1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt podcast, your home for 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: deer hunting news, stories and strategies, and now your host, 3 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: Mark Kenyon. Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Podcast. I'm 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: your host, Mark Kenyon, and this episode number one one 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: tennis show, we're joined by Jeff Sposito to discuss the 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: newly launched and very exciting new organization to Percent for Conservation. 7 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: All right, So before we kick off the show, I 8 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: do need to ask you a favor. Please bear with 9 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: us for the first ten minutes of this episode, as 10 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: we had some serious technical difficulties trying to record our 11 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: intra segment and literally red ord at three or four 12 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: times over the past two days. In every single time 13 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: we had these issues with sound quality. We're still trying 14 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: to figure out what's going on, but for this week, 15 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: I had to decide either to scrap this whole intrasegment 16 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: or leave it in with some poor audio sections scattered throughout. 17 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: So I decided to do that as I thought you'd 18 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: probably still enjoy getting to hear these stories despite the 19 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: few glitches. So thanks for your understanding, and now to 20 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: the show. All right. Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Podcast, 21 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: brought to you by Sick gear, and today we've got 22 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: a great show for you as we're joined by Jeff Sposito, 23 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: the founder of the brand new and very exciting two 24 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: Percent for Conservation, a conservation organization that I think has 25 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: the potential to make a very big difference in the 26 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: hunting and fishing world. And I'm stoked that Jeff's going 27 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: to be joining us today to talk about this new organization, 28 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: What inspired him to dive into this project, what all 29 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: goes into starting a conservation organization, and how all of 30 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: us hunters can get more involved in taking up this 31 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: type of cause in our own lives. But before we 32 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: get to all of that, Dan and I do have 33 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: some exciting updates from the field to share. We have 34 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: been doing a little turkey hunting right then. That's a 35 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: fat jack, and we've actually done a half decent job 36 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: of it. Hey, I can't complain, I uh, you killed what? 37 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: Did you get? One? Or two? I got one? You 38 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: can only kill one here in Michigan. But I can 39 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: very I can very briefly quickly give you my overview. 40 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: I had five really tough days of hunting in Michigan 41 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: where the birds weren't talking or I was really bad 42 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: at calling or something went wrong in the first five 43 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 1: days and just couldn't quite make it happen. I was 44 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: out there with a bow trying, you know, like we 45 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: talked about a couple of weeks ago. I thought I'd 46 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: tried to up the challenge factor. So I took my 47 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: bow out and was waiting for a big, mature bird, 48 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: and things just didn't quite go all the way to once. 49 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: So then Saturday came around, and I was getting a 50 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: little nervous because my Dad's coming in a couple of 51 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: days to hunt, and I was only gonna have a 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: few more days to hunt after that. So I figured 53 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: if I don't get something a freezer now, I might 54 00:02:58,480 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: not get a bird at all. So I took the 55 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: gun out Saturday morning, I changed up my strategy, went 56 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,399 Speaker 1: to a different spot on the farm, and UM, long 57 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: story short, I end up killing a really nice gobbler 58 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 1: a couple hours after daylight. So it was one of 59 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: those hunts where it was one of those days really 60 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: where the everything was going right. The two days before, 61 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the birds were silent, nothing was going but this day 62 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: everything was talking, they were responding to the calls, and 63 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: UH put one on the ground. So that was my 64 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: that was my turkey hunt. I got a Michigan bird. 65 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: Now in a week week and a half, them going 66 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 1: to Ohio. But you, my friend, you laid or we're 67 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: part of land too. Two down right right right, let's see. 68 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: So typically what happens is, I've been hunting with my 69 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: wife for five years. Uh we did. We did this thing. 70 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: We call it turkey camp. And it's where me and 71 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: my wife and my stepdad go hunting. And my mom 72 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: kind of gets through all the end of the deal. 73 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: She gets watched the kids so um, which she loves. 74 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: She does her grandma thing, but she watched the kids 75 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: while Sarah and I went hunting. And and my stepdad 76 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: might okay, tell my stepdad hunts. He goes into the 77 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: blind before light and he sits in the blind all 78 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: day long. That's that's how I can't do that. There 79 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: would be impossible. There would have to be like a 80 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: flat screen TV in there for me to do that. 81 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: But me and my wife do a little bit more 82 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: running gun and although luckily this year we really didn't 83 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: have to. Um. So Thursday, I head out of work 84 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: and I leave early, set up a blind in a pasture, 85 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: starts raining. I drive around the section, I see like 86 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: twenty five to thirty birds. Um, I just tall about 87 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: seven to ten shutting tom's and the rest were hens. 88 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 1: So I knew that there were turkeys in the area, 89 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: and that made me really excited. Um. Fast forward to 90 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: Friday morning. We get into the standards a little bit early, 91 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: so we had to fight some cattle getting in, and 92 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: we thought the cattle had left, and they were responding 93 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: like every time I touched my call, they were gobbling, 94 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: and even when I there was a period of time 95 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: where I was just not even calling and they were 96 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: going bananas in the timber. So my blind was set 97 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: up in the middle of a cattle pasture under a 98 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: big old oak tree, and the birds were in the 99 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: timber line about fifty yards away. They started gobblin. I 100 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 1: was calling. They came in, they saw my decoys. This 101 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: is the abbreviated version, and uh they they held up. Well. 102 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: I looked behind me, and the cattle had to work 103 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: their way back into the area, and they were pretty 104 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: spooked or pretty hesitant of coming closer to the decoys, 105 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: and they headed down this valley and up the other 106 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: side and went into a different part of the pasture. Well, 107 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: they were gobbling the whole time, so I knew where 108 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: they're at. My wife and me made a stock on him. 109 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: I got busted by a hen. They flew away. Fast forward. 110 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: Then instead of going of going back out, I don't 111 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: know this year, I was just kind of it up 112 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: to do for my life. I was ready to do new. 113 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: We were going to have great weather the entire morning 114 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: would mean or the entire weekend, which means there they 115 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: were responding, and they were going to respond. So I 116 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: didn't go back out. Uh. We we went and tried 117 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: another little piece of property back at the house eleven 118 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: and then we did what my wife wanted to do, 119 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: which was Govid winery, and I tasted some local wines 120 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: which were delicious. And uh, fast forward to Saturday morning, 121 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: and I'm not joking that this is exactly how it went. 122 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: Walk the blind wait twenty minutes, heard the first gobbles 123 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: at about quarter to six. Birds flew down at about 124 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: six and between six and so five, my wife shot 125 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: the turkey. So it was the Tom, three Jake's and 126 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: a hen all flew out of the tree within twenty yards. Uh, 127 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: the Jake's and the Tom started strutting towards the decoys. 128 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: They stepped out behind this little thorn bush and my 129 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: wife just dropped it right in your tracks. Boom. It 130 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: barely even flopped. So uh, that was a pretty fast hunt. 131 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: And the rest of the day. UM, I could have 132 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: probably went out and tried to uh get another bird, 133 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: but I was happy for her. I knew that I 134 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: had to clean it and you know, package it and 135 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: get it in the freezer. So I took care of 136 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: that kind of business and uh and you know what, 137 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: did some mushroom hunting, went on a four wheeler ride 138 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: with the kids, spent a lot of time with family. 139 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: That day. My stepdad comes back and he was struggling 140 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: with the farm that he was on with uh, with 141 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: a guy riding a dirt bike up and down the 142 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: road and on the farm and there's other hunter who 143 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: was He said it was calling for one hour straight. 144 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, so not a lot of activity on on 145 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: the farm. My stepdad was hunting. So I was like, hey, man, 146 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: I gotta I got a spot if you want to 147 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 1: come with me. I don't have a blind, I don't 148 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: have anything. You're gonna have to sit underneath a tree 149 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: and uh, I'll back up behind you and uh call, 150 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's how I that's how I cut 151 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: my teeth on turkey hunting. And he's like, yeah, okay, 152 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: let's do it. So we park our truck, sons starting 153 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: to come up, and we walked to the field the 154 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 1: where the CRP met the timber and started doing a 155 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: little calling. HERD heard some distant gobbles. So we walked 156 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: down this cut two track and uh I set him 157 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: underneath of a tree that my wife killed a turkey 158 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: out of what would have been two years ago, and 159 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: I put decoys out in front of him, probably twenty yards. 160 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: I backed up behind him about twenty heard a call 161 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 1: in and I pulled in a tom from a long 162 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: wase away. He was gobbling every time every time I, 163 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: uh I called, And then I started hearing the you know, 164 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: the um the noise that they make when they strut. 165 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: And two more tims come on a show I couldn't see. 166 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: According to my close a whole bunch bushes to kinda, 167 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: so I had a little bit of movement. The one 168 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: time came into our right and he busted my stepdad 169 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: turning his head to look. Because he shut up. He 170 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: stopped gobbling when he located our position, and then he 171 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 1: came in. My stepdad turned his head ever so slightly 172 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: that Tom took off running, and the Tom's that were 173 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: strutting to the left of us. I called one end 174 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: because it was and I broke. I broke the one 175 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: time off and uh my stepdad shot him or six 176 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: thirty the morning. So that was a long story for 177 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: a very period of time. You've you've perfected that to 178 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: two short hunts too long stories, Dan, That's pretty good, 179 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: I know. I but it was fun. I mean, although 180 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: I didn't I didn't get a bird or chance at 181 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: a bird. I was just happy that the people. I 182 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: mean I I the thing I like about turkey hunting, 183 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: and I think we talked about this in uh at 184 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: the one of the last episodes was it's just it's 185 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: less pressure, it's more about fun and enjoying nature. And 186 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: for me it's a it's about spending time with the family. 187 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: And I got to do all those things. And even 188 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: though I didn't get a bird, I got an archery tag, 189 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: so I would hunt until May four or four, I think, 190 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: so I have plenty of time left to try to 191 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: get one with a bow. Other than that, my season's 192 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: a success. Based off of what's already happened. Yeah, I'd 193 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 1: say so that's pretty that's pretty cool to be to 194 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: do that with a couple of family members and have 195 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: a good, a good fun weekend like that. That's sounds 196 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: like you get a good couple days. My friend, when 197 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: are you heading to Ohio? Uh, well, my dad is 198 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: coming down to turkey hunt with me this coming weekend 199 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: in Michigan. Song guide him for a couple of days, 200 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: and then the following weekend I'm going to Ohio. So 201 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: I'll be the guide this weekend than hunting just about 202 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: a week and a half from now. So hopefully it'll 203 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: be some more good turkey hunting stories to come from 204 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: me here soon. But uh, it's I think I think 205 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: it'll be pretty good from what I was we had. Um. 206 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: I talked with a legendary turkey hunter, Ray I. He 207 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: was on our Wild podcast today and he's been staying 208 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: across the country. It's been a lot different than most 209 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: years because of this later spring. In a lot of places, 210 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the toms are hend up already. UM 211 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: and so he he said that you know, the later 212 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: you get into the season, the better it's going to 213 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: the better it's going to be. Supposedly, he knows a 214 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: lot more than I do, so I couldn't tell you why, um, 215 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: but he seemed to think that the best is yet 216 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: to come. So I'm hoping that will be the case 217 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: here and that uh, you know, my rough first five 218 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: days will be gone and things will continue to be 219 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: like they were on SATA. Well, good luck, Mark Kenyon, 220 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: thank you Dan Johnson. And with that we are we 221 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: are needing now to get our guests on the line. 222 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 1: We've got to give Jeff a colls. So let's take 223 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: a quick break for words from our partners at SICCA, 224 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,359 Speaker 1: and then we'll talk to Jeff about two percent for conservation. 225 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: So last week we began our new segment with Sick 226 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: of Gear, in which we're sharing incredible sick stories, and 227 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: today we've got just such a story, in fact, a 228 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: turkey story from Jason Mears. We're going to kick this 229 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: one off at a point in Jason's hunt where he 230 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: was about to call it quits and head back to 231 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: work as it seemed like the birds he was hunting 232 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: were hand up and heading away. But just when he 233 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: thought the hunt was over, he spotted the birds much 234 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: closer than he thought, and set up in a less 235 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: than ideal situation. I'm in the middle of the field. 236 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: I haven't nothing to hide behind other than delay in 237 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: this three foot tall high grass. So basically I laid 238 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: there on my back with my gun barrel between my knee. 239 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: He's hoping that as these birds worked around the side 240 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: of the hill that they would be, you know, twenty 241 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: thirty yards out in front of me, and I would 242 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: basically pop up like I was in a goose blind 243 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: and shoot one of them. So Jason waited there, laying 244 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: in the grass for fifteen minutes until finally a redhead 245 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: popped up heading his way. As they came down, they 246 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: actually came up within six feet of the end of 247 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: my gun burrow, and basically, I either knew that I 248 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 1: was either gonna miss this turkey because the pattern was 249 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: so tight, or I was gonna drop him right where 250 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: he was. And as he stepped in front of my barrel, 251 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: I squeezed the trigger and Donny went. The other one 252 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: flew off. And it's extremely exciting hunt because I mean, 253 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: I've never had the opportunity to actually shoot a turkey 254 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: at that range. Six ft is just ridiculous. In my opinion. So, um, 255 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: you talk about the heart ready to bust out of 256 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: your chest because either at one option and you can 257 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: get the turkey, or you're gonna you're gonna make him 258 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: a heck of a lot smarter for the subceson. Luckily 259 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: for Jason, this bird would not have a chance to 260 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: get any smarter. What a hunt. And on this hunt, 261 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: Jason was wearing sick because early season white tail pants 262 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: and core lightweight top. If you'd like to learn more 263 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: about SIKA, you can visit sick gear dot com. And 264 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: now back to the show. All right, Well, due to 265 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: unforeseen circumstances and technical difficulties, we have lost Dan Johnson, 266 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: but we have added Jeff to the line. So welcome 267 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: to the show. Jeff, thank you, Mark. Glad to be here. Yeah, 268 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: we apologize for the lengthy technical issues we've had today 269 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: trying to make this happen, but I'm glad at least 270 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: you and me are finally here chatting. Um. I briefly 271 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: introduced to you at the beginning in two percent for conservation, 272 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: but really high level. I'd love to kick things off 273 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: just hearing a little bit more about who you are. 274 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: For those that aren't familiar you know, what are you 275 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: doing today? What's your background? A little bit? Sure? Yeah, 276 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: so I I currently work for for Sick of Gear 277 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: out of Bosi in Montana. I've been with SKA for 278 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: going on seven years now. I started back in two 279 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: thousand and nine. With them, I do sales and marketing. 280 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: They're um focused on on our guiding outfitter paro deal 281 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: programs and our e commerce and online sales. Uh and 282 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: and then yeah, my nights and weekends and and kind 283 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: of a pet project side job have have started two 284 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: percent for conservation. Um. So it's been it's been a 285 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: fun process. Yeah, I bet, And that's going to be 286 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: our main The main gist of our conversation is gonna 287 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: be all about that process. But I also create me 288 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: if I'm wrong. But I think you are a hunter too, right, Yeah? Heck, yeah, 289 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: I am. No, you know, hunter, hunter and fishermen, more 290 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: so a hunter than a fisherman. But but I enjoy 291 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: all things outdoors. But but I am truly a passionate 292 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: bow hunter more than anything. You know. I've been hunting 293 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: my whole life and kind of progressed through hunting cycle 294 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: and yeah, I loved bow hunt. Now Bohunt anything from 295 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: you know, elk, deer bears, anything really And word on 296 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: the street is that you're going to Alaska, soume? Is 297 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: that true? I do? I leave in uh in less 298 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: than forty eight hours for Alaska for for a brown 299 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: bear hunt. That uh, that's actually a really cool story. 300 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: I won the brown bear hunt last fall in a 301 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: raffle um, so totally not only once in a lifetime 302 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: bucket list hunt, but but one of those situations where 303 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: where it was a complete surprise on how it came 304 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: to happen. So yeah, I'm pretty pumped. Man. I got 305 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: a lot of packing you have to do still, but 306 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: but we'll get bet. So what so are you going 307 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: with a with a firearm or both? First off, my question, 308 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: I am I am bringing I'm doing the classic bring 309 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: both weapons. Yep, I'm gonna give it good. Yeah, I'm 310 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: gonna give it the good college. Try to kill one 311 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: with the bow. I really, I really would like to 312 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: uh to get an opportunity to shoot one of the 313 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: bow and give it my damnedest. But you never know 314 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: how that goes, and I don't want to pass up 315 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: the opportunity. So if if we just can't get the 316 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: right situation. I'm not opposed to to lay in some 317 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: lead to and this is a coastal brown bear, right 318 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: it is? Yeah, it's it's brown bear out of It's 319 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: a boat hunt out of sick Alaska, and we'll be 320 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: hunting primary of the ABC Island. So it's a part 321 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: of the country I've never been. Um, so there's a 322 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: whole there's a many layers of excitement there for me 323 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: to see a new part of the country and obviously 324 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 1: hunt an animal that that is uh, that is you know, 325 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: truly once in a lifetime type type hunt. Plus the 326 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: potential of being twenty yards away from a eight hundred 327 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: or thousand pounds brown bear, that sounds like an experience too. 328 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: There's that too. Yeah, I'd be lying to you if 329 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: if I didn't tell you that. I just got a 330 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 1: little bit nervous just thinking about it. So I'm sure 331 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: I'll be shaking a little bit when when that scenario 332 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: presents itself. But that's all the fun, right. What's the 333 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: wife think about this or your family? Um, that's a 334 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: good question. She is My wife is very supportive of 335 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: everything I do. She is, uh, she doesn't quite understand 336 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: bear hunting with a bow in general. Nonetheless a brown bear. 337 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: She's she thinks that you should h not you should 338 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: run away from bear. She she has this picture in 339 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: her mind that I'm gonna shoot the bear with a 340 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: bow and it's gonna stand up and look at me 341 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: and pull the arrow out and get revenge. I've tried 342 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: to reassure that that's not exactly how it happens. I'll 343 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: tell you what, though, I gotta give you credit. That 344 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: takes a certain amount of intestinal fortitude to even go 345 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: on a trip like that. It is it's a dream 346 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: of mine too. Um but wow to Actually, well, I 347 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: haven't done it yet, so we should. We should talk 348 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: again in ten days and and see how it went. 349 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'm pretty pumping on the last. Now, have 350 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: you done other Alaskan hunts before I have? I was 351 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: fortunate enough to go um two years ago to Kodiak 352 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: mountain goat hunting UM, and that was that was my 353 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: first hunting trip to Alaska. And that was with a 354 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: good friend of mine who is who is a sick 355 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: of athlete, Col Kramer and Uh and we did a 356 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: mountain go hunt together and it was a blast, man. 357 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: It was It was all uh that I expected it 358 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: to be in more it was. It was awesome and 359 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: that was Kodiak. So you've had at least a little 360 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: experience with really big bears. I guess probably right. Yeah, Yeah, 361 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: that's that's where the big bears. That's the world of 362 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: the big bears. We on our mountain got hunt. We 363 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: didn't have any encounters with bears. We saw a few, 364 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: but but yeah, I've I've been I guess you could 365 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: say I have been in brown bear country before. Well, 366 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: I I'm excited to talk to you when you get 367 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: back to hear how this adventure went. I uh, man, 368 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: that that puts us white tail hunters to shame. I'll 369 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: tell you what. From the from the work required and 370 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: the uh the adrenaline and the nerves you've got to 371 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: spend there. Well maybe on that, but I want to 372 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: go that far. I love white tail hunting too, and 373 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: it's one of those things. We're growing up in the 374 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: Western United States haven't had a ton of opportunity white tails, 375 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: and and every time I do, I love it. Man. 376 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: Something there's something about white tail hunting that that obviously 377 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: you you know more than I do. But it's awesome. Yeah, 378 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: it is a lot of fun. And I'm actually going 379 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: to be combining my love for white tails and my 380 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: love for your state of Montana this coming fall. I'm 381 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: actually gonna I'm doing white tail hunting and outside of 382 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: Boseeman this year. All right on, man, Yeah, Montana's kind 383 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: of a sleeper white tails state. Uh, we we got 384 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: you know, We're so fortunate that so many animals to hunt, 385 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: and elk are obviously the the prized possession, that white 386 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: tails kind of go under the radar, and we actually 387 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: have some really, really awesome white tail hunting out here, 388 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: so that'll be sweet. Yeah, that's what I keep hearing. 389 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: And I love that part of the country so much, 390 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: and I was like, you know what I keep hearing. 391 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: You know, there's some white tails out there, why not 392 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: why not give it a try? So I'm gonna go 393 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: out there. I'm actually living out there for a month 394 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: this summer with my wife so and doing a little 395 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: scouting out there and then um hopefully find some public 396 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: land or get permission on something, and give it a 397 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 1: shot in September with a bow. So that's my game. 398 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: Are you are you gonna hunt elk too? I hope 399 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: I am gonna hunt elk? Well, I think I'm gonna 400 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 1: be hunting elk Um. It's a little bit up in 401 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: the air, but if I do, it may not be 402 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: in Montana, it might be an Idaho, got it um, 403 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: So those plans are still up in the air. But 404 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: but it looks like I'm gonna have a long chunk 405 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:29,959 Speaker 1: of time away from home out in the mountains one 406 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: way or the other. So I'm looking forward to that. Yeah, 407 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: I've been hunting out the past few years in Idaho 408 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: and and have definitely gotten that in my blood. So 409 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: I imagine if I grew up out there, I would 410 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 1: be a complete elk nut, no doubt about it. Yeah. Well, 411 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,239 Speaker 1: I hope the white tail hunt goes good out here. 412 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: We'll have to connect definitely out here for sure, because uh, 413 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: because that'll be that'll be awesome. Yeah, Yeah, I'm stoked. 414 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: I'm I'm already I've got serious. Well, like I mentioned, 415 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: we're going out there for the summer, so I already 416 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 1: have summer ritis in about a month, we're moving out west, 417 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 1: so I'm just like itching to get out there and 418 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 1: start hiking and fishing and scouting for the hunts. And oh, 419 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,959 Speaker 1: it's gonna be good. But I guess kind of related 420 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: to that, Jeff, It's kind of funny. Um. One of 421 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,880 Speaker 1: the reasons why I've got such summer rights and why 422 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about going out west so much is because 423 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 1: I've been doing a bunch of reading about kind of 424 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: conservation history and about you know, the wildlife and what 425 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: it used to be like in different parts of the 426 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: country back you know, hundred fifty two hundred years ago. 427 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: I read a really really great book called I think 428 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: it's called The American Serengetti. Oh. Man, I just listened 429 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: to uh podcast with Stephen Ronnella in the net year 430 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: and he had what's the author's name of that I'm 431 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: spacing it now, Yes, Dan Flores. Yeah, that podcast was amazing, man, 432 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: And uh, it was so interesting to me. Yes exactly. 433 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,239 Speaker 1: I heard that podcast and I was fascinated, and I 434 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: immediately went on Amazon bought his book and I read 435 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: it in the last like two or three days, and 436 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: it was terrific. I mean, one of my favorite books 437 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: I've read, like both from it just purely interesting and 438 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: fascinating thing just to hear about the wildlife, but also 439 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: from like as a hunter understanding what was here, you know, 440 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: before we arrived and then kind of what some of 441 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: our our ancestors actions led to um too, And then 442 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: I guess also then what some of our ancestors did 443 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: after that too to return us to a time of 444 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: relatively plenty when it comes to wildlife and wild places. 445 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: So it's really interesting, fascinating book. Highly recommend anyone read it. 446 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: But the point of me bringing it up is that 447 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: it has just got me re jazzed and re pumped 448 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: up and excited about trying to make a difference from 449 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: a conservation standpoint moving forward. I think we talked once, 450 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: I don't know when this was Jeff Um, but just 451 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 1: talked about kind of like I think both of ours 452 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: our journeys as a hunter. Right, You become a hunter, 453 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: and you go through this journey as a hunter. But 454 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: then I think at some point a lot of us 455 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: end up realizing how much this means to us, how 456 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: much wildlife, wild places, the opportunity to hunt, how much 457 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: that means to us, And eventually it leads us to 458 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 1: want to give back in some way. And so I'm 459 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: definitely at that place us in my life where I'm 460 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: trying to find ways to do that. And you know, 461 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: from the previous conversations we've had. It sounds like you 462 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: have recently been in a place like that too, which 463 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: has led to this organization two percent for conservations. So 464 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: I guess, I guess I'm curious, Jeff, before we actually 465 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: go into what this organization is and what you actually did, 466 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: I kind of want to hear about your journey that 467 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: I kind of highly glossed over my case. But what 468 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: how did you end up being inspired to try to 469 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: do more or to do something like this? Yeah, you know, 470 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: it's a great question, and I as as all your 471 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: life experiences kind of create who you are, I haven't 472 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: spent a whole lot of time thinking about it, so 473 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: it's it's really an interesting exercise to do. But but 474 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: I grew up um. I grew up in northern California 475 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: and my in a in a family that was sustained 476 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: from commercial cattle ranching, um which it gave us the 477 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: benefit of having access to hunt on private land, and 478 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: and everybody in my family it was just kind of 479 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: a tradition, right. My grandfather loved to hunt and he's 480 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: a hunter, and all my uncles and cousins, so so 481 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: it was just kind of what we did. So from 482 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: a young age, I was I had opportunities to hunt. Um. 483 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 1: Where we were in northern California, we have blacktailed deer 484 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: uh and a lot of wild pigs, So I really 485 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: grew up deer hunting. But but really pig hunting became 486 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 1: such an awesome opportunity. That's what kind of got me 487 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 1: into bow hunting, because it's a year round season and 488 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: uh and and there's just tons of them and and 489 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: through that then, uh, you know from circumstances that that 490 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: we're just nothing other than lucky. I ended up getting 491 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: a job out of college working at Sitka when it 492 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: was still a very small company, uh and just getting 493 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: off the ground. And through through my role at SITA, 494 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 1: I really got connections and started to learn more about 495 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: conservation organizations. And I'd always I'd always known of you know, 496 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: the of RMYF and generally through my family and experiences hunting, 497 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: I knew what conservation organizations did, but but didn't have 498 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 1: a deep understanding of the impact they had. And and 499 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 1: through my work at STICK, I really started to learn 500 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: more about what that was and how important they were, 501 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: uh and the challenges that that they had from a 502 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 1: fundraising standpoint, and and really how much work it went 503 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: in and the passion and the time that that the 504 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: organization has depended on to be successful. And and I 505 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: think through that journey, that's that's kind of you know, 506 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: high level, real quick story really where my mind has 507 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: has evolved into thinking about what we can do more 508 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 1: as an industry, as individuals, as businesses too to support 509 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: these conservation groups. Yeah, and so so you got to 510 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: a place where you maybe you knew you want to 511 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: do something more. I think, if if I remember correctly, 512 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: there was a specific event or time that actually then 513 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: sparked an idea for a specific type of organization. Is 514 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: that right? Yeah, Yeah, totally there was. So I think 515 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: it was too that I could get this wrong, but 516 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: I think it was two thousand and thirteen. Uh q 517 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 1: d m A, the Quality Deer Management Association, which which 518 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're familiar with, had had what they called, 519 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: I think they called it at the time, the White 520 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: Tailed Deer Summit, or maybe it was just the Deer Summit, 521 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: but it was in uh it was in Missouri. And 522 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: what they did with the summit it was really cool. 523 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: They brought in a whole bunch of different key stakeholders 524 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:31,160 Speaker 1: from the hunting industry, They had a big conference generally 525 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: about the state of the hunting industry, the state of conservation, 526 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: and then obviously focused a bit on whitetail deer and 527 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: the challenges we have UH and and current events and issues. 528 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: And then they broke what was cool, they broke all 529 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 1: these different stakeholders out the groups with objectives and we 530 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 1: had these I think it was two days worth of 531 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: meetings in these stakeholder groups which were made up of 532 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: you know, one stakeholder group was biologists. They had one 533 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: that is like media. They had one which was a 534 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 1: group I sat in that was industry and I was 535 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 1: the representing sick at the time. So it was a 536 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,479 Speaker 1: bunch of manufacturers and brands and retailers UH. And then 537 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: they had a breakout group of hunters that they invited. 538 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: So the theme was that what they wanted to do 539 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:20,959 Speaker 1: was have these different stakeholder groups brainstorm together and prioritize UH. 540 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: They're they're you know, top concerns or priorities that need 541 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: to be addressed as an industry as a whole, and 542 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 1: with a big learning What kind of came out of 543 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: our group as as the industry group was was there 544 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: were a couple of things, But one of the top 545 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: ones that stuck with me was what can we do 546 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: as as an industry, as profitable businesses relying on hunting 547 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: and fishing as a consumer base, what can we do 548 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: more to support conservation groups and UH? And through that 549 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: we brainstorm some ideas and kicked it around, but that 550 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: really stuck with me, and so much of that on 551 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: my flight home and I travel home, I really couldn't 552 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: stop thinking about it. We're just hit home that the 553 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: shoot man has got to be there's gotta be away, 554 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: or there's gotta be a mechanism or something that we 555 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: could do collectively as a huge industry. I mean you 556 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: look at all the businesses and hunting and fishing across 557 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's it's a huge industry, tons of jobs, 558 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: tons of revenue. What can we do underneath one umbrella 559 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: as an industry to do more to support conservation Because 560 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: the reality is if hunting and fishing were to disappear, 561 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: all of our businesses UH wouldn't exist, and we wouldn't 562 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: have customers. If we're selling a hunting and fishing product, 563 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: we wouldn't have customers. If hunting and fishing that exists anymore, 564 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 1: so so that was kind of that one event where 565 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: that started that was really kind of the birth of 566 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: two percent for conservation. I went down this journey from 567 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: then on of of trying to figure out what the 568 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: heck we could do? Is there something we could do? 569 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: And where we've landed today is is with with this 570 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: organization to conservation. Yeah, it's interesting. Also coming out of 571 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: that dear summit you mentioned, the National Deer Alliance was started, 572 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: and I actually work with the National Deer Line, so 573 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: both of us had something that came out of that summit. 574 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: Interestingly enough, it turns out that was a profitable event 575 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: that he didn't make put in successful. Yeah, that that 576 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: you're exactly right. They spawned from that. I think was 577 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: shortly after that event that that they were going to 578 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: form the NDA and this was going to be be 579 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: kind of the organization for all that represent all deer species. Yeah, 580 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: and I can tell you from a behind the scenes standpoint, 581 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: it has been a a long and interesting road of 582 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: trying to get that organization up off the ground. And 583 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: there's I only work kind of in an ancillary type 584 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: of way. I kind of consult and help with some 585 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: digital things. But it's been interesting to see all that 586 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: goes into building the foundation of a group like that 587 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: that's working with so many different stakeholders and trying to 588 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: do some really big, exciting things. But I think we're 589 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: now at a point that some really good exciting stuff 590 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: is coming. So I'm excited that it will be some 591 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: things happening here in the coming weeks and months. Just 592 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: for those of you who have heard me talk about 593 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: the NBA before, keep your eyes out. There's gonna be 594 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: some stuff coming that I think will be really positive 595 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: for all deer and all deer hunters. So that said, 596 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: I digress. Jeff, you mentioned coming out of that event, 597 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: this that kind of helped catalyze this idea. Tell me 598 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: about the idea. Tell me about where it went from that. 599 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 1: You're on the airplane, you're inspired, you have this idea. 600 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: What happens next when you're trying to start an organization 601 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: like that. Yeah, Well, at that point I didn't really 602 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: even know what the idea was. I kind of knew 603 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: conceptually what what the objective would be and what the 604 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 1: problem that that I thought there was an opportunity to 605 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: address was. Um, but I kind of really just started, 606 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: you know, doing a lot of a lot of Google 607 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: research right of where there were parallels and other industries 608 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: of of certain concepts or certain ideas that that that 609 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: have tried to address and approach the similar problems. Uh. 610 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: And I you know research some of the ones that 611 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: stand up that I remember looking at were were some 612 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 1: check off programs so that our culture and just right 613 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: coming from my background in and cattle ranching, the beef 614 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: checkoff program was was one that that I was like, oh, 615 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: that's an interesting concept where where industry businesses have come 616 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: together and funded and pulled together money to launch a 617 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 1: marketing campaign per se. Right. And that's where if you're 618 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: not from the beef checkof program, but that's kind of 619 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: that's what created the beef It's What's for dinner campaign? Right, 620 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: And there's they're similar ones with with milk, the got 621 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: Milk commercials that were so popular for a while, with 622 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, with the milk mustaches and all this on 623 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: all the different celebrities or public figures. That was a 624 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 1: check off program from the dairy industry. So I did 625 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: a little bit of research on those and and there 626 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: were some parallels there. I also looked at, you know, 627 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: kind of the recycling campaign which has become such a 628 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: standard now and people are so used to seeing the 629 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: recycling symbol on products. Um. There's another organization called the 630 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: Rainforest Alliance that that I learned about, and they their 631 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: focus was was around I'm probably gonna screw this up, 632 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: but a lot of where you see their campaigns around 633 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: coffee and coffee producers and making sure that the manufacturers 634 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: and producers to coffee are not destroying rainforests. Um. But 635 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: then the one the one organization that came across that 636 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 1: then ended up being kind of our our driver and 637 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: relearned a lot from was one Percent for the Planet 638 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: and one Percent for the Planet is is an organization 639 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: that still exists today and it is very successful and 640 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: was started by Van Nard, who's the founder of Patagonia, 641 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 1: along with a guy named Craig Matthews who owns a 642 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: fly shop here in Montana and West Yellowstone. And the 643 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 1: concept of their organization was was that businesses would would 644 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: essentially do a self imposed tax where they would give 645 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: back one percent of sales to UH two environmental causes 646 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: back to the planet, right, which is where the naming 647 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: came from. And UH and I and when I first 648 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: came across one percent to planet and started learning more 649 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: about it. The more and more I asked questions and 650 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: read and researched, it made a lot of sense for 651 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: the hunting and fishing community, and it was kind of 652 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 1: that light bulb moment of of holy crap, this this 653 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: is this is good. This makes a lot of sense, 654 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:23,880 Speaker 1: and I think this could have a huge impact on 655 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: hunting and fishing. Um. So that that that's really when 656 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,320 Speaker 1: I got kind of got a kick start and some motivation. 657 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: I'm going down a specific path rather than just kind 658 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 1: of you know, having a big idea cloud. Yeah. That 659 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: that's that's the big leap to when you go from 660 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 1: the idea cloud to actually the real thing and now 661 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:48,400 Speaker 1: you can take action. Yeah exactly, So did you? I 662 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,720 Speaker 1: don't know. It just seems like such a crazy idea 663 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 1: to think of an idea like this and then actually 664 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 1: be able to put an action and do it. Was 665 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: that like, did you really think you could do it? 666 00:34:57,239 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: Or was it kind of this crazy idea and you 667 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: thought maybe I'll tell somebod about this and they could 668 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: do it. Or did you just know from the get 669 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: go yeah I can do this. Uh No, I didn't. 670 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:08,520 Speaker 1: I didn't know that And I don't think I ever 671 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 1: had a not like I speak of I've ever had 672 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 1: I like yep, this is we're gonna you know, this 673 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 1: is it, I'm gonna do it tighten moment. What I 674 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: guess what really happened was I started uh, asking questions 675 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,799 Speaker 1: right with with people that knew more than I did, 676 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: people that had more knowledge of the industry than I did. 677 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 1: And and one of the guys that that's helped me 678 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:31,399 Speaker 1: a ton down the road that one of the first 679 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:35,279 Speaker 1: people I went to was was Randy Newburgh Um. For 680 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,479 Speaker 1: a couple of reasons, I've known Randy Um. He lives 681 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 1: here in Bozeman, We've developed a relationship over the years, 682 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 1: and he's, uh, he's involved and knowledgeable in the world 683 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,719 Speaker 1: of conservation in a way that that I am not. 684 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: So that's he was one of the first people I 685 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 1: just was like, Hey, Mandy, I got a crazy idea. 686 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: I want to run this off you. What do you 687 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,839 Speaker 1: think you know? And and that and uh and I 688 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,239 Speaker 1: did that with a handful of people, and generally the 689 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 1: response from everybody was super positive and yeah, this is 690 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,399 Speaker 1: this makes a lot of sense. Let's this this needs 691 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: to happen, right And I think after collectively hearing hearing 692 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: that enthusiasm, uh, you know, from from people who I 693 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,399 Speaker 1: respective and I thought had had a good perspective on 694 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:22,759 Speaker 1: on the industry and the need that was kind of 695 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,560 Speaker 1: what what kept my motivation going of Okay, so now 696 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 1: what's what's the next step? Look like? What do we 697 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 1: have to do to to move this down the path? 698 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: If if generally I feel confident that that people smart 699 00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: people are are on board and see an opportunity for this, 700 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:39,839 Speaker 1: then how do we keep it going? Yea, So how 701 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:42,959 Speaker 1: do you keep it going? What happened next? I'm loving 702 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 1: I'm loving this like it's like a nonprofit entrepreneurs journey. 703 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: I'm fascinated by it right Yeah, which, which I'll aggress 704 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: for a minute. Which is interesting because I've always I've 705 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 1: always had a desire to own my own business or 706 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 1: start my own business, and you know, I've always assumed 707 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: it would be something that would be profitable. So to 708 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,719 Speaker 1: have put so much time and passion into something that 709 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 1: will make me no money has been interesting mental conflict 710 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 1: in itself. But I know there's a better cause there. 711 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 1: It'll it'll it'll pay dividends in the future in different ways. 712 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:16,359 Speaker 1: It'll come back to. But but yeah, so next, I mean, 713 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: what was cool was one of the questions I had, 714 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:21,919 Speaker 1: or what Randy came back for was, was was, well, 715 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 1: Craig Matthews, this guy that started one percent for the 716 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: Planet with the Vachnard, lives in West Yellowstone, which is 717 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:30,880 Speaker 1: only a hour and a half drive from Bozeman. And 718 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: I was like, does anybody I know know him? And 719 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: Randy was like, I know some people that know him, 720 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 1: and and we, uh, it was kind of cool. We 721 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 1: we kind of we pretty much cold called him and said, hey, hey, Craig, 722 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: you don't know us, but what you people want to 723 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: have lunch with us? And we picked brain and run 724 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: something by you and uh, and we did just that. 725 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: So Randy and I drove down and and met Craig 726 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 1: and Nis Montana, which is about halfway between and and 727 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:58,280 Speaker 1: at that point we didn't even really have a really 728 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,800 Speaker 1: formalized concept yet. It then then this is what we 729 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:05,440 Speaker 1: think we could do. Um. And we sat down and 730 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:08,360 Speaker 1: had lunch with Craig and he was super nice, helpful dude. 731 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,880 Speaker 1: Um typical Montana. Loved to fish. You owned sup fly shops, 732 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: so obviously love to fish, appreciate, respects, hunting and hunters, 733 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:20,240 Speaker 1: and he was and he was more than willing to 734 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:25,320 Speaker 1: share information with us, a very philanthropic guy, UM that 735 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:28,239 Speaker 1: that generally is passionate, wants to make the world a 736 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,920 Speaker 1: better place, wants to help wildlife and uh. And that 737 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,000 Speaker 1: was really refreshing. And that opened Randy and eyes eyes 738 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 1: to a lot of things about one percent for the 739 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:41,840 Speaker 1: Planet and the organization that we didn't we didn't realize 740 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 1: that we didn't know UM. And it turns out in 741 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 1: hindsight looking back, that that was a very helpful conversation 742 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:52,240 Speaker 1: and that got us down down a path where where 743 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:55,800 Speaker 1: we truly started working our organization and framing it around 744 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,279 Speaker 1: the same kind of template and business model at one 745 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:02,319 Speaker 1: percent for the Planet has and we actually started with 746 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 1: the working name of the organization as one percent for Conservation, 747 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 1: which which we can get into two because as you 748 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:14,000 Speaker 1: noticed now our name is different twice as good, twice 749 00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:17,360 Speaker 1: as good, right, and that and that and that became 750 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,080 Speaker 1: that came out of a lot of feedback that we had, 751 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 1: so we we've really started building the organization one percent 752 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:28,479 Speaker 1: for Conservation. You know, worked with a good buddy of mine, Brent, 753 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 1: who is on on the board. UM he's a c 754 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:33,880 Speaker 1: p A here in town. I you know, I started 755 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:35,759 Speaker 1: doing my normal Google research. I feel like I'm a 756 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,720 Speaker 1: Google expert. Right, you can learn a lot from Google, 757 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:40,360 Speaker 1: but I don't know if it's always the best resource. 758 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: But but we needed to get five one C three 759 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:46,759 Speaker 1: status from my RS to start a nonprofit. Right that 760 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:48,399 Speaker 1: that's kind of like, you know, if you're doing a 761 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:51,520 Speaker 1: profitable business, you have to incorporate it. You're starting nonprofit, 762 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:54,719 Speaker 1: you gotta do. You have to get a termination from 763 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: IRS that you're a legitimate five one C three and 764 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:00,839 Speaker 1: and uh and I was like, I could do this, 765 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:02,440 Speaker 1: you know, it's probably just a form that you had 766 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 1: to fill out. Well, it turns out it's a lot 767 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:08,319 Speaker 1: more work than that. Uh So I recruited my buddy Brent, 768 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: who who I met from sitting on the local board 769 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:14,439 Speaker 1: of a Mule Deer Foundation chapter here in Bozeman. He's 770 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,320 Speaker 1: the treasurer for that. And I said, hey, man, any 771 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 1: chance you want to help me figure out how to 772 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,399 Speaker 1: do this? And there's my idea. And and I looked 773 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: at the five O one C three form and it's 774 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:27,399 Speaker 1: it's giant, and it's daunting, and I have no clue 775 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:30,960 Speaker 1: or to start and uh, and he said yeah, and 776 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:35,400 Speaker 1: he essentially did the you know, help volunteers time to 777 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:38,759 Speaker 1: go through the process and do that. And so that 778 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:41,640 Speaker 1: was a big step. And then after then, after that, 779 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,319 Speaker 1: it's an eight hundred dollar fee to file that. I 780 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:47,920 Speaker 1: was kind of committed and they'll do it right, And 781 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 1: so I took, you know, eight hundred dollars out of 782 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:53,200 Speaker 1: my savings, which which my wife wasn't super stoked on, 783 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: but she had faith in me. And then you know, 784 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:57,960 Speaker 1: from then on I had skin in the game at 785 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:04,719 Speaker 1: least to keep it going. Yeah. Bet, so maybe we 786 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:08,000 Speaker 1: should we should. I've been kind of building the suspense here. 787 00:41:08,040 --> 00:41:11,160 Speaker 1: We haven't really said too much in detail about what 788 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,239 Speaker 1: two percent for Conservation is is exactly doing You've we've 789 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 1: kind of alluded to a little bit talking about one 790 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:18,960 Speaker 1: percent for the planet. But but now you've got this 791 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: new name two percent for Conservation, which if you want 792 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,000 Speaker 1: to elaborate again, why you change the name, you can, 793 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 1: But I also would be curious just to start hearing 794 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:28,680 Speaker 1: a little bit more. Okay, so what what did you 795 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,560 Speaker 1: end up finally finally settling on as to what this 796 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 1: group is going to do? Yeah? So, um so, to twofold, right, 797 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:41,440 Speaker 1: So the problems and the issues that came out of 798 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:43,960 Speaker 1: that white tail someone at qt m A were we're 799 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:46,600 Speaker 1: kind of twofold. In my mind it was it was one, 800 00:41:46,719 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 1: how do we help fund in geos? NGOs is an 801 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:55,719 Speaker 1: acronym for non governmental organizations, which which are all your 802 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 1: kind of five one C three C four conservation groups. So, um, 803 00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:02,480 Speaker 1: they're not your state. So there's there's kind of two 804 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:05,680 Speaker 1: different avenues and wildlife conservation. Right. There's your state and 805 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:08,759 Speaker 1: federal agencies, right, the department official game for each state, 806 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 1: and then there's the Elk Foundations of the world and 807 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:15,640 Speaker 1: the New Oldier Foundations and q d A s and 808 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:18,799 Speaker 1: the world who are who are non governmental organizations? Right? 809 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:20,919 Speaker 1: And so what we came out of that was, Okay, 810 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:25,440 Speaker 1: how do we help get more money to those organizations? Um? 811 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:27,799 Speaker 1: And then in my mind secondary it was, and this 812 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,239 Speaker 1: kind of comes from my experience at SICCA and also 813 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:34,279 Speaker 1: my affinity as a consumer for certain hunting brands, is 814 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:39,040 Speaker 1: how do we provide recognition for businesses who are committed 815 00:42:39,080 --> 00:42:43,080 Speaker 1: to giving back to conservation? Right? Um? Because I truly 816 00:42:43,120 --> 00:42:46,320 Speaker 1: believe there's value there, there's value for brand to market 817 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:51,239 Speaker 1: that and there's there's consumers who do appreciate that like 818 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:54,080 Speaker 1: I would. I would totally rather buy products from companies 819 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 1: who are philosophically aligned with with my beliefs and supporting 820 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:02,560 Speaker 1: conservation than ones who are. UM. So that was kind 821 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:06,360 Speaker 1: of the big takeaways of what we're gonna do. And 822 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 1: and you know, one percent for the planet. Their model 823 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:14,120 Speaker 1: did that very well. Um. And when I started talking 824 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:18,560 Speaker 1: about how this would fit into the hunting and fishing world, um, 825 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:20,960 Speaker 1: it made a lot of sense. And that a business 826 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:24,279 Speaker 1: would be certified by our organization two percent of a 827 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 1: conservation that they do meet certain criteria. Uh. And with 828 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:31,799 Speaker 1: with that certification, then they could use the logo the 829 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:35,080 Speaker 1: two percent of the conservational logo on their products to 830 00:43:35,320 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: promote their commitment to conservation to two consumers. So at 831 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 1: the highest level, that's kind of what we do as 832 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:47,640 Speaker 1: an organization is certify that businesses do meet criteria that 833 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:52,160 Speaker 1: we define of giving back to conservation. Okay, and so 834 00:43:52,200 --> 00:43:55,360 Speaker 1: taking a step back your your template, your inspiration for 835 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:57,440 Speaker 1: this was one percent for the planet, and you might 836 00:43:57,520 --> 00:44:00,080 Speaker 1: have mentioned this If I missed, I apologize, but just 837 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:03,920 Speaker 1: to clarify what they do the way that they qualify 838 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:07,120 Speaker 1: the brands that are part of one percent for the planet, 839 00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 1: is that that company is to donate. Increpit my if 840 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:12,879 Speaker 1: I'm wrong, but it's one percent of revenue or rump 841 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:16,800 Speaker 1: center that it's one percent of sales or gross revenue, 842 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:18,520 Speaker 1: however you want to define it. But it's your top 843 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:22,040 Speaker 1: line revenue, you know, so as your as your businesses 844 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 1: tax or turn you gotta report revenue income. It's one 845 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:27,960 Speaker 1: percent of that. So it's gross gross sales. Okay. So 846 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:31,759 Speaker 1: a company donates one percent of gross sales to certified 847 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:34,400 Speaker 1: NGOs that support the environment of the planet or whatever, 848 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:36,360 Speaker 1: and then they can get stamped with a one percent 849 00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:39,880 Speaker 1: for the Planet kind of brand and and they qualify 850 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,919 Speaker 1: and hey, these you know that organization is qualified as yes, 851 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:47,520 Speaker 1: they really are doing positive things for for the Earth, 852 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:51,400 Speaker 1: et cetera. So then exactly, so then you guys, you 853 00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 1: took this idea and so that makes less sense. But 854 00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:55,719 Speaker 1: you know, how can we make it better? How can 855 00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 1: we apply it to the hunting and fishing world? So 856 00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:01,319 Speaker 1: how did you do that? Jeff? Yeah, So so that's right. 857 00:45:01,360 --> 00:45:04,160 Speaker 1: So one of the through my conversations and learnings with 858 00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:06,640 Speaker 1: with a bunch of different people organizations. The thing that 859 00:45:06,719 --> 00:45:10,600 Speaker 1: came up beyond money, right, so you're one person of 860 00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:13,480 Speaker 1: sales is essentially money that's going to go help fund 861 00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:20,560 Speaker 1: these these conservation groups. UM. I heard feedback that arguably 862 00:45:20,680 --> 00:45:24,600 Speaker 1: time was more valuable for conservation groups than money. Right Now, 863 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,720 Speaker 1: some people might debate that, but the fact is time 864 00:45:27,719 --> 00:45:30,360 Speaker 1: and money are the two most important things that conservation 865 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:33,920 Speaker 1: groups need to be successful in achieving their mission work. Right, 866 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:38,799 Speaker 1: they need volunteers. Conservation isn't just a concept, right, Conservation 867 00:45:38,960 --> 00:45:42,600 Speaker 1: is is actually doing on the groundwork, be it with 868 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:49,120 Speaker 1: wildlife and poor habitat or or both. Right. So, so yes, 869 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:51,200 Speaker 1: you need you need money to help fund that work, 870 00:45:51,239 --> 00:45:55,479 Speaker 1: but you need volunteers to to actually do the work. Um. 871 00:45:55,520 --> 00:45:58,839 Speaker 1: And that is where our second one percent comes from, 872 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:01,600 Speaker 1: and kind of the slow aget that with branded our name, 873 00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:04,440 Speaker 1: our naming convention as as we mentioned, is two percent 874 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:07,520 Speaker 1: for conservation, and that is defined by committing to give 875 00:46:07,520 --> 00:46:10,600 Speaker 1: back one percent of your time plus one percent of 876 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:14,480 Speaker 1: your money. Is it equals two percent for conservation. So 877 00:46:14,520 --> 00:46:18,040 Speaker 1: that's that's kind of how we've evolved that model and 878 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:21,239 Speaker 1: that foundation that one percent for the planet built, and 879 00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:24,080 Speaker 1: we believe that makes the model even more impactful and 880 00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:28,840 Speaker 1: stronger for fish and wildlife conservation groups. Yeah. Absolutely, And 881 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:30,719 Speaker 1: I love the idea. When I first heard about this, 882 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:36,200 Speaker 1: I I like, I genuinely got like physically excited, Like 883 00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:37,799 Speaker 1: I was like, Yes, I was like, this is a 884 00:46:37,840 --> 00:46:40,080 Speaker 1: great idea. This makes all the sense in the world 885 00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:42,960 Speaker 1: because because there are you know, there are so many 886 00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:45,520 Speaker 1: hunters and anglers out there who care about this type 887 00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:48,680 Speaker 1: of thing. And I think that there are many companies 888 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,000 Speaker 1: that care about this type of thing. But to your point, 889 00:46:51,400 --> 00:46:53,399 Speaker 1: I'm not sure all those companies that are actually doing 890 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,960 Speaker 1: good things are being recognized. And I'm not sure if 891 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:58,960 Speaker 1: maybe there are some companies out there that aren't doing 892 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:01,839 Speaker 1: things that need a little bit of additional incentive maybe 893 00:47:01,840 --> 00:47:03,640 Speaker 1: to push them in the right direction. This seems to 894 00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:07,960 Speaker 1: do both of those things, UM in a really positive way. 895 00:47:08,040 --> 00:47:11,040 Speaker 1: So can you can we start diving into the details here? 896 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:14,320 Speaker 1: Can you tell me for businesses? First off, how exactly 897 00:47:14,360 --> 00:47:17,920 Speaker 1: do they get involved and what does this mean for them? Yeah? 898 00:47:18,239 --> 00:47:22,040 Speaker 1: Of course, so so businesses, Uh, they have to meet 899 00:47:22,080 --> 00:47:25,680 Speaker 1: the minimum criteria, right, and that criteria is is defined 900 00:47:25,880 --> 00:47:28,560 Speaker 1: by UM. What I think we've done a pretty good 901 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:31,399 Speaker 1: job of saying is one percent of your sales. So 902 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:33,840 Speaker 1: if you give back one person of your sales to 903 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:39,000 Speaker 1: conservation groups, that's one half of the criteria. Now there's 904 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:40,880 Speaker 1: a lot of questions I've arisen from that, So what 905 00:47:40,920 --> 00:47:44,160 Speaker 1: do you What is defines giving back and what defines 906 00:47:44,239 --> 00:47:48,680 Speaker 1: conservation groups are the two the two most needed clarification points. 907 00:47:48,680 --> 00:47:52,279 Speaker 1: So giving back is is we define it as if 908 00:47:52,320 --> 00:47:58,319 Speaker 1: your business is foregoing proceeds for that conservation group's mission work. Right, 909 00:47:58,440 --> 00:48:00,960 Speaker 1: and it is the easiest way to look at at 910 00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:04,080 Speaker 1: the highest level, so that could be product donations. Right. 911 00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:07,480 Speaker 1: So a lot of these groups, their traditional funding mechanism 912 00:48:07,560 --> 00:48:10,200 Speaker 1: is is the banquets that we are all familiar with 913 00:48:10,239 --> 00:48:14,360 Speaker 1: of going to to the local or regional uh Mulear 914 00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:18,279 Speaker 1: Foundation banquet and they have a bunch of products for sale. Well, 915 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:21,000 Speaker 1: that product comes from somewhere, right, It comes from these 916 00:48:21,040 --> 00:48:24,359 Speaker 1: businesses that either donated or sell it at a lower 917 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:27,520 Speaker 1: costs so the conservation group can resell it and raise funds. 918 00:48:28,120 --> 00:48:30,240 Speaker 1: So those proceeds for gone from that for your business, 919 00:48:30,280 --> 00:48:33,200 Speaker 1: that that counts as a contribution and conservation those are 920 00:48:33,440 --> 00:48:39,000 Speaker 1: hugely important and critical to the fundraising of conservation groups. Um. 921 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:43,000 Speaker 1: Other things that count are are obviously direct donations. But 922 00:48:43,000 --> 00:48:46,080 Speaker 1: but things that are often overlooked or our sponsorships and 923 00:48:46,080 --> 00:48:50,160 Speaker 1: advertisements with conservation groups. So so how conservation groups have 924 00:48:50,239 --> 00:48:53,280 Speaker 1: evolved over the years to raise funds or to offer 925 00:48:53,360 --> 00:48:59,440 Speaker 1: corporate sponsorships. So so x business wants to work with 926 00:48:59,440 --> 00:49:01,680 Speaker 1: with this etain with q d M A. Well, q 927 00:49:01,840 --> 00:49:03,680 Speaker 1: d M A will say, hey, yeah, this is great you. 928 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:06,799 Speaker 1: We'll do a sponsorship package with you where we will 929 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:08,640 Speaker 1: give you a print at in our magazine, We'll do 930 00:49:08,680 --> 00:49:11,799 Speaker 1: an email blast, We'll we'll try to help promote your 931 00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:14,520 Speaker 1: brand as much as we can. Well that that's a 932 00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:17,480 Speaker 1: contribution to conservation too. Even though it's a marketing investment 933 00:49:17,480 --> 00:49:20,719 Speaker 1: for your brand, that's important for conservation groups and necessary 934 00:49:20,760 --> 00:49:25,400 Speaker 1: funds for them to achieve their mission. Other things are 935 00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:30,160 Speaker 1: exhibiting at a at a conservation groups trade show. Right 936 00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:34,239 Speaker 1: trade shows are consumers shows for some conservation groups or 937 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:39,319 Speaker 1: are some of the biggest fundraising events. Um. One that 938 00:49:39,600 --> 00:49:42,000 Speaker 1: comes to mind that that we have stick exhibit out 939 00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:43,960 Speaker 1: every year as the wild Sheet Foundation. They have a 940 00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:50,320 Speaker 1: show and reno every year and they have everything you know, businesses, brands, outfitters, 941 00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:52,760 Speaker 1: but a bunch of vendors, but that is a huge 942 00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:55,719 Speaker 1: fundraising mechanism for them, so committing to go to that 943 00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:59,000 Speaker 1: show as a business to work with them as a 944 00:49:59,040 --> 00:50:02,560 Speaker 1: contribution to help them raise funds. So so collectively, when 945 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:03,960 Speaker 1: you start to look at all the different things you 946 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:07,719 Speaker 1: do as a business, it's it becomes, uh, it's an 947 00:50:07,719 --> 00:50:10,520 Speaker 1: interesting exercise and there's a lot of opportunity for you 948 00:50:10,680 --> 00:50:13,360 Speaker 1: to promote your brand through your contributions, which is a 949 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:16,160 Speaker 1: huge advantage that that I think we as hunting and 950 00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:19,320 Speaker 1: fishing industry have over over you know, one percent for 951 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:22,520 Speaker 1: the planet and they're try to get demographic. So so 952 00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:24,560 Speaker 1: that's one one. That's the first part of it. You 953 00:50:24,560 --> 00:50:26,480 Speaker 1: have to prove that your company gives back one percent 954 00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:28,800 Speaker 1: of sales. And then the second part of it is 955 00:50:28,840 --> 00:50:33,040 Speaker 1: one percent of time. And we based that off of uh, 956 00:50:33,239 --> 00:50:36,640 Speaker 1: you know, there's there's roughly two thousand and eighty work 957 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:38,920 Speaker 1: hours in the year, so one percent of that is 958 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:42,279 Speaker 1: it is approximately twenty one hours. And it's collectively as 959 00:50:42,280 --> 00:50:44,799 Speaker 1: a business, whether you have one employee or whether you 960 00:50:44,840 --> 00:50:49,160 Speaker 1: have a hundred employees, collectively does year does year business 961 00:50:49,239 --> 00:50:54,000 Speaker 1: give back twenty one hours of volunteer time? And why 962 00:50:54,080 --> 00:50:58,080 Speaker 1: this is so important outside of outside of the need 963 00:50:58,160 --> 00:51:01,600 Speaker 1: of of conservation group to have more volunteers and more 964 00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:05,120 Speaker 1: man hours, but it gets those businesses involved, right. So 965 00:51:06,040 --> 00:51:07,680 Speaker 1: I don't think it's appropriate to say it's easy to 966 00:51:07,719 --> 00:51:10,640 Speaker 1: write a check, but arguably any business can just write 967 00:51:10,680 --> 00:51:14,359 Speaker 1: a check, and that isn't as impactful as saying, hey, 968 00:51:14,400 --> 00:51:16,680 Speaker 1: not only do we write a check, but we're going 969 00:51:16,680 --> 00:51:18,560 Speaker 1: out and we're getting involved and we're doing a river 970 00:51:18,640 --> 00:51:22,520 Speaker 1: cleanup project, or we're you know, we're doing a finch 971 00:51:22,560 --> 00:51:25,680 Speaker 1: removal project, or we're doing whatever that is. We're doing 972 00:51:25,719 --> 00:51:27,560 Speaker 1: more than just writing a check, and we're showing our 973 00:51:27,600 --> 00:51:30,880 Speaker 1: commitment is deeper than that and we're passionate enough to 974 00:51:30,920 --> 00:51:33,080 Speaker 1: go out and get our hands dirty for for the 975 00:51:33,080 --> 00:51:37,600 Speaker 1: conservation cause as well. What I love about this is that, yeah, 976 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:40,640 Speaker 1: let's say twenty one hours, that can make a big difference. 977 00:51:40,680 --> 00:51:43,640 Speaker 1: But let's say you get someone out there maybe in 978 00:51:43,719 --> 00:51:45,840 Speaker 1: the past hasn't been willing to get their their hands 979 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:48,239 Speaker 1: dirty or do something like that. I think just by 980 00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:50,520 Speaker 1: getting giving people a little incentive to get out and 981 00:51:50,520 --> 00:51:52,319 Speaker 1: do some of these things a little bit more, there 982 00:51:52,320 --> 00:51:56,040 Speaker 1: seems to be like an exponential factor of growth beyond them, 983 00:51:56,040 --> 00:51:58,880 Speaker 1: like a ripple effect where that person realized, hey, this 984 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:01,080 Speaker 1: didn't make an impact, this is a great thing I 985 00:52:01,080 --> 00:52:04,120 Speaker 1: can get involved in, and that person influences their network, 986 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:07,239 Speaker 1: who influences their network. And I feel like, if you know, 987 00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:09,960 Speaker 1: more and more companies get involved in things like this, 988 00:52:10,239 --> 00:52:13,160 Speaker 1: the effect that can have is is pretty profound, I 989 00:52:13,160 --> 00:52:15,760 Speaker 1: feel like, and it's something that again, like you said, 990 00:52:15,880 --> 00:52:20,040 Speaker 1: money is of course important, but it takes boots on 991 00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,760 Speaker 1: the ground, it takes action, it takes time and energy, 992 00:52:23,160 --> 00:52:25,520 Speaker 1: and this is a pretty cool way of helping people 993 00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:27,959 Speaker 1: get that extra nudge that yes, this is a great 994 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:31,120 Speaker 1: thing and it can it can benefit all of us 995 00:52:31,239 --> 00:52:33,920 Speaker 1: the wildlife habitat and then also your business in a 996 00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:36,920 Speaker 1: way too. Yeah, exactly, And I think I think you 997 00:52:36,960 --> 00:52:39,000 Speaker 1: can make a good point there. I hope that and 998 00:52:39,080 --> 00:52:42,239 Speaker 1: time will tell us as we get this organization going 999 00:52:42,280 --> 00:52:44,680 Speaker 1: and we learned. But I hope that twenty one hours, 1000 00:52:44,680 --> 00:52:47,960 Speaker 1: once businesses commit to that, I think, and I hope 1001 00:52:47,960 --> 00:52:50,080 Speaker 1: what they'll find is they're good, They're actually volunteered much 1002 00:52:50,120 --> 00:52:55,120 Speaker 1: more than that, um uh, not even just the ripple effect, 1003 00:52:55,160 --> 00:52:58,520 Speaker 1: but but just beyond that, you know, yeah, I kind 1004 00:52:58,520 --> 00:53:00,440 Speaker 1: of wish you could have a higher our count just 1005 00:53:00,520 --> 00:53:03,840 Speaker 1: because twenty one hour seems so achievable, but at the 1006 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:05,880 Speaker 1: same time it's it makes a lot of sense. It 1007 00:53:05,920 --> 00:53:09,320 Speaker 1: helps people, It feels achievable so that people want to 1008 00:53:09,360 --> 00:53:10,799 Speaker 1: get involved. And I think once you get that foot 1009 00:53:10,800 --> 00:53:13,480 Speaker 1: in the door, I think I'm guessing that you will 1010 00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:15,719 Speaker 1: have a lot of organizations and people involved in those 1011 00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:18,560 Speaker 1: organizations who get started and then who just want to 1012 00:53:18,560 --> 00:53:22,000 Speaker 1: do more. So I think that'll be that'll be great. 1013 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:26,880 Speaker 1: And I guess I want to I want to emphasize again, 1014 00:53:27,719 --> 00:53:30,440 Speaker 1: in order for this, at least this is my assumption. 1015 00:53:30,600 --> 00:53:32,360 Speaker 1: You tell me if I'm wrong, But in order for 1016 00:53:32,400 --> 00:53:34,279 Speaker 1: this to work right, if if we say, if we 1017 00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:37,160 Speaker 1: tell explain to a business, hey, if you do this 1018 00:53:37,200 --> 00:53:40,880 Speaker 1: and this, you know we're going to help you better 1019 00:53:41,239 --> 00:53:44,120 Speaker 1: demonstrate to your consumers into people out there that you 1020 00:53:44,160 --> 00:53:46,160 Speaker 1: are giving back to conservation, that you do care about 1021 00:53:46,200 --> 00:53:49,560 Speaker 1: these greater things. But the most important onus really is 1022 00:53:49,600 --> 00:53:52,520 Speaker 1: on us as the consumers, because we need to prove. 1023 00:53:52,640 --> 00:53:54,799 Speaker 1: We need to prove this out right by saying we 1024 00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:58,560 Speaker 1: the buyers of products, we do care if X company 1025 00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:01,919 Speaker 1: is actually working to a larger positive, a larger good. 1026 00:54:02,000 --> 00:54:04,799 Speaker 1: We do care if WHY company is given back their 1027 00:54:04,800 --> 00:54:06,799 Speaker 1: time and money. And the way we do that is 1028 00:54:06,840 --> 00:54:09,640 Speaker 1: by telling them but then also most importantly telling them 1029 00:54:09,640 --> 00:54:12,360 Speaker 1: whether our wallets right, we actually need to use this 1030 00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:15,600 Speaker 1: as a part of our consumer choice. Yeah, that that's 1031 00:54:15,600 --> 00:54:20,359 Speaker 1: exactly right. That this model is completely reliant on us 1032 00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:26,000 Speaker 1: as sportsmen and women demanding that that businesses are involved. Right. 1033 00:54:26,040 --> 00:54:30,520 Speaker 1: And we do that by by getting active on social media, 1034 00:54:30,560 --> 00:54:35,960 Speaker 1: by talking about conservation, by showing our appreciation for it. 1035 00:54:36,200 --> 00:54:39,719 Speaker 1: But but yes, by then purchasing products from companies who 1036 00:54:39,719 --> 00:54:43,560 Speaker 1: do give back to conservation. And that's that's the that's 1037 00:54:43,560 --> 00:54:47,120 Speaker 1: what makes the circle go go around. Um. And you 1038 00:54:47,120 --> 00:54:49,560 Speaker 1: can feel good as a consumer by doing that because 1039 00:54:49,680 --> 00:54:52,359 Speaker 1: you go out and buy a new bow next year. 1040 00:54:53,040 --> 00:54:54,839 Speaker 1: If if you buy a boat from a company that's 1041 00:54:54,880 --> 00:54:57,960 Speaker 1: a member of two percent for conservation, you know, you 1042 00:54:58,000 --> 00:55:00,640 Speaker 1: know that that a portion of that sale of what 1043 00:55:00,760 --> 00:55:02,640 Speaker 1: that check you're right into the boat shop is is 1044 00:55:02,719 --> 00:55:07,160 Speaker 1: going back um to a conservation costs. Yeah. I almost 1045 00:55:07,239 --> 00:55:09,440 Speaker 1: feel like, you know, once it's and I hope and 1046 00:55:09,480 --> 00:55:12,200 Speaker 1: I feel confident that a will once it gains steam 1047 00:55:12,200 --> 00:55:14,680 Speaker 1: and more and more companies you know, get involved, I 1048 00:55:14,719 --> 00:55:17,319 Speaker 1: hope this becomes just a plan out pre wreck. Like 1049 00:55:17,360 --> 00:55:19,440 Speaker 1: if you want to be involved in the outdoor hunting 1050 00:55:19,440 --> 00:55:21,800 Speaker 1: and fishing industry, you just have to be part of 1051 00:55:21,840 --> 00:55:25,200 Speaker 1: two percent for Conservation because hunters and anglers demand that 1052 00:55:25,280 --> 00:55:29,160 Speaker 1: the companies that produce their gear also are doing larger 1053 00:55:29,200 --> 00:55:31,680 Speaker 1: positive things to make sure that we can hunt and 1054 00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:33,959 Speaker 1: fish and have wildlife and wild places in the future. 1055 00:55:34,000 --> 00:55:36,399 Speaker 1: I think us as individuals we need to be doing 1056 00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:38,600 Speaker 1: that too, and I think we should we should expect 1057 00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:40,759 Speaker 1: the same thing from the companies that are that are 1058 00:55:40,760 --> 00:55:43,320 Speaker 1: profiting from it too. And and and then by saying that, 1059 00:55:43,360 --> 00:55:45,680 Speaker 1: I'm including myself in that too, Right, I run a 1060 00:55:45,719 --> 00:55:48,359 Speaker 1: business in the hunting and fishing world. I too feel 1061 00:55:48,400 --> 00:55:50,399 Speaker 1: like my business and myself should be held to those 1062 00:55:50,440 --> 00:55:52,600 Speaker 1: kinds of standards. And I love the fact that two 1063 00:55:52,680 --> 00:55:55,279 Speaker 1: percent for Conservation is a way to do that in 1064 00:55:55,280 --> 00:55:58,920 Speaker 1: a positive way. Yeah, And I think, yeah, I totally agree, 1065 00:55:58,920 --> 00:56:00,799 Speaker 1: and I think that's a great and I do want 1066 00:56:00,840 --> 00:56:04,959 Speaker 1: to point out um to that point, and especially because 1067 00:56:04,960 --> 00:56:07,880 Speaker 1: I used an archery company as an example, is is 1068 00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:10,359 Speaker 1: we have a history of doing this as as sportsman right. 1069 00:56:10,360 --> 00:56:13,840 Speaker 1: The Pittman Robertson Act, which was voted in by Sportsman 1070 00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:17,480 Speaker 1: and written up by Sportsman seven is is exactly that, 1071 00:56:17,560 --> 00:56:21,120 Speaker 1: and on a much higher scale where I think now 1072 00:56:21,120 --> 00:56:27,360 Speaker 1: it's eleven percent of guns, ammunition, archery and archery equipment 1073 00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:31,560 Speaker 1: sales go back to funding state fish and wildlife agencies. 1074 00:56:31,560 --> 00:56:36,600 Speaker 1: So so that model exists, that model is successful, and 1075 00:56:36,680 --> 00:56:41,360 Speaker 1: it's already embraced by consumers, sportsman and by by businesses. 1076 00:56:41,480 --> 00:56:44,440 Speaker 1: So you know, to give archery companies credit even if 1077 00:56:44,440 --> 00:56:46,879 Speaker 1: they're not members of two percent for Conservation, they are 1078 00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:51,359 Speaker 1: already the ones responsible uh for for funding our state 1079 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:54,640 Speaker 1: and fish and wildlife agencies. Right, um, so so that's 1080 00:56:54,640 --> 00:56:56,719 Speaker 1: really important. I think what's cool about the two percent 1081 00:56:56,800 --> 00:57:00,200 Speaker 1: for Conservation model is is it takes that same him 1082 00:57:00,880 --> 00:57:04,160 Speaker 1: uh standard and stay in philosophy and it helps us 1083 00:57:04,239 --> 00:57:07,520 Speaker 1: raise money for the ngeos. So whereas the Pittman Robertson 1084 00:57:07,560 --> 00:57:11,320 Speaker 1: Act is strictly focused on on state and federal wildlife management, 1085 00:57:11,440 --> 00:57:14,640 Speaker 1: this is this is a way for businesses one to 1086 00:57:15,560 --> 00:57:18,720 Speaker 1: to do a similar thing but help ngeos. And then 1087 00:57:18,760 --> 00:57:21,040 Speaker 1: to the cool thing about this model is, as a business, 1088 00:57:21,040 --> 00:57:23,640 Speaker 1: do you have the choice to invest and contribute your 1089 00:57:23,640 --> 00:57:26,680 Speaker 1: money to whoever you want? Where the Pittman Robertson Act 1090 00:57:26,720 --> 00:57:30,320 Speaker 1: goes into a fund that is then dispersed by the 1091 00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:34,200 Speaker 1: government and you, as you know Matthew's archery when you 1092 00:57:34,200 --> 00:57:37,280 Speaker 1: write that Pittman Robertson check, you don't necessarily have a 1093 00:57:37,360 --> 00:57:40,760 Speaker 1: say and where it goes. Um, nor does it necessarily 1094 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:43,560 Speaker 1: help you build your brand through through two percent from conservation. 1095 00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:48,680 Speaker 1: You can invest it in marketing opportunities with specifically conservation 1096 00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:51,560 Speaker 1: groups that you are passionate about. So so there's some cool, 1097 00:57:52,320 --> 00:57:55,840 Speaker 1: cool spinds on it from that spit standpoint. Yeah, definitely. Now, 1098 00:57:55,880 --> 00:57:57,800 Speaker 1: if I own a business right now and I'm listening 1099 00:57:57,880 --> 00:58:02,919 Speaker 1: to this, what do I do to get my business involved? So? 1100 00:58:03,120 --> 00:58:08,240 Speaker 1: Uh So, our our website is Fish and Wildlife dot org. 1101 00:58:08,800 --> 00:58:11,640 Speaker 1: So the easiest way to get in contact with us 1102 00:58:11,720 --> 00:58:14,240 Speaker 1: is to go to our website. We have a lot 1103 00:58:14,280 --> 00:58:18,480 Speaker 1: of information that that you know is specifically about the 1104 00:58:18,480 --> 00:58:22,360 Speaker 1: things we've been discussing on this on this podcast. Um, 1105 00:58:22,480 --> 00:58:24,600 Speaker 1: but you need to get a hold of us and 1106 00:58:24,640 --> 00:58:27,600 Speaker 1: we uh, we need to go through the certification process. 1107 00:58:27,680 --> 00:58:33,040 Speaker 1: And the certification process is so important to to our 1108 00:58:33,160 --> 00:58:37,840 Speaker 1: model because uploads upholds the integrity of what we're doing. UM, 1109 00:58:37,920 --> 00:58:41,320 Speaker 1: that we need to we need to have a serious 1110 00:58:41,360 --> 00:58:44,920 Speaker 1: conversation and I'll look at who you've contributed to what 1111 00:58:45,040 --> 00:58:47,480 Speaker 1: those contributions are, what they add up to to make 1112 00:58:47,520 --> 00:58:50,400 Speaker 1: sure they truly are one percent of your sales. And 1113 00:58:50,440 --> 00:58:53,440 Speaker 1: then and then look at your volunteer time and what 1114 00:58:53,480 --> 00:58:57,800 Speaker 1: you're doing. Uh, and it makes sure that there's twenty 1115 00:58:57,840 --> 00:59:01,680 Speaker 1: one hours there. And then I guess the caveat that 1116 00:59:01,720 --> 00:59:04,960 Speaker 1: we obviously have mentioned we as an organization need funding 1117 00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:08,840 Speaker 1: as well. That's how that's how it works and uh. 1118 00:59:08,920 --> 00:59:11,560 Speaker 1: And so then there's a there's a membership fee, right, 1119 00:59:11,600 --> 00:59:14,040 Speaker 1: so you get certified and then you pay an annual 1120 00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:16,120 Speaker 1: membership feed. The membership fee is what we run the 1121 00:59:16,120 --> 00:59:18,959 Speaker 1: overhead for a two per cent conservation and that that's 1122 00:59:19,440 --> 00:59:23,200 Speaker 1: essentially your licensing fee to then be a certified member, 1123 00:59:23,560 --> 00:59:25,920 Speaker 1: and then you're able to use the two percent of 1124 00:59:26,000 --> 00:59:31,160 Speaker 1: conservation will ago to help promote your commitment back. Awesome. 1125 00:59:31,560 --> 00:59:35,960 Speaker 1: Now as I understand it, there's actually a component to 1126 00:59:36,000 --> 00:59:39,320 Speaker 1: this those relevant not just to businesses but also individuals, 1127 00:59:39,400 --> 00:59:41,240 Speaker 1: which is a pretty unique thing. Can you can you 1128 00:59:41,280 --> 00:59:44,040 Speaker 1: tell us more about that? Yeah, for sure, so that 1129 00:59:44,160 --> 00:59:47,680 Speaker 1: there definitely is exactly correct and it's it was one 1130 00:59:47,960 --> 00:59:51,560 Speaker 1: h This component of what we've built into organization came 1131 00:59:51,640 --> 00:59:56,000 Speaker 1: from direct feedback from from Craig Matthews with one percent 1132 00:59:56,040 --> 00:59:57,680 Speaker 1: for the plant. This is one of those little nuggets 1133 00:59:57,720 --> 01:00:00,960 Speaker 1: and information that we got that was I was super 1134 01:00:01,040 --> 01:00:04,240 Speaker 1: helpful and informative. And the question I asked him, one 1135 01:00:04,280 --> 01:00:06,440 Speaker 1: of the questions I asked him was okay, this I mean, 1136 01:00:07,040 --> 01:00:08,520 Speaker 1: you know, at the time, my mind was blowing. I 1137 01:00:08,560 --> 01:00:10,880 Speaker 1: was like, this is amazing. But if you could have 1138 01:00:10,960 --> 01:00:14,680 Speaker 1: done something different, what would it have been? And he 1139 01:00:14,760 --> 01:00:18,440 Speaker 1: said that we would have built in our structured a 1140 01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:21,800 Speaker 1: way for individuals to be involved. And what they had 1141 01:00:21,880 --> 01:00:26,600 Speaker 1: learned UM from hearsay right, So obviously hearsay, But what 1142 01:00:26,640 --> 01:00:28,760 Speaker 1: I understand they learned is that as they built this brand, 1143 01:00:29,840 --> 01:00:33,360 Speaker 1: consumers and individuals who weren't necessarily affiliated with with any 1144 01:00:33,440 --> 01:00:35,840 Speaker 1: business were so passionate about what they were trying to 1145 01:00:35,880 --> 01:00:37,760 Speaker 1: do as an organization about one percent of the planet 1146 01:00:38,040 --> 01:00:40,240 Speaker 1: that they just wanted to be involved. They wanted to help, 1147 01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:42,880 Speaker 1: they wanted to know what they can do, and they 1148 01:00:42,880 --> 01:00:46,080 Speaker 1: didn't really have a mechanism for him to do that. UM. 1149 01:00:46,080 --> 01:00:49,040 Speaker 1: So so I took that to heart and we brainstormed 1150 01:00:50,560 --> 01:00:53,320 Speaker 1: a bunch of different ideas in ways that we felt 1151 01:00:53,760 --> 01:00:57,720 Speaker 1: UM would be relevant to hunting and fishing conservation. What 1152 01:00:57,760 --> 01:01:00,640 Speaker 1: we were trying to do and and what kept coming 1153 01:01:00,720 --> 01:01:03,680 Speaker 1: up to the surface was well, there's a ton of 1154 01:01:03,680 --> 01:01:07,280 Speaker 1: people out there that meet our criteria that that volunteer 1155 01:01:07,360 --> 01:01:10,680 Speaker 1: time and contribute money to conservation causes, just the way 1156 01:01:10,760 --> 01:01:14,680 Speaker 1: we are asking businesses to do. Uh. And then likewise, 1157 01:01:14,680 --> 01:01:16,720 Speaker 1: there are a ton of people who don't. So how 1158 01:01:16,760 --> 01:01:19,680 Speaker 1: how can we one do the same thing, recognize the 1159 01:01:19,720 --> 01:01:23,520 Speaker 1: people that do, and to encourage other people who aren't 1160 01:01:23,560 --> 01:01:26,120 Speaker 1: necessarily involved, who are at that stage in a hunting 1161 01:01:26,160 --> 01:01:28,960 Speaker 1: fishing career where they aren't where you and I are, 1162 01:01:28,960 --> 01:01:31,000 Speaker 1: like we discussed too ready to give back? How do 1163 01:01:31,040 --> 01:01:34,280 Speaker 1: we encourage them and give them an opportunity to do so. So, 1164 01:01:34,280 --> 01:01:36,200 Speaker 1: so what we've done is kind of created this individual 1165 01:01:36,240 --> 01:01:40,160 Speaker 1: certification process where if you are if you are an 1166 01:01:40,200 --> 01:01:43,360 Speaker 1: individual who gives back one percent of your time saying 1167 01:01:43,400 --> 01:01:47,040 Speaker 1: twenty one hours and one person your income whether you 1168 01:01:47,120 --> 01:01:49,080 Speaker 1: make you know, twenty grand year or a hundred and 1169 01:01:49,080 --> 01:01:51,160 Speaker 1: fifty grand year or whatever it is, if you're if 1170 01:01:51,200 --> 01:01:54,480 Speaker 1: you meet those criteria, then in our mind, you are 1171 01:01:54,560 --> 01:01:57,840 Speaker 1: a true conservationist and you deserve recognition for that, and 1172 01:01:57,960 --> 01:02:02,280 Speaker 1: we want we want to help remote uh you for 1173 01:02:02,360 --> 01:02:04,920 Speaker 1: what you've done and and help you know, leverage that 1174 01:02:05,000 --> 01:02:09,840 Speaker 1: to get more people involved. So similar process than two 1175 01:02:09,880 --> 01:02:12,400 Speaker 1: if you do those things that there's a way on 1176 01:02:12,440 --> 01:02:17,040 Speaker 1: the website to start a certification process is yeah. So 1177 01:02:17,040 --> 01:02:19,640 Speaker 1: so we're doing. The certification process for individuals is a 1178 01:02:19,680 --> 01:02:23,080 Speaker 1: little a little different. It's not as as stricter as stringent. 1179 01:02:23,080 --> 01:02:25,600 Speaker 1: It's more on the honor system of of yes I 1180 01:02:25,640 --> 01:02:27,840 Speaker 1: do do this, or or no I don't do this, 1181 01:02:27,960 --> 01:02:30,600 Speaker 1: or yes I I want to and we'll commit to 1182 01:02:30,680 --> 01:02:34,120 Speaker 1: doing this. Um and it's free. It's not a membership thing. 1183 01:02:34,440 --> 01:02:37,600 Speaker 1: It doesn't necessarily you're not You don't become a member 1184 01:02:37,600 --> 01:02:42,200 Speaker 1: per se to presently conservation. But it's a way for you, uh, 1185 01:02:42,560 --> 01:02:45,480 Speaker 1: to to certify that. Yeah. Yeah, I am. I do 1186 01:02:45,600 --> 01:02:49,040 Speaker 1: give back. I am you know, certified conservationist. I'm doing 1187 01:02:49,080 --> 01:02:52,919 Speaker 1: more than just buying my tags and licenses every year. 1188 01:02:53,120 --> 01:02:57,120 Speaker 1: I'm volunteering for the local chapter of d you and 1189 01:02:57,240 --> 01:03:00,640 Speaker 1: I am renewing my memberships to all these different organizations 1190 01:03:00,680 --> 01:03:06,200 Speaker 1: every year. And uh and I'm supporting conservation personally. Um so, 1191 01:03:06,280 --> 01:03:08,640 Speaker 1: so there's no cost, it's free to get certified. We 1192 01:03:08,720 --> 01:03:10,920 Speaker 1: send you a free sticker that that I hope is 1193 01:03:10,960 --> 01:03:13,520 Speaker 1: something that people will be proud to put on their 1194 01:03:13,600 --> 01:03:16,640 Speaker 1: their trucks and their coolers or whatever. Uh. And then 1195 01:03:16,840 --> 01:03:21,120 Speaker 1: you know, as we evolve and get more business members, um, 1196 01:03:21,800 --> 01:03:25,320 Speaker 1: I really hope and envision an opportunity to to do 1197 01:03:25,400 --> 01:03:29,800 Speaker 1: you know, giveaways and promotions and discounts and incentives for 1198 01:03:29,920 --> 01:03:33,520 Speaker 1: these people as as a thank you for for what 1199 01:03:33,560 --> 01:03:35,800 Speaker 1: they've done and they're given back. So one of them 1200 01:03:35,800 --> 01:03:37,760 Speaker 1: that I'm working with sick right now, is can we 1201 01:03:37,800 --> 01:03:39,400 Speaker 1: give away a set of sick of year or two 1202 01:03:39,680 --> 01:03:42,880 Speaker 1: all of our individually certified members, you know, as as 1203 01:03:42,880 --> 01:03:45,400 Speaker 1: a hey, thank you for doing what you do. Here's 1204 01:03:45,400 --> 01:03:47,919 Speaker 1: a cool there's a cool little promotion. So I think 1205 01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:49,760 Speaker 1: we have a lot of opportunity and things we could 1206 01:03:49,760 --> 01:03:53,520 Speaker 1: do with it as we evolve and grow and learn. Um. 1207 01:03:53,640 --> 01:03:56,160 Speaker 1: But but just since we turned the website on live 1208 01:03:56,200 --> 01:03:58,560 Speaker 1: and we kind of launched less than a month ago, now, 1209 01:03:58,680 --> 01:04:03,240 Speaker 1: I've been super excited with how many how many people 1210 01:04:03,240 --> 01:04:06,840 Speaker 1: have come to our website and gotten certified as as 1211 01:04:07,280 --> 01:04:10,920 Speaker 1: true conservations. That's awesome. Well, I would definitely encourage anyone 1212 01:04:10,960 --> 01:04:13,640 Speaker 1: listening right now to go do that. If you if 1213 01:04:13,720 --> 01:04:16,520 Speaker 1: you think you already do qualify, go ahead and make 1214 01:04:16,520 --> 01:04:19,040 Speaker 1: sure submit and and do that. But if if you 1215 01:04:19,080 --> 01:04:23,040 Speaker 1: don't quite qualify yet, here's your little nudge to to 1216 01:04:23,120 --> 01:04:25,840 Speaker 1: make it happen. I personally need to do a little 1217 01:04:25,920 --> 01:04:28,000 Speaker 1: better job on my time, So I'm going to make 1218 01:04:28,000 --> 01:04:30,000 Speaker 1: sure I get that full twenty one hours. And I'm 1219 01:04:30,080 --> 01:04:33,960 Speaker 1: excited to be certified from a two percent for conservation standpoint. 1220 01:04:34,240 --> 01:04:36,400 Speaker 1: And uh yeah, I think it's I think it's a 1221 01:04:36,440 --> 01:04:40,560 Speaker 1: super cool idea to have this individual option, um, just 1222 01:04:40,720 --> 01:04:44,320 Speaker 1: to get both businesses and individuals involved and thinking about 1223 01:04:44,320 --> 01:04:46,360 Speaker 1: this kind of thing. It just has a lot of 1224 01:04:46,840 --> 01:04:49,640 Speaker 1: a lot of positive ramifications. Now, this is something I 1225 01:04:49,640 --> 01:04:51,840 Speaker 1: was thinking about as you mentioned, it's going back to 1226 01:04:51,880 --> 01:04:55,040 Speaker 1: the business side. How you know what happens? Now? How 1227 01:04:55,080 --> 01:04:57,760 Speaker 1: do you get businesses involved in this? I mean, is 1228 01:04:57,800 --> 01:05:00,240 Speaker 1: it a point where you guys are reaching out and 1229 01:05:00,280 --> 01:05:01,880 Speaker 1: trying to talk to a lot of companies saying, hey, 1230 01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:03,880 Speaker 1: is something you should be involved in? Or is this 1231 01:05:03,960 --> 01:05:06,520 Speaker 1: something that's kind of dependent on us as consumers going 1232 01:05:06,560 --> 01:05:08,920 Speaker 1: out and talking to our company, to our favorite brands 1233 01:05:08,920 --> 01:05:11,360 Speaker 1: and saying, hey, you gotta do this. You know, how 1234 01:05:11,400 --> 01:05:14,880 Speaker 1: does this happen? Yeah? You know that's this is where 1235 01:05:15,080 --> 01:05:17,280 Speaker 1: the rubber meets the road, right, all the work, all 1236 01:05:17,320 --> 01:05:20,680 Speaker 1: the work is now we Um, we're doing a little 1237 01:05:20,680 --> 01:05:23,680 Speaker 1: bit of all that so but but primarily yes, proactively 1238 01:05:23,720 --> 01:05:29,280 Speaker 1: reaching out to two businesses and showing them and explaining 1239 01:05:29,320 --> 01:05:32,400 Speaker 1: to them to what the model is and and our 1240 01:05:32,440 --> 01:05:35,360 Speaker 1: strategy and our standpoint out of the gate is. Okay, 1241 01:05:35,440 --> 01:05:38,400 Speaker 1: Let's let's look at all the companies who are who 1242 01:05:38,440 --> 01:05:40,920 Speaker 1: we believe are already meeting this criteria. And there's a 1243 01:05:40,960 --> 01:05:42,600 Speaker 1: lot of them, right, There are a lot of companies 1244 01:05:43,080 --> 01:05:46,000 Speaker 1: who give back probably more than one percent of their 1245 01:05:46,000 --> 01:05:49,760 Speaker 1: time and their money. Um. So let's let's approach those 1246 01:05:49,760 --> 01:05:53,080 Speaker 1: companies first and have a conversation about Hey, man, I 1247 01:05:53,160 --> 01:05:55,680 Speaker 1: think this will help you get get recognition for what 1248 01:05:55,720 --> 01:05:59,160 Speaker 1: you're doing. And you you don't really have to change. 1249 01:05:59,520 --> 01:06:00,800 Speaker 1: You don't have to do anything different. You're not to 1250 01:06:01,120 --> 01:06:04,880 Speaker 1: rage or realign your investment strategy and your marketing strategy. 1251 01:06:05,040 --> 01:06:08,080 Speaker 1: You're already meeting the criteria. This is just a multiplier 1252 01:06:08,560 --> 01:06:12,560 Speaker 1: effect to help leverage that commitment more so, I'm hoping 1253 01:06:12,560 --> 01:06:15,520 Speaker 1: we can knock down some dominoes quickly with that. But um, 1254 01:06:16,520 --> 01:06:18,960 Speaker 1: and that's gonna be very valuable. But the real win then, 1255 01:06:19,000 --> 01:06:22,840 Speaker 1: I think will come when companies who aren't necessarily meeting 1256 01:06:22,840 --> 01:06:25,200 Speaker 1: the criteria, who aren't giving back. When now start to 1257 01:06:25,240 --> 01:06:29,560 Speaker 1: see that value build with those brands, that's that's when 1258 01:06:29,640 --> 01:06:32,520 Speaker 1: we will get you know, incremental dollars to conservation once 1259 01:06:32,560 --> 01:06:37,200 Speaker 1: those companies start having those conversations internally of of hey, 1260 01:06:37,280 --> 01:06:39,120 Speaker 1: look at look at what you know, such and such 1261 01:06:39,200 --> 01:06:41,280 Speaker 1: brand is done with becoming a member of two percent 1262 01:06:41,400 --> 01:06:44,640 Speaker 1: for conservation. You know, we we really want to be involved. 1263 01:06:44,760 --> 01:06:46,920 Speaker 1: We want to be part of that. You know, we 1264 01:06:46,960 --> 01:06:49,200 Speaker 1: need to step up and give more to conservation and 1265 01:06:49,240 --> 01:06:52,480 Speaker 1: get more involved. That's what That's what excites me and 1266 01:06:52,480 --> 01:06:55,720 Speaker 1: when our model will really be impacting conservation, because then 1267 01:06:55,800 --> 01:06:59,360 Speaker 1: then you're getting increminal dollars in you know and growing 1268 01:06:59,400 --> 01:07:02,360 Speaker 1: the pie um. So yeah, so that's kind of what 1269 01:07:02,360 --> 01:07:04,280 Speaker 1: we're doing. We're reaching out the businesses. We've had some 1270 01:07:04,320 --> 01:07:08,960 Speaker 1: awesome conversations already out of the gate um. Personally for 1271 01:07:09,000 --> 01:07:12,800 Speaker 1: me because because I work at SIA and and because 1272 01:07:12,800 --> 01:07:15,000 Speaker 1: SICK has been so helpful and getting this thing off 1273 01:07:15,040 --> 01:07:18,400 Speaker 1: the ground, I really want to get a clothing company 1274 01:07:18,640 --> 01:07:21,800 Speaker 1: on board right away because I want I want to 1275 01:07:21,800 --> 01:07:23,640 Speaker 1: show the world that and I think it will make 1276 01:07:23,680 --> 01:07:27,960 Speaker 1: a strong message to two hunters everywhere and two fishermen everywhere. 1277 01:07:28,000 --> 01:07:32,280 Speaker 1: That that, yeah, businesses compete in the marketplace for the 1278 01:07:32,280 --> 01:07:36,960 Speaker 1: products they sell, but but there's certain issues like conservation 1279 01:07:37,040 --> 01:07:39,800 Speaker 1: where we aren't competitors, where we're on the same team 1280 01:07:39,880 --> 01:07:43,440 Speaker 1: and we work together on things. So so for me, um, 1281 01:07:43,440 --> 01:07:45,520 Speaker 1: it's it's going to be really important. I think that 1282 01:07:45,560 --> 01:07:48,040 Speaker 1: it will make a strong statement to the whole industry 1283 01:07:48,080 --> 01:07:52,480 Speaker 1: that yes, you know, these two brands compete and healthily, 1284 01:07:52,480 --> 01:07:54,720 Speaker 1: and they should try to compete with selling the products 1285 01:07:54,720 --> 01:07:56,919 Speaker 1: and market but hey, look we're on the same team 1286 01:07:57,000 --> 01:07:59,240 Speaker 1: for this. We're both members of two percent for Conservation. 1287 01:07:59,640 --> 01:08:04,440 Speaker 1: We both believe in this cause and are given back. Yeah. Well, 1288 01:08:04,480 --> 01:08:06,800 Speaker 1: I can think of some companies like that that I 1289 01:08:06,840 --> 01:08:09,280 Speaker 1: sure would think would want to and I would hope 1290 01:08:09,280 --> 01:08:11,200 Speaker 1: would want to be involved in something like this. In 1291 01:08:11,240 --> 01:08:14,800 Speaker 1: addition to what's what sounds like some terrific support from SIKA, 1292 01:08:14,920 --> 01:08:19,200 Speaker 1: which I'm excited to hear about. Um, so, what what 1293 01:08:19,280 --> 01:08:22,519 Speaker 1: can we do us listening right now? What can we 1294 01:08:22,600 --> 01:08:26,960 Speaker 1: do to help move this cause forward? Well, um, it's 1295 01:08:26,960 --> 01:08:29,240 Speaker 1: a great question. I have so many different ideas. That is, 1296 01:08:29,280 --> 01:08:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm trying to quickly prioritize you thinking in my mind 1297 01:08:31,920 --> 01:08:36,160 Speaker 1: what would be most impactful. But you know, we're going 1298 01:08:36,200 --> 01:08:40,240 Speaker 1: to leverage part of our campaign as supercent for Conservation. 1299 01:08:40,400 --> 01:08:43,599 Speaker 1: What what we use are the money that we get 1300 01:08:43,600 --> 01:08:47,280 Speaker 1: for overhead for outside of administration stuff is is to 1301 01:08:47,320 --> 01:08:51,480 Speaker 1: build value and to to get to reach customers consumers. 1302 01:08:52,240 --> 01:08:55,920 Speaker 1: Um we as you used it, uh, to understand more 1303 01:08:55,960 --> 01:08:58,480 Speaker 1: about our model what we're doing, because we need customers 1304 01:08:58,479 --> 01:09:01,479 Speaker 1: to value value this and that in turn is what 1305 01:09:01,479 --> 01:09:03,640 Speaker 1: it's going to build the value for business members. If no, 1306 01:09:04,439 --> 01:09:08,479 Speaker 1: if no consumers recognize our logo, then it doesn't necessarily 1307 01:09:08,520 --> 01:09:09,920 Speaker 1: do a business any good to put it on their 1308 01:09:09,920 --> 01:09:13,320 Speaker 1: packaging and their hand tag. If if customers don't, you 1309 01:09:13,360 --> 01:09:17,879 Speaker 1: don't understand the philosophy of what we're trying to achieve 1310 01:09:18,160 --> 01:09:21,200 Speaker 1: and impact that that being a member of super Central 1311 01:09:21,280 --> 01:09:25,200 Speaker 1: Conservation has, then then the value is not there for businesses. 1312 01:09:25,320 --> 01:09:29,160 Speaker 1: So so we need help. We're gonna leverage social media 1313 01:09:29,200 --> 01:09:33,519 Speaker 1: a lot because of the low investments and we are 1314 01:09:33,640 --> 01:09:36,120 Speaker 1: a pretty lean and frugal organization at this point, so 1315 01:09:36,720 --> 01:09:40,760 Speaker 1: we could use some help, uh, you know, sharing our 1316 01:09:40,800 --> 01:09:44,160 Speaker 1: mission on social media and getting the word out there. 1317 01:09:44,200 --> 01:09:46,240 Speaker 1: The more impressions, the more eyes we can get on 1318 01:09:46,240 --> 01:09:48,800 Speaker 1: our mission and our logo that that's gonna be really 1319 01:09:48,840 --> 01:09:52,240 Speaker 1: important in the next twelve months. Uh and then and 1320 01:09:52,240 --> 01:09:55,400 Speaker 1: then we could use encouragement of the businesses that that 1321 01:09:55,479 --> 01:09:58,679 Speaker 1: you support and appreciate that you think things should be members. 1322 01:09:58,800 --> 01:10:02,160 Speaker 1: We want you to to tell if your favorite gun 1323 01:10:02,200 --> 01:10:05,479 Speaker 1: company is Kimber, or your favorite clothing company is First Light, 1324 01:10:05,600 --> 01:10:08,600 Speaker 1: or your favorite bow companies Matthews, whatever it is, it 1325 01:10:08,640 --> 01:10:10,920 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. If we want you to tell your your 1326 01:10:11,000 --> 01:10:14,759 Speaker 1: brands how important conservation is to you as a customer 1327 01:10:14,840 --> 01:10:17,559 Speaker 1: and that you value their commitment and you want them 1328 01:10:17,600 --> 01:10:21,519 Speaker 1: to be involved. Yeah, I want to I want to 1329 01:10:21,520 --> 01:10:24,960 Speaker 1: make a I want to make a request. I don't 1330 01:10:24,960 --> 01:10:26,720 Speaker 1: ask a whole lot, but I'm gonna ask something of 1331 01:10:26,760 --> 01:10:29,320 Speaker 1: everybody listening right now. And I say this, and I 1332 01:10:29,360 --> 01:10:32,080 Speaker 1: don't take this lightly because I don't want to bother 1333 01:10:32,160 --> 01:10:34,200 Speaker 1: people with requests like this too often, but because I 1334 01:10:34,200 --> 01:10:36,160 Speaker 1: think this is so important, I want to ask every 1335 01:10:36,200 --> 01:10:38,719 Speaker 1: single one of you. There's thousands and thousands and thousands 1336 01:10:38,760 --> 01:10:40,760 Speaker 1: of you out there listening right now. I want each 1337 01:10:40,800 --> 01:10:43,479 Speaker 1: of you please think of at least one of your 1338 01:10:43,479 --> 01:10:46,880 Speaker 1: favorite companies. Just pick one to start. At least one 1339 01:10:46,920 --> 01:10:49,320 Speaker 1: of your favorite companies and email them within the next 1340 01:10:49,360 --> 01:10:52,880 Speaker 1: two days about two percent for conservation. And if every 1341 01:10:52,920 --> 01:10:55,559 Speaker 1: one of the you know, fifteen thousand of US emails 1342 01:10:55,720 --> 01:10:58,400 Speaker 1: one company today or tomorrow and says hey, I think 1343 01:10:58,439 --> 01:11:01,559 Speaker 1: you should be involved to present for observation, that could 1344 01:11:01,600 --> 01:11:04,760 Speaker 1: make a huge difference. Can you imagine if even just 1345 01:11:04,800 --> 01:11:07,840 Speaker 1: a hundred companies out of that of the fifteen emails 1346 01:11:07,960 --> 01:11:10,479 Speaker 1: or whatever, if just a hundred of those companies actually 1347 01:11:10,479 --> 01:11:13,080 Speaker 1: decide to take action on this and give back one 1348 01:11:13,120 --> 01:11:15,679 Speaker 1: percent of the revenue in time, what kind of difference 1349 01:11:15,720 --> 01:11:19,000 Speaker 1: that can make for deer and elk and sheep and 1350 01:11:19,360 --> 01:11:22,439 Speaker 1: ducks in wild places and public plans. I mean, that 1351 01:11:22,479 --> 01:11:25,800 Speaker 1: can make a huge difference. So this is my my request, 1352 01:11:26,240 --> 01:11:28,160 Speaker 1: my call to action. All of you you right now, 1353 01:11:28,320 --> 01:11:31,720 Speaker 1: you're listening, make one email today or tomorrow. Please do that. 1354 01:11:32,120 --> 01:11:34,160 Speaker 1: And I think you could make a big difference just 1355 01:11:34,600 --> 01:11:36,600 Speaker 1: with a simple email. Jeff, don't you think that'd be 1356 01:11:36,600 --> 01:11:38,080 Speaker 1: a pretty good thing for each one of these people 1357 01:11:38,120 --> 01:11:40,280 Speaker 1: to do. I love it, man, I love it. I 1358 01:11:40,280 --> 01:11:43,080 Speaker 1: think that. Uh, that's awesome. That's what That's what we need. 1359 01:11:43,120 --> 01:11:45,680 Speaker 1: We need. We need companies to start hearing from consumers 1360 01:11:45,720 --> 01:11:49,000 Speaker 1: demanding that they get back and get involved. Yeah, well, 1361 01:11:49,040 --> 01:11:51,800 Speaker 1: I can tell you. I'm going to email every one 1362 01:11:51,840 --> 01:11:55,519 Speaker 1: of our Wired hunt partners tomorrow and give them a 1363 01:11:55,520 --> 01:11:59,000 Speaker 1: little information about two percent and encourage them to get involved. 1364 01:11:59,040 --> 01:12:01,280 Speaker 1: And hopefully we can start there and keep on spreading 1365 01:12:01,280 --> 01:12:03,879 Speaker 1: the good word because I think this is a very positive, 1366 01:12:04,360 --> 01:12:07,519 Speaker 1: positive thing for for the future of hunting fishing, to 1367 01:12:07,600 --> 01:12:12,120 Speaker 1: be honest. So I'm curious, Jeff, what's what's your vision 1368 01:12:12,200 --> 01:12:14,920 Speaker 1: for this five years, ten years down the road from today. 1369 01:12:15,120 --> 01:12:19,960 Speaker 1: What's it look like? Oh? Man, Um, that's that's fun 1370 01:12:20,000 --> 01:12:24,080 Speaker 1: for me to think about. And uh, you know, I 1371 01:12:24,160 --> 01:12:28,080 Speaker 1: hope so for a benchmark, um, And don't quote me 1372 01:12:28,120 --> 01:12:30,040 Speaker 1: on these numbers, but they're gonna be close. But one 1373 01:12:30,080 --> 01:12:34,639 Speaker 1: percent for the planet as a benchmark has over two 1374 01:12:34,720 --> 01:12:39,680 Speaker 1: thousand member businesses, and through those businesses and their ten 1375 01:12:39,760 --> 01:12:43,000 Speaker 1: years or twelve years of existence, their claim is that 1376 01:12:43,040 --> 01:12:46,839 Speaker 1: they've funneled over a hundred million dollars to environmental causes, 1377 01:12:47,400 --> 01:12:53,080 Speaker 1: which which think about that for a minute. That's that's awesome, staggering, 1378 01:12:53,160 --> 01:12:58,559 Speaker 1: that's huge. Um, Now, what can we do? I think 1379 01:12:58,960 --> 01:13:00,960 Speaker 1: I think and this may be it may sound a 1380 01:13:00,960 --> 01:13:06,280 Speaker 1: little pompous of me, but I think as sportsmen and sportswomen. 1381 01:13:06,920 --> 01:13:09,200 Speaker 1: What I've learned working on the hunting industry for for 1382 01:13:09,240 --> 01:13:11,840 Speaker 1: the last seven years is there there isn't very any 1383 01:13:11,880 --> 01:13:15,240 Speaker 1: many more niche demo graphics that are more passionate than 1384 01:13:15,479 --> 01:13:18,880 Speaker 1: than hunters and fishermen. Uh. And that makes me really 1385 01:13:18,880 --> 01:13:22,439 Speaker 1: excited to think about because I feel like we we 1386 01:13:22,479 --> 01:13:27,360 Speaker 1: can make we can achieve those similar metrics. Right. Um 1387 01:13:27,720 --> 01:13:30,559 Speaker 1: I think there's there's a huge opportunity for for what 1388 01:13:30,600 --> 01:13:32,559 Speaker 1: we can do in hunting and fishing. We have a 1389 01:13:32,640 --> 01:13:36,120 Speaker 1: history hunter and fishermen have a history of of taking 1390 01:13:36,160 --> 01:13:41,400 Speaker 1: things next level, owning them and really making a huge impact. Um. So, 1391 01:13:41,400 --> 01:13:44,479 Speaker 1: So I think you know, when not too long ago, 1392 01:13:44,479 --> 01:13:48,080 Speaker 1: maybe Sick said man, I'd be stoked to get out 1393 01:13:48,120 --> 01:13:51,960 Speaker 1: of the first twelve months, uh, twenty member businesses in 1394 01:13:51,960 --> 01:13:54,599 Speaker 1: the first year and uh and I think I said, 1395 01:13:54,600 --> 01:13:59,200 Speaker 1: a hundred and fifty individual certifications or something and uh 1396 01:13:59,439 --> 01:14:01,120 Speaker 1: and I think we've blow that out of water now, 1397 01:14:01,280 --> 01:14:04,160 Speaker 1: just after having having launched for for three weeks now 1398 01:14:04,160 --> 01:14:06,679 Speaker 1: in the response we've dot so I'd like to achieve 1399 01:14:06,720 --> 01:14:09,280 Speaker 1: that first. If we can get twenty member businesses in 1400 01:14:09,280 --> 01:14:12,080 Speaker 1: the first year, I'd be stoked. But but I'm I 1401 01:14:12,080 --> 01:14:13,960 Speaker 1: think we could kill that and throw and blow that 1402 01:14:14,000 --> 01:14:16,920 Speaker 1: out of water, and in five years, hopefully, five ten years, 1403 01:14:16,920 --> 01:14:20,120 Speaker 1: hopefully we're having conversations like like one percent of the 1404 01:14:20,120 --> 01:14:22,639 Speaker 1: planets having now where where we've just had a major 1405 01:14:22,680 --> 01:14:27,479 Speaker 1: impact on conservation. Yeah, that's that's awesome. How do you feel? 1406 01:14:27,520 --> 01:14:29,439 Speaker 1: How does this make you feel? You had this idea, 1407 01:14:29,920 --> 01:14:32,479 Speaker 1: you actually took action on it, and now you're sitting 1408 01:14:32,520 --> 01:14:35,439 Speaker 1: here talking about this organization that's launched and that's actually 1409 01:14:35,520 --> 01:14:38,760 Speaker 1: starting to do something that could be really huge and impactful. 1410 01:14:38,800 --> 01:14:41,040 Speaker 1: While what does it feel like to be saying these 1411 01:14:41,040 --> 01:14:44,720 Speaker 1: words now that it's actually real. Well, I'm stoked for 1412 01:14:44,720 --> 01:14:46,880 Speaker 1: the opportunity and to be in the place where we 1413 01:14:46,920 --> 01:14:50,120 Speaker 1: can be talking about it because there's been there's been 1414 01:14:50,120 --> 01:14:53,280 Speaker 1: two years of just behind the scenes work and so 1415 01:14:53,360 --> 01:14:55,479 Speaker 1: the fun you know, this is the fun part to 1416 01:14:55,560 --> 01:14:57,840 Speaker 1: me now to to actually get it out and get 1417 01:14:57,840 --> 01:15:00,840 Speaker 1: the word out there and promote it. But be completely honest, 1418 01:15:00,960 --> 01:15:03,920 Speaker 1: I don't have a lot of confidence yet, just because 1419 01:15:04,000 --> 01:15:07,000 Speaker 1: that's my nature. I know we have a strong model, 1420 01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:10,120 Speaker 1: I know there's everything, all the pieces that are there 1421 01:15:10,160 --> 01:15:13,040 Speaker 1: to make it successful, but but there's a lot of 1422 01:15:13,040 --> 01:15:15,040 Speaker 1: work to do. Man, we got we have a lot 1423 01:15:15,080 --> 01:15:17,479 Speaker 1: of work to do to make it so we can 1424 01:15:17,520 --> 01:15:20,920 Speaker 1: actually say this has been this has been successful. But 1425 01:15:20,920 --> 01:15:23,680 Speaker 1: but I feel super excited and to be at this 1426 01:15:23,720 --> 01:15:27,600 Speaker 1: point now, uh, talking to to you and getting the 1427 01:15:27,600 --> 01:15:30,600 Speaker 1: word out to the world about what we're trying to do, 1428 01:15:30,760 --> 01:15:33,719 Speaker 1: because it's it's been a long road coming of of 1429 01:15:33,880 --> 01:15:36,400 Speaker 1: just kind of behind the scenes stuff getting our ducks 1430 01:15:36,400 --> 01:15:39,439 Speaker 1: in a row. Yeah, I cannot imagine all the work 1431 01:15:39,479 --> 01:15:41,599 Speaker 1: that's taken to get to this point and and how 1432 01:15:41,680 --> 01:15:44,120 Speaker 1: much more there is to go too. But it's, uh, 1433 01:15:44,200 --> 01:15:48,320 Speaker 1: it's inspiring to me to hear someone like you um 1434 01:15:48,360 --> 01:15:51,000 Speaker 1: to go out and do something like this. It's it's encouraging, 1435 01:15:51,200 --> 01:15:53,320 Speaker 1: and it's it's great to know that there are people 1436 01:15:53,320 --> 01:15:56,519 Speaker 1: out there who care as much as you do and 1437 01:15:56,560 --> 01:15:59,160 Speaker 1: who are willing to invest with so much of their 1438 01:15:59,200 --> 01:16:00,920 Speaker 1: time and energy into And I know there's a lot 1439 01:16:00,920 --> 01:16:03,240 Speaker 1: of people other than you're doing doing similar things. And 1440 01:16:03,240 --> 01:16:05,639 Speaker 1: I think the more we can grow that that family 1441 01:16:05,680 --> 01:16:07,720 Speaker 1: people that care enough to give back, I think it's 1442 01:16:07,760 --> 01:16:11,320 Speaker 1: just going to continue to be continue to be incredibly 1443 01:16:11,360 --> 01:16:17,400 Speaker 1: important and fruitful. So for people out there that have 1444 01:16:17,400 --> 01:16:20,160 Speaker 1: have wanted to get involved in one way, or another 1445 01:16:20,200 --> 01:16:22,320 Speaker 1: with some kind of organization that want to get back 1446 01:16:22,479 --> 01:16:24,840 Speaker 1: or want maybe they've had an idea for their own organization, 1447 01:16:25,000 --> 01:16:28,639 Speaker 1: or they wanted to get involved with their whatever another 1448 01:16:28,760 --> 01:16:31,240 Speaker 1: organization out there. Do you have any advice for people 1449 01:16:31,240 --> 01:16:33,360 Speaker 1: out there that I feel like they have this calling 1450 01:16:33,400 --> 01:16:36,080 Speaker 1: to give back because of how much hunting or fishing 1451 01:16:36,120 --> 01:16:38,120 Speaker 1: is given to them. What what would you tell people 1452 01:16:38,160 --> 01:16:43,439 Speaker 1: out there? Yeah? I mean, just do it, um, don't. 1453 01:16:43,479 --> 01:16:48,679 Speaker 1: Don't be afraid to fail, don't be afraid to try things. Um. Uh. 1454 01:16:48,720 --> 01:16:52,480 Speaker 1: You know, if if you truly specifically like this situation, 1455 01:16:52,560 --> 01:16:55,760 Speaker 1: have an idea of an organization or a cause or 1456 01:16:55,800 --> 01:16:59,280 Speaker 1: an event or anything that you think to make an impact, 1457 01:16:59,360 --> 01:17:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, consult with with people you respect and that 1458 01:17:02,680 --> 01:17:06,840 Speaker 1: are knowledgeable and and and try it make it happen. Um. 1459 01:17:06,880 --> 01:17:09,760 Speaker 1: You know, don't don't, don't be afraid just to get 1460 01:17:09,760 --> 01:17:13,479 Speaker 1: your toes in the water and dive in and do it. Um. 1461 01:17:13,560 --> 01:17:16,080 Speaker 1: When it comes to specific volunteerism, you know, one thing 1462 01:17:16,120 --> 01:17:19,519 Speaker 1: that has been a surprise to me over the last 1463 01:17:20,760 --> 01:17:22,320 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks of getting this thing off 1464 01:17:22,320 --> 01:17:25,000 Speaker 1: the ground is how many people have emailed about our 1465 01:17:25,040 --> 01:17:30,200 Speaker 1: individual certifications saying uh man I am a member of 1466 01:17:30,439 --> 01:17:34,760 Speaker 1: all these different organizations super passionate conservation. But in my 1467 01:17:35,040 --> 01:17:38,080 Speaker 1: particular area, I just don't necessarily I don't know of 1468 01:17:38,120 --> 01:17:41,680 Speaker 1: any volunteer opportunities UM and a lot. And most of 1469 01:17:41,720 --> 01:17:44,040 Speaker 1: these people have come from there there they live in 1470 01:17:44,080 --> 01:17:46,200 Speaker 1: the Midwest or the East Coast. I think we're fortunate. 1471 01:17:46,280 --> 01:17:48,280 Speaker 1: We take it for granted out west, where there's so 1472 01:17:48,360 --> 01:17:50,840 Speaker 1: much public land and so much wildlife that that's just 1473 01:17:50,880 --> 01:17:54,280 Speaker 1: more abundant to have volunteer opportunities. So I guess where 1474 01:17:54,280 --> 01:17:56,400 Speaker 1: I'm going with that is is if you live in 1475 01:17:56,439 --> 01:18:00,760 Speaker 1: one of those areas and you do know of volunteer opportunities, UM, 1476 01:18:01,000 --> 01:18:03,040 Speaker 1: spread the word and get the word out there. Because 1477 01:18:03,040 --> 01:18:04,479 Speaker 1: I don't have an answer to that. That's been one 1478 01:18:04,520 --> 01:18:06,439 Speaker 1: of the surprises to me. The questions have come up. 1479 01:18:06,479 --> 01:18:09,000 Speaker 1: People have emailed saying, how do you know what can 1480 01:18:09,040 --> 01:18:10,720 Speaker 1: I do to get involved? And I'm like, shoot, man, 1481 01:18:10,760 --> 01:18:14,360 Speaker 1: I I don't know if anything in Wisconsin any volunteer oportunities. 1482 01:18:14,400 --> 01:18:16,040 Speaker 1: Let me, I mean ask my resources to try to 1483 01:18:16,040 --> 01:18:18,280 Speaker 1: figure out or find out what I can do. But 1484 01:18:18,280 --> 01:18:20,960 Speaker 1: but UM, but try to network with with people that 1485 01:18:20,960 --> 01:18:24,000 Speaker 1: are like minded like you and and help help facilitate, 1486 01:18:24,120 --> 01:18:26,160 Speaker 1: you know, getting people involved that are ready to do 1487 01:18:26,200 --> 01:18:28,960 Speaker 1: it but don't know how awesome advice. And I think 1488 01:18:29,040 --> 01:18:30,600 Speaker 1: you make a great point. There probably are a lot 1489 01:18:30,640 --> 01:18:32,880 Speaker 1: of people out there who who want to do something 1490 01:18:32,920 --> 01:18:35,400 Speaker 1: but don't necessarily know where the options are. So to 1491 01:18:35,439 --> 01:18:38,280 Speaker 1: your point, you know, work with your network, ask around. 1492 01:18:38,600 --> 01:18:40,960 Speaker 1: There probably are a lot more opportunities than we know about. 1493 01:18:41,360 --> 01:18:44,200 Speaker 1: They're just not well marketed I suppose and put out there. 1494 01:18:44,280 --> 01:18:47,920 Speaker 1: So if you do know, yeah, that's that's a great point. 1495 01:18:48,040 --> 01:18:53,200 Speaker 1: Great point. So, man, this is uh, this is exciting stuff, Jeff. 1496 01:18:53,439 --> 01:18:57,400 Speaker 1: And as excited as I am, I know you are 1497 01:18:57,479 --> 01:19:00,600 Speaker 1: probably equally excited and terrified for your coming trip to 1498 01:19:00,680 --> 01:19:03,559 Speaker 1: Alaska chasing coastal brown bears, and I should let you 1499 01:19:03,600 --> 01:19:06,760 Speaker 1: go and prepare for that. So so, Jeff, thank you 1500 01:19:06,960 --> 01:19:10,240 Speaker 1: so much for for a you know, putting your time, 1501 01:19:10,560 --> 01:19:13,080 Speaker 1: energy and money into into doing something like this, and 1502 01:19:13,120 --> 01:19:15,360 Speaker 1: then secondly, thank you for taking the time to chat 1503 01:19:15,400 --> 01:19:19,160 Speaker 1: with us about it and UH and spread the word. Yeah, 1504 01:19:19,240 --> 01:19:22,479 Speaker 1: thank thank you very much for for the opportunity to 1505 01:19:22,680 --> 01:19:25,160 Speaker 1: UH to get the word out there through your platforms. Man, 1506 01:19:25,200 --> 01:19:29,080 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. I appreciate your sport. I think. Uh, 1507 01:19:29,200 --> 01:19:31,880 Speaker 1: I think your idea and and your call out to 1508 01:19:31,920 --> 01:19:34,679 Speaker 1: get people to email the companies that that they care about. 1509 01:19:34,960 --> 01:19:37,080 Speaker 1: I think that's awesome. I hope, I hope all you 1510 01:19:37,160 --> 01:19:40,720 Speaker 1: listening do do that. Yes, absolutely, again, every one of 1511 01:19:40,760 --> 01:19:43,960 Speaker 1: you please email at least one company, just one with 1512 01:19:44,120 --> 01:19:46,720 Speaker 1: a link to two percent for Conservation and tell them 1513 01:19:46,760 --> 01:19:48,679 Speaker 1: that you think this is something they should get involved 1514 01:19:48,680 --> 01:19:50,559 Speaker 1: in and why it matters to you. And Jeff, what's 1515 01:19:50,560 --> 01:19:54,120 Speaker 1: that you are all again? Uh? It is Fish and 1516 01:19:54,520 --> 01:19:58,200 Speaker 1: Wildlife dot org. Perfect and they can find you, I 1517 01:19:58,200 --> 01:20:02,080 Speaker 1: imagine on Facebook as well. Up Facebook is uh yeah, 1518 01:20:02,160 --> 01:20:06,760 Speaker 1: this two percent for conservation. Instagram is we don't have 1519 01:20:06,800 --> 01:20:08,320 Speaker 1: a lot on there yet, but we're gonna get moving 1520 01:20:08,360 --> 01:20:10,200 Speaker 1: on an Instagram strategy and that will be two percent 1521 01:20:10,240 --> 01:20:12,840 Speaker 1: for conservation as well. But yeah, the website is the 1522 01:20:12,840 --> 01:20:17,400 Speaker 1: best resource now and that's Fish and Wildlife dot org awesome. 1523 01:20:17,400 --> 01:20:19,559 Speaker 1: We will have a link to that on weird hunt 1524 01:20:19,680 --> 01:20:23,160 Speaker 1: as well. And Jeff, I guess until next time. We'll 1525 01:20:23,240 --> 01:20:25,360 Speaker 1: check back in a few years and hopefully we'll have 1526 01:20:25,400 --> 01:20:27,599 Speaker 1: some great success stories to tell us about the great 1527 01:20:27,640 --> 01:20:31,920 Speaker 1: things that the organizations participating in two Percent for Conservation 1528 01:20:31,960 --> 01:20:34,160 Speaker 1: have been able to do. And hopefully I'll have a 1529 01:20:34,200 --> 01:20:37,479 Speaker 1: great bear hunting story to share too. Heck yeah, man, 1530 01:20:37,520 --> 01:20:39,639 Speaker 1: I hope so. I appreciate Mark. Thank you very much. 1531 01:20:39,720 --> 01:20:41,639 Speaker 1: All Right, you're welcome. Have a good one, Jeff, talk 1532 01:20:41,640 --> 01:20:46,160 Speaker 1: to you later. So awesome stuff there, don't you think. 1533 01:20:46,520 --> 01:20:49,040 Speaker 1: As you could probably tell, I'm very excited about two 1534 01:20:49,040 --> 01:20:51,040 Speaker 1: percent and the impact I think it can have in 1535 01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:53,400 Speaker 1: the future, and I hope you are too. That said, 1536 01:20:53,720 --> 01:20:56,599 Speaker 1: a few things before we wrap things up. First off, 1537 01:20:56,680 --> 01:20:59,640 Speaker 1: last week we announced a special giveaway in celebration of 1538 01:20:59,640 --> 01:21:03,800 Speaker 1: our one hundred episode, and today, right now, we're going 1539 01:21:03,840 --> 01:21:08,240 Speaker 1: to announce the winners. So our first prize coming from 1540 01:21:08,520 --> 01:21:11,360 Speaker 1: sick Gear, who was giving away a full early season 1541 01:21:11,439 --> 01:21:14,800 Speaker 1: system that includes an Equinox jack and pant, their core 1542 01:21:15,080 --> 01:21:18,680 Speaker 1: lightweight longsleeve and bottom, and their hangar gloves and a 1543 01:21:18,760 --> 01:21:21,080 Speaker 1: ball cap. I believe the winner of the sick of 1544 01:21:21,120 --> 01:21:27,639 Speaker 1: Gear early season system is Brian Do Close. Brian Do Close, 1545 01:21:27,680 --> 01:21:30,479 Speaker 1: you are the big winner. Congrats man. Next, we have 1546 01:21:30,520 --> 01:21:33,240 Speaker 1: a prize package from Osonics, who's giving away one of 1547 01:21:33,240 --> 01:21:37,920 Speaker 1: their new dry washbags and their kinetic backpack. Too awesome 1548 01:21:37,920 --> 01:21:40,360 Speaker 1: accessors there for your ozonics machine. The winner of that 1549 01:21:40,880 --> 01:21:46,240 Speaker 1: is Dan Spano, Dan Spano or Spano you are the 1550 01:21:46,280 --> 01:21:50,680 Speaker 1: winner of the Ozonics prize package. Next, we've got a 1551 01:21:50,760 --> 01:21:54,120 Speaker 1: fifty dollar gift card and T shirt from Huntera Maps. 1552 01:21:54,280 --> 01:21:58,840 Speaker 1: The winner of that is West Cisco. West Cisco, You've 1553 01:21:58,840 --> 01:22:02,320 Speaker 1: won the Hunter A gift card and T shirt. And finally, 1554 01:22:02,439 --> 01:22:05,480 Speaker 1: Carbon Express is giving away a package of their Maxima 1555 01:22:05,600 --> 01:22:09,720 Speaker 1: Red Arrows and the winner of that is Greg Chris 1556 01:22:09,840 --> 01:22:13,040 Speaker 1: Chris Staffel, Greg Kristoffel, you are the winner of the 1557 01:22:13,080 --> 01:22:17,080 Speaker 1: Carbon Express Maxima Red Arrows. I will reach out to 1558 01:22:17,080 --> 01:22:19,880 Speaker 1: all of you guys via Facebook and connect with you 1559 01:22:19,920 --> 01:22:21,880 Speaker 1: to make sure you can get those prizes right away. 1560 01:22:21,920 --> 01:22:24,080 Speaker 1: Thanks for participating, and thank you to all of you 1561 01:22:24,280 --> 01:22:26,479 Speaker 1: who went out there and commented and shared on our 1562 01:22:26,520 --> 01:22:29,519 Speaker 1: one hundred episode on Facebook. I hope you enjoyed that 1563 01:22:29,560 --> 01:22:32,320 Speaker 1: episode and we certainly appreciate you tuning in for it. 1564 01:22:33,040 --> 01:22:35,599 Speaker 1: So without taking care of we do now also need 1565 01:22:35,680 --> 01:22:38,240 Speaker 1: to thank our partners who helped make this podcast possible 1566 01:22:38,280 --> 01:22:41,519 Speaker 1: so big thanks to sick A Gear, Trophy, Ridge Bear Archery, 1567 01:22:41,560 --> 01:22:46,320 Speaker 1: Redneck Blinds On, Tara Maps, Osonics, Carbon Express, Maven Optics, 1568 01:22:46,320 --> 01:22:50,240 Speaker 1: and the White Tail Institute of North America. And finally, 1569 01:22:50,640 --> 01:22:52,960 Speaker 1: thank you all for joining US. I hope you were 1570 01:22:53,000 --> 01:22:55,840 Speaker 1: inspired by today's conversation and don't forget to send that 1571 01:22:55,880 --> 01:22:58,920 Speaker 1: email to your favorite company. About two percent for conservation, 1572 01:22:59,360 --> 01:23:05,200 Speaker 1: and finally, until next time, stay wired to hunt m