1 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: From Meat Eaters World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: is Col's Week in Review with Ryan col Calahan. Here's Cal. 3 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: I'm happy to say the story I'm about to cover 4 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: is a first in the history of Cal's Week in Review. 5 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: It's also very much not appropriate for children or people 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: who have a very high opinion of humanity, So if 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: you have little ones in the car, you may just 8 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: want to skip it. On February twenty first, a motorist 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: in Kentucky called nine to one one to report that 10 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: they had witnessed a man who appeared to be having 11 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: sex with a dead deer on the side of the 12 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: road in Central City. I can't be sure, but I 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: imagine the dispatcher assumed the motorist was somehow mistaken, But 14 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: sure enough, when police went to dustigate the disturbing report, 15 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: they found a man near the scene with bloody hands 16 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: and his pants around his knees. Officers also observed unspecified 17 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: fluid on his facial hair, deer frear is stuck to 18 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: the bottom of his hoodie, and bloodstains on his boxers. 19 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: The man, identified as thirty two year old Alan Lynn Osborne, 20 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: was arrested within thirty minutes of that original call. Once 21 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: back at the Muhlenberg County Jail, police also discovered that 22 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: Osborne had blood in deer fore stuck to his genitals. Quote. 23 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 1: This is a first for me, and I've been here 24 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: for twenty one years, said Central City Police Chief Jason Lindsay. 25 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: Osborne faces a felony charged for sexual crimes against animals. 26 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: His bail is currently set at five thousand dollars, and 27 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,559 Speaker 1: according to the Independent, he pled not guilty on Monday morning. 28 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: If convicted, he could face a sentence of one to 29 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: five years in prison. You can't make this stuff up, folks. 30 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: I've been doing this a long time, and I can 31 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: honestly say that I've never covered a story that's made 32 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: reconsider how I talk about mounting taxi ermy. If you 33 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: didn't find that funny, then you won't like this one either. 34 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: Mister Osborne seems to have taken doze before bros to 35 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: a whole new level joking aside, the buck stops here, gang, Okay, 36 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: don't do drugs this week. We've got legislation coyotes in 37 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 1: the Colorado Firband. But first, I'm going to tell you 38 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: about my week and my week has been busy currently 39 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: recording from Bentonville, Arkansas, where we just wrapped up the 40 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: Arkansas chapters first Field the Table event. Gotta say it 41 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: looked like a success from my side of thanks. Field 42 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: the Table, if you've never heard of it, is like 43 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: a highly elevated pot luck concept, the most unique meal 44 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: in America. We bring together wild game, foraged ingredients, and talent. 45 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: The talent creates a four or five course meal. This 46 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: one included bears, ducks, deer, trout, odd ad lots of 47 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: wild game on the menu. Great location, great people, lots 48 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: of public land advocates in Arkansas. It was a fun 49 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: thing to be a part of. Big event, of course, 50 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: is the Black Bear Bonanza. It's going to be my 51 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: first one and I'm looking forward to it and seeing 52 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: old Brent Reeves and bar Newcomb too. Put this one 53 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: on your calendar for next year. Arkansas's there's lots happening 54 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: over at the legislative desks these days, so we're going 55 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: to jump on that. The Oklahoma state Legislature is considering 56 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: a bill that would make it easier for deer breeders 57 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: to release captive deer into the wild. If this sounds familiar, 58 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: like an annoying cousin or a rash that just won't 59 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: go away. That's because the legislature passed a bill two 60 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: years ago that was supposed to do exactly this. As 61 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: we covered at the time, that bill instituted a program 62 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: that was supposedly designed to eradicate CWD in the state. 63 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: The idea is to breed deer that are resistant to 64 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: the disease and then allow breeders to sell those deer 65 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: to low fence landowners that would theoretically spread CWE resistance 66 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: to other deer and eventually breed a wild herd that 67 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: isn't susceptible to the illness. The problem is, as we 68 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: cover in episode two seventy three, there is very little 69 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: to no scientific basis to think that releasing CWD resistant 70 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: deer into the wild is going to do a lick 71 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: of good. You can breed your way out of diseases 72 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: and captive animals, but wild creators are a whole different ballgame. 73 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: Even worse, we don't have a good way to know 74 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 1: whether these supposedly CWD resistant deer are infected with the disease. 75 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: Rather than making the problem better, this program actually has 76 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: the capacity to make it worse. On top of that, 77 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: how they are determining resistance is extremely sketchy. These animals 78 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: are still dying from CWD, They're just not dying as 79 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: fast as the other CWD infected deer, But proponents of 80 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: the program says not being implemented fast enough. The bill, 81 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: which sailed through the Oklahoma state legislature in twenty twenty four, 82 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: directed the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to take genetic 83 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: samples from a representative group of one thousand whitetail. Then, 84 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: if the results of the survey indicated a lack of 85 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 1: CWD resistance, the agency would be permitted, but not required, 86 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: to issue permits for captive beer to be sold and 87 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: released into the wild. But the same legislature who authored 88 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: the original bill, a fellow named Nick Archer, is now 89 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: accusing the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation of slow 90 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: walking the process. He's introduced another bill, HB three two 91 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: seven zero, that would move this deer release program from 92 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: the Wildlife Department to the Food Department. He doesn't admit 93 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: this explicitly, but it's obvious that he thinks that egg 94 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: folks will be more responsive and more willing to issue 95 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: deer release permits. It's worth pointing out a few things here. First, 96 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: the Food Department receives their money directly from the state legislature, 97 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: so they're generally more responsive to the politicians in that body. 98 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: That's not always a bad thing, but when it comes 99 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: to a wildlife policy like this, it is not good. Second, 100 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: the ODWC has been doing their duty under the law. 101 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: As I mentioned, the first step in this process was 102 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: to do a genetic survey of one thousand deer. They've 103 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: collected more than five hundred samples so far, and I've 104 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: personally seen the spreadsheet showing those results. The agency is 105 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: in the process of collecting the remaining samples, and when 106 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: they're done, they'll move on to them permitting process. I 107 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: don't know whether Rep. Archer is aware of this, but 108 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: that hasn't stopped him from resorting to Shenanigan's to get 109 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 1: his new bill passed. Every bill in the state House 110 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: has to pass two committees, but in what one legislator 111 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: called a shuck and jive, the author of this bill 112 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: inserted his language into another bill that had already passed 113 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: the Wildlife Committee. His bill is now before the Energy 114 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: and Natural Resource Oversight Committee, of which Representative Archer is 115 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: a member. But the most eyebrow raising Shenanigan took place 116 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: during a recent committee hearing. He accused the ODWC of 117 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: not doing their duty under the law, but then refuse 118 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: to allow representatives of that agency to speak in the hearing. 119 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: I personally would like to hear the Wildlife Department's perspectives 120 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: if they're brought up a lot in this bill, because 121 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: we would have heard it in the Wildlife Committee. 122 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: You recognized. 123 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: I would like to ask somebody from the Wildlife Department 124 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: to come to the table then explain their side of 125 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: this so I could understand it better. 126 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: I'd like to ask the author of the bill if 127 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: he would allow that, since it's his bill. Thank you 128 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: for that opportunity. Again, No, I would not like to 129 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: offer the Department of Wildlife a seat at the table. 130 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: I think I've made it very clear through my contacts 131 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 2: over the last two years to try to follow up 132 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: on where the program is. The Department of Wildlife to 133 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 2: this day has not brought concerns to me. Even now, 134 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: even while they push back against the law, they have 135 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: not reached out to me. They have not made any 136 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: effort in good faith to work forward on this, and 137 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: so no I would prefer they didn't speak. 138 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: It makes very little sense for the Food Department to 139 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: oversee a program that involves wildlife. Rep Archer claims the 140 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: Food Department is willing to take on the program, but 141 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: there's no indication they have the expertise necessary to responsibly 142 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: administer it. If that doesn't convince yet, maybe this will. 143 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 1: The Boone Crocket Club, along with the Pope and Young Club, 144 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: recently issued a letter to the legislature informing them that 145 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: if captive raised deer are released in Oklahoma, they'll consider 146 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: no longer accepting any entries from that state. Genetically manipulated 147 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: animals have never been eligible for entry, but that's exactly 148 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: what all Oklahoma whitetail would be if this policy moves forward. 149 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: If you live in Oklahoma, now is the time to 150 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: let your voice be heard. Tell your state legislatures that 151 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: the ODWC should be in charge of making sure this 152 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: program is implemented safely and responsibly. HB three two seven 153 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: zero would be bad for whitetail, bad for hunters, and 154 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: bad for CWD management. The only group that would be 155 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: benefiting would be the deer breeders, but their pocketbooks shouldn't 156 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: be prioritized over the health and longevity of Oklahoma's whitetail 157 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: heard which, fortunately for everybody in neighboring states, must be 158 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: genetically modified to recognize the state's border as a somehow 159 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: physical barrier so they won't step into your state. How 160 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: this is legal for Oklahoma to do, I do not know. 161 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: Speaking of bad bills, the Idaho legislature is once again 162 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: considering legislation that would overturn the state's open fields doctrine. 163 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: Idaho Senate Built one three two six would prohibit federal, state, 164 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: and local government agents from entering private property without a 165 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: warrant signed by a judge. This might sound reasonable given 166 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: our country's long standing distaste of warrantless searches, as articulated 167 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: in the Fourth Amendment, but there's a problem. As we've 168 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 1: covered numerous times on this podcast, our country also has 169 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: a long history of something called the open fields doctrine. 170 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: The open fields doctrine states that while a law enforcement 171 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: officer needs a warrant to search a home or the 172 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: immediate vicinity around a structure, they can walk onto private 173 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: property without that piece of paper. For public wildlife This 174 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: is an extremely important doctrine for game wardens, who are 175 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 1: tasked with enforcing wildlife laws on public and private property. 176 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: Wildlife is a public resource. Just because a deer or 177 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: elk wanders onto private land doesn't mean it becomes property 178 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: of the landowner. That's not how it works in America. 179 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: Because of that, game wardens have the right to enter 180 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: private property to ensure those public resources are being used legally. 181 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: But SB one three two six would eliminate that tool 182 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 1: from a game wardens toolkit. Every time they want to 183 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: set foot on private property, they would have to convince 184 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: judge to sign a warrant. To do that, they would 185 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: have to prove that there is a probable cause to 186 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: believe that evidence of a crime will be found on 187 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: that property. Idaho is a huge state, and game wardens 188 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: are stretched thin enough as it is. Most landowners are 189 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: law abiding, but this new hurdle will create pockets of 190 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: lawlessness on private land where poachers don't have to worry 191 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: about running into a game ward There are further concerns 192 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: that this will greatly reduce the state Game Agency's ability 193 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: to regulate wildlife in general. Idaho is a highly migratory state, 194 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: wildlife moves from public to private all the time. They 195 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: don't recognize that boundary. If SB one three two six 196 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: were to go through, this would be a major step 197 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: in the privatization of wildlife, and the onus of management 198 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: would be placed on the public land side of the 199 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: fence only. And for you staunch private property advocates, of 200 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: which I think I am, if it's not the open 201 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: Fields doctrine, what is your suggestion for how we regulate 202 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: public wildlife and keep that wildlife public when it does 203 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: not recognize that private public boundary. Moving on to the 204 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: Michigan Coyote Desk. Last week, on March second, Michigan's quote 205 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: unquote coyote management season began, which runs until October fourteen 206 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: of this year. The next day, October fifteen, is the 207 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: state's coyote hunting season, and that season runs until March 208 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: one one, twenty twenty seven. The day after that, the 209 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: next management season will begin. For any of you keeping 210 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: score out there, that means that you are able to 211 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 1: hunt coyotes three hundred and sixty five days a year 212 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: in the Wolverine State. This two part system recreates the 213 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: way things were until March twenty twenty four, when the 214 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: state's Natural Resource Commission enacted a hiatus in year round 215 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: coyote hunting from April fifteen to July fifteen, citing a 216 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: need for coyote breeding populations to have a chance to 217 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: rear their young. In twenty twenty five, the Michigan United 218 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: Conservation Clubs sued the Commission to reinstate year round hunting, 219 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: but a judge ruled against them, upholding the Commission's authority 220 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: and making the decision to halt the hunt for the 221 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: spring season. In response, Republican members of the Michigan legislature 222 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: drafted a bill to mandate that the NRC resume year 223 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: round coyote hunting, but even though michigan Anders now have 224 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: year round hunting back, legislation was not responsible for the change. 225 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: After news outlets to report it on an instant of 226 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,239 Speaker 1: a three year old girl being bitten by a coyote 227 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: in Alcona County on Lake Huron in December twenty twenty five, 228 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: the NERC reversed its decision and created the so called 229 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: Management Season, effectively returning to the year round status quo. 230 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: All this twoing and throwing is ending up in a 231 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: good place for Michigan's hunters, but if experience is any guide, 232 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: Michigan's coyote populations won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Jumping 233 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: over to the Colorado for update. On Wednesday last week, 234 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: after a day of impassioned public comment and sometimes baffling deliberations, 235 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted six to four 236 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: to advance a citizens petition to prohibit the lawful sale, barter, 237 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: and trade of wildlife fur. This vote is a win 238 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: for animal rights groups, but it's far from an immediate 239 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: ban on free sales. Above all, it's a confusing mess. 240 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: So let's d again find out what's going on and 241 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: figure out where we go from here. Animal rights groups 242 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: know that Colorado Governor Jared Polis has appointed several Parks 243 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: and Wildlife Commissioners who are sympathetic to their cause, and 244 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: so in June of last year, these groups submitted a 245 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: petition to the Commission amending Colorado's regulations to outlaw trade 246 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: and fur with some exceptions. But polus has picked for 247 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Laura Clellan responded with a 248 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: detailed letter highlighting the many problems with the petition. It 249 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: couldn't demonstrate any relationship between sales of fur and declining 250 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: animal numbers. It didn't acknowledge the existing strict regulations on 251 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: take of fur bears. It cited misleading research that had 252 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: nothing to do with Colorado. It conflicts with state statute 253 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: and would lead to the waste of pelts from animals 254 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: trapped for nuisance control or crop protection, and its exceptions 255 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: are badly defined and would create unenforceable rules. For example, 256 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: one of the carve outs allowing fur sales would be 257 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: felted hats that are quote crafted using heritage techniques like 258 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: wet felting that promote sustainability and cultural craftsmanship. Who will 259 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: judge what a heritage technique is? What exactly is cultural craftsmanship? 260 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: In short, the petition is a complete mess, even if 261 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: it protects all those fedora wearing hipsters. Director Clellan recommended 262 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: that the Commission vote no. CPW knew that the hearing 263 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: on the issue is going to be very contentious. They 264 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: switched venues to a large Double Tree hotel conference room 265 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: and brought in extra security. During the almost four hours 266 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: of public comment, both sides spoke passionately for their side, Hunters, anglers, 267 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: and trappers were well represented, and opponents of the petition 268 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: made up the majority of the comments. Retired CPW biologist 269 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: Jerry Apker said quote, I strongly oppose the fur band 270 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: petition no matter how it's dressed up. This is ideology, 271 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: not science. The anti trapping commenters repeated the arguments of 272 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: the petition, but one line of reasoning stuck out. In particular. 273 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: Melinda Marquis, president and co founder of Science for Colorado Wildlife, said, quote, 274 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: the North American model of wildlife conservation notes fish and 275 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: wildlife are for the non commercial use of citizens. It's 276 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: worth taking little time on this one because Marquee seems 277 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: to have a point. If the North American model calls 278 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: for the elimination of markets for game, then how can 279 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: you justify selling furs, hides, tax dermy, and other stuff 280 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: that comes from wild animals. The answer comes down to scale. 281 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: In the twentieth century, markets for wild game meet fed 282 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: the growing populations of cities continued to contribute to the 283 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: extirpation and extinction of species, but markets of the time 284 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: for fur or nowhere near as big or as threatening 285 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: to overall populations, and bag limits and other regulations were 286 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 1: extremely effective. In restoring fur bearer species with outright bands 287 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: as an excellent explainer document put out by the Association 288 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: of Fish and Wildlife Agencies explains trapping regulations ensure that 289 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: harvests are consistent with sustainable use principles, help manage conflicts 290 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: between fur bearers and humans, and foster support for habitat conservation, 291 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: and the present day trapping is so closely studied and 292 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: tightly regulated that it doesn't come close to threatening animals 293 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: at the population level, and fees from licenses and permits 294 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: pays into the system that protects the habitat of these animals, 295 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: ensuring their well being into the future. Nevertheless, the Commission 296 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: still voted to advance the petition. So what now. Well, 297 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: all the vote means is that CPW will now begin 298 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: drafting rules to put a ban on fur sales in place, 299 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: but ironically, the incoherence of the petition works in our favor. 300 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: Those rules will be just as vague, contradictory, impossible to enforce, 301 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: in incoherent as the petition itself. They also won't be 302 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: able to overrule state law, so it's possible that they 303 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: won't take effect anytime soon. BHA's Colorado Chapter leader Brian 304 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: Gwynn said the bottom line is that the real decisions 305 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,159 Speaker 1: were kicked down the road, were just not clear on 306 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: what kind of regulation would actually come out of this vote. 307 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: Governor Polus is also term limited, and insiders believe that 308 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: no matter who the next governor is, that person's appointees 309 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 1: to the Parks and Wildlife Commission will be more qualified 310 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: and have a better understanding of conservation science, and so 311 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 1: rulemaking on fur sales will hopefully be turned back. Cooler 312 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: heads may prevail eventually, and fur trapping in fur sales 313 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: are far from dead in Colorado, although that's silver lining. 314 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: The bigger problem here is that the Parks and Wildlife 315 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: Commission has urgent work to do and these high profile 316 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: political issues are a dangerous distraction. CPW faces a budget crisis, 317 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: problems with previous ballot boxing issues like the wolf free introduction, 318 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: time sensitive tasks of setting seasons and limits and all 319 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: other work that gives people access to the outdoors and 320 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: keeps revenue coming into the agency. Sitting around drafting incoherent 321 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: rules that will never go anywhere as a bad use 322 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: of time. So we lost around here, but we have 323 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: to keep fighting both for the sake of the activities 324 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: we love and also for the agencies that work on 325 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: our behalf. Thanks to all of you turned out to 326 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: the hearing and made your voices heard, win or lose. 327 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: That's critical and your arguments are part of the record. 328 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: Let's not forget the ultimate objective of the animal rights groups, 329 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: although this was just a petition on the sale of fur, 330 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: not trapping itself. Linda Marquis of Science for Colorado Wildlife 331 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: ended her public comment by saying, quote, please institute a 332 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: five year moratorium on all trapping. Ultimately, these groups want 333 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: to end hunting and trapping outright, and we can't let 334 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: that happen. That's all I got for you this week. 335 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening, and remember to write 336 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: in to ask cl Ask cal themeetpeater dot com. Thanks again, 337 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you next week.