1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: From Mediator's World News headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This is 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Cal's weekend review, presented by Steel. Steel products are available 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: only at authorized dealers. For more, go to Steel Dealers 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: dot com. Now here's your host, Ryan cal Callahan. A 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: giant tortoise was recently captured on film attacking and eventually 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: eating a flightless turn chick in the sayshells. As you 7 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: can imagine, this is not a short video. Think of 8 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: the steam roller scene in Hit Austin Powers International Man 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: of Mystery, Watch Out, Watch Out, vaguely similar. If the 10 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: chick just would have moved a bit more laterally, or 11 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: walked away and had general sort of sense, the tortoise 12 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: would have likely found something else to eat in its path, 13 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: or possibly continued the hunt until that chick had chicks. 14 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: We'll never know, and neither with the chick. Had it 15 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: just walked away, but it didn't. For seven whole minutes, 16 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: the tiny little turn chick just backed up in a 17 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: straight line, courageously pecking out the dinosaur head of its 18 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: attacker until it was eaten. Now, had the bird just left, 19 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: that giant tortoise would have just gone on its way, 20 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 1: Like I said. However, if you think about it, the 21 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: GT regularly lives past the century mark, like over a 22 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: hundred years. And while we assumed they were strictly vegetarians 23 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: prior to this video, would it be wise to assume 24 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: that they don't hold grudges? And Vendetta's seems logical. Of 25 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the slow, deliberate steps of the giant tortoise, kill eat, kill, eat, 26 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: not unlike the staggering steps of the Walking Dead. Those 27 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: tortoises may just be playing the long game. Anyway. It's 28 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: been pointed out that the tortoise took considerable risk in 29 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: attacking the teeny tiny bird. Eyesight is a powerful tool 30 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: for a tortoise, and it could have lost an eye, 31 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: meaning that this g t which is again in a 32 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: breath for giant tortoise and shouldn't be confused with the 33 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: giant travoli, which is the real reason people go out 34 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: to the seashells, and would eat any bird that came 35 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: in its way, so don't confuse the two. The tortoise 36 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: wanted to eat this bird. This wasn't like a happenstance situation. 37 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: That's the real point of this video anyway. Recent observations 38 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: published in the journal current biology is the first documented 39 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: evidence of giant tortoises hunting and eating a living animal. 40 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: Tortoises are the largest endemic vegetarian in the Seychelles, an 41 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: account for consuming eleven of the island's vegetation. Prior to this, 42 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: giant tortoises or g t s have been observed consuming 43 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: carrion dead stuff, eating bones, and snails, which would all 44 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: be considered off menu items at the local vegan restaurant 45 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: as ways to supposedly boost calcium and protein. So I 46 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: ask you, this is this occurrence a mind blowing observation 47 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: akin to cats and dogs living together type stuff, or 48 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: just another case of a strict vegetarian being taught on 49 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: their cheat day. You once were a Vegon, but now 50 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: you will begone Vegon. This week We've got petitions, presidential 51 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: score cards, and so much more. But first I'm gonna 52 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: tell you about my week. In my week just really 53 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: consisted of playing with the dog a whole bunch and 54 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: prepping comments for Montana Fishing Wildlife public comment period which 55 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: is coming up for Region three September seven. Don't these 56 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: folks know it's hunting season? This is going to be 57 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: regarding game management and regulation changes here in the state. 58 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: Even though it can feel as if you have no say, 59 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: if you want to be a part of conservation, it 60 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: is a really good idea to attend these things establish 61 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: your public record. Many of you wrote in to ask 62 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: cal at the mediator dot com with your responses from 63 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: elected officials regarding the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. So you 64 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about. Save that stuff. Build your 65 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: case as an active conservationist, not a one shot keyboard warrior. 66 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: The next time you write in about Recovering America's Wildlife Act, 67 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: you can reference your previous call or email as well 68 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: as the officials response. Is a great idea to take 69 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: no of the fact that you will fill out your 70 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: hunter and angler surveys. It is a great idea to 71 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: take note of the fact that you do indeed fill 72 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: out your hunter and angler surveys and pay attention to 73 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: what's on them. As well as when you go down 74 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: and testify at the courthouse during open testimony when bills 75 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,119 Speaker 1: are read, you need to be able to show people 76 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: that you are paying attention, not just reacting. That's what 77 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: I believe. Anyway, for whatever reason, state game agencies do 78 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: typically have open hearings in the fall again here in 79 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: Region three in Montana, September seven is the date. Be 80 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: looking for the same in your neck of the woods, 81 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: and this year make excuses to go. In other news, 82 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 1: buddy of mine, a cranky old old retired Forest Service guide, 83 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: drew a California big horn sheep tag in the state 84 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: of Idaho. I know that may be confusing to you, 85 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: but just like they're a bunch of California people in Idaho, 86 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: there are also the subs is she is a bighorn 87 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: sheep called California bighorn in Idaho. As far as recognized 88 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: big game goes, there is Rocky Mountain big horn sheep, 89 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: California big horn cheep, and Desert bighorn sheep. And my 90 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: first ton of the year will be following this old 91 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: cranky dude around who has the only tag in our 92 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: party and one of three tags offered through lottery in 93 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: the southern part of Hawaii County. Owahi is an odd name. 94 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: I have a hard time saying it. Supposedly a strange 95 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: Anglicized way of saying Hawaiian, which is where it comes from. 96 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: Back when the Hawaiian chain was called the sandwich islands 97 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: by the people who discovered them, not the people who 98 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: lived on the islands at the time who woke one 99 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: day to be discovered. Anyway, Hawaiians, somehow called Owahi's were 100 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: very valuable crew to have on board your ship. They 101 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: were expert divers, swimmers and used to spending a lot 102 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: of time on the ocean. British fur trading vessels would 103 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: stop and refit with food and water at the Hawaiian 104 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 1: islands and then head for the northwest for grounds, oftentimes 105 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: carrying some Hawaiian crew. Those Hawaiian crew members would ultimately 106 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: die all over the place, as they seem to be 107 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: used for really terrible jobs dictated by very impatient captains. 108 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: One of these places, a couple of Hawaiians were never 109 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: seen or heard from again. Is where we are going 110 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: sheep hunting, A long, long way from Hawaii, Owahee County, Idaho. 111 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: This area, although incredibly close to the densest human population 112 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: in Idaho, Boise boasts and impressive one point five people 113 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: per square mile. It's hot, it's remote, it's hard to 114 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: get to. I don't have a tag, nor is there 115 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: even a bird season open in the unit. What the 116 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: hell am I doing? With all my valuable time. I'm 117 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: gonna go hang out with some buddies. I'm really looking 118 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: forward to it, and I'll report what we find. Remember 119 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: just because you didn't draw the tag doesn't mean you 120 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: can't go. Oh. Also, since we're speaking of sheep, are 121 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: Gali game bags, which are the finest keep dirt and 122 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: flies off your meat game bags around and meat Eater 123 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: teamed up to make some cool, unique meat Eater approved 124 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: game bags available now at the meat eator dot com. 125 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: I tinkered around with these quite a bit, and uh, 126 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: there's some fun editions on there. Think you'll dig them. 127 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: Next up petitions, as many of you know, and I 128 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: know you know because I took track of all of 129 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: you writing into the ASCAL email. A petition to the 130 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: Secretary of the Interior, Deb Holland and the US Fish 131 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: and Wildlife Service has been filed entitled Petition to band 132 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: trade wild Mammals and Birds and for regulations instituting a 133 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: comprehensive chain of custody system for all plants and wildlife 134 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: imported into or exported from the United States. This petition, 135 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: file by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural 136 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 1: Resources Defense Counsel, is requesting that the Lacy Act, along 137 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: with Sight Ease, be used to restrict the state to 138 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: state transportation of all game meat, parts, trophy parts, or 139 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 1: otherwise as classified under the Lacy Act as wild sights, 140 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: which is the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species 141 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is meant to prevent species, 142 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: animal or otherwise from becoming endangered through international trade. As 143 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 1: we know, demand of wildlife in whole or parts and 144 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: pieces can have terrible effects on wildlife populations. Think of 145 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: the pangoling. But you know, if you want to talk 146 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: closer to home examples, you'll fill out of sight He's 147 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: form when you come back from Canada or Mexico, even 148 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: if something relatively mundane such as a moose, just the 149 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: meat even anyway, as you can imagine, this would really 150 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: curtail hunting in the United States, no transportation of wild 151 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: meat across state lines. For some hunters, hunting across state 152 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: lines is the only opportunity. Like let's say if you 153 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: live in New Jersey, for instance, a state full of 154 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: black bears, chock full of black bears, and you want 155 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: that delicious roast beef of the woods on your plate. 156 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: And in your freezer, but your jack wagon governor has 157 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: manipulated the system to prevent a legal hunting season in 158 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: your state. You would have to travel to a far 159 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: off destination like New York or Pennsylvania to get your meat. 160 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: In that case, a prohibition on interstate meat transport would 161 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: be bad. And if right now you are saying, well 162 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: we should eat local, I hear you, But you had 163 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: better be the king and queen of the backyard victory garden. 164 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: If that's your angle, no trips to whole foods for you. 165 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: The stated face value reason for this petition is that 166 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: we are in a pandemic era, an era where the 167 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: world is waiting for the next strain of a virus 168 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: or new virus to jump from animals to people. This 169 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: petition says, get serious, now limit the factors that could contribute. 170 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: Let's not mix and match animals across international or state borders. 171 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: Side effect, hunting across state borders would be pointless for 172 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: the vast majority. But this is for the greater good. 173 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: Couple of points I want to make on this. Anyone 174 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: can petition the government, and if anyone does the government 175 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 1: is bound to respond in some fashion to that petition. 176 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: If the government fails to do so, then the petitioners 177 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: have grounds to sue because the government is not paying 178 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: attention to them as they should. As you can imagine, 179 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: lots of petitions are created every year. The government and 180 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: all of its forms is constantly responding to them, and 181 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: all of my research I cannot find a single instance 182 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: in which the Secretary of Interior or the US Fish 183 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: and Wildlife Service has issued a blanket order that would 184 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: be near similar to this one. I just don't see 185 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: this going anywhere. Should you take this seriously? Yes, and 186 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: please sign the multiple petitions from Ducks and limited to 187 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: b h A and Sportsman's Alliance and TRCP that are 188 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: circulating regarding this. But in my opinion, and here is 189 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: my opinion, be concerned not necessarily for the anti hunting 190 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: byproduct of the current petition, but for this chronic wasting 191 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: disease c w D. Remember that boogeyman on the closet. 192 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: Think of all the state by state fights that have 193 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: been occurring due to some very common sense approaches to 194 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: dealing with mitigating that disease. That disease which is only 195 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: found in wildlife and the captive servit industry, as hunters 196 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: fight over not being able to bait or use certain 197 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: sense in certain states and served farmers flaunt state regulations 198 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: aimed at distancing their operations which are known vectors for 199 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: c w D. Others are out there who do not 200 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: read present hunting and Hunters petitioning the U S. Fish 201 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior, not 202 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: on the grounds of anti hunting, but on the grounds 203 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: of human health. The petition cites fear of future zoonotic 204 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: disease outbreaks as the reasoning behind the request, So why 205 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: don't we work harder as hunters, anglers, stewards of these 206 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: great wild animals and lands to make sure that this 207 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:31,239 Speaker 1: petition has no basis. Contacts state and national elected officials 208 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: legislators and tell them to provide funding for widespread surveillance, sampling, 209 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: and testing to determine the extent and spread of chronic 210 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: wasting disease. Pay for and require testing in areas where 211 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: chronic wasting disease has been detected. This will give hunters 212 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: confidence to eat the meat they're harvesting, and researchers more 213 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: samples for research and data to help determine the rate 214 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: of spread and growth in prevalence, which will continue to 215 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: informed deer and disease management. Moving on to the money desk. 216 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: We talk a lot around here about conservation funding. It's 217 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: an important topic, but sometimes I think we lose sight 218 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: of the trees for the forest. Here's what I mean. 219 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: You probably know that the Great American Outdoors Act was 220 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: passed by the US Congress last year on a bipartisan basis. 221 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: You know that it establishes a permanent fund of up 222 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: to one point nine billion dollars per year to help 223 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: address maintenance backlogs. And those backlogs include repairs to things 224 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: like roads and bridges. But did you know that the 225 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri use some of that 226 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: money to install more r V hookups at one of 227 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: their camping sites. The Lane Springs Campground only had one outlet, 228 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: so would be campers were often unable to reserve a spot. 229 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: Outdoors Act money helped the Forest Service install more hookups, 230 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: which has allowed more folks to enjoy the great outdoors. 231 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: This might sound like small potatoes and doesn't affect you, 232 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: but the Outdoors Act is currently funding hundreds of projects 233 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: just like this one. They don't get tons of media 234 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: attention because you know, let's face a few more hookups 235 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: at a campground ain't exactly breaking news, but added together, 236 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: these projects make a huge difference, and I think it's 237 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: worth taking a minute to look at how our conservation 238 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: dollars are being spent. Many of these projects directly benefit 239 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: hunters and anglers by securing or reopening public land. In 240 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest, there's an a three 241 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: hundred acre chunk of land that's been totally inaccessible. This 242 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: is the largest piece of inaccessible land in the entire 243 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: National Forest system, but that may soon change. The Forest 244 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: Service is planning to use Outdoors Act money to repair 245 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: a road leading to that piece of public property, which 246 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: would open it up to all kinds of recreation, including 247 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: hunting and fishing. We all own that forest, but owning 248 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: something he can't use doesn't do you much good. Thanks 249 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: to the Outdoors Act, hunters and anglers in the Black 250 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: Hills National Forest may have tons of new opportunities in 251 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: the next few years. The U. S. Forest Service has 252 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: proposed five hundred and fifty six similar projects for two 253 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: thousand and twenty one, and the Service says that thirty 254 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,239 Speaker 1: two of those projects directly benefit hunters out Here in Montana, 255 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: the Service plans to use Outdoors Act money to recondition 256 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: five hundred miles of roads in the Beaverhead Deer Lodge 257 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: National Forest. These roads are used by a huge variety 258 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: of folks, including hunters, anglers, horseback riders, outfitters, and firewood cutters, 259 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: and folks that just want to get a little distance 260 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: from civilization. These recreators support the economies of the small 261 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: communities in and around the forest, and the local lumber 262 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: companies depend on the roads to remove timber. Repairing the 263 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: fifty four roads that criss crossed the area will ensure 264 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: safe continue to access to all the people who need 265 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: the forest to make a living and just enjoy the spaces. 266 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: Back in November, the US Fish and Wildlife Service release 267 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: their list of proposed projects using Outdoors Act money. Like 268 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service has planned 269 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: dozens of maintenance projects that will increase access for hunters, anglers, 270 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: and other outdoor recreators. In addition, Fish and Wildlife will 271 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: use Outdoors Act money to purchase thousands of acres and 272 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: states across the country. In West Virginia, for example, the 273 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: Fish and Wildlife Service will spend three point five million 274 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: dollars to purchase a thirty three hundred acre tract of 275 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: land in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The land 276 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: will connect to two public use trails and provide public 277 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 1: hunting opportunities for turkey, whitetail, deer, and black bear. In 278 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: the Florida Everglades, the Fish and Wildlife Service plans to 279 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: spend two million dollars to purchase two thousand acres of 280 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: land that will provide recreational opportunities and protect habitat and 281 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: wildlife corridors used by game species. In California and Oregon, 282 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: the Fish and Wildlife Service will drop six point three 283 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: million dollars to lease water rights for five years in 284 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. The wildlife Refuge lacks 285 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: sufficient water supplies, and acquisition will help ensure the refuge 286 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: continues to provide quality habitat for game species. I could 287 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: do this all day, but I'll spare you. Here's the 288 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: bottom line. Our federal wildlife agencies have big plans to 289 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: use our hard earned taxpayer dollars to our benefit. They 290 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: haven't released the details of each project, so I can't 291 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: say whether this or that proposal is awesome or not 292 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: that great, but it's clear that national legislation like the 293 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: Outdoors Act has a huge impact at the local level 294 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: where you hunt, fish, hike, camp, and otherwise enjoy the 295 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: public lands we all share. The same is true of 296 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: the duck stamps we purchase, the tags we apply for, 297 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: and the hunting license as we buy. That money goes 298 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: to restoring habitat and increasing access, sometimes in a faraway alce, 299 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: but sometimes in the wildlife refuge right down the highway. 300 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: It's worth doing a little digging to find out how 301 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: conservation funding is being used to improve your neck of 302 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: the woods. You can find this list of proposals on 303 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: the websites of the Department in the Interior, the U. S. 304 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: Forest Service, and other federal agencies. You can also get 305 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: in touch with your state's wildlife department to find out 306 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: what projects they're working on and if there's a way 307 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: to help. It's important that we support legislation that increases 308 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 1: conservation funding, but it's a lot easier to make a 309 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: call or write a letter when you know that money 310 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: will be used to help you bag a deer or 311 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: angle for trout. The info is out there. We just 312 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: have to get online and take a look before we go. 313 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: I got a couple of closers for you. One, don't 314 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: forget to let me know what's going on in your 315 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: neck of the woods by writing in to a s 316 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: k C A L. That's ask Cal at the meat 317 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: eater dot com. I love hearing from you. And secondly, 318 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 1: I was driving down the road today in a big 319 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: duly pick up pulled up next to me doing about 320 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: seventy five. I look over and this fellow is holding 321 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 1: a sign that says I love meat Eater. I laughed 322 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: my ass off, and sir, if you're listening, I really 323 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: needed a good laugh today. Thank you so much. This 324 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: is a great reminder to spread a little cheer. Back 325 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 1: in my seasonal employment days, we called this angry August 326 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: four months and no breaks, making haze, the sun shone 327 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: or the smoke blue coming to an end. You know 328 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: exactly what the clients are gonna say before they do. 329 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: You've heard that joke and that question a few hundred times. 330 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: But think of the good stuff. Resist the urge to 331 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: pass on your bitterness over that stiffed tip and pass 332 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: on a smile instead. Smile. I'm gonna do you one 333 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 1: more favor. Go check out this Instagram account and creeping 334 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: on old dot time dot hockey h A w k 335 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: e Y. It's wholesome. You'll thank me later. That's all 336 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: I've got for you this week. Thank you so much 337 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: for listening, and remember look up steal Dealers dot com 338 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: and find a qualified, smart, practical steel dealer near you. 339 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 1: Get you set up with some road and trail clearing 340 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: equipment like a super quiet, clean, battery powered operated chainsaw. 341 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: You'll thank me later. Thanks again, and I'll talk to 342 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: you next week.