Put an expiration date on the Wolf Reintroduction in Colorado: https://www.smartwolfpolicyco.com/ 

Can you love wolves, and still seek to end the forced importation of wolves to CO? Yes.

Can you be pro-livestock, and still acknowledge that wolves (living w/in wild ecosystems) can have a place on the landscape? Yes.

Wolf "reintroduction" was a charismatic but fictional vision that compelled Colorado voters to narrowly choose to forcibly import wolves from 1000s of miles away. These wolves could not be relocated to Federal land, deep in the National Forests where you might expect. Instead, the relocations landed wolves (with a pre-existing record of preying on livestock) into habitat very close to the heart of Colorado's cattle rangelands.

The result of this voter-approved experiment: social tension, tremendous cost overruns, and wolves, livestock and food producers being treated terribly.  

How to help?? 

- Volunteer:  to get petition signatures in Colorado - https://www.smartwolfpolicyco.com/ 

- Join the HOWL Pack:  to help us extend and amplify educational messaging 

- Stay informed: Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy - https://www.smartwolfpolicyco.com/ 

*** 

Elk Bros x HOWL PACK - check this out: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/elkbros 

Collaboration is our super power, and Elk Bros is bringing a huge opportunity for anyone that dreams of elk hunting!  Tap into this deal and you'll get access to the entire library of knowledge over at Blue Collar Elk Hunting Academy, and the crew at Elk Bros will put into a 1:100 drawing opportunity. 

The best part... 50% of your membership goes to HOWL for Wildlife, making this the most powerful funding mechanism we've launched. Thank you Elk Bros for this tremendous partnership, and high value offer for the HOWL PACK to tap into. 

JOIN TODAY: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/elkbros

***

#elkhunting #bullelk #howlforwildlife #elk #trophyelk #wildlife #muledeer #deerhunting #newmexico #conservation #elkmanagement #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation 

Call to action!!  We need to rally 100s of hunters (deer, bear, upland game, waterfowl etc!) to show up @ the Friday 12/6 Commission meeting.  Several locations throughout the state are available. Click on the links below:

- HOWL for Arizona Wildlife - ACTION ALERT

- AZ 12/6 Commission Meeting Calendar Details 

- Conserve and Protect Arizona - Join, follow, support 

- Petition to Eliminate Use of Hounds (As Submitted to AZGFD) 

The use of hounds in pursuit of wildlife has been a human activity for upwards of 20,000 years. To say that partnering with our canine companions to harvest critters is outside the bounds of fair chase ethical hunting, is like saying that taking fruit from a tree is unnatural.  Yet... just 3 weeks after Colorado voters choose (55% to 45%, roughly) to support purposeful hunt and harvest of mountain lions and bobcats, the anti-hunting industry is working to eliminate the use of hounds in hunting of all mammals in Arizona. Of course, they're leading this agenda with misinformation, emotionally charged rhetoric and all sorts of lies. 

Conserve and Protect Arizona is leading the charge locally and in-state @ Arizona! Sign up for the updates and get informed about how this organization is equipped for the long-haul, and ready to advocate for hunting, angling and trapping in AZ.  

Join HOWL for Wildlife - as an advocate and as a member of the HOWL PACK.  With your partnership and participation, our HOWL reaches the masses to create a positive impact. 

**

#mountainlion #arizona #hunting #trapping #fishing #hounds #wolf #wolves #wolfpack #houndhunting #bloodtrail #elkhunting #couesdeer #muledeer #desert #endangeredspecies #colorado #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlife #wildlifeconservation 

We love Utah... wildly varied topography and habitat, iconic wildlife and legendary hunting opportunities. 

But, in some ways Utah is belligerent and misguided. The current Utah vs. US Federal Govt lawsuit that is being presented to the Supreme Court is a problem.  Here at HOWL we saw the attempt to ban mountain lion hunting in Colorado as something worthy of nationwide attention and engagement... this threat to the Federal public lands system could be 100x bigger, and worse if it succeeds. 

Listen in. Share this with your community. We need the HOWL Pack to be informed, and ready to HOWL. 

Links to do your own research: 

State of UT (Marketing Statements):  https://standforourland.utah.gov/ 

BHA Utah is Not for Sale: https://www.utahisnotforsale.org/ 

BHA Action Alert: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/take_action#/439 

Join the HOWL Pack: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/memberships 

HOWL on IG: https://www.instagram.com/howl_org/ 

 

**

#conservation #wildlifemanagement #BLM #publiclandowner #publicland #backcountryhuntersandanglers #BHA #Utah #nationalforest #landmanagement #HousesAct #MikeLee 

Mike jumps in solo to celebrate, congratulate and express gratitude to the HOWL pack, partners and collaborators who made VICTORY possible in Colorado. Yes... a nationwide community of hunters, and a grassroots wave of boots-on-the-ground work by Coloradans drove home a NO ON PROP 127 message, and the anti-hunting industry is reeling from the shock. 

Bottom line... successful wildlife management and quality conservation systems depend on regulated hunting and science based decisions. The people of Colorado heard our stories, values and the data, and they chose systems that work over emotionally driven lies and rhetoric. 

BRAVO COLORADO!! 

The HOWL team will do a deeper study of what worked and how we will scale this strategy to impact other states... because in 2025 there is work to do, campaigns to kick off and proactive initiatives to win. 

Give Dan and Mark @ CRWM and Colorado Wildlife Deserve Better a shoutout... they were at the center of this starting 12 months ago, and they delivered! 

www.howlforwildlife.org JOIN US TODAY for more victories in 2025 

HOWL on IG

Please - listen and share. Our army is small, but strong. With your support, contribution and participation the HOWL PACK will be unstoppable and the anti-hunting industry will wither on the vine. 

Brant, Mike & Charles talk about a recent 2-week adventure in Colorado... boots on the ground, street level advocacy where Brant, Seth (Colorado Golden Archers club), and Mike spoke with several 100 voters. 

This is the work that will lock in support for future pro-hunting initiatives. This is the work that will help us reform the Endangered Species Act, get wolves and g-bears delisted, bring back spring bear seasons, improve wildlife management to ensure food-security and hunting opportunity across the US. 

HOWL is saying, creating and doing things in this battle, that other organizations are unwilling or unable to say, create or do. HOWL is driving innovative, provocative and disruptive campaigns to turn the tide, to support all hunters, anglers and conservation minded advocates.  Join us, join HOWL, become part of the pack! 

Find Brant McDuff's book here... "The Shotgun Conservationist"

*** #wildlife #conservation #advocacy #communityorganizer #humanrights #righttohunt #FL2A #Prop127 #mountainlion #wolf #wolves #colorado #election2024 #trophyhunting #wildlifeconservation #hunting #howlforwildlife 

 

Florida is blazing a trail that we all need to understand, support and follow.

Most importantly, FLORIDA citizens and voters who love wildlife on land and in water, need to rally the YES ON 2 message throughout their communities. "Right to Fish & Hunt" establishes barrier to protect conservation, wildlife management systems, the use of hunting/fishing/harvest to maintain healthy ecosystems. 

Outside of Florida... we need to understand what is at stake, how we can emulate and duplicate this in our own states, and most importantly know that conservation "allies" may undermine our progress. 

Inside of Florida... VOTE YES on 2, share the message and this podcast with friends & family, rally votes and support for the Right to Fish and Hunt in your great state! 

Links as promised... click, share, take action: 

Vote Yes on Amendment 2

Right to Fish & Hunt - AllFlorida.org 

HOWL Letter to the Editor 

***

#conservation #advocacy #R2FH #allFlorida #florida #election2024 #amendment2 #hunting #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #angling 

Baker Leavitt and I cover a lot of ground but it all circles back to one critical topic: our community must VOTE. 

We all need to vote. Make a VICTORY "too big to rig"!!

We all need to vote. Just one day every 2 or 4 years... we HAVE THE POWER to choose the course of our country. 

We all need to vote. But 100s of thousands of gun owners, hunters, and anglers do not vote. If they did... the outcome of nearly every major election could have different results, and our country would be on a different track. 

VOTE4America.org asks you to do 2 things for yourself and 1 other person close to you:

- confirm you're registered

- and VOTE! 

Smoke Less Vets

***

#vote4america #election2024 #toobigtorig #conservation #wildlifemanagement #2A #hunting #fishing #trapping  #constitution #howlforwildlife #wildlifeconservation #smokelessvets

Rally at the Capitol in Denver CO on Friday 10/18... come one, come all! Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and everyone who believes in true wildlife conservation - rally to win against ballot box biology. Rally to defeat Prop. 127.

Grassroots is where the battle is now! Lawn signs, billboards, vinyl vehicle wraps and window tints, rally at the Capitol, and YOUR letter to the editor will have impact to drive the NO on 127 message. 

HOWL for Wildlife - IG 

HOWL for Wildlife - Web 

Colorado Wildlife Deserve Better 

Save The Hunt Colorado 

CRWM - Social Media, share share share

Sporting Classics TV with Chris Dorsey 

***

#conservation #colorado #coloradical #coloradowildlife #wildlife #trophyhunting #mountainlion #howlforwildlife #wildlifemanagement #coloradopolitics #coloradolove #denver #savethehuntcolorado #wildlifedeservebetter 

 

Take 5 minutes to lead, take action and help the hunting community!

Jess Johnson with the Wyoming Wildlife Federation maps out the status of legislation being developed, and the need for hunting community engagement and support NOW. This is an opportunity to lead and help establish better laws that continue to support and favor hunting and trapping, while penalizing and deterring truly unacceptable behavior. 

Background: the Daniel, WY "wolf cruelty incident" has spurred a national outcry for laws that have more teeth int them... This demand included a coalition of 1000s of hunters and 70+ hunting industry organizations.

Legislative Next Steps: in early October the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee will review and update proposed legislation that comes out of a "Predator Mgmt Working Group/SubCommittee". 

Current Need for Legislation Improvements: the legislative process is often messy and the proposed law here is not fully baked, so we as hunters can steer it towards a better statute and more likely success on the way to the WY Governor's desk. 

- email the committee leadership: Chairwoman, Senator Wendy Schuler and Chairwoman (Wendy.Schuler@wyoleg.gov ) , Representative Sandy Newsome ( Sandy.Newsome@wyoleg.gov )

- Identify yourself as a hunter who values wildlife, fair chase and the need for simple, successful and effective legislation 

- Request that the proposed "Cruelty to Wildlife" legislation be amended to (1) remove all mention of motorized and over-snow vehicles to simplify and focus the legislation and (2) move the new law into Title 23 (wildlife laws) for better implementation and to maintain its legal relationship to wildlife while eliminating potential complications involving hunting and trapping. 

- Cc your email to include Jessi Johnson at Wyoming Wildlife Federation so that she knows the hunting community is speaking out. jessijohnson@wyomingwildlife.org 

- Finally, share this call to action in your community. When we are silent, we are subject to the whims or mistakes of others. When we lead and are proactive, our community can define the future and maintain a role as stewards and standard bearers. 

***

#wyomingwildlife #advocacy #wildlife #hunting #wolf #wolves #hunting #legislation #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #predators #wyoming 

You're going to learn more about falconry in this 45min conversation than 99% of "wildlife advocates" will ever know.  Incredible information here from Devin Jaffe. She is a Master Falconer, educator, hunter, biologist and likely one of the best advocates for the ancient art of developing a truly wild hunting partner such as a raptor! 

There are many parallels between hunting with dogs and raptors... as a community we need to understand the historical treasure that each pursuit holds and we need to protect both of them.  When it comes to hunters participating in nature and equally ensuring the long-term success of diverse species, falconry stands out! 

Click through on the resources below: 

HOWL for Wildlife IG / WEB 

Devin Jaffe - Nature's Educators / High Plains Falconers / Mile High Falcons

**

#conservation #wildlife #falconry #nature #wildlifemanagement #baldeagle #raptors #colorado #goldeneagle #howlforwildlife #ancientarts

 

You'll love this conversation with Zach Hanson, aka "the Okayest Trapper" and author of Turning Feral. 

Your friends will love it too... so hit that SHARE button and spread the good word of the HOWLCAST. 

**

Zach ditched the normal path to typical middle-America success and went off-grid, to craft an entirely new lifestyle in Idaho. He probably didn't graduate from high-school as the most likely to go full-mountain-man and live in a wooden shack... but then what can ever be predicted from life when we're just 18 years old? 

Listen in to Zach's stories and you'll gain a whole new perspective and inspiration in the areas of self-sufficient living, hunting and trapping, and getting into the woods for deeper life experiences. 

LINKS: 

HOWL for Wildlife - WEB / IG 

The Okayest Trapper Podcast 

Zach Hanson - Let Me Die Learning on IG 

 

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#conservation #advocacy #trapping #hunting #trophyhunting #wildlifemanagement #wildlife #adventure #Idaho #Colorado #elk #muledeer #beaver #wolf #offgrid #homesteading #howlforwildlife #turningferal #mountainman 

VIDEO version here: https://youtu.be/IAWRHJjmQl8?si=lc08xPRhZZzDKq9Z 

HOWL PACK: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/memberships

***

HOWL has a strategy and vision for the future, which brings back abundance of wildlife and abundance of opportunity. Listen in or watch the YouTube video... get fired up and join the HOWL PACK.  Share the vision, make it your own and become part of the long-term strategy to WIN. 

Losing is not predestined. Modern regulated hunting is the #1 tool for wildlife success and conservation systems worldwide. We simply need to share our values, share our stories. Everyone wants critters to be OKAY, and we are the tool that makes that happen. 

***

 

 

Are we going to WIN in Colorado and deal ballot-box-biology a LOSS?  YES we are - with your help, your support and your engagement over the next 60 days. Dig in and let's do the work together: HOWL Townhall Meetings and the issues committee CO Wildlife Deserve Better need you.

**

What a great time this conversation was!! Getting to know Ray "Living with Predators" Livingston at Outdoorsman's Days in Colorado was definitely a highlight of the trip. Ray's life history is rich and varied, but it's his soulful connection to the land, ecology and critters that defines who he is.   

We talk about mountain lions and lion meat - his favorite. We talk about the intrinsic and necessary role humans play in ecology and wildlife success. We talk about the wildly inaccurate caricature that anti-hunters use to defame and define our community. 

Find Ray on IG 

Dig into advocacy with HOWL for Wildlife

Support the WILDLIFE DESERVE BETTER Campaign. 

 

** 

#hunting #predators #livingwithpredators #mountainlion #outdoorsman #wildlifemanagement #conservation #wildlifeconservation #trophyhunting #howlforwildlife #colorado #wildcolorado #coloradowildlife #election2024 #apexpredator #wolf 

Don't like the title of this podcast, or the negativity in the conversation? 

Well.. join the club and take action:

(1) donate $$ 

(2) challenge your community to donate $$ 

(3) share this and the call to action; build and expand the community. 

www.wildlifedeservebetter.com 

www.howlforwildlife.org 

 

An insightful and inspiring conversation with Laramy! Listen in to get the backstory of his "Sasquatch" nickname... it goes beyond his incredible 6'7" frame and 270# mass.  He's a traditional hunter with the heart and soul of an 1800s mountain man. For Laramy, traditional hunting provides an intimate experience that requires a deep connection to the woods, ecosystem and wildlife. Laramy's approach to hunting completely destroys the anti-hunting propaganda... which we dig into.  Laramy is committed to supporting hunting and the opportunity for all of us to get into the woods where critters thrive and ecosystems stay balanced and healthy, because we hunt! 

Listen in, share and click through on the resources below: 

HOWL for Wildlife 

Colorado Wildlife Deserves Better 

Laramy Sasquatch Miller - ONLINE / IG 

Laramy Sasquatch Miller - LINKTREE 

 

#mountainman #hunting #colorado #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #traditional #tradbow #survivalist #sasquatch #TheTrail #LastOfABreed #mountainlion #montana #howlforwildlife #howlcast #archery #muzzleloader #flintlock #traditionalarchery 

While wandering the Outdoorsman's Days expo area here in Florence CO today, the shiny single bevel broadheads from IRON WILL caught my attention, and then the "history of bowhunting" t-shirt & related backstory is what really pulled me in. This shirt is easy to love as it simply and elegantly conveys the true story that from days of antiquity to current modernity... hunting has been an intrinsically human activity. 

Listen in to this quick conversation with Iron Will Outfitters founder and innovator, Bill Vanderheyden, then jump over to IronWillOutfitters.com to grab yourself one of these t-shirts. You'll love the shirt, and the message it carries will convey a very important pro-hunting message to people who see it. Lastly, you'll be supporting CRWM and SAVETHEHUNTCOLORADO, which is critically needed to win against threats of ballot-box biology! 

HOWL for Wildlife 

Iron Will Outfitters - online

Iron Will Outfitters - IG 

HOWL for Wildlife - IG 

 

#archery #bowhunting #humanhistory #colorado #hunting #conservation #broadheads #antiquity #prehistory #wildlifemanagement #huntingishuman 

Imagine having 40% of the public land in your state closed to hunt/harvest of ALL species, regardless of wildlife abundance and ecosystem health!!  Proposals on par with this are being considered and promoted for California's coastal waters.

"Hunting the Ocean" can mean many things... pier fishing, spear fishing, free diving for spiny lobster, crabbing, shore fishing, angling from a boat or kayak, and many more things!  One thing is certain... even with the most regulated coastal fisheries in the world, the opportunity for individuals to access and enjoy the hunt in coastal California waters is under attack. 

Listen in to this episode of Matt Bond (allwaters.org) and Devin O'dea (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) explain the convoluted path and petition process which could disenfranchise subsistence anglers, eliminate adaptive management in complex ecosystems. You'll hear the connection between these closures and billion $$ organizations that will continue to have priority access for their use and purpose, while individuals are pushed out. 

Tap into the links and resources below to continue following, and take action by using the HOWL for Wildlife Letter to the Editor tool, send comments to the Fish & Game Commission (email).  Join HOWL to stay informed and ready when we deploy our Action Center and pull the Hunting and Angling communities together in this fight. 

All Waters Protection and Access Coalition (AllWaters.org)  All Waters - IG 

California Fish & Game Commission Meeting Aug 14 - Agenda (item 9) 

California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife MPA Review Process 

Ocean Protection Council - 30x30 Review and Comment Process

California Backcountry Hunters & Anglers - MPA Closures 

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#california #marineprotection #wildlifemanagement #oceanprotection #spearfishing #allwaters #marineprotectedarea #ecosystem #hunting #fishing #30x30 #conservation 

Let's grow the HOWL Pack... Please share.

Go to HOWL for Wildlife Action Center to read and sign on to our HOWL Pack letter regarding the unacceptable behavior this podcast focuses on. 

Hunters and the hunting community, via the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, are playing a key role in guiding new legislation in WY which will (1) identify (2) punish and (3) deter the wildly cruel and bizarre conduct that all of us were offended by.  

This incident has directly, negatively impacted the entire hunting community in North America this year.  The anti-hunting  industry made this behavior it's front page leading story when talking about hunting, including completely unrelated and highly regulated, legal and ethical mtn lion hunting in CO.  

Listen in to this conversation as Jess Johnson (Wy Wildlife Fed.) unpacks the process and progress taking place in WY, with bi-partisan efforts to finely tune the laws there, while absolutely ensuring protection and support for hunting, predator mgmt., trapping, and conservation. 

HOWL for Wildlife - IG

HOWL for Wildlife - Memberships

Wyoming Wildlife Federation - online

Wyoming Wildlife Federation - IG 

***

#wyoming #wildlife #hunting #wolf #wolves #predatormanagement #wildlifemanagement #conservation #wildlifeconservation #publicpolicy #legislation #colorado #endangeredspeciesact #trapping #wolfhunting 

 

Was the non-lead ammo movement hatched by hunters, for wildlife... and is this still a controversial topic? 

In this call Micah Dungey (Institute for Wildlife Studies) gives us a light but informative background on the non-lead ammo movement. Why were California condors at the center of the non-lead ammo movement? We get into some of the controversy, the science and the opportunity for hunters to be the leading voices, and to be the market movers when it comes to wildlife and ecosystem issues. 

This conversation helped up our level of knowledge on the non-lead topic, and really drives home the idea that as hunters we have the opportunity to leaders with proactive work. Enjoy the chat, soak up some new information and let's rally to set the tone, define the path for protecting hunting, trapping and angling opportunity. 

HOWL for Wildlife - Membership and the MEAT EATER Experience

Hunting with Non-Lead 

Save The Hunt Colorado - Support CRWM to protect hunting 

Institute for Wildlife Studies Non-lead Awareness Program 

**

#nonlead #conservation #wildife #huntingwithnonlead #colorado #hunting #muledeer #elk #blackbear #californiacondor #condor #nontoxicammo #nonleadammo #california 

In this conversation (7/8/24) Dan Gates from Coloradan's for Responsible Wildlife Management gives us the straight scoop on anti-hunting Initiative 91 in Colorado. Petitions have been submitted to the Sec. of State and the anti-hunting extremists believe they might have enough signatures validated to put this on the ballot in November. 

As hunters and wildlife advocates - we MUST prevail. Balanced ecosystems and diverse populations of critters rely on regulated hunting, including the sustainable harvest of mountain lions in Colorado.  

We must prevail, and we can prevail. Funding SAVE-THE-HUNT-COLORADO is the number 1 thing we can do to prioritize and protect science based wildlife mgmt. and the right to hunt abundant populations of wildlife.

Finally... membership makes the world go round and we're excited to reward a HOWL PACK member with a uniquely awesome MEATEATER Experience! On Aug. 10th HOWL and MEATEATER will pick one of our members to go on a Louisiana fishing excursion. You have to be a member for a chance to win... Click through to HOWL and put your name in the hat for this incredible opportunity! 

Finally... expand the reach of CRWM, HOWL and the messages that support hunting by sharing the stories and images that help everyone understand the value of hunting. "Like, comment and share" are truly powerful actions you can take to inform and educate the non-hunting voters in every community. 

@HOWL

@CRWM 

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#colorado #mountainlion #hunting #wildlife #conservation #elk #muledeer #blackbear #wildlifemanagement #howl #howlforwildlife #wildlifeconservation #ecology #election2024

"Anti-hunting is colonialism" Max Fennell said this back in 2021, and more people are saying it now. 

Max is an "adult onset hunter" here in California, who is discovering and connecting with his ancestry while also getting closer to the land, nature and sustenance through wild game. He's an entrepreneur, former professional triathlete. Max exemplifies the diversity of age, experience, ethnicity, inspiration and ancestry that can be found throughout North America... and his stories and experiences highlight the fact that Hunting Is Human. 

oh.. and also Max found Diesel the Donkey!! 

Click the links below: 

- HOWL for Wildlife x MEATEATER fishing trip giveaway

- Max Fennell, IG

- United Hunters Project, founder Max Fennell

- Fenn Coffee, owner Max Fennell 

 

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#consevation #wildlife #diesel #dieselthedonkey #elk #donkey #hunting #howl #howlforwildlife #california #meateater #antihunting #trophyhunting 

This is an opportunity to proactively influence a management plan document that will impact bear hunting and ecosystem management for the next 10+ years!  The Calif. Dept of Fish & Wildlife has provided a (draft) 2024 Black Bear Conservation Plan for public review and input.  Here at HOWL we have developed no less than 78 comments, questions and recommendations for this plan. 

In this episode Mike Costello (@huntingAintEasy) breaks down the core issues related to the Black Bear Conservation Plan and calls upon you for fast-action to add your voice, add your HOWL so that the CDFW knows how passionate our community is about Black Bear Conservation and the use of hunting as tool which benefits bears, ungulates and humans! 

Listen. Share. Take ACTION at www.howlforwildlife.org  starting Wednesday 6/12! 

Resources and links: 

HOWL @ IG

HOWL for Wildlife website 

CDFW Black Bear Conservation Plan 

**

#california #bearhunting #blackbear #conservation #predatorhunting #predatormanagement #bearconservation #wildlifemanagement #deerhunting #elkhunting #muledeer #blacktaildeer #bear 

Who we are! https://www.howlforwildlife.org/value_statement 

The values we uphold must be communicated to our elected leaders.  Sitting in silence will ensure that we lose... but HOWL AS ONE with our shared values, can result in the hunting community leading dialogue and conservation in the United States. 

Listen in and TAKE ACTION so that your elected leaders know who you are, know what you value, and know what you expect from them. 

Values: 

- Hunting is intrinsically human, and regulated hunting is the #1 mechanism for conservation success

- Federal public lands must be managed to support conservation, wildlife, access and multiple uses. 

- It is time to delist the gray wolf in the United States, so that states can successfully manage this iconic species with local stakeholder input and values. 

- It is time to reform the Antiquities Act... to relieve frustration from states and local communities who are tired of Federal gov't overreach and abuse of the "monuments" designation process. 

- It is time to reform the Endangered Species Act... to create a functional recovery and management process and end the industry of wildlife-litigation which breaks the value, spirit and effectiveness of the ESA. 

LEGISLATION SEASON IS IN FULL SWING. DO YOUR ELECTED LEADERS KNOW YOUR VALUES? 

HOWL TODAY --> Your HOWL will be delivered to your state and federal elected leaders!  https://www.howlforwildlife.org/value_statement 

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#wildlifeadvocacy #conservation #wildlife #howlforwildlife #wildlifeconservation #legislation #advocacy #legislation #regulations #hunting #waterfowl #elk #deer #habitat #wildlifehabitat #publiclands #nationalforest #blm 

 

Brandon Maddox (CEO @ Silencer Central) breaks down the why, the how, and the "what's next" of silencers (suppressors) here in the US.  Silencer Central has created value for all hunters and gun owners by introducing processes that make ATF silencer approvals faster than ever imagined. They're also generous with donations to the conservation orgs that do so much for hunting and wildlife nationwide. 

What's amazing though?? The work that Silencer Central is leading could inject millions $$ into conservation and wildlife funding via Pittman Robertson!  Listen and get ready to throw YOUR support behind this massive infusion of new funding that we can all get behind. 

Silencer Central - online 

Silencer Central - IG 

HOWL for Wildlife - IG

HOWL for Wildlife - online 

#2a #guns #silencercentral #rifles #waterfowl #nwtf #longrange #hunting #conservation #wildlife #pheasanthunting #suppressor #huntingrights #advocacy 

 

SAVE THE HUNT COLORADO - Donate today!  

SAVE THE HUNT COLORADO - Buy the official commemorative Dan Gates t-shirt! 

The long & short of it... funding for CRWM from the grassroots hunting community is 100% the most necessary component to SAVETHEHUNTCOLORADO!  We are all Colorado hunters ~ in spirit, past, present and future. 

If the hunting ban in CO is successful in the November election, ALL HUNTERS in the US will feel a negative impact.  If the hunting ban in CO is successful in the next 5 weeks and gets the signatures needed to go on the ballot, the costs to fight this will be several times more $$ than ever raised for a defense of hunting. 

Bottom line: we are in the final stretch of this battle where we have the chance to PREVENT the attack on hunting in CO from getting on the ballot. Funding today does 3 things. (1) we fuel the "decline to sign" campaign and (2) we fund the fight to win in November.  3rd... we fund CRWM for the continuing and necessary defense of the North American Model of Conservation in CO! 

Spread the word... share this call to action. 

Follow CRWM... stay informed and stay in the fight. 

Follow HOWL for Wildlife... to take action, support hunters and hunting. 

Listen. Share. Take Action.

The Vermont legislature is in the midst of debating and deciding the fate of Senate Bill 258 (S. 258).  Through a well refined political strategy there is a coalition of anti-hunting interests who want to over-turn a proven and successful regulatory framework. S258 would strip rule-making capacity away from the Advisory Board, and give it to a Dept. which is headed up by political appointees. When there's a difference of opinion between the Advisory Board and the Dept., it would be reviewed by the legislature (more politics). Additionally, this legislation strips away the right to use hounds in pursuit of coyote, and eliminates baiting for coyote. There is nothing of value in this legislation, and where it has ambiguity you would be right to distrust the source and future outcomes. 

The anti-hunting industry is committed to upending the most effective regulatory systems in the US, where wildlife and ecosystems have thrived, and hunting opportunity has been prioritized. Non-hunters have benefitted from these systems, because we all want wildlife to succeed on the landscape. The anti-hunters are focused on stripping away human participation in nature - to the detriment of all stakeholders, including wildlife. 

Take action with HOWL

Take action with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (VT residents) 

Follow BHA New England Chapter for updates. 

#conservation #wildlifemanagment #wildlife #coyote #vermont #backcountryhunters #bha #newengland #hunting #deerhunting #antihunting #animalrights #advocacy #howl #howlforwildlife 

The HOWL community relies on your engagement to grow, succeed and be effective.

Please listen, subscribe and share.

Mike Duplan is experienced, knowledgeable and opinionated - which we love! He's been a contributor in the western big game hunting community for more than 2 decades. You'll find his work in Western Hunter Magazine - which features beautiful and inspiring stories of big game hunting. A subscription to Western Hunter is worth every penny. 

Mike recently released this article: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf and inspired a conversation with HOWLCAST. He knows the landscape and the cultural & political run-up to wolf translocation in CO.  As such Mike Duplan is also tracking the potential ballot initiative which would ban trophy hunting (mtn lion & bobcat to start) in Colorado.  

Listen in as we discuss the culture war that is using charismatic species like wolves and lions to remove hunting rights nationwide, and even go down the rabbit hole of what wolf issues CA will face as the #s there trend toward 100 or more on the landscape.  We talk about the need to support Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt (CRWM) as they are the ONLY org ready to fight the attack on hunting  and conservation in Colorado.  

Resources: 

- Take Action with HOWL for Wildlife

- HOWL Instagram - share our stories. 

- SaveTheHuntColorado 

 

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#wolves #wyoming #colorado #trophyhunting #advocacy #hunting #wildlifemanagement #mountainlion #elk #muledeer #westernhunter #westernhunting #california #blackbear #wolfmanagement #howlforwildlife #savethehuntcolorado #crwm #wildlife 

Listen. Follow. Share. Take Action. 

Featuring... Shafer. 

Mike Shafer is UT rapper, hunter and creator a Cameron Hanes' bumper music for his Keep Hammering Collective podcast. Shafer epitomizes the concept of being/doing/living outside of people's expectations. In that regard, he is an OUTLIER. Perhaps that's why his raps are so perfect for the KHC podcast intro.  

We talk about rap battles, the creation of the now famous CAM HANES rap, lion hunting and of course HOWL for Wildlife.  This was a fun conversation and with almost 0 context going into it, words flowed easily & we had a good time connecting!  

Look up Shafer and anytime you want to get amped up for a hunt, hike or workout know you can tap into Mike Shafer's CAM HANES high energy. 

Shafer, feat. Cam Hanes 

Mike Shafer on IG

HOWL for Wildlife

HOWL on IG

Listen. Follow. Share. Take Action. 

#keephammering #rapbattle #billboardchart #utah #lionhunting #cameronhanes #joerogan #r3 #conservation #advocacy #music #firstresponder #wildlife #wildlifemanagement #wildgame 

Listen -> Follow -> Share -> Take Action 

When we learned that author and hunter Linden Loren had mentioned HOWL for Wildlife into his new book (released 2023), we knew a conversation was needed. HOWL was barely out of the gate with a growing base of support in the US, but this kind of callout set a high bar for trust and belief in our mission. Keep in mind...no author wants their work outdated or obsolete because an organization they refer to is no longer active!! 

Linden has gathered 73 practices, protocols and principles which collectively can add to your Hunting Healthspan. Like it or not, we have a limited # of days in the field, an even more limited # of "opening days" here on Earth.  Your Hunting Healthspan is relatable for hunters who want to live a vibrant life outdoors. Equally important is the reciprocity between human health and hunting, because strength in one will usually add value to the other... Hunting is Human. 

Listen -> Follow -> Share -> Take Action 

Your Hunting Healthspan - buy online 

Linden Loren - author and hunter 

Camo & Wind - coming soon! 

HOWL for Wildlife - where advocacy for hunting works! 

#health #fitness #hunting #recreation #healthyliving #lifespan #conservation #humanity #bookclub #lifehack #howlforwildlife #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #advocacy #community #pacificnorthwest #pnw

Listen, follow and share with your community. 

HOWL got to chat with Tom Opre, a visionary filmmaker, wildlife conservationist, communicator and leader of the "Shepherds of Wildlife Society".  Tom has decades of encounters where hunting, wildlife, conservation and social issues converge. His team presents educational and compelling stories through powerful visual communication. Mike and Tom talk extensively about the need for hunting as a conservation tool, as well as the need for the hunting community to talk with and gain alignment from non-hunters. We dig into the meaning and threat of "reWilding" and how wildlife and ecosystems may suffer the most if human participation is removed from our natural world.  

Listen, follow and share with your community. 

Shepherds of Wildlife / Instagram

The Last Keeper 

Killing the Shepherd 

HOWL for Wildlife / Instagram 

#rewilding #trophyhunting #wildlifemanagement #wildlife #society #wilderness #hunting #sustainability #wildgame #humanity #thelastkeeper #killingtheshepherd #howl #conservation #africa #northamericanmodel 

 

March 2024 - The battle to protect hunting and wildlife management in Colorado continues. The anti-hunting industry is rallying around deceptive slogans and flat-out lies about the hunting community and the success of conservation, while at the same time these politically supported activists are working to plant agenda driven Commissioners who can steer policy in the coming years. 

In this 5-Minutes with Dan update, we get an view into the workings of Commission nomination and confirmations as well as an update on the status of the proposed hunting ban in Colorado. 

Please listen in, share and join the forces of HOWL for Wildlife, and CRWM to defeat the anti-hunters by supporting communications campaigns that WIN alignment from the non-hunting public.  

Listen, like, share and support - HOWL and CRWM to effect positive outcomes in CO and nationwide. 

#conservation #colorado #wildlife #hunting #elk #mountainlion #muledeer #wolves #wildlifemanagement #ecotourism #elkhunting #publiclandowner #backcountryhunters 

Part 2 of this conversation about threats to marine access that - the anti-hunting philosophy extends all the way from 14,000' granite peaks to deep dark kelp forests ~ and our community is faced with well organized, well funded threats.  

Nearly 150 MILLION Americans live within 2 hours of an ocean... so the concept of "hunting the coastal waters" is something that we all need to be aware of and support. Just like hunting, angling opportunity is part of the basic human experience, and as a community we need to be concerned about habitat quality, access and opportunity. 

Nearly 1200 pages of petitions have recently been submitted to the Calif. F&G Commission, most of them attempting to severely limit your opportunity to "hunt coastal waters" in California. Just like protecting the mtn lion hunt in Colorado, we need to become informed, and rally to support angling opportunity when it is arbitrarily threatened. 

Please listen in follow the below links and and help us take action... **We need to stop these MPA expansions and closures in order to maintain angling access and opportunity in our coastal waters** 

- Email the Calif. F&G Commission: fgc@fgc.ca.gov 

- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif. - Action Item

- AllWaters.org - online

- AllWaters.org - Instagram

- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif - IG 

- HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center 

#marine #angling #spearfishing #california #fishing #offshorefishing #surfing #sportfishing #surffishing #hunting #advocacy #backcountryhunters #bha #allwaters

 

 

 

 

Nearly 150 MILLION Americans live within 2 hours of an ocean... so the concept of "hunting the coastal waters" is something that we all need to be aware of and support. Just like hunting, angling opportunity is part of the basic human experience, and as a community we need to be concerned about habitat quality, access and opportunity. 

Nearly 1200 pages of petitions have recently been submitted to the Calif. F&G Commission, most of them attempting to severely limit your opportunity to "hunt coastal waters" in California. Just like protecting the mtn lion hunt in Colorado, we need to become informed, and rally to support angling opportunity when it is arbitrarily threatened. 

Please listen in follow the below links and and help us take action... **We need to stop these MPA expansions and closures in order to maintain angling access and opportunity in our coastal waters** 

- Email the Calif. F&G Commission: fgc@fgc.ca.gov 

- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif. - Action Item

- AllWaters.org - online

- AllWaters.org - Instagram

- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Calif - IG 

- HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center 

#marine #angling #spearfishing #california #fishing #offshorefishing #surfing #sportfishing #surffishing #hunting #advocacy #backcountryhunters #bha #allwaters

 

A nationwide call to action:  https://www.howlforwildlife.org/value_statement

Advocacy works and the HOWL pack is a fast & effective group of hunting & conservation advocates. JOIN the HOWL PACK today... As the community grows, so does our voice, and our power to lead. 

In this episode, Gabriella Hoffman leads us through several hot button issues that all hunters in the US are impacted by, and can be leaders & influencers on.  Reforming the Endangered Species Act, the Antiquities Act are top of mind.  Getting some updates to these laws will improve Federal Lands mgmt. and reduce Executive branch overreach, while helping do more for actual conservation and wildlife recovery where it's most needed.  Removing wolves from the constant legal and social battles that result from it being Federally listed... we must support the "The Pet and Livestock Protection Act" to return wolf management to individual states. 

Take action friends... the ACTION CENTER has the current issues where your voice is needed. 

Soon HOWL will have a powerful nationwide call for all of us to "HOWL AS ONE", so that our state and federal elected leaders know where we stand, what we value, and what we expect from them on the biggest issues facing hunters, wildlife and public lands. 

Finally - jump over to Gabriella Hoffman's "District of Conservation" where you'll get the deep dive on every major federal issue impacting these issues. She's connected, informed and brings a great discussion to key topics we all need to follow and act on. 

HOWL for Wildlife - HOWL Pack Membership

HOWL for Wildlife - Take Action 

District of Conservation - Podcast 

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#conservation #wildlife #howl #endangeredspeciesact #antiquitiesact #publiclands #nationalforest #blm #ESAreform #wildlifemanagement #wolfdesliting #wolves #wildlifeconservation #hunting #howlpack 

There's a lot happening and HOWL has reached 1000s of accounts on Instagram in the last couple weeks.  Through the support of individuals, influencers and organizations HOWL is connecting with more people and enabling hunters to be advocates for hunting!

How can you help HOWL for Wildlife support and protect hunting, conservation and wildlife success?  

- follow and share our content from Instagram and this podcast. 

- use the Action Center and take action in your community and across state lines. 

- become a member of HOWL for Wildlife. 

Here is a quick update on a bushel of issues and opportunities in front of the hunting (and angling!) communities across the nation. The pack of HOWL advocates is having positive impacts through education, communication and taking action. Thanks to 1000s of individuals sharing their values and perspectives with decision makers - we are collectively protecting hunting opportunity and guiding the continued use of regulated hunting as the primary mechanism in successful conservation. 

Resources: 

HOWL for Wildlife - Action Center

HOWL for Wildlife - Memberships, Join the Pack

HOWL for Wildlife - IG 

Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt - Save the Hunt!

CRWM - IG 

Mile High Hunt Expo - come to Denver, HOWL will be there. 

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#conservation #wildlife #wildlifemanagement #hunting #trophyhunting #blackbear #elk #muledeer #whitetaildeer #deerhunting #elkhunting #colorado #antihunting #wildlifeconservation #citizenadvocacy #savethehuntcolorado

 

Brant McDuff lives in New York but can frequently be seen delivering searingly brilliant testimony in support of hunting all over the US.  He was once a casual anti-hunter, but now is a strong advocate and author carrying the message of hunting and conservation. Charles (@ HOWL) loves the way Brant's mind works... We all can learn from Brant's experience and his skill as a word-smith. 

Dive in and while listening be sure to check out Brant's content online: 

Immortal Animals (web) - where you'll find his book "The Shotgun Conservationist" 

Stuff in My Apartment (IG) 

Always... always... check out the ACTION CENTER @ HOWL for Wildlife! 

 

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#conservation #trophyhunting #newyorkcity #taxidermy #wildlife #hunting #wildlifemanagement #antihunter #advocacy #vegan #huntersofcolor #backcountryhunters #bha #mountainlions #environmentalist 

HELP us, Help you!  Share the podcast and share the call to action with your community.

With a potential ballot initiative in Colorado that would outlaw hunting of mtn lions and bobcats, and also establish statutory (legal) language defining "trophy hunting", the 250k-300k non-resident hunters who want to chase big-game in Colorado have A LOT riding on the Nov. vote. 

There is a path to victory - and we have a call to action!  Coloradans For Responsible Wildlife Mgmt (CRWM) and the Colorado Outfitters Association are partnering to get the word out to guides, outfitters and non-residents hunters NATIONWIDE.  The non-resident hunter is how/where we can neutralize this threat and bury the anti-hunting industry. 

CALL TO ACTION: donate "the cost of a box of ammo" to CRWM by going to www.SAVETHEHUNTCOLORADO.com 

CRWM - Instagram

HOWL for Wildlife - Instagram 

HOWL for Wildlife - Website 

#colorado #trophyhunting #mountainlion #bobcat #predatorhunting #wildlife #conservation #hunting #advocacy #howlforwildlife #wolves #elk #muledeer #blackbear 

 

**Listen**Share**Donate // Call to action - will you contribute the equivalent of 1 box of ammo?? If hunters across the US will contribute this amount, we will crush this anti-hunting initiative in its tracks. 

The 5 Minutes with Dan Gate series will be updated every 2-4 weeks, to provide continuous informative updates which the hunting and wildlife conservation community can rely on, right on through the Nov. 5 election.  The ballot-box-biology attack on regulated hunting and science based wildlife management is a threat to access to hunting and angling. Most importantly, it is an attack on the most successful systems that produce positive outcomes for numerous species on the landscape throughout North America. 

Please listen, follow and share the following resources with YOUR community: 

Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt: WEB / Instagram / Facebook 

SaveTheHuntColorado.com 

Howl for Wildlife: WEB / Instagram 

Colorado Wildlife Deserves Better: web / Instagram

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#trophyhunting #conservation #wildlife #hunting #muledeer #elk #mountainlion #predator #wolves #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #elkhunting #deerhunting 

Even as the Covid-19 outbreak drove more people into America's forests, waterways, and shooting ranges, the support for hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting has declined over the past three years, according to a recent poll of Americans' sentiments toward these activities. After almost 30 years of rising public support, there has been a decline in support for legal field sports. This decline may be due to a broader and growing distaste for activities that are mostly associated with older, white, rural men.  Or It may mean we are not doing a good enough job speaking to the non-hunting public . Responsive Management conducted a poll titled "Americans' Attitudes Toward Legal, Regulated Fishing, Target/Sport Shooting, Hunting, and Trapping," which was published June of 2023. The Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation, a think tank that focuses on disseminating information on outdoor trends procure a grant to get this study done. Jim Curcuruto sits with John Stallone and discusses this study and what are the take aways and possible solutions. 

Take a look at the survey here 

 

In this Episode Charles & Mike chat with Brandon Nelson of RMEF (California) to talk about Elk herds in California, the boots-on-the-ground approach that RMEF takes when it comes to supporting Elk and habitat that benefits all critters. 

RMEF does tremendous work in the US and has been a conservation leader with habitat improvement, land purchases to secure habitat and access for hunting, directly funding biologists to study and support elk herds and even helping with translocation work to create new herds in historic range.  Learn more and support RMEF through their local chapters in 49 states.  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Support HOWL for Wildlife and Take Action: Advocacy Works! 

Help us WIN in Colorado: Save the Hunt, Colorado! 

#wildlife #trophyhunting #elkhunting #colorado #californiahunting #rmef #rockymountainelkfoundation #elk #habitat #conservation #advocacy #hunting #howlforwildlife #wolves #california 

This HOWLCAST episode features Dan Gates from Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM). We go deep into the history, current and future status of anti-hunting industry attacks on hunting in Colorado.  For the 5th time mountain lion and bobcat hunting is under attack in CO.  The anti-hunters are developing language for a ballot initiative which could become a lever to take down hunting and angling across any and all species. 

WE WILL WIN in CO this year. 

Listen in to become informed.  Stay engaged to support and be active in a NATIONWIDE grass roots strategy.  Funding from all sources, from $20 and up ... individual and corporate donations will be the FUEL that drives legal, communications, marketing and grass-roots strategies.  No matter what state you're in or what species you pursue, this is YOUR fight and we will all win together. 

Share and support SAVETHEHUNTCOLORADO.com 

Join HOWL for Wildlife to build our grass-roots community to win. 

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#colorado #wolf #mountainlion #bobcat #hunting #conservation #wildlife #elkhunting #deerhunting #muledeer #bearhunting #savethehuntcolorado #HOWLforWILDLIFE #elk #wolfhunting #trapping

 

Take Action at HOWL for Wildlife 

The "4D Rule" is an critically important tool to protecting hunters, anglers and really all public land users from the weaponization of the Endangered Species Act.  Currently a regulatory process related to the ESA listing of the Wolverine seeks YOUR INPUT related to the inclusion of the 4D rule.  What's this mean?? Essentially - hunters and other public land users need the 4D rule in place, to maintain access to hunt, fish, trap and recreate in wolverine habitat. 

Without the 4D rule who could lose?  Hunters, anglers, trappers, over-snow vehicle and OHV users, forestry mgmt professionals and more. 

Use the HOWL ACTION CENTER for fast & effective support of the 4D rule. 

Thank you Jeff Darah, Jason Wisniewski and Matt Lumley for sharing your expertise. 

Rural Voice For America - Wolverines with Matt Lumley 

Fur Takers of America 

Outdoor Heritage Coalition

Congressional Sportsmens Foundation

Montana Trappers Association 

National Trappers Association 

 

#wildlife #conservation #wolverine #endangeredspeciesact #advocacy #hunting #trapping #wolves #grizzly #overlanding #oversnow #snowmobile #forestry

 

It is becoming more & more apparent that a majority of the current WA state F&W Commission has a bias against hunters, and hunting. The threats are directed at bear and cougar hunting, with indirect impacts which will be felt across all species in Washington and likely will impact hunters and wildlife nationwide. The threats here are perpetrated by the same anti-hunting industry players we see in Colorado, California, Arizona, etc. 

Please go to HOWL for Wildlife, share this podcast and rally your community to advocate for hunting, conservation, balanced and proven wildlife mgmt.  Hunting is Human, and Hunting is good for Wildlife. 

HOWL for Wildlife

Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt. 

Doug Boze "bozeandbears"

Ryan Garrett "HunterFarmerArtisan" 

Mike Costello "HuntingAin'tEasy" 

#conservation #wildlife #hunting #bearhunting #washington #deerhunting #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #sustainable #trophyhunting #antihunting #muledeer #elk

 

Charles sits down with Mark Hall to converse about the potential Grizzly Bear reintroduction into Washington State. Canada's wild boar issue and British Columbia's Grizzly Bear Management Plan that's currently being discussed.

www.howlforwildlife.org 

Actions related to this episode: 

Grizzly in Washington

B.C. Grizzly Plan

Our Guest: Mark Hall (Blood Origins Canada website in currently in development)

The Hunter Conservationist Podcast available on Spotify & Apple

 

 

 

HOWL Pack: listen, share & take action here! . 

https://www.howlforwildlife.org/cacoyote 

The backstory on this issue is shared via Chriss Bowles (California Bowmen Hunters) and Charles & Mike (HOWL). Bottom line is that bad optics and complete lack of context has some folks at the F&G Commission thinking that coyote (nongame species) need special regulations developed for hunting.  Whooaaaaa nooooo they do not. Not when we have limited resources, limited time, limited staff and there's huge pressing issues such as bear, deer, elk, bobcat and wolf management plan updates! 

Mad thanks to the Bowmen Hunters in California. They're involved at the front lines right alongside HOWL for Wildlife! 

Even if you're not in California you can HELP us get in front of this issue. We need to stop it, right in its tracks... there's other work to do.  Take Action. Share the podcast and the Action to your community. Advocacy works, and your voice is needed. 

HOWL Pack Membership 

California Bowmen Hunters - check them out

HOWL Action Center 

***

#coyote #hunting #california #predatorhunting #predatormanagement #ranching #livestock #depredation #predatorcontrol #coyotehunting #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #wildlife #advocacy #howlforwildlife #woolgrowers #cattle #sheep #californiacattle #lamb 

Robby Denning, Charles Whitwam and John Stallone discuss hunting and the future of hunting 

A nationwide campaign is underway to limit the influence of hunters in crafting wildlife policy. The movement has gained traction in recent years as proponents work to restructure state game commissions to be less responsive to the wishes of hunters.

“This movement has really spread throughout the country,” Joe Mullin told MeatEater. Mullin works for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation as the Northeastern States Manager, and he reports that he’s observed “a more concerted, organized, and accelerated effort” to pass bills that remodel game commissions along less hunter-friendly lines.

Director of State Policy and Stewardship for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Tim Brass, has also been tracking this movement.

“Historically, sportsmen have had a big voice, and we’re concerned not only that we’re losing some of the voices we have had, but in some cases the people that they’re putting on the commissions under the ‘sportsman’s’ name are questionable in terms of their credentials as hunters and anglers,” he said in an interview with MeatEater.

Mullin identified efforts in Washington State, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon that would make it easier to install anti-hunting proponents on the governing bodies meant to manage game species.

Wildlife for All, an environmental nonprofit, most clearly articulates the ideas that underwrite these efforts. Organized by current and former employees of the Humane Society, the Sierra Club, Wildearth Guardians, Animal & Earth Advocates, and Project Coyote (among others), Wildlife for All describes the current system of wildlife management as “outdated.”

“The hallmarks of this outdated system are a focus on producing a harvestable surplus of game animals under an agricultural model [and] preference given to consumptive wildlife users (hunters, anglers and trappers) over the broader public,” Wildlife for All says on its website. They seek to replace the current model with one based on the “public trust doctrine,” which they define as including a responsibility to protect “all life.”

If their efforts are successful, Mullin warns that the voices of hunters and anglers will be diminished. “If game commissions don’t have adequate representation from the outdoor sporting community, decisions will likely be made to the detriment of hunters, trappers, recreational shooters. There’d be no safeguards to prevent obstructionism at that point,” he said.

Overthrowing the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

For over 80 years, hunters and anglers have formed the bedrock of the American system of conservation funding. This “user pays, public benefits” structure has allowed the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to become the world’s most successful conservation framework, and hunters and anglers nationwide have contributed over $25.5 billion. This money has been used to save wetlands and bring species like turkeys and whitetail deer back from the brink of extinction.

State game commissions work with state wildlife agencies to manage a state’s natural resources, and many have statutory mandates to set hunting seasons, maximize hunting opportunities, and set bag limits. Game commissioners are appointed in a variety of ways, but many also require a certain level of representation from the hunting community. (Some, for example, require commissioners to hold hunting or fishing licenses for a certain number of years before being considered for the position.)

But recent legislation would seek to change that system. In Maryland, for example, House Bill 188 was endorsed by the Humane Society would require representatives from the “wildlife preservation” and “passive wildlife recreation communities” to serve on the state’s Wildlife Advisory Commission.

“This bill is giving a diverse set of stakeholders seats at the table on this commission,” bill sponsor Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr said.

In New Mexico, House Bill 486 takes the “public trust” language from Wildlife for All and uses it to rewrite state wildlife policy. Instead of providing for “an adequate and flexible system” to “provide and maintain an adequate supply of game and fish,” this new system would manage the state’s wildlife “as a public trust resource with intrinsic and ecological value, as well as for the benefit, use, food supply and nonconsumptive enjoyment of all.”

Wildlife for All praises a similarly worded New Mexico bill as an example of the kind of statutory changes the group would like to see in all states.

Washington State has become a lightning rod for this issue as some members of the Wildlife Commission seek to change the “overarching principles” that dictate how game is managed in the state.

Commissioner Lorna Smith recently introduced a draft outline for a new wildlife management plan that she says will radically change how game species are managed.

“It’s the overarching principles and background that we’re going to update significantly with things like my issues page. We’re not just putting a new cover on the old game management plan,” she said at a February 17 meeting of the Special Wildlife Committee.

The outline includes topics such as “Changing Faces, Changing Values, Changing Funding Support” and “Confounding Factors to Managing Hunting to ‘Optimal’ Levels.” Another point would classify coyotes and ground squirrels as managed species, though none of the commissioners argued that these species are in trouble.

“We need to look at species where now there are no regulations dealing with limitations on hunting or killing these species,” said commissioner Melanie Rowland. “I don’t know how you would define hunting differently. I think that’s something we should consider.”

These states aren’t alone. Georgia is considering a bill that some see as a Trojan horse for limiting the influence of hunters. Vermont considered a bill last year that would have stripped the Fish and Wildlife Board of its rulemaking authority and allowed a wider variety of entities to appoint members. A New Hampshire bill would have reduced the number of years a member of the fish and game commission was required to hold a resident fishing, hunting, or trapping license. Missouri, Nebraska, and Michigan have also introduced legislation in recent years intending to alter the composition and/or nomination process for commissions.

Many commissioners oppose these efforts, of course. Washington State commissioner Jim Anderson cautioned his colleagues about their plan to rewrite the game management document.

“I think the hunting public doesn’t want to see all the efforts that have gone on in the past cast aside as something that’s seen as new and better,” he said. “The way that is worded strikes me as being a negative way of talking about hunting.”

Sportsmen’s Alliance filed a lawsuit this week against Washington State commissioner Lorna Smith, but not directly for her actions while on the committee. They say Washington law prohibits someone from serving on the commission while holding another elected or appointed office (Smith is currently a member of the Jefferson County Planning Commission).

“We view this lawsuit as the initial step of a long but important process to bring sanity and decency back to wildlife decision-making in Washington," Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance said. "It all starts here, but trust me, it won’t end here."

Changing the Composition of State Game Agencies

Certain hunting groups have voiced support for some aspects of this agenda. Hunters of Maryland, for example, joined with the Sierra Club to support HB 188. “Wildlife belongs to no one person, wildlife belongs to the citizenry,” said spokesman William R. Miles. “Diverse individuals, groups and organizations, who want a broader advisory voice in how Maryland’s DNR manages wildlife, is a good thing and should be afforded every opportunity.”

It’s also worth noting that “public trust” is a key tenet of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and this doctrine has been used to guarantee hunters and anglers access to land, water, and wildlife. Many hunters, especially public land hunters, would agree that no one owns wildlife, including those who harvest animals for food.

It is unclear, however, whether Wildlife for All’s interpretation of the “public trust doctrine” aligns with its traditional meaning. Their desire to abolish wildlife commissions and represent “non-consumptive users” in proportion to their demographic in the general population is certainly out of step with how the public trust doctrine has traditionally been implemented.

Mullin also argues that efforts to change the composition of state game agencies will make it “easier for obstructionist behavior.” As hunters have seen in Washington State, it only takes a few commissioners to make proceedings grind to a halt.

“Rather than the commissions getting down to brass tacks, shaking up the composition would lower the door for anti-sportsmen to make their way in,” Mullin said.

Washington State commissioner Kim Thorburn expressed a similar concern in an interview with The Lewiston Tribune. “They don’t want to admit their decisions are based on their own advocacy biases,” she said of fellow commissioners Smith and Rowland, “so they have the tactic of paralyzing the staff effort, demanding impossible workloads of them and, when they come back (with products), saying, ‘That isn’t what we asked for.’”

Ultimately, both Brass and Mullin believe that anti-hunting groups see changing the makeup of game commissions as stepping stones toward their larger goals.

“The anti-hunting community is seeing these commissions as a vehicle to make changes in conjunction with legislative efforts and ballot initiatives. It’s another vessel that they see to carry out their objectives,” Mullin said.

More Than One Kind of Anti-Hunting

A state game commission can be politicized against hunters in more ways than one. Brass pointed out that commissions can harm hunters if they favor landowners or outfitters over public land users. He’s also concerned about national campaigns that seek to cut off Pittman-Robertson funding, which have been pushed from both the right side of the aisle and the left.

Wherever these threats may arise, it’s crucial for hunters, anglers, and all outdoor enthusiasts to stay engaged in the process, Brass said. He encouraged hunters to show up at commission meetings, be good spokespeople, and build relationships. Even if a commissioner doesn’t agree with hunters on most issues, it’s still important to engage.

“We need to show up at those commission meetings to make sure the sportsmen’s voice is still heard. We have the opportunity to hold them accountable by being there and helping to offer up good, well-reasoned arguments,” Brass said.

Hunters should use their voices to ensure their commissions make decisions based on science–not personal vendettas.

“In the end, if they’re not basing their decisions on science and the wildlife biologists’ recommendations and they’re attacking hunters because they just don’t like it, that is really problematic,” Brass said. “Representative or not, we can’t have that. We’re going down a pretty slippery slope.”

On a larger scale, hunters can do more to tell the full story of habitat and conservation funding, MeatEater’s Director of Conservation, Ryan Callaghan, said. Those stories can combat misinformation about hunters that some commissioners use to advocate for anti-hunting policies.

“It is our responsibility as hunters to promote the work we do,” Callaghan said. “Great whitetail habitat or sage grouse habitat or bear habitat is great habitat for a wide host of wildlife that falls under the ‘non-consumptive’ label. We hunters know that a tag in the pocket does not represent a dead animal. I have a pillowcase full of expensive tags that have never been notched. It's our responsibility to make sure people know those stories too.”

     

This week we dive into the importance of getting involved across state borders and even national borders.  Then we talk about the right to hunt & fish bill in Florida.  

With Travis Thompson, John Stallone and Charlie Whitwam

 

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Anti-hunting tactics have long included “litigate and delay,” directly impacting the lawful harvest of fish and game.  While many of these meritless lawsuits are dismissed, the damage done waiting for injunctions and restraining orders to be released is felt by sportsmen, outfitters, and landowners.  Because of acts like the Equal Access to Justice, these radical and special interest groups can file lawsuits without any regard to financial consequences.

 

The Right to Hunt is for all people.  Events in New Mexico demonstrate the need for all sportsmen from every state to unite behind our common passion, livelihoods, and heritage.  Hunting’s current means and methods cannot be eroded or compromised.  Montanans should not be told when, where, or how they will carry on their hunting heritage, whether on public or private land.