,040 Speaker 6: and members. But we're delighted that Backcountry Hunters and Anglers 673 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:18,360 Speaker 6: also has a chapter now and has involvement here in Missouri. 674 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,920 Speaker 6: And I think that just think the world of them 675 00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:26,000 Speaker 6: and just the whole grassroots focus of that organization. Obviously, 676 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:30,400 Speaker 6: I'm a big NWTF Nashwelle Turkey Federation, a fan and member. 677 00:43:31,239 --> 00:43:33,759 Speaker 6: Pheasants and Quail are very active here in Missouri. We 678 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:37,799 Speaker 6: care a lot about that organization, as we do other 679 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:43,240 Speaker 6: organizations as well. So lots of opportunity here to engage. 680 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:48,160 Speaker 2: All right, folks, That's all I got for you this week. Remember, 681 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,920 Speaker 2: come out to pheasant Fest and hang out with some 682 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:55,360 Speaker 2: of us, talk about conservation, hit up the public land stage, 683 00:43:55,480 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 2: lots of amazing people, fantastic dogs, and you get at 684 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:04,799 Speaker 2: rub shoulders with policymakers that are out there working on 685 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:08,760 Speaker 2: important things that affect all of us, like the farm bill. Plus, 686 00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:11,640 Speaker 2: it's just like a whole lot of fun supporting one 687 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:15,719 Speaker 2: of my all time favorite habitat organizations. The other question, 688 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,320 Speaker 2: I get a ton of is like, what group should 689 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:21,319 Speaker 2: I join? How do I get involved? Well, one thing 690 00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:25,879 Speaker 2: that PFQF that's Pheasants Forever Coil Forever does really really 691 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:30,800 Speaker 2: well is they bring in a ton of conservation groups 692 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:34,000 Speaker 2: from across the country, all under one big tent, so 693 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:38,720 Speaker 2: to speak. So at Pheasant Fest you can eat good food, 694 00:44:39,160 --> 00:44:43,040 Speaker 2: have some adult beverages if you like, You can learn 695 00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:45,799 Speaker 2: about a bunch of stuff, check out brand new gear 696 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:50,640 Speaker 2: from awesome brands, play with super cool dogs, and you 697 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:54,359 Speaker 2: can go talk face to face with people at all 698 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:58,040 Speaker 2: these different conservation organizations and sign up for the ones 699 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:00,239 Speaker 2: that you click with. That's all I got for you 700 00:45:00,239 --> 00:45:02,600 Speaker 2: this week. Thank you so much for listening, and remember 701 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 2: to write in to A s K C A L. 702 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 2: That's Ascal at the meeteater dot com and let me 703 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:08,880 Speaker 2: know what's going on in your neck of the woods.