1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: From Mediators World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's Weekend Review, presented by Steal 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 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal callahan. 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 2: Hey, special episode Cal's Week in Review. So before we 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: get to our special guests this week, I'm gonna want 7 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: to fill you in on my week, of course, and 8 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: my week actually a little more than a week was 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: spent in the frank Church Wilderness, which is a very 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: special place to man no surprise to all of you 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: if you're a longtime listener. It's also my birthday trip 12 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: right so turned forty one in there this year, pounded 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: the joints and lost at least a lot of water weight. 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 2: Difficult conditions this year, real rainy, real warm, kind of 15 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 2: the way it is across a lot of the West 16 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: right now, so we don't have those cold temps and 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: the deep snow that really move the deer around. We 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 2: did see a lot of deer, and one of the 19 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: interesting observations that I had was that despite finding lots 20 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: of old deer, big old guts, kind of dented in 21 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: hips horse faces, they had less impressive racks than the 22 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: younger bucks, which was really interesting to me. So I 23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: was wanted to reach out to some biologists, but at 24 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 2: first I thought I'd throw it out on this show 25 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: as to does that make sense for deer that winter 26 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 2: in the same area to have that much disparity. 27 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 3: It's a great grass. 28 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: Season, but that winter season could it affect an age 29 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: class more than another age class? I assume I know 30 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: the answer to that. But in this case, you have 31 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: young deer and old deer wintering in the same spot. 32 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: Old deer do not put on very pressive horn growth 33 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: or antler growth. Young deer did, and then there they 34 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: are living side by side, old deer, tiny horns, antlers 35 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 2: pushing around young deer. So that was one thing that 36 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: we had to deal with. Another thing that we had 37 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 2: to deal with was, ah, this is a rant. Okay, 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: it's just a rant warning for everybody. Came across a 39 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 2: dirty campsite in the wilderness Capitol, w dirty ass, gross campsite. 40 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: I picked up latex gloves. I picked up you know, 41 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: like the really tough bathroom tissue, like wet white type 42 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 2: stuff that doesn't biote grade. Lots and lots of partially 43 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: burned peak ref fuel, backcountry meals, and it's just heartbreaking, 44 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: Like this is a well off the beaten path, tough 45 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 2: spot to get to, doesn't really make sense for stock. 46 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 2: It is remote, and it is in just exemplary, unbelievable 47 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: mule deer country. You can't write up better mule deer country. 48 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: It is absolutely wonderful. Again, Christine and some piggies came 49 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: in there, camped and they were so badass that they 50 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: couldn't pack out trash, little bits of trash. And keep 51 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: in mind, this is the frank Church, right there's no 52 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: grizzly bears, which is the only time I kind of 53 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 2: give the green light to just burning trash in the 54 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 2: back country. But then you pack out, You sift through 55 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: and pack out your ashes. That's the only way to 56 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: do it. There is literally no excuse for this. There 57 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: is no excuse whatsoever. I don't care if it's a 58 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: hunt of a lifetime kid dying of cancer, and you know, 59 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: a medical emergency situation, like you pack out your trash. 60 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 2: If you got your tense out of there, you got 61 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: yourself out of there, you pack your freaking trash out 62 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: of there. This is like just the absolute most disgusting 63 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: human behavior. It deeply affects me. It is horrible, horrible. 64 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 3: Horrible behavior. 65 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 2: Good news is And this might be premature, but because 66 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 2: I picked up latex gloves and I need your help, 67 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: audience members, I want you to reach out to all 68 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 2: your friends in law enforcement and see if it were 69 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: possible to get DNA out of the inside of an 70 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: old latex glove. And then we're gonna find these people 71 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 2: and we're gonna have a nice public shaming shame, which 72 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: is less than they deserve shame shame in these cases. 73 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: I am very much pro capital punishment, and that's what 74 00:04:54,080 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: they deserve, a public capital punishment, some physical abuse plus shaming, 75 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 2: and then maybe like a mountain of trash then gets 76 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: dumped on their yard and stadium seating set up around it, 77 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: and we all get to watch them pick up trash, 78 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: and then we get to go through and find like 79 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 2: the micro trash and the grass and be like, huh, 80 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: here's a piece. Oh, there's a piece. You guys get 81 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 2: what I'm saying, So right in as k c al 82 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: Askcal at the meat eater dot Com, and let's see 83 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: if we can't identify these little piggies. Huh, backcountry abusers, disgusting. 84 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: Another thing that happened in there, I did shoot a deer. 85 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 2: It was kind of a case of mistaken identity. Let's say, 86 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: I can't say it's a bad deer. Every deer is 87 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: a great deer. It's just not what I really went 88 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 2: in there for. But in situations like this, the words 89 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: of the outfitter ring clear in my mind when he 90 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: would say, Pard, that old boy deserves better than that. 91 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,239 Speaker 2: And he's right. So I probably packed out a small 92 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 2: mule deer buck way too far through lots lots of 93 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: elevation changes, and a lot of that country is just 94 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: straight up and down. And I'm packing this buck straight. 95 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: Up this mountain. 96 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: It's about seven point thirty at night. It's the first 97 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 2: like crystal clear night. 98 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 3: That we have. 99 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: And I'm making these tiny little baby steps, right because 100 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: that's how you move a dead deer up a mountain. 101 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 3: Fact. I wrote a song about it. I'll share with 102 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 3: you later. 103 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: And I pause and turn my headlamp off and look around, 104 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: and three sixty view down to the tips of the 105 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 2: trees and the ridge lines and the mountains all the 106 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: way around me are stars. It's just as clear as 107 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: you could possibly see the stars. I was just surrounded, enveloped. 108 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: In fact, I did some hiking without the headlamp on, 109 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: which was not productive, but it was super pretty and 110 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: one of those experiences where you know you're in a 111 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: lot of pain, physical discomfort, you've exerted yourself heavily, and 112 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: you're trying to get home to your tent, but you 113 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: just can't help but stop and like, look at that scene, 114 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: those stars coming down to the mountain, and realize just 115 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: how darn and lucky you are, how fortunate you are 116 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: to be there. And I'm not going to go back 117 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 2: and talk about the pigs with the dirty campsite shitting 118 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,239 Speaker 2: up the place, because now I'm onto more positive things. 119 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: And you know, while I'm sitting there staring up at 120 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: the stars, I had this thought that if I were 121 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: to ever get abducted by an alien, it would be 122 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,679 Speaker 2: right then. And if I had the opportunity to ask 123 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: those folks as to why they chose me, I think 124 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: they would just say the same thing that I was 125 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: thinking about the stars, right, They'd be like, well, we 126 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: could just see you really well, you know, thoughts you 127 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: have on the mountain while packing out bucks, A little 128 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: taste of the song, I wrote, think of it like 129 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,559 Speaker 2: a music. How do you get a dead dear rep 130 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: of Moutain? Tiny little baby steps? What kind of steps? 131 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: Little baby steps? Tiny little baby steps, baby steps, baby steps. 132 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 2: Don't stop, walk gang, don't stop walk gang. If you stop, 133 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: you'll be here next spring. On anyway, shopping that one 134 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: out to some labels. 135 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 3: We'll see. 136 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: I'll keep you guys posted on that. 137 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 3: Okay, special edition. 138 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: Steve Windham, Michigan United Conservation Clubs mucc AS. I said 139 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: we were gonna have this series where we dip in 140 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: talk to conservation organizations across the country. Let you know 141 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: what's out there, sometimes that club that's right behind you 142 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: in the Mitten State, like the NUCC. So take a list, 143 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 2: enjoy and remember to write in to ask c Al 144 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: that's Askcal at the meeteater dot com and let me 145 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 2: know what's going on in your neck of the woods. 146 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: All right, we got another special edition of Cal's Week 147 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: in Review. As promised, we are going to occasionally reach 148 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 2: out to conservation groups, both state and national groups, international 149 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 2: groups based in conservation that you should be involved in, 150 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: or at least know why they exist and what projects 151 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: they're working on. Even though you buy your hunting and 152 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: fishing license. That's just not enough these days. And there's 153 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 2: people like our guest today is Steve Wyndham, who's out 154 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: there working even when you're not. It's like that's seven 155 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: eleven analogy. They may not be doing business, but they're 156 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: always open. So Steve, what does the MUCC do? 157 00:09:58,720 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 4: Yeah? 158 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 5: Thanks cal Michigan United Conservation Clubs or MUCC. We were 159 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 5: founded in nineteen thirty seven by a group of nineteen 160 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 5: conservation hook and bullet clubs that wanted to insulate our 161 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 5: natural resources policy away from political agendas and the changing 162 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 5: whims of Lancing. Since our founding, for over eighty six 163 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 5: years now, we've united people to conserve, protect, and enhance 164 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 5: our natural resources, outdoor heritage. We've got four main pillars 165 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 5: of education, communication, policy, and habitat and so we're the 166 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 5: leading conservation organization in Michigan, which is nonspeciated. So we're 167 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 5: covering everything and making sure that everybody has an outlet 168 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 5: to have their voice heard in Lancing, but also get 169 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 5: hands on with conservation to some of our public land work, 170 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 5: you know, make sure that next generation of students falls 171 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 5: in love with the outdoors to are youth camp that 172 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 5: we run as well, but also making sure you're up 173 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 5: to date and know where when there are things happening 174 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 5: that affect your outdoor heritage, your ability to hunt, fish, trap, shoot, 175 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 5: recreate here in Michigan. 176 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 4: So mucc's leading conservation organization we bring together. 177 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 5: They're over two hundred different conservation clubs from around the 178 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 5: state as well as we have our individual membership opportunities. 179 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 4: So just like a Ducks Unlimited or an MDA, you 180 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 4: can sign up as. 181 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 5: An individual member if you're not part of a local 182 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 5: conservation club or hook and bullet club or shooting range 183 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 5: that is part of the MUCC already. So we're able 184 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 5: to represent every average conservationist out there across the state 185 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 5: of Michigan, from the west side of the up down 186 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 5: to the southwest corner of the Southeast corner. If there's 187 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 5: conservation issues, their natural resources issues going on in the state, 188 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 5: we're usually leading the fight and making sure that everybody 189 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 5: is aware, up to date, has an opportunity to give 190 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 5: back to the land, but also instill the outdoor heritage 191 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 5: of the next generation. 192 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 4: We offer education. 193 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 5: Opportunities, women's learn to hunt programs, family fishing days, as 194 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 5: well as our policy work, which is really our bread 195 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 5: and butter, and lansing Michigan, which is our capital, to 196 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 5: make sure that we don't lose certain seasons, method of take, 197 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 5: or even be able to name new game species hopefully 198 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 5: in the future with some of the projects that we're 199 00:11:58,360 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 5: working on. 200 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 2: If you're a member of one of these two hundred 201 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 2: plus hook and Bullet Conservation clubs in the state, how 202 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,239 Speaker 2: would you be aware of MUCC. 203 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 5: Yeah, So the clubs affiliate with us and then they 204 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 5: get daily, well weekly communications from MUCC, so all the 205 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 5: members of their club will get the information that we 206 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 5: disseminate through our email system, through our website, through our 207 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 5: text alerts and call to action. So those clubs submit 208 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 5: a roster to us and we get that information, we 209 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 5: add them into our database, and we make sure that 210 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 5: they're updated and aware. So we're actually representing over forty 211 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 5: thousand outdoors men and outdoors women here in Michigan. And 212 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 5: so if you had, you know, to be able to 213 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 5: speak up and have a voice, it's really powerful throughout 214 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 5: the state. 215 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 2: So does that imply that like MUCC is lobbying on 216 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 2: behalf of these groups or are you just getting information 217 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: out to the individual clubs. 218 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, we actually have legislative priorities and we're lobbying on 219 00:12:58,120 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 5: behalf of some of the issues. So the great thing 220 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 5: about UCC in the structure that we have is that 221 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 5: every member is able to submit a resolution to our 222 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 5: Conservation Policy Board. It's a group of forty people throughout 223 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 5: the state that review and vet the resolutions, and so 224 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 5: our policy and legislative issues are set by our membership. 225 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 5: We have an annual convention every year where we come 226 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 5: together and vote on these resolutions. They're vetted through the 227 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 5: Conservation Policy Board before they get to the convention. 228 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 4: But we're doing this because there's somebody in the up 229 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 4: who sees an issue. 230 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 5: There's somebody in the northeast corner of the Lower Peninsula 231 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 5: season issue, and so our membership brings forward these issues. 232 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 5: Like back in the early two thousands, we changed the 233 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 5: law to allow you and I to decide when young 234 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 5: people get to join us in the field. So when 235 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 5: I was a kid growing up in Michigan, you had 236 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 5: to be twelve years old to take your hunter safety class. 237 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 4: You had to be fourteen years old to carry a rifle. 238 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 5: And now because MUCC we had a member who is 239 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 5: an electrician out of Door, Michigan, south of Grand Rapids. 240 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 5: He wanted to choose when he took young people into 241 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 5: the woods when they were ready and not. 242 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 4: They had the state choose that for him. 243 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: And Door mission again. He had a lot of political 244 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 2: clout and power right. 245 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 5: Tons tons in that town of a one stoplight. But 246 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 5: it's a great place to have something bubble up from 247 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 5: an outdoorsman who said, I want to change this. He 248 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 5: brought it to MUCC the first time that convention had 249 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 5: actually failed. He talked to some people, came back, got 250 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 5: more information that passed unanimously, and then we went to work. 251 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 5: NUCC did to change the law, and that guy from Door, Michigan, 252 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 5: who's actually our vice president of our board of directors 253 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 5: right now, he got to go to a bill signing 254 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 5: with the governor and change the law that now we 255 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 5: have a youth mentor license in Michigan. We have an 256 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 5: apprentice license and then you have to move on and 257 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 5: get a hundred safety certified after so long, but my 258 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 5: three children, I have a thirteen, a ten year old, 259 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 5: and a six year old. All of my kids have 260 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 5: used that mentor youth license and they were using it 261 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 5: before I was even aware of MUCC myself. So we're 262 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 5: able to have grassroots policy come from our membership get 263 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 5: vetted by those who are really in the know. We 264 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 5: work with the DNR and they're biologists. They're always able 265 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 5: to see what resolutions we're working on, and then they 266 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 5: come to our convention and that sets our legislative priorities, 267 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 5: which this year we had a bill that was criminalizing 268 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 5: non reporting of your dear harvest. 269 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 4: Now we believe in the reporting of it. 270 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 5: We're neutral on the reporting aspect, but we shouldn't be 271 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 5: criminalized if you forget to do it, or if your 272 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 5: app's not working in the back country or you run 273 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 5: out of time. So we actually won that we got 274 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 5: to decriminalize. We're working on a minornizing a commercial fishing 275 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 5: bill right now. We're working with a lot of different 276 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 5: things that are making sure that the state and our 277 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 5: natural resources are protected for generations to come. 278 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 3: Excellent. 279 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, just so everybody's aware. Steve has been a very 280 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 2: consistent participant in the Weekend Review. He's always been on 281 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: top of sending in Michigan issues and we appreciate that 282 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: that's the way things are supposed to work. But one 283 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: of these issues has come up recently on commercial fishing. 284 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: We've covered it on the podcast for those who don't know. 285 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: In the state of Michigan and several of the greatly 286 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: great Lake states, there are commercial fisheries for freshwater fish, 287 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 2: walleye being arguably the most famous or maybe most political, 288 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: and the Lake Sperior whitefish would be another one. But Steve, 289 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 2: why don't you tell us what's going on there and 290 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: how that works. 291 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 292 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 5: House Bill fifty one eight is the bill we're talking 293 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 5: about in Michigan. The legislator is I think done for 294 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 5: the year, so it doesn't seem it's going to move 295 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 5: before the new legislative legislative session comes in in twenty 296 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 5: twenty four. But essentially, this bill would allow commercial harvest 297 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 5: of walleye perch and some other of our game fish 298 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 5: SPCs through gilnetting. And it's not something that we believe 299 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 5: is beneficial to anyone. We had a bill like this 300 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 5: come up many many years ago, and we were able 301 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 5: to knock it back then. We have a bill, like 302 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 5: I said, that actually wants to modernize the commercial fishing 303 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 5: industry and not this fifty one O eight that really 304 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 5: would be detrimental to the entire stock and fishery of 305 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 5: the Great Lakes. There's some you know, miscalculations around the 306 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 5: reporting and how often gilnetts have to be in the water. 307 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 5: We want to make sure that we're not allowing fish 308 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 5: that are stocked and reared with you know, licensed dollars 309 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 5: to be taken at commercial benefit for the commercial industry. 310 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 4: And so we are definitely on in tune. 311 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 5: With what the industry could need and it could benefit from, 312 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 5: but we are also fighting back against the fact that 313 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 5: we are not allowing them to take our game fish species. 314 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 5: When we sent the actional alert out here in Michigan, 315 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 5: we sent over fifty seven thousand emails to legislators, and 316 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 5: we actually had some of the sponsors, after our legislative 317 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 5: meetings with them, stepped down and remove their name from 318 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 5: the bill after we were able to educate them and 319 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 5: help them understand what this bill could potentially do to 320 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 5: our fisheries. 321 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 2: Sure, and let's not just skip over the easy layup 322 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 2: of a double dipping fishing on tundra type of joke 323 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: there too, right, So, licensed dollars are paying for fish 324 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 2: hatcheries to get opportunities on the ends of lines for 325 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 2: anglers out there should those same dollars support individuals or 326 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 2: companies that are then taking those public funds in the 327 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: form of fish and they get to then sell those 328 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 2: back to folks across the country, or at least they're 329 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 2: in the Great Lakes area, right, It's a it's an 330 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: interesting question. 331 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, we monitored all the Great Lakes. 332 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 5: You know, we're working to fight the algae booms in 333 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 5: Lake Eeary to make sure that the fisheries are healthy 334 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 5: all over. We were in a Mekai in the Great 335 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 5: Lakes consent decree, which you guys covered as well on 336 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 5: the podcast, to make sure that you know, there's not 337 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 5: gilnets reintroduced into some fisheries around the Great Lakes. 338 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 4: They haven't seen them in forty years. So there's lots 339 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 4: going on with the Great Lakes right now. 340 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 5: We're happy and proud to be kind of leading most 341 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 5: of the fights with some of our partners like Coalition 342 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 5: to Protect Michigan's Resources and some of the Charterble Associations 343 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 5: and fishing associations that really stepped up to make sure 344 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 5: that we're you know, we're doing right by our fisheries 345 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 5: and our natural resources. 346 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 2: And I hope i'm not putting my foot in my 347 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 2: mouth here, Steve. But it's a great thing to bring 348 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 2: up because there was an additional opportunity added to Michigan 349 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: fishing recently in the form of spearfishing. So I'm not 350 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 2: sure how muc C weighed in on that, but. 351 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, we we help with that too. 352 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 5: So Jonathan Dirka a great guy who kind of helped 353 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 5: bring it up, a member of ours at NUCC with 354 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 5: the Michigan Spearfishing Association, love filing his stuff on Instagram 355 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 5: to see him down under the water getting walleye through spearfishing. 356 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 5: So another new opportunity that NUCC had a hand in 357 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 5: to make sure that we can you know, our membership 358 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 5: is really getting done what they want us to get done. 359 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, And I think it's just a great example 360 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 2: for the nation too, right, Like, here's an additional opportunity 361 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 2: that we can throw in there and kind of celebrate 362 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: amongst the talk of losing opportunities for other species or 363 00:19:54,880 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 2: potentially losing opportunities for other species. How much is membership 364 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 2: for MUCC. 365 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, so muccs right on standard with most of the 366 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 5: other national organizations. But when you join with us, you 367 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 5: can know that Michigan work is getting done in the 368 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 5: Great Lakes, you know, at the heart of the Great Lakes. 369 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 4: We're getting everything done here. 370 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 5: It's thirty five dollars for one year or sixty dollars 371 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 5: for a two year. With that membership, you're going to 372 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 5: get all of our communications, our week our bi weekly 373 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 5: Conservation Insider, our OTG Are on the Ground program newsletter. 374 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 5: You're going to get our magazine, which is quarterly. It's 375 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 5: Michigan's premier outdoor journal. Michigan Outdoors Magazine tells all the 376 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 5: great stories of hunters and anglers and trappers and all 377 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 5: of our outdoor recreation shooting in the state of Michigan. 378 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 5: You're going to get digital access to the website as 379 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 5: well as camp registration opportunities to get your kids to 380 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 5: our summer camp as well as get outdoors for our 381 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 5: volunteer programs that take place on public land, like the 382 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 5: one we did with Mark Kenyon and his Working for 383 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 5: Wildlife tour. We do all kinds of public land work 384 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 5: throughout the year with you know, over twenty five events 385 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 5: around the state for all ages, from river cleanups to 386 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 5: treat planting and basive specie removal. Native dollinators in trees. 387 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 5: So you're gonna get connected into Michigan's conservation community. And 388 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 5: if you're looking to join a club too, we've got 389 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 5: over two hundred to refer you to. If you're looking 390 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 5: to join like Chelsea Rotten Gun Club or the you know, 391 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 5: North Ottawa ron and Gun Club, or any of our 392 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 5: all species conservation stuff, we can get connected to those two. 393 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 4: If you're looking to build out your community. 394 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 3: That's awesome. 395 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I like to remind folks that there's a 396 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 2: lot of retirees that are members of rotten gun clubs, 397 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 2: and retirees love to talk and if you're a good worker, 398 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 2: you can often come away with good hunting and fishing 399 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 2: spots by joining these rotten gun clubs. So yeah, yeah, 400 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 2: there's a lot of benefits to getting plugged into conservation work. 401 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 2: And you know that expanding the network in the community 402 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 2: is a is a big one obviously. So what would 403 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: be like the hallmark issues of m u c C 404 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 2: right now or possibly in the in the future. 405 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean right. 406 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 5: Now with our legislative priorities. As I said, there's the 407 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 5: commoditizing commercial fishing. We just got through a commercial guiding 408 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 5: bill that we just it's on the Governor's desk right 409 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 5: now to be signed. To really put some regulation around guiding. 410 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 5: We had a bunch of really reputable guides come to 411 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 5: us and say, hey, there's really no regulation in the 412 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 5: state of Michigan. So there's some things we've added to 413 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 5: make sure that our guides are able to provide top notch, 414 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 5: you know, customer service and that they're not just bad 415 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 5: actors out in the woods. Here in Michigan's people can 416 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 5: learn to live and enjoy our outdoor heritage like we do. 417 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 4: You know, we have people coming to the state. 418 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 5: Michigan has an eleven point two billion dollars hunting and 419 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 5: fishing industry, so we want to make sure that stays 420 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,880 Speaker 5: strong and keeps those jobs flowing. There's lots of great 421 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 5: companies here in Michigan that are produced out of this 422 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 5: state that are outdoor equipment. But for us, it's really 423 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 5: just building our membership. We need a louder voice in Lansing. 424 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 5: We already know that there's a bill being shopped around 425 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 5: that would remove the NRC. We have a Natural Resources 426 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 5: Commission here in Michigan that you know, dictates our game species, 427 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 5: our method of take names our game species as well. 428 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 5: There is a bill being shot by one of the 429 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 5: prominent animal rights organizations that is trying to strip the 430 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 5: nr SEA of their ability to name game species as 431 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 5: well as put the designation of game species and the 432 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 5: sole authority of the legislature. And we've seen how that's 433 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 5: gone wrong in other states where legislators can just vote 434 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 5: to take away or ballot box science. You know, we 435 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 5: are here to make sure that our natural resources are 436 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 5: managed on a science based program. To you know, the 437 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 5: North American Wildlife Model has been a huge success. We've 438 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 5: already worked on a lot of different things. You know, 439 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 5: we have some things in the pipe that we're really 440 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 5: dreaming about with maybe some sandhills or just wolves is 441 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 5: a big issue in Michigan right now. So we're on 442 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 5: the both Advisory Committee. There's lots that we're doing. So 443 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 5: we need members. We need people to get plugged in, 444 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 5: get their membership, use your voice at ten convention. Help 445 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,160 Speaker 5: us do more and more acres of public land. Send 446 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 5: your kids to camp. We have lots of scholarship for camp. 447 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 5: You can get your child one hundred safety certified. They're 448 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 5: going to learn twenty two's and archery they're also going 449 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 5: to learn a college and North America Wildlife Model and 450 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 5: other things like that too, So we need to instell 451 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 5: that next generation. Really, you know, we've been here for 452 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,959 Speaker 5: eighty six years and we have no intention of going anywhere. 453 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 5: But we're seeing a lot more fights now than we 454 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 5: ever did, and with declining hundred numbers, there is a 455 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 5: community out there I know that people can get tapped 456 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 5: into and NCC can be the throat oft for that. 457 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: So what what are you doing on the education side 458 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 2: of things? 459 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 3: Right? 460 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 2: So you MUCC is out there lobbying, which is something 461 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 2: anybody can do, but it is intimidating. There's a process 462 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 2: to it that isn't a front and center for your 463 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 2: electricians from Door County, right, or your dry wallers from 464 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 2: Lansing or anybody else, you know. So what are the 465 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 2: steps that NUCC kind of provides for someone who gets in, 466 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 2: checks it out, and wants to put forward referendum or 467 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 2: an initial live at the state level. 468 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 5: Yeah, we have a great little guide called path to 469 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 5: Policy and so what it does is members can get 470 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 5: that document, that guide, and when they have an issue, 471 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 5: they would submit it to one of our quarterly Conservation 472 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 5: Policy Board meetings one of our different committees, whether it 473 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 5: be Wildlife or Fisheries, parks and Trails. We have these 474 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 5: different committees built out in there. They'll help you review 475 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 5: at whatever committee falls underneath, and then it goes to 476 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 5: a vote to be able to go to convention. And 477 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 5: so every member gets this informations on our website readily available. 478 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 5: Our actual policy guide. Justin Tomay, who you know we 479 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 5: quoted last week on the fifty one oh eight bill. 480 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 5: He's an expert at all of this and can help you. 481 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 5: We used to have a camera at the Capitol day. 482 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 5: We're going to hopefully bring that back in the future. 483 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 5: My job is development directors to build those partnerships out 484 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 5: with companies, businesses, individuals. 485 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 4: Who want to support the mission. 486 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 5: But everybody gets that ability to understand our path to policy. 487 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 5: You can join the Conservation Policy Board, you can be 488 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 5: a board member of the organization. We're building out committees 489 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 5: that have regional committees that are popping up, so there's. 490 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 4: Lots of ways to get involved and get hands on 491 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 4: with the organization. 492 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 5: Or if you know you have a young person who 493 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 5: wants a summer job, we need camp counselors. Our education 494 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 5: program is huge because we're out there doing family learn 495 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 5: to Fish days where it's not just a young person, 496 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 5: the whole family learns to do it together. 497 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 4: They get the equipment to take home. 498 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 5: We're out there doing women's learn to hunt women on 499 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 5: the wing stuff. They we're a great partner in this area. 500 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 4: Of the state. And then also the Kids camp is huge. 501 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 4: It's eight weeks of camp. 502 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 5: We run it for six to sixteen year olds and 503 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 5: it's helping them get educated with in our Tracks magazine, 504 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 5: which is really neat as well. It's for fourth through 505 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 5: sixth graders and it's eight issues throughout the school year. 506 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 5: One subscription is eight different issues. It's all Michigan species, 507 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 5: so there's a consumptive and a non consumptive species. There's 508 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 5: all kinds of great quizzes and stories and helps people 509 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 5: understand and connect to the natural resources. But really it 510 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 5: is even an issue. The best place to do is 511 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 5: just reach out, email us, call and we'll walk you 512 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 5: through the process and get you a set up. If 513 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 5: you have something that can help. 514 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 2: You organization, that's awesome, that's great. Yeah, just thinking about 515 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 2: this het. We have BHA Rendezvous in Minneapolis this year 516 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 2: or next year rather so you guys should come out 517 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 2: and set up set up booth or a table and 518 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 2: make sure that folks who attend know who you are 519 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,160 Speaker 2: and how to be involved. 520 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 5: So yeah, we've actually got some of our board members 521 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 5: that sit on the Michigan Chapter board of BHA as well, 522 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 5: So you know, MUCC is great at doing the partnerships. 523 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 5: You know, Ducks Unlimited comes to us for a lot 524 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 5: of Michigan based policy issues. We don't hire the engineers 525 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 5: and the earth movers and the biologists. They kind of 526 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 5: do that, so they trust us to do the lobbying 527 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 5: and the hard work in the capital to get that 528 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 5: funding get those programs and projects. Point mouly A is 529 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 5: a great, great example that we went and did some 530 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 5: wetland restorations with Ducks Unlimited and the Autobon Society, So 531 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 5: two people we might not actually think with partner while together, 532 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 5: MUCC was able to bring all of us together and 533 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 5: get some really great wetland work done down in the 534 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 5: southeast part. 535 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 4: Of the state. 536 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 5: But for us, it's it's just it's community through collaboration. 537 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 5: So conservation through collaboration is just a big part of it. 538 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 5: So we're nonspece we you know, Cousins, Forever, NDA, Ducks, 539 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 5: and Limit. They're all affiliate members of NUCC here in 540 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 5: Michigan just because of our ability to get things done 541 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 5: and make sure that we do live up to our 542 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 5: mission to protect our natural resources. 543 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 3: That's great. That's great. 544 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 5: And I've got my tickets to the live show in Detroit, 545 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 5: so I don't know if you're making it to that. 546 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 4: One, but I'll be at that one. 547 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 2: Nice guys, I think, yeah, the Royal Oak, I think 548 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 2: I'm missing that one, all right. I'm trying to do 549 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 2: something really good for everybody on hoof disease in Oregon. Yeah, 550 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: hopefully that balances things out in people's opinion. It's not 551 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: not am not giving the big Michigan Hello to everybody. 552 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 5: And we give that at the office almost every day, 553 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 5: so it's okay, all. 554 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, Jordan, do you have any any questions. 555 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 4: I'm good. I did notice that you guys do a 556 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 4: lot of stuff with kids. You said you had kids. 557 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,239 Speaker 5: Can can you talk a little bit about just the 558 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 5: importance of that and reaching the next the next generation? 559 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 4: Yeah? 560 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 5: You know, for us, our education is one of our 561 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 5: main pillars, and you know it's in our it's in 562 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 5: our mission really to the outdoor heritage and so instilling 563 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 5: that and you know, our purpose, we say, is to 564 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 5: protect our natural resources while educating the next generation of 565 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 5: conservation stewards. Our Kids Camp has been going for seventy 566 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 5: five years now. Currently it's in the Waterloo State Wreck 567 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 5: Area out near Chelsea, Michigan. So people in Wyoming might 568 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 5: not know where that is, but our Michiganders will. So 569 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 5: it's in near Chelsea and this year we put two 570 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 5: hundred and twenty five kids through camp. COVID hit us 571 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 5: pretty bad when the COVID lockdowns and shutdowns came through. Uh, 572 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 5: we've been building back and we're going to be at 573 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 5: full service hopefully next summer twenty twenty four has some 574 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 5: really really great weeks planned to be able to get 575 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 5: kids outdoors in the conservation connection, fabulous fishing, wetland wonders, hunting, heritage, 576 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 5: and counselors and training. So we know that there's students 577 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 5: who would love to come back and be a counselor 578 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 5: when they're in college and help you other young people 579 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 5: experience and enjoy the outdoors. Young people at a certain 580 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 5: age can get their hunter safety certification when they come 581 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 5: to camp, so they can leave camp. They do archery 582 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 5: and twenty two's and for us, it's knowing that they 583 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 5: fall in love when they actually get to experience. We've 584 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 5: had kids some of our scholarships are from the urban setting, 585 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 5: from Detroit or Flint or surrounding Jackson areas where these 586 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 5: kids live in a very urban setting. 587 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 4: They come out. 588 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 5: We've had kids tell us they didn't know what crickets were, 589 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 5: and they didn't know what that sound was. Kids that 590 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 5: have never seen stars, ever caught their first fish. We 591 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 5: had one young man who came to our camp when 592 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 5: he was seven or eight years old, and it went 593 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 5: on to start his high school bass fishing team because 594 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 5: he fell in love with fishing at our camp for 595 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 5: the very first time. Our current president of the Board 596 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 5: of directors is a camp alumni. And when I wear 597 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 5: miamucc shirt around a lot, that's amazing how many older 598 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 5: people will tell me they're an alumni of our camp 599 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 5: and how they still love the outdoor heritage. They didn't 600 00:30:58,000 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 5: know that we've moved a couple times, or they didn't 601 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 5: know it still going on. We're always trying to reconnect 602 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 5: with those you know that are three principle of reconnecting 603 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 5: and reactivating. But it's a great place to send kids 604 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 5: for a Christmas present if you want to get tracks 605 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:12,360 Speaker 5: for a kid, and as a gift. That education, that 606 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 5: connection back of the land is one of the biggest 607 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 5: things for all of us. And I know, you know, 608 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 5: we all grew up in the woods, usually with our 609 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 5: dads or uncles or whatever, but some kids don't, and 610 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 5: so the camp allows them the connection of the natural 611 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 5: resource and to learn how it's important to manage game, 612 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 5: how it's important to protect our fisheries, and how ecology 613 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 5: works into our wetlands. And so it's a whole variety 614 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 5: of things, and we're trying to make sure that people 615 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 5: understand that you fall in love with a young age, 616 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 5: you know, hold onto it forever. 617 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 618 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 2: I like it because you know, it's obviously it's a 619 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 2: lot of different pieces of the puzzle here, right, And 620 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 2: the odd part that we know about recruitment is we're 621 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:51,239 Speaker 2: pretty good at getting kids interested in the outdoors and 622 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 2: then we kind of lose them later on in life 623 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 2: and smaller percentage kind of comes back. 624 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 5: So yeah, and for us, that connection, you know, if 625 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 5: you can really get a kid immersed, hopefully that connection 626 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 5: will hold on through those later teen years and when 627 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 5: they're able to, you know, whether they're in college, or 628 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 5: they're strapped for a budget or they just don't have 629 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 5: the time, they're starting the family, those early core memories 630 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 5: and that ability to have, you know, that experience will 631 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 5: hopefully hold on through and even if they're not actively 632 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 5: participating in the sport itself, they understand it and they're 633 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 5: not you know, they're not anti hunting, they're not anti trapping. 634 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 5: They understand the importance of it. 635 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 4: They understand the memories they have. 636 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 5: Maybe they don't do it anymore, but there is still 637 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 5: that connection that they have to it to where it's 638 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 5: not a hard line no for them, but they get 639 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 5: the management of the resource and the utilization of the 640 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 5: resource that we're able to highlight. 641 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's that's a great point and certainly 642 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 2: one that we've made often. 643 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 3: Right. 644 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 2: I don't need everybody to do what I do. In fact, 645 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 2: I don't want everybody to do what I do, but 646 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,479 Speaker 2: I definitely want them to understand why I do what 647 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 2: I do. 648 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, I just wanted to tune in, Just tune in 649 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 5: and take it. You know, we make it so easy. 650 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 5: Are our call to actions for legislative issues. You literally 651 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 5: click a link, scan a QR code, or you get 652 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 5: a text or whatever, and you put your first, last 653 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 5: name and address in the form and it sends it 654 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 5: to you. You can edit it if you want to 655 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 5: add a little exposed day to the end of it, 656 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 5: but it's a form letter, and it looks up who 657 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 5: your legislative You know who your legislators are, It looks 658 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 5: up the spill sponsors. Without all you got to do 659 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 5: is put your info in and hit send, And that's 660 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 5: how we were able to hit you over fifty thousand emails, 661 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 5: So these inboxes that really made some noise and let 662 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 5: people know that fifty one oh Waight was something that 663 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 5: we do not need to have go forward. And we 664 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 5: think that in its current form it is dead. It's 665 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 5: going to maybe be a vehicle to take some amendments 666 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 5: and change it up and move forward, but in its 667 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 5: actual form right now, we believe that it's a dead 668 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 5: bill just because of the ability that we were able 669 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 5: to jump all over it. 670 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 2: No, that's a great example. Especially with a lot of 671 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 2: the political wins and the marketing abilities of the political machine, 672 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 2: the message out there is unfortunately watered down to like 673 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: why would you even try. And so anytime that we 674 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 2: can get these good examples out there of like you said, 675 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 2: not even necessarily like minded individuals, but individuals who do 676 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 2: understand the value of these things, coming together on a 677 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 2: united front can make these changes. And that's extremely important, 678 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 2: right Like, that's that's the way she's supposed to work. 679 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 5: So we're happy to help people understand that just the 680 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 5: species they chase isn't the most important species. You know, 681 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 5: it's tough to get dear guys to care about fish sometimes, 682 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:27,480 Speaker 5: or to care about turkeys, or to you know, get 683 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 5: trappers to worry about other there's a lot of you know, 684 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 5: just because. 685 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 4: Of the attacks we're under most of the time. 686 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,719 Speaker 5: But NUCC really allows us to be nonpartisan, so we 687 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,760 Speaker 5: work with both sides of the island. You know, Michigan 688 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,799 Speaker 5: right now is a majority of one one party that 689 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 5: they control all three chambers of the state legislature. But 690 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:46,800 Speaker 5: with NUCC here, you know, we're not seen as a 691 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 5: place to kind of take over and have things change 692 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:51,719 Speaker 5: too much. We want to make sure we stay nonpartisan 693 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:54,240 Speaker 5: and we bring all of our outdoors men and women 694 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 5: together not just for one topic, but for the natural 695 00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 5: resources as a whole because we have the abundance of 696 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 5: it here in Michigan. We're the second largest state with 697 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 5: percentage of public land east of the Mississippi, and you know, 698 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 5: we're really finding hard to protect that against some other other 699 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:08,439 Speaker 5: things as well. 700 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:11,320 Speaker 2: That's great to hear. So one more time, how do 701 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 2: folks get a hold of MUCC. 702 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, just MUCC dot org. From that web page, you 703 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 5: can find all of our on the ground, our OTG programs. 704 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 5: The other cool thing I like to mention is OTG Junior. 705 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 5: It's an elementary and high school program that we have 706 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 5: a grant for that we provide the bus, sing, we 707 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:29,760 Speaker 5: provide lunch. 708 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 4: We're able to get young people out and. 709 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,719 Speaker 5: Hands on with conservation with age appropriate public land activities. 710 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 5: And then they also learn a skill at the end 711 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 5: of the volunteer opportunity, so they can learn archery or 712 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:46,279 Speaker 5: navigation and compass, orienteering. Lots of cool things to get 713 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 5: people outdoors as well. But for us, it's NUCC dot org. 714 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 5: Get there, Get get a membership, Get signed up the 715 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 5: two years as the best deal. Sign up for our newsletter, 716 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:57,800 Speaker 5: The Conservation Insider, goes out every two weeks. 717 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:59,839 Speaker 4: You're going to get a regular update. 718 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 5: Of what's going on in our state, making sure that 719 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 5: we're protecting our natural resources and outdoor heritage. So just 720 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 5: mucc dot org. You can follow us on all the 721 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,320 Speaker 5: social media channels as well. Muc CE nineteen thirty seven. 722 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,040 Speaker 5: Because you know, eighty six years now we've been protecting 723 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:14,279 Speaker 5: our right to hunt, fish and trap. 724 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 3: That's awesome. 725 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's not skip the fact that the OTG and 726 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 2: your program, you get get a kid or two enrolled 727 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 2: in there, Mom and dad can go fish or hunt 728 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:24,879 Speaker 2: on their own. 729 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, we'll take it over to day. 730 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, don't have to spend all day baiting hooks and 731 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 2: tying tying on extra lurs. 732 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 5: So yeah, when my friends ask do why fish? I say, 733 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,760 Speaker 5: my kids fish? And then I sit there. So yeah, 734 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:39,800 Speaker 5: once set the beta. 735 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 3: Lurd darn right. Well, thank you very much, Steve. 736 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 2: And it's it's only thirty five bucks a year, but 737 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:48,960 Speaker 2: you may as well go for two check out muc cee, 738 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:49,319 Speaker 2: he said. 739 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 3: The newsletter is is free. 740 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, you can go to the MUCC dot org and 741 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 5: right on their landing page you can sign up for 742 00:36:56,239 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 5: updates and alerts and just our new our conservation insider. 743 00:36:59,680 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 3: Right. 744 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 2: But if you don't want to take our word for it. 745 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 2: Right now, you can sign up for the newsletter, which 746 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 2: is something I recommend to everybody. Sign up for the newsletter. 747 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:10,840 Speaker 2: See what strikes you. I guarantee that there's going to 748 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 2: be an action item that MUCC sends out that is 749 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 2: going to get you fired up and you're going to 750 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 2: want to get more involved. That's how it works, so 751 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 2: please do. Michigan United Conservation Clubs, thank you very much. 752 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 5: Awesome, thank you, and Kathy Win Trivia soon make sure 753 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 5: to think of us. 754 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 2: All right, We'll do all righty, thank you, Steve. That's 755 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:38,320 Speaker 2: all I've got for you this week. Couple of housekeeping pieces. 756 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 2: Check out the Mediator YouTube channel. The Aberdeen Pheasant episode 757 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:44,759 Speaker 2: was just up well, snorta kiss was kicking butt on there. 758 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 2: Big nod and thank you to the folks in Aberdeen 759 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:51,919 Speaker 2: and to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever who helped out 760 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,640 Speaker 2: a ton on that episode, but also helped out a 761 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 2: ton with the habitat ethos that grows big bucks, big 762 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 2: birds and big bugs, so big thank you on my part. 763 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 2: And then there's a Kansas waterfowl episode that's coming up 764 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:10,960 Speaker 2: here too. Besides that and This is just fair warning 765 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:15,719 Speaker 2: because it's got obnoxious. It's super obnoxious. But if you're 766 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,680 Speaker 2: looking for deals on stuff, it's that horrid time of 767 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:23,840 Speaker 2: year again, Black Friday through Cyber Monday. We used to 768 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 2: call it Thanksgiving and it was fun and we'd go 769 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 2: hunt and eat great food, which is what I'm gonna do. 770 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 2: But there are lots of online opportunities at the meat 771 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:38,799 Speaker 2: Eater dot com on game calls and decoys and knives 772 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:41,759 Speaker 2: and all sorts of cool things that if you are 773 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:45,799 Speaker 2: in the need, you should grab right now. So that's 774 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 2: all I got for you this week. Thank you so 775 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 2: much for listening. Remember to write in ask c Al 776 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 2: that's Ascal at the meat Eater dot com and let 777 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 2: me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. 778 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:59,120 Speaker 2: You know, I appreciate you big thanks on Thanksgiving just 779 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,440 Speaker 2: for you. And last, but not least, go visit your 780 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 2: local knowledgeable steel dealer. Have a cup of coffee, talk chainsaws. 781 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 2: They're gonna get you set up with what you need, 782 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:10,880 Speaker 2: they won't send you home with what you don't, and 783 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 2: they're gonna make sure you look like a pro while 784 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 2: you do it. That's a www. Dot steel Dealers dot com. 785 00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:18,120 Speaker 3: Thanks again. 786 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:26,120 Speaker 2: I'll talk to you next week.