Conservation Matters® Podcast

How did Shane get so involved in the outdoors? Is hunting conservation and what does that mean? Shane Mahoney talked with Billy Kinder of Billy Kinder Outdoors Radio at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Conference this past summer. Special thanks to Billy for allowing Conservation Visions to re-air this interview.

While hunting in general is a controversial issue, there can be little doubt that much of the harsher criticism is directed toward trophy hunting. Even among hunters who readily pursue animals and harvest them, trophy hunting is sometimes criticized. To the general public, it is often portrayed as a distortion of the original activity, and one that has entered a self-indulgent and frivolous domain. Listen for these and more thoughts by Shane Mahoney. Original article posted in "Sports Afield" July 2012.

Originally filmed in August 2015 - Shane Mahoney reviews the "Cecil the Lion" issue, presents the facts as they are known at that time in August, 2015, and provides excellent commentary on the realities of ecosystem and wildlife management, as well as evidence in support of legal and regulated trophy hunting as a tool for conservation. This film identifies the Cecil phenomenon as an opportunity for all people to realize the challenges facing wildlife conservation, and the role that hunting can and does play in supporting those. The story will fade, but will not be forgotten soon. No matter if you are a hunter or wildlife activist, allow the story of Cecil the Lion to unite - rather than divide.

Shane Mahoney is the keynote speaker at the 2016 Premier's Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, BC. A sold-out crowd of industry leaders and First Nation leaders are enraptured by Shane's speech on finding a balance between conservation and resource extraction.  From the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, "Many wildlife populations in British Columbia are out of balance. Stakeholders are very concerned because they are witnessing high predator populations and low ungulate populations. It is important to take proactive action to mend these imbalances rather than allow them to continue and trigger the Species at Risk Act or other extreme regulatory or legislative measures."

Early conservation pioneers succeeded because they understood how to convey the importance of their ideals to the public. However, the conservation movement has to a large extent moved away from an agenda of trying to convince society of its social, cultural, and economic value. We no longer strive for the hearts of our nations’ publics. The conservation community has replaced this with an emphasis on membership rosters and obtaining political influence, both often emphasizing specific issues that can hardly be viewed as being of the greatest public value or concern. The result has been an indifferent public, by and large, and one totally uninformed about conservation issues and the relevance of hunting in modern times.

udsjgdrh Shane Mahoney is addressing an audience at Pheasants Forever's "Rally for Conservation" in 2014. In this half hour speech, he discusses how conservation is truly the most important purpose in today's society; what will you pass on to your children/grandchildren? and what he sees as the top three challenges facing conservation.

Shane Mahoney is joined by public land advocate & TV host, Randy Newberg; outdoor writer Ron Spomer; Kimber VP of Sales, Ryan Busse and moderated by outdoor photographer, Tony Bynum to discuss the current state of public land sale and/or transfer happening between state and federal governments and what that means for conservation and wildlife. The panel took place at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Annual Business Meeting in Kalispell, Montana June 18, 2016.

This short piece was previously written for Sports Afield, "Conservation Corner" sponsored by Dallas Safari Club. Shane asks how can we convey a clearer message about hunting’s benefits to the nonhunting community.

Shane Mahoney speaks at the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association annual meeting in Boise, Idaho, summer, 2013. Topics covered include: love for wildlife as a hunter, being a wildlife biologist or conservationist is not something to take lightly and is not 'easy' as some critics would suggest, what if the Endangered Species Act was enacted sooner - would that save some of the wildlife lost? And finally, why poachers kill Rhinos for their horns for the black market - it, too, is not a simple answer.

The American bison may have been, at one time, the most abundant large wild mammal on earth. The historical references to their immense herds are difficult to comprehend; such is the scale of their numbers and the sheer improbable spectacle the authors of these reports try to convey. Perhaps these images are also difficult for us to understand because they inevitably inspire in the sensitive reader a feeling of great sadness that such a wondrous prospect must now be denied us all, forever. This article originally appeared in Sports Afield magazine.